Are you searching for a way to increase plant longevity AND decrease your workload? Wrapping a plant’s rootball using a quarter-inch thick piece of foam inserted into a water-tight, no-hole liner is a practice many Interiorscapers are using to accomplish this.

This foam and liner combination also adds stability and integrity to the rootball. You should fill with water to what seems like a third of the way to the top of the plant (see graphic).

This graphic illustrates how a simple foam liner benefits plant health

The plant hair-roots seek out the oxygen trapped in the foam.

“Despite the fact that the rootball is saturated, oxygen exchange is occurring within the hair-roots of the plant at the point of contact.” said Fred Scott, Vice President of NewPro Corp. “This gives the interiorscaper the luxury of more time between watering visits and extends the longevity for plants such as Peace Lillies, Ficus or Palms.”

You may not choose to sub-irrigate some plants, therefore the foam/liner combination may not be needed.

“By the time you need to replace the foam insert, it’s time to replace the plant anyway,” Fred added. “The presence of the foam will maintain the integrity of the rootball and help you avoid its disintegration all over your client’s carpet when it’s time to change or remove it.” (more…)

Interiorscapers possess a variety of talents. Of course they understand how to install plants and related accessories to keep them alive, as well as horticultural knowledge and design skills. Yet during the holidays, they must wear many more hats (carpenter, electrician and even engineer). This all must be accomplished while avoiding neglect of existing non-holiday installations.

During the holidays, customers, ironically, are oftentimes less patient and forgiving. Clients are more demanding, and your chances to “get it right” are fewer. Even the best intention to tap into holiday cheer can create situations better suited for Halloween!

NewPro Corp Vice President Fred Scott, a former purchaser and manager of installations at one of the largest exterior and interior landscape supply companies in the US, has seen holiday planning go well and, not-so-well.

One strategy that works well with poinsettias is selling a pot with each plant. It saves time on installation and clean-up. A decorative container, rather than simple foil or even a speed cover keeps the poinsettia more stable and therefore healthier throughout the holiday. (more…)

Interiorscapers who will be knee-deep in garland and Christmas trees late in November and December sometimes earn a chunk of their annual income during the week or two of holiday installations.

Veterans who profit from “Holidayscaping” know pulling off a successful installation means planning for it months in advance. After all, the 200 poinsettias you will be placing in your clients’ lobbies are taking root at the growers right now.

Fred Scott, Vice President of NewPro Corp., is a former purchaser and manager of installations at one of the largest exterior and interior landscape supply companies in the US. He’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly the holidays can bring to Interiorscapers.

“People who install artificial Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and poinsettias are beginning now to plan for Christmas” Fred said. “The first step is just diagraming what each client needs and then taking a simple inventory of what you have on hand and what you will need to match or expand your service for what client.”

That service includes the non-living – lights. It is safe to assume not every bulb survived the off-season or will survive this year’s installation rush. Many interiorscapers just purchase a set percentage – say 20, 30 or even 40 percent of their light inventory lighting so they don’t have to count every bulb or go shopping for them at the last minute.

While there are many ways to store and transport artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands, one method is preparing the display in advance at your location. This is accomplished by decorating and then shrink-wrapping the pieces at your location before transport and installation at the client site.

“That way, once the tree is placed in the location, all the (Interiorscaper) needs to do is unfurl the shrink-wrap and fluff the tree,” Fred said. (more…)

With Father’s Day just three days away, I find myself reflecting upon family relationships. I am a father of three awesome kids and husband to a wife who loves me (most of the time). I am also thankful for the example my own dad has provided and still try to follow (again, most of the time).

Family is a concept we all have experienced on a personal level, but is it really possible in the often-impersonal world of business? We here at NewPro believe it is, and our loyal customers remind us of that every day.

I’ve lost count of the number of times Tamara, our customer service rep., has asked a customer “What kind of project do you have going on this week?” or hearing Prish, also in customer service, laugh out loud (and trust me it’s loud) at a humorous story someone shared from three time zones away.
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It’s safe to say that Netflix, the mail-order DVD-rental company, has become a huge blockbuster, so to speak. Millions of movie-lovers reserve DVDs online, which the company then mail to the subscriber’s door a day or two after the reservation is made.

NewPro's own Tony may have found a Rockafiller created from "A Streetcar Named 'Desire'" DVD!

As you know, DVD’s aren’t the most durable movie medium, so what does Netflix do with DVD’s that are no longer watchable or need to be recycled? Send them to NewPro! While some NewPro employees might appreciate trying to rescue a damaged copy of “Casablanca” or “Avatar,” these classics can find new life in your interiorscape projects.
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