Potted Flowering Plants

Production on Hawaii Island

The production of potted flowering plants on the Big Island combines modern greenhouse technology with the island’s favorable climate. Numerous orchid farms are concentrated in areas like Kurtistown, Keaʻau, and Hilo, often at slight elevations where nights are cool enough to induce blooming for certain orchid types. These nurseries range from small family operations to large-scale exporters with several acres under glass or shade. Orchids dominate this category: Hawaii Island’s growers specialize in dendrobium orchids (often grown in shadehouses for cut sprays and potted plants) and phalaenopsis orchids (requiring more controlled greenhouse environments for the timing of their bloom). Other genera such as Cattleya, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum (slipper orchids), and Anthurium (as potted ornamentals) are also produced, catering to specialty collectors and niche markets. Potted anthuriums, for example, are grown similarly to cut anthuriums but marketed in pots for consumers who want a long-lasting houseplant with showy flowers. Bromeliads (family Bromeliaceae), including Guzmania and Vriesea, are another important group: though grown for foliage, they often have colorful long-lasting inflorescences and are sold as flowering tabletop plants. Additionally, Big Island nurseries produce holiday and seasonal flowering plants like poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) for Christmas and Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) or hydrangeas for spring, primarily for local markets. These are typically grown under cover or in shade structures to protect from heavy rain and to control photoperiod (especially poinsettias, which require short-day conditions to color their bracts).

Major Products and Species

Orchids are by far the marquee product. Dendrobium orchids (common species Dendrobium phalaenopsis types) are raised both for cut flower sprays and as potted blooming plants; in pots, they often have multiple canes of purple or white flowers and are popular as gifts or interior décor. Phalaenopsis orchids (Phalaenopsis hybrids, also known as “moth orchids”) have soared in popularity over the past two decades – these orchids, with broad flat blooms in arrays of white, pink, striped, or speckled patterns, are mass-produced in Hawaii’s nurseries, timed to flower in elegant arching spikes. A well-known Big Island example is Akatsuka Orchid Gardens near Volcano, which cultivates Cattleya hybrids (large, fragrant corsage orchids) and others; such specialty nurseries breed unique varieties like Vanda and Miltonia too, adding diversity beyond the commodity orchids. Anthuriums in pots feature compact varieties that bloom freely; their scientific name is the same as cut anthuriums (Anthurium andraeanum hybrids), but potted cultivars are selected for shorter stems and attractive foliage, making a full potted plant. Chrysanthemums (florist mums) and Kalanchoe are also produced by a few nurseries for local floral sales – for instance, potted florist chrysanthemum was significant in 2020 with an unusual spike in sales (over $2.3 million that year)​

hdoa.hawaii.gov, likely due to a large one-time contract or increased home demand. Poinsettias (cultivars of Euphorbia pulcherrima) remain a staple seasonal crop: Big Island growers typically produce them under shadehouses with carefully controlled lighting to induce the signature red (or pink/white) bracts by November/December. Modern poinsettia varieties like ‘Jubilee Red’ or ‘Ice Punch’ are grown in various pot sizes for wholesale to garden centers and stores statewide. Other flowering plants include hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, often sold in 1–3 gallon pots as patio plants with continuous blooms), crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia milii), desert rose (Adenium obesum), and African violets (Saintpaulia), though these are comparatively minor in commercial output.

Production Systems and Scale

Many of Hawaii Island’s potted flowering plant operations use semi-controlled environments. Greenhouses with polyfilm covering and ventilation fans are common for phalaenopsis and young orchid propagation, providing control over moisture and pests. Shadehouses (netting) are used for hardier orchids like dendrobiums and for anthuriums and bromeliads to moderate light. Orchids are often propagated in vitro (flasks of clones via tissue culture) at specialized labs, including some on Hawaii Island, ensuring a steady supply of plantlets with desired traits. These clones are then grown out in community pots or plug trays before being transferred to individual pots and grown to flowering, which can take 1–2 years depending on the genus. The media used is typically soilless: orchids grow in bark mixes, sphagnum moss, or coconut husk chips (sterile and airy), while anthuriums might use cinder and peat mixes. Using soilless media helps meet stringent inter-island and export quarantine rules (so no soil pests hitchhike). The scale of operations can be significant: some Big Island orchid nurseries have over a few acres of greenhouses and ship tens of thousands of potted orchids annually. For example, the Hawaii County data from 2020 showed 46 farms producing potted dendrobium orchids and 27 farms producing potted phalaenopsis orchids, with sales of about 307,000 dendrobium pots and 317,000 phalaenopsis pots that year​ files.hawaii.gov. Combined, these orchid sales were valued around $5.2 million in 2020​ files.hawaii.gov. Additionally, 22 farms sold potted anthuriums (283,000 pots, worth ~$2.38 million) and 18 farms sold poinsettias (218,000 pots for ~$1.14 million) in 2020​ files.hawaii.gov. These figures underscore that orchids (which are counted partly in the “Orchid” category by NASS) and other flowering plants form a multi-million dollar segment. Notably, orchids alone (cut + potted) consistently make up a large share of Hawaii’s floriculture economy – in 2022, the orchid category was about $13.7 million statewide hdoa.hawaii.gov, roughly 15–20% of total horticulture sales, and much of that value emanates from Hawaii Island growers.

Value-Added Products and Uses

Potted flowering plants from Hawaii Island primarily serve as living ornaments – they are sold to florists, garden centers, big box retailers, and direct to consumers as decorative plants. An orchid in bloom is a high-value gift item; Big Island companies often package blooming orchids in decorative sleeves or boxes for shipping. Some have created branded lines (for example, assortments of orchids marketed as “Hawaiian Sunburst Orchids” with care tags and Hawaii-grown branding). Beyond the plants themselves, there’s a trade in propagative material: Hawaii Island’s orchid breeders sell tissue-cultured flasked seedlings and young plants to other growers domestically and abroad, capitalizing on Hawaii’s reputation for unique hybrids. This falls under “propagative materials (cuttings, seedlings, liners)” which in 2022 was a reported category – statewide sales of cuttings/liners/etc. were about $68.9 thousand (likely undercounted due to disclosure issues)​ nass.usda.gov. As a value-added service, some Big Island nurseries offer plant rentals and displays – for instance, providing blooming orchids or bromeliads for hotel lobbies, events, or offices on a rotational basis. (Prior to 2021, “plant rentals” was tracked as part of sales; in 2020 Hawaii plant rental services were estimated at $1.7 million files.hawaii.gov.) Another form of adding value is through breeding and intellectual property: a number of Hawaii Island orchid growers hybridize new varieties and register them, sometimes gaining royalties if their hybrids are produced elsewhere. Finally, educational tourism is a use – facilities like Akatsuka Orchid Gardens double as visitor attractions, selling not just plants but farm tours, which enhances the value of their orchids through agritourism.

Market Trends and Competitiveness

The market for potted flowering plants, particularly orchids, has seen robust but fluctuating demand. Globally, orchids rank among the top-selling potted flowering plants, and Hawaii Island has had to compete with production centers in Florida, California, and international producers in Thailand, Taiwan, and the Netherlands. In the early 2000s, Hawaii’s orchid industry was strong, but competition intensified as overseas growers perfected mass-production of phalaenopsis at lower cost. As a result, Hawaii’s share of the U.S. mass market for potted orchids faced pressure. To stay competitive, Big Island nurseries have focused on quality and unique varieties – for example, growing fragrant or novelty orchids that stand out from the uniform strains sold in big box stores. There has also been a push towards branding Hawaiian orchids as premium and marketing directly to consumers via the internet and orchid enthusiast communities. This direct-to-consumer trend grew especially during the pandemic, when many plant lovers turned online to order houseplants; Hawai'i Island growers reported a spike in mail-order sales of blooming plants and even subscription services for monthly orchid deliveries. Industry reports noted that plant sales rebounded in 2020 despite tourism declines, driven by people staying home and adorning living spaces with plants​. This “houseplant boom” benefited potted anthuriums and orchids – indeed, Hawaii’s potted flowering plant sales jumped 25% in 2020 vs 2018​ – though the momentum slowed by 2022 as the market normalized (2023 saw a 32% drop in potted flowering sales vs 2022)​ hdoa.hawaii.gov.

On the technology front, Hawai'i Island growers are adopting automation and climate control to remain efficient. Some larger orchid operations have implemented automated fertigation (fertilizer injection into irrigation) and climate control systems (to regulate humidity and temperature for sensitive phalaenopsis crops), which improves bloom timing and reduces labor costs. LED lighting technology is also making inroads – by supplementing light or manipulating day length, growers can induce off-season blooming for higher offseason prices (for example, getting phalaenopsis to flower in summer, not just spring). Additionally, tissue culture labs on the island provide a steady pipeline of disease-free, uniform plantlets, which is a competitive advantage for Hawai'i in maintaining biosecure production.

However, challenges persist. Energy and shipping costs are major issues – heating or cooling greenhouses can be expensive on the island due to high electricity costs, and air freight for delicate flowering plants is pricey. Some companies have explored more economical shipping methods, like sending orchids bare-root (without heavy pots and media) to reduce weight, with the plants then potted upon arrival in the destination market. Others ship young orchids en masse to mainland finishing nurseries, effectively relocating the final blooming phase closer to consumers. This model allows Hawai'i breeders and propagators to focus on what they do best (breeding and young plant production) while letting mainland partners handle the blooming stage to avoid airfreight of heavy finished plants.

Another trend is diversification within the flowering plant segment. Given the boom in general houseplant interest, some Hawai'i Island nurseries that primarily grew flowering plants have expanded into foliage (many are indeed mixed operations). Conversely, foliage nurseries have added flowering lines like peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) or bromeliads to capture more of the indoor plant market. The synergy of foliage and flowers can offer buyers a one-stop shop and cushion growers if one market (say orchids) dips while another (say trendy aroids or anthuriums) rises.

In terms of market outlook, Hawai'i Island’s potted flowering plant producers remain significant especially in orchid breeding and niche markets. Local experts note that Hawaii’s orchid quality and variety command loyalty among certain wholesalers and collectors​. The island’s reputation for award-winning orchids (e.g. at orchid shows and competitions) also bolsters its image. To sustain competitiveness, the industry is seeking to attract younger growers and invest in workforce training – cultivating expertise in orchid care and modern greenhouse management is key as veteran growers retire. In summary, while facing global competition and high costs, Hawai'i Island’s potted flowering plant sector leverages innovation, quality, and the island’s orchid heritage to remain a prominent player in the flowering plant market.