Sally Benson \u2014 November 14, 2016<\/p>\n
grow 365 report<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no escaping it; gardening is in 24\/7, 365. That\u2019s the word from The Garden Media Group (GMG), which released its annual trends report, called \u201cGrow 365<\/strong>.\u201d The report identifies key elements in the changing industry, marketplace and society that, combined, propel us in the direction of healthy choices in lifestyle and in industry practices.<\/p>\n How? By paying attention to the rising tide of health-consciousness among U.S. consumers \u2013 in particular, younger generations who see the value of healthy living, both individually and globally. Just as consumers are more concerned about their own well-being, they\u2019re equally concerned with the health of their environment. Combine those passions, and ornamental horticulture can claim its rightful place as a leader in the movement.<\/p>\n So what, really, is Grow 365? As the GMG states, \u201cDemand for clean food, clean water, clean air, clean medicine and clean environments is dramatically shifting how people buy plants and products, and garden both inside and out [my emphasis]. Challenges to gardening outdoors \u2013 severe climate conditions, contaminated water, soil infertility and pests \u2013 make gardening indoors a growing opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a much-abbreviated summary of how the GMG\u2019s Grow 365 report identifies the gardening and environment trends, giving us a bit of insight into how the industry can capitalize on this wave of interest and concern.<\/p>\n \u201cPeak Season\u201d is viewed, essentially, as a year-round phenomenon. With climate change presenting challenges and the housing trend leaning toward smaller footprints (many domiciles lacking outside space), we\u2019re moving gardening indoors. Ornamental, edible or medicinal, plants are finding homes inside homes.<\/p>\n \u201cWellness Hotspots\u201d encourages us to find healthy living opportunities in natural settings. From \u201cforest bathing\u201d (soaking up the power and tranquility of treed spaces) to \u201csoundscape ecology\u201d (buffering the din of daily life with sound-softening plants) to \u201cworkplace wellness\u201d through indoor plants, incorporating green into our lives improves our overall well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cTidy Gardens\u201d speaks to the notion that less is more. Decluttering, as we\u2019re told time and again, simplifies our lives. (For some of us, however, the act of decluttering can be daunting.)<\/p>\n \u201cClean Gardening\u201d sounds like it\u2019s related to \u201cTidy Gardens,\u201d but it\u2019s really about growing plants free of synthetic chemicals, as well as growing indoor plants without soil. Hydroponic and aquaponic gardening are all the rage.<\/p>\n \u201cUber-izing Gardening\u201d does not mean that plants are driven around town by strangers, although we\u2019d love to see that. Think of it as plant subscriptions, similar to meal-in-a-box programs like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. The demand for personalized, curated collections \u2013 do it for me, rather than DIY \u2013 is an opportunity waiting to be seized.<\/p>\n \u201cBuzz Off!\u201d embraces natural pest control to prevent the spread of insect-borne diseases like Zika. Welcoming bug-eating bats and birds to the garden accompanies the inclusion of plants that naturally repel vectors of rather frightening maladies.<\/p>\n \u201cGolden Age\u201d celebrates the \u201cmetal of the moment\u201d by incorporating metallic elements in the garden. That means accessories as well as plants that shimmer and shine \u2013 and not to worry about a fleeting fad. It\u2019s said that the color gold, like its elemental namesake, has lasting value.<\/p>\n \u201cGardening Love\u201d is the overarching sentiment that helped to create two major organizations, developed by industry pros to help grow a gardening culture. The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture<\/strong> and Seed Your Future<\/strong> aim to grow both the hort industry and consumer participation in gardening \u2013 for the long run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sally Benson \u2014 November 14, 2016 grow 365 report There\u2019s no escaping it; gardening is in 24\/7, 365. That\u2019s the word from The Garden Media Group (GMG), which released its annual trends report, called \u201cGrow 365.\u201d The report identifies key elements in the changing industry, marketplace and society that, combined, propel us in the direction […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nursery"],"yoast_head":"\n