Kwekerreportage: Kwekerij Mostert
Something happened at this family business that caused their product range to expand significantly and their growing area to increase considerably. Want to know what happened? Read on.
Hi Ruben, where are we now?
This is the location my grandfather moved to in 1961. I come from a true growers’ family. My great-great-grandfather started growing open-field crops 150 years ago. So, the roots of our business run very deep. This is also where we developed our own famous Schefflera varieties, such as the Schefflera Gerda, Charlotte and Melanie. To this day, this is still where we happily grow our Scheffleras. Even though we’ve become known to a wider audience for our other assortment, the Schefflera remains a stable and rewarding crop for us.
How do you explain the success of the Schefflera?
These plants have proven not only to have a fresh green look, but also to be strong and easy to care for. Consumers have had positive experiences with them. That’s true for garden centres too—there’s very little loss. That’s why almost every garden centre stocks Schefflera.
We leave the Schefflera greenhouse and drive to their second greenhouse. Here, the product range that Mostert Nursery has become famous for in recent years is revealed. Monstera Thai Constellation, Alocasia Frydek variegata, Anthurium veitchii and many more botanical gems that are a feast for the eyes. The greenhouse is spotless and the uniform crops are thriving with health.
Your plants, recognisable by their round hanging labels, are highly sought-after. How did you manage to achieve this success?
That’s a great story. Everyone now knows how keen people are to show off their rare plants on social media. But do you remember which plant was the first real Instagram hype? That was the Pilea peperomioides, also known as the Chinese Money Plant. And guess what? That happened to be the plant we were growing alongside our Scheffleras. Around 2018, my youngest brother created a social media campaign around the Pilea for a school project—and what do you think? It brought in a massive number of online followers. Prices soared, and we also discovered a variegated Pilea. We were able to sell it for incredibly high prices.
You can imagine our excitement—and you should know that two more important factors came into play. Firstly, our father had handed over the company to my three brothers and me. So, with four young and ambitious guys, we had both the drive and capacity to spread our wings and look beyond Scheffleras. Guided by the demands of the online plant community, we expanded our range and started cultivating the special plants that were in such high demand. Secondly, the COVID pandemic hit. At first, we were shocked—we couldn’t deliver for weeks and had to throw plants away. But then, the pandemic turned out to be a huge boost for the Urban Jungle lifestyle. People were suddenly spending more time at home and found connection through social media. The number of plant lovers skyrocketed. Prices went through the roof, and our plants were practically flying out the door. What a boost for our business! We were able to scale up production and now operate from four locations where we not only grow plants but also produce our own cuttings from mother plants. One of my brothers even set up a separate e-commerce business. It’s a completely independent company, but it still benefits the nursery.
How so?
That consumer-facing webshop is all about connecting with people. We know a lot about the European target audience and have a dedicated customer service team. Every month, we hold a commercial meeting to discuss market demand.
The extreme demand for houseplants we saw during the pandemic has now levelled off. How are you dealing with that?
We know the market inside out, which helps us steer the assortment effectively—but we go much further. We record everything about each plant. How much time does it take to pot a cutting? How long is the cultivation period? When do we need to space them out? What are the losses? We track it all. As a result, we know the true cost price of each variety. We let go of the underperformers and can offer the best-performing varieties at very competitive prices. These are also the plants that the average consumer can care for successfully.
On top of that, we always keep a sharp eye out for stunning new plants. The Alocasia Dragon Scale has been a favourite for years, but the newly added Alocasia Dragon Scale Mint is truly a botanical gem. I can already reveal that there are more exciting discoveries on the way.
Finally, what’s the relationship with Javado like?
Javado and Mostert are a perfect match. Whenever I see a Javado order going out our doors, I’m reminded of why we do this. This is what we love and what we’re good at. Our full range is being ordered every single day. Customers handpick their favourite species in small quantities.
I also want to give a shout-out to Fabian, the green plant buyer at Javado. His knowledge of Urban Jungle plants is immense. During the hectic COVID years, he gave us valuable advice—and thanks in part to him, we’ve now developed, alongside our well-known 12cm range, a 6cm range of mini plants.
Published on: 1 October 2025