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This time it was the turn of two of our Interior Planting Designers, Rachael Crampsey and Genevieve Jones. Both are passionate about planting, and were brimming with excitement pre-trip! Rachael and Genevieve are key linchpins in our design process. Naturally, they’re on the phone to our suppliers in The Netherlands all the time, so this was a great opportunity for them to say hello and gather ideas, inspiration and valuable plant time!

New finds

At Vantage, every project is different and we approach every biophilic display like it’s a challenge. It’s our job to collaborate with the interior design team to meet (and exceed) the brief from the client.

This means always having new ideas and suggestions, and finding ways of doing things. So, it’s no surprise that Rachael and Genevieve were literally skipping from giant greenhouse to giant greenhouse on this trip!

Branched species

Let’s combine these in different heights and use the stems as part of a mixed display to provide height and structure.

Sea of Monstera Deliciosa

One of our favourite species to use in joinery & furniture. Look how amazing they look together instead of being an individual specimen!

New variegated species

Lots of new species available in different colours – great to add to mixed planting and using for table top displays.

Trailers and climbers

Lots of new species to incorporate into climbing and trailing displays!

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Planting the future

One of the nurseries we visited specialises in growing plants using hydroculture. Plants grown in this way are cultivated in water rather than soil. We encourage clients to use hydroculture planting where possible, because it’s a more precise way of feeding and watering plants and keeping them in tip top condition.

Only one in eight nurseries in The Netherlands grows its plants using hydroculture. We’ve been banging the drum for hydroculture for quite some time, and we’re sure that more nurseries will invest in this as the long-term benefits, such as water efficiency and sustainability, become more apparent.

‍It was great seeing so many plants in the hydroculture section, with lots of different testing going on as well. A support medium such as clay pellets, keeps the plants stable in their pots. Plants are watered from the ground up and the pellets soak up the water, acting as a reservoir for the plants for weeks. As well as being more efficient and low-maintenance, it means the plants get just the right amount of water, and it allows better aeration around the roots. It also reduces the risk of soil-borne diseases and pests. The list of benefits is long!

Rachael Crampsey, Interior Planting Designer

Benefits of hydroculture

– Reduces time spent watering
– Reduces water usage
– Prevents over-watering and soil borne diseases and pests
– Allows aeration of root system
– Allows precise control over nutrient delivery
– Allows plants to flourish

Download our free PDF whitepaper on Hydroculture

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Orchid mania

One of the most eye-popping displays during the trip was a visit to an orchid nursery, housing an incredible three million orchids! Orchids are a popular choice in reception areas because of their understated elegance and the fact that they last a lot longer than fresh flowers. Genevieve and Rachael were fascinated by the automation in this nursery.

The Netherlands is the second biggest exporter of orchids in the world (after Thailand), so we were keen to see this operation! It takes up to two years for an orchid to fully bloom. The nursery had very few physical staff, instead they used robots for sorting and transport. Robot arms are programmed to sort by numbers of flowers and colour. It was fascinating to see nature and technology side by side!

Genevieve Jones, Interior Planting Designer

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Highlights from the trip


Rachael's highlights

Looking out over the vast greenhouses and not seeing a single ailing plant – everything was so well looked after, it was amazing!
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There’s an impressive amount of branched and variegated species now available for feature planting, and they’re often easy to maintain and perform well in most conditions.

Thanks to one of our suppliers, I discovered ‘Pepernoten’. We munched these festive Dutch spiced cookies as we toured one of the greenhouses – very tasty indeed

Genevieve's highlights

My new favourite species is the Norfolk Pine! Aside from being very striking and ornamental, it’s unusual in the plant world in that it can tolerate draughty spaces. I’m already dropping it into design proposals – it’s perfect for reception areas near draughty doors.

Van Stepele in Amsterdam was another favourite – it’s the most amazing cookie shop with vintage décor and ornate chandeliers. They only make one type of gooey cookie, but regularly sell out!

We’re so lucky to have such wonderful suppliers and are always very grateful for their time and hospitality. We work closely with interior designers and architects who rely on Vantage to be at the forefront of biophilic design and full of fresh ideas. These trips help us to keep abreast of innovations in the plant world, and never fail to leave us feeling inspired and invigorated. Rachael and Genevieve are already channelling their ideas into their next projects, and finding new ways to use colour, shape and texture to enhance a space.

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If you’d like to know more about creating memorable experiences with planting, get in touch and we can show you what we have already done for others!