This year's Hortiflorexpo IPM Beijing, which ran from April 10 to 12, showcased a wide range of easy-care, low-maintenance plant varieties and innovative horticultural solutions for home gardening, reflecting the growing influence of young consumers in China's household horticulture sector.
At the expo, exhibitors presented a curated selection of fuss-free plant varieties ideal for balcony growing, requiring minimal time and upkeep to thrive and catering to busy urban home gardeners.
Among the standout offerings were amaryllis varieties, a beloved household flower renowned for its robustness. Waxed amaryllis bulbs, which can bloom without any water or soil, have already gained widespread popularity in the market.
This year, exhibitors also unveiled yet-to-be-launched, self-bred double-petal amaryllis cultivars, each capable of producing three to five flowers per bract with a blooming period of around one month. These varieties can bloom reliably year after year, with select white cultivars featuring a delicate, subtle fragrance.
An exhibitor and breeder described the main considerations behind the company's amaryllis breeding program.
"Our amaryllis breeding work is centered on the cultural needs and preferences of Chinese consumers. Chinese consumers favor varieties with a light fragrance, vibrant red blooms, and strong, easy-to-grow characteristics. We also prioritize varieties that can bloom during the Spring Festival, all of which are the key focus of our breeding efforts," said exhibitor Zhou Shiming.
Beyond easy-care bulb flowers, the expo also spotlighted paphiopedilum, often regarded as a "luxury item" in the floral world due to its high breeding costs and extremely slow growth cycle.
For instance, the "Panda Smile" cultivar takes six to seven years to grow from a seedling to a blooming plant, while even the fastest-growing varieties require two to three years to mature. Despite their delicate, high-end appearance, these plants are surprisingly low-maintenance. They only need watering once a week when kept out of direct sunlight, with an average blooming period of one to two months, depending on the variety.
Exhibitor Deng Keyun explained the vision behind his company's cross-breeding work.
"We have carried out cross-breeding to cultivate diverse, stunning varieties that adapt seamlessly to people's daily living habits. If the environment is comfortable for humans, it will be comfortable for the flowers as well. We hope the diversity and beauty of paphiopedilums can be loved and appreciated by more people," he said.
For home gardeners who struggle to keep their favorite high-maintenance plants thriving, the expo also presented an innovative solution: an advanced new growing medium.
The medium, composed mainly of coconut coir and high-molecular-weight polymers, boasts exceptional water-retention capacity while maintaining its structural integrity even after absorbing water.
Plants can be planted in the medium either bare-rooted or with their original soil and require watering only when the medium shows visible shrinkage. Available in sizes small enough for seedling cultivation, the medium has applications ranging from home balcony gardening to protected agriculture and large-scale commercial seedling breeding.
Exhibitor Gong Yuke highlighted the product's key advantages and its broad range of applications.
"This medium offers superior water and nutrient retention, as well as excellent air permeability, which creates a far more favorable environment for the development of plant roots. It has already been widely deployed in scenarios including home gardening, balcony planting, vertical greening projects, and large-scale seedling cultivation," said Gong.
2026 China Hortiflorexpo showcases low-maintenance home gardening solutions
2026 China Hortiflorexpo showcases low-maintenance home gardening solutions
