The Plant Company ribbon cutting ceremony at new greenhouse space with Jason vanWingerden (L) and Frank Paul (R) | Proven Winners
The Plant Company has undergone an extensive construction project, adding 5 acres of high-tech greenhouse space to its operation, to meet the growing demand for Proven Winners leafjoy houseplants. The expansion enables the premium houseplant grower to effectively double its annual output, allowing it to better serve customers with the leafjoy product they’ve grown to love.
The new growing space positions The Plant Company for the future with the ideal infrastructure to continue expanding both the liner and finished plant sides of the business. With the increasing demand for houseplants, especially the fast-growing Proven Winners leafjoy littles line, H2O, and Terraform Terrarium products in mind, this new space increases labor efficiency by about 20%.
“As the Proven Winners leafjoy brand continues to grow and evolve, this new space will allow us to innovate and delight even more customers with a constant supply of premium houseplants,” says Jason vanWingerden, co-founder and CEO of The Plant Company.
Engineering and tech advances in the new space improve ergonomics and reduce labor with a fully automated internal transport system that moves containers to the correct place in the multilayer rooting chamber. The company has also invested in new automation and energy-saving technology that improves space usage by 10-15% and concentrates the handling of plants for more efficient sticking, sorting, and shipping.
With sustainability in mind, the new technology not only reduces labor, it improves energy expenditures. A PAR Perfect shade curtain and double energy curtain reduce electric inputs, and 100% recirculation of irrigation water reduces water usage. The system also includes CO2 injection from a high-efficiency boiler system. The new boom system allows for more precise watering of liners with automated spray to keep conditions ideal for rooting. The expansion also includes two electric air handling units with heat pump technology to cool, heat, and dehumidify the air.
The advanced LED system adjusts the light spectra per track, optimizing plant growth speed, quality, and uniformity based on species and growth stage. Additionally, integrated IIVO climate control software monitors all processes and alerts the grower when abnormalities occur in the growth process.
The Plant Company worked closely with the GreenV group, specifically HT Verboom and Prins USA, to design an internal logistics system that improves overall operations. “This new technology serves our needs today, but also looks to the future, accounting for expansion and automation,” says Frank Paul, co-founder and COO of The Plant Company.
The Plant Company hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 22 to celebrate the new space, with Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr, State House Representative Ben Cline, Augusta County Administrator Timothy Fitzgerald, and Rural Development State Director Perry Hickman in attendance.
