Blooming British, a company with deep roots in traditional flower cultivation, has made a leap into the future with the use of vertical farming for houseplants.
By developing its own expertise in vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA), Blooming British is setting a new benchmark for sustainability, efficiency, and homegrown production.
We spoke to Ian Matthews, the company's managing director, to understand how vertical farming is changing the way houseplants are grown and sold in the UK.
A new era for houseplants
For decades, traditional glasshouse cultivation has been the backbone of the floriculture industry. However, these structures are energy-intensive, waste heat, and carry high operational costs, making them increasingly unsustainable.
According to Matthews, vertical farming presents a game-changing alternative. "We can grow plants twice as fast as in conventional glasshouses, without the heavy carbon footprint," Matthews explains. "Plus, all our plants are grown peat-free, reducing environmental damage."
"This accelerated growth cycle allows for a greater volume of production in a smaller footprint, making vertical farms a more sustainable and efficient model."
A strategic progression
"Blooming British is the first company to grow houseplants in vertical farms," Matthews says. "Through our expertise in controlled environment agriculture, we have developed an efficient, high-yield growing system."
Blooming British has increased yields by two to three times per square meter compared to traditional glasshouses. With an initial goal of one million plants per year, production is scaling rapidly to meet demand from UK supermarkets, garden centers, florists, and online retailers.
Adapting to a high-tech growing model
Transitioning to vertical farming has not come without its challenges. One key learning curve has been understanding the precise light requirements for different plant species. "Each plant needs different light intensities to grow perfectly," says Matthews. "Through experience, we've fine-tuned how to deliver the optimal amount of concentrated light to produce healthy, vibrant plants."
Another significant advantage of vertical farming is its location flexibility. Traditional glasshouses require large rural spaces, often facing planning permission hurdles. Vertical farms, however, can be housed in industrial buildings on commercial estates, sidestepping the red tape.
"We struggled to obtain planning permission for large-scale glasshouses," Matthews says. "But vertical farms fit seamlessly into existing industrial zones with no objections or delays."
Sustainability and the growth of vertical floriculture
Beyond efficiency, vertical farming offers sustainability benefits that are hard to ignore. With post-Brexit labor shortages affecting large-scale glasshouse operations, the automation of vertical farms makes them more viable than ever.
Energy efficiency is another major factor. Many vertical farms, including those used by Blooming British, are strategically positioned near anaerobic digesters, which are facilities that convert food waste into renewable energy.
"The energy we use is exclusively electricity, and we've been able to secure it at a low cost," says Matthews. "In the future, we plan to expand next to waste-to-energy plants, cutting carbon emissions by 26,000 tonnes per site annually."
Looking even further ahead, Matthews envisions hyper-local production, with city-based vertical farms growing houseplants closer to consumers, eliminating imports, and reducing supply chain emissions.
Expanding possibilities
Currently, Blooming British's vertical farms focus on green houseplants, including Alocasias, Monstera and Peperomia. However, Matthews sees endless potential in expanding beyond houseplants.
"We can produce mini roses, potted chrysanthemums, and even trees in vertical farms," he says. "The possibilities are vast." Despite resistance from traditional growers and retailers, Matthews believes the industry will inevitably shift toward high-tech plant production.
"We have the capacity to completely replace houseplant imports, but convincing retailers to abandon a 100-year-old supply chain is the challenge," he says. "The only way forward is vertical farming, for a range of produce and plants."
For more information:
Blooming British
Ian Matthews, Managing Director
ian.matthews@bloomingbritish.org
www.bloomingbritish.org