Who doesn’t know the aquatic plants from water plant nursery R. Moerings? But how exactly does growing aquatic plants work? I’m extremely curious. Dolf Verbakel lives next to the company and has been working with his hands in the water for over thirty years. On a sunny spring day, he shows what it takes to become the European market leader in aquatic plants. You can read all about it in this EXTRA EXTENSIVE grower’s report.
I step into a bright, modern hall. Around me, trolleys are ready with orders that will be delivered this afternoon, including to Javado. At this point, it looks like any other nursery, but that changes as soon as we enter the greenhouses, because that’s where the game with water begins.
I’ll get to that later. First, I’m curious about how it all started, so I ask Dolf.
In the early 1990s, founder Ronald Moerings worked for his uncle, who had a small aquatic plant nursery. That’s where he learned the trade, and he was immediately captivated. At that time, there were many small aquatic plant nurseries, but Ronald had a vision: with cleaned pots and a clear presentation on the shop floor, aquatic plants wouldn’t just be muddy pots of sludge ordered only by landscapers and true pond enthusiasts. Instead, everyone could enjoy aquatic plants. “A water plant in every hand” remains the motto to this day.
He and I started our own nursery together—two ambitious young men ready to conquer the market. He dared to invest in a well-thought-out garden centre concept, and it turned out to be a success. Soon, large customers came knocking. We had everything needed for success, except the space for a larger nursery. What we did next was unique. Far away in the south of the Netherlands, we found the perfect location for our plans. Together with five employees, we made the move. Houses were sold, and wives quit their jobs to build a new life elsewhere in the Netherlands. That shows real passion for aquatic plants, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, our remarkable story doesn’t end here. In 2015, the ever-positive and energetic Ronald Moerings tragically lost his life in a traffic accident. An incredible shock. Suddenly, I lost my friend, and Fiona lost her husband. Moreover, Fiona unexpectedly became the owner of a large nursery. The way she handled this was truly admirable. With courage, dedication, and the same positivity as Ronald, she emerged as a skilled entrepreneur. You can understand how proud we are to now be the pioneering European market leader.
Absolutely! When you say pioneering, what do you mean?
We are highly motivated to honour our status. Of course, our product quality must be top-notch. That takes a lot of effort. Our assortment is incredibly broad, and to obtain the right young plants, we must be versatile. Some plants are produced via tissue culture, others through cuttings, some by division, and finally, some are grown from seed.
Sustainability is also a major focus. We don’t require much heat, except for the water lily greenhouse. We cultivate completely peat-free, collect rainwater for reuse in a circular system, and employ special creatures to help with crop protection. Most are too small to see with the naked eye, but I have a surprise for you. Follow me.
We walk through the greenhouses and start at a large section that is thirty centimetres deep but currently holds no water. Here, the weekly stock of the entire assortment is ready to be picked for daily orders.
On Sunday and Wednesday evenings, we submerge this section so the plants can fully absorb water and enter the supply chain soaking wet.
Next, we enter another greenhouse. Here, thousands of water lilies stand in enormous sections submerged in water. That’s when I see what Dolf meant: brightly coloured ducks are swimming on the water!
Our ducks filter algae from the water, and if a small worm surfaces, they eat that too! The water here is shallower than you might expect—nymphaeas are only a few centimetres below the surface. This way, the plants receive enough light to start growing, and the stems to the leaves remain short. When harvesting and selling nymphaeas with long stems, there’s a high risk of breakage. Once the consumer places the plant on the pond floor, it quickly adapts.
Meanwhile, cultivation specialist Danny joins us as we walk through the greenhouses where marsh and oxygenating plants grow in square aquatic plant pots.
We use an ebb-and-flow system. These plants can grow in a pond under a layer of water, but to cultivate them, we play a game with water. As you see now, they are on a dry floor. In winter, we keep them relatively dry. As the season progresses, we gradually increase their time in water. During the day, the floor is always dry. This keeps the nursery clean and tidy, preventing a muddy mess. Additionally, it makes the plants stronger.
What are the best-selling aquatic plants?
Oxygenating plants are the foundation. Water lilies are, of course, indispensable. Equisetum is an absolute bestseller. Our themed six-packs sell very well. Floating plants. Grasses like Scirpus and Typha. Irises… actually, anything that flowers. Some plants are rapidly gaining popularity, such as special Colocasia varieties and aquatic orchids.
In the processing hall, we arrive at the tables where plants are prepared for shipment. This is labour-intensive work. The pots are cleaned, and all unwanted growth in the pots is removed. Each plant then receives the corresponding label.
Here, you can see what we envisioned over thirty years ago coming to life. We provide clean products with a beautiful, clear presentation. Any garden centre can sell these—you don’t even need a special water plant display. We supply underwater plants, such as water lilies, in a plastic container with a shallow layer of water. As for the other plants, as mentioned, we deliver them ‘soaking wet,’ meaning they can also be displayed on a regular garden centre table. Anyone can do it, but… some garden centres achieve impressive sales. They go the extra mile.
I’m curious—what’s their secret?
In short, they have an enthusiastic team member in the department with knowledge of water plants. This person ensures that customers leave not only with the right plants but also with additional pond products. We offer our own 100% natural range of products to improve water quality. We have special soil for water plants and water lilies. We have water testing kits. We have plant baskets, liners, floating rings, and more.
A garden centre with a well-stocked shelf can, for every £5,000 in water plant sales, also generate around £5,000 in related products. The ratio is roughly one to one!
We regularly provide training workshops for garden centre staff. At our last event, 700 people attended. We explain that it all starts with asking the customer to bring a small bottle of pond water. The staff test it on the spot, and from there, they provide tailored advice on the right plants, treatments, baskets, and soil.
Of course, this approach isn’t for every garden centre, but it’s definitely something to consider—we have all the necessary products available. And even for smaller garden centres, we offer great options, such as ready-made patio bowls, allowing customers to enjoy their own mini pond, even on a balcony.
Which brings us back to our motto: A water plant in every hand!
Water is the most important addition you can make to your garden
A pond works wonders for biodiversity
Water is the most important addition you can make to your garden to enhance biodiversity. Ponds provide a refuge for many animals, from amphibians like frogs and newts to aquatic insects, garden birds, mammals, and flying insects. It usually takes only a few weeks for the first visitors to appear.
Many animals, including bees, birds, and hedgehogs, use ponds to drink. They rest on water lilies, stones, or other aquatic plants. But water is not just for drinking. Birds love to bathe in the pond to keep themselves clean and regulate their body temperature during hot periods. Honeybees collect water to cool their hive in summer and maintain the right humidity levels. They also use it to prepare food for young bees in the hive.
At R. Moerings, they have noticed that since the Covid period, ponds have become very popular. The natural garden, filled with lush plants, is a major trend, and a biodiverse garden is not complete without a pond. As a result, the number of water plants sold has increased and has remained at a high level since 2022.
Consumer website
Moerings has created a comprehensive consumer website: www.pondtrends.com. Here, you can explore the range of plants, learn how to create a pond, find out how to care for it through the seasons, and check the correct pH, KH, and GH values.
