The Hort Report: 28th February 2025
The Plant Geek Trials Club launches today!
Here’s your weekly Hort Report - the round-up of industry news, retail insights, home gardener gossip, influencer spotlights, social media news, and so much more.
Grab a hot drink, and catch up on the latest below…
NEWS FLASH
The Plant Geek Trials Club has launched!
Become part of an exclusive club where you can receive plants and gardening products to test in your garden! You can join for an exclusive early bird offer of £10 before 03.03.25, when the membership will increase to £20 - so get in quick!
Your membership guarantees you at least one trial per year. Sign up here.
INFLUENCER SPOTLIGHT
Henry Agg
If you’re a sucker for landscaping and garden design, Henry Agg is a must-follow. With plenty of gardening hacks and how-to’s from his lovely suburban garden, there’s lots of content to digest. Take a look at the mulching hack above for a taste!
Visit @henryagg on Instagram
SOCIAL NEWS
Glow-in-the-dark petunia
This petunia is very real - and no, it hasn’t been painted with luminescent paint! It’s a special glow-in-the-dark plant created by Light.Bio, which emits a bioluminescence, similar to fireflies.
Find out more about it here.
PRODUCT NEWS
Nameko mushroom kit
Got some old logs in the garden, or perhaps a Christmas tree left over from the festive season? You can grow your own mushrooms on it with this handy kit from Caley Brothers!
Buy it here.
TRADE NEWS
Duckweed approved as safe food source
Could our diets now contain an abundance of these green water lentils? The EU has now approved duckweed as a food source after years of research, which flings open the doors for food manufacturers, as this nutrient-rich ingredient is incredibly efficient to cultivate.
Find out more here.
JOB AD
Acqua Garden seeks Marketing Executive
Acqua Garden, an innovative online retailer of garden plants and lifestyle products, is hiring a Marketing Executive to manage e-commerce and digital marketing across Shopify, Amazon, and Not On The High Street. The role includes content creation, social media, email marketing, Google ads, and photography/videography, plus involvement in the company’s new B2B division.
Key Details:
Full-time, permanent (office-based in Warmington, OX17 1DF).
Salary: £30,000–£34,000 + performance bonuses.
Requirements: 2+ years’ online marketing experience, Bachelor’s degree, interest in AI/tech.
Benefits: Pension, stock ownership, discounts, on-site gym, and more.
Start Date: March 2025.
Find out more here.
BOOK
Cacti and Succulents by Sarah Gerrard-Jones
This is a practical and beautifully photographed guide to growing, caring for, and reviving cacti and succulents. Covering everything from their natural habitats to propagation and creative planting projects, this book is perfect for both beginners and experienced plant owners. Sarah’s expert advice ensures anyone can successfully nurture and enjoy these plants, indoors or out.
Buy it here.
WHAT TO DO NOW
2nd & 3rd March: How to garden well and encourage pollinators
Chiswick Flower Market hosts a talk by renowned plantswoman Rosy Hardy on Sunday 2nd March 2025 at 2pm at George IV, Chiswick High Road.
With 24 RHS Chelsea Gold Medals and over 40 years of horticultural expertise, Rosy will share insights on gardening for pollinators, climate resilience, plant selection, and design. A Q&A session follows.
Tickets: £10 via Eventbrite.
Find out more here.
HOME GARDENER PLANT OF THE WEEK
Helleborus Black
Is there anything more mysterious than black flowers? These black Hellebores are super gothic, and are just one of a handful of plants which produce almost-black blooms (sadly, there are no true-black flowers on earth). You can actually read about even more ‘gothic’ plants in my recent article.
INDUSTRY PLANT OF THE WEEK
Geranium ‘Cloud Nine’
Wyevale Nurseries have added this dreamy Geranium to their 2025 retailers’ catalogue, and it will be available to order in May. It’s a slow-growing perennial with a compact and bushy growth habit, delicate pink blooms and contrasting dark pink centres.
Find out more here.
PODCAST PICK
Should plant perfection win awards at any cost? with Darren Everest and Jonathan Sheppard
National collection holder Jonathan Sheppard and grower Darren Everest debate whether flower show judges should prioritise sustainability over plant uniformity. Everest believes the public expects perfection, while Sheppard argues that chemically pristine plants create unrealistic expectations!
Listen here.
SUBSTACK RECOMMENDATION
The Common Farm Flowers Club by Georgie Newbery
A community for flower growers and small business enthusiasts, now on Substack! Building on its YouTube success, this platform offers live chats, discussions, written content, and video clips. It provides inspiration, practical advice, and a supportive space for those passionate about sustainable flower growing, business, and meaningful work.
Read it here.
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