Behind the Houseplant: How Fachjan Helped Build Europe's Tropical Spaces

 

After years of unpacking plant deliveries at our Essex barn, it's easy to forget just how far many of these plants have travelled before they reach us. A Monstera sitting in a living room in Manchester, a Kentia Palm in a Hertfordshire office, or a Dracaena in a shopping centre may have travelled thousands of miles before reaching its final destination. Yet most of us rarely stop to think about the people, nurseries, growers, importers and horticultural specialists involved along the way.

As houseplant enthusiasts, we often focus on the final chapter of the story. We admire a beautiful plant in a garden centre, add it to our collection, and find a place for it at home. The journey before that moment is largely invisible.

That is one reason I was keen to speak with the team at Fachjan.

Based in the Netherlands, Fachjan has spent decades working at the heart of the tropical plant industry. Today the company covers around 130,000 square metres and employs approximately 120 people, supplying everything from garden centres and offices to shopping centres, swimming pools, zoos and major public attractions.

The company's roots stretch back to around 1960. Originally a grape-growing business, it later moved into cut flowers before gradually transitioning into tropical plants during the 1980s. What began with relatively simple crops such as Aloe and Epipremnum eventually expanded into the import and cultivation of tropical plants from Central America, Florida and beyond.

Once these plants reach our homes, proper care becomes the next chapter of their journey. Our A–Z Houseplant Care Guides can help you keep them thriving.

For this feature, we spoke with Paul Janssen and members of the Fachjan team involved in sourcing tropical plants, production and major project work across the business.

One project in particular helped shape the business.

In the late 1990s, Fachjan became involved in supplying plants for Zurich Zoo's famous Masoala Rainforest Hall. To meet the demands of the project, the company built larger greenhouses and worked directly with suppliers and clients to source mature tropical trees, some reaching ten metres in height.

The success of the project demonstrated something important. People loved immersive tropical environments. In the years that followed, more zoos, visitor attractions, shopping centres and public spaces invested in large scale tropical displays, creating new opportunities for specialist growers and importers.

Today, Fachjan occupies a fascinating position within the global plant trade. The company propagates some plants itself, imports others from specialist growers around the world, and works closely with long-term suppliers in Central America.

One of the strongest themes that emerged from our conversation was the importance of relationships.

While discussing sourcing trips to Central America, the team shared stories not only about plants but also about the people behind them. In one case, Fachjan helped a grower install an irrigation system, allowing the nursery to increase production while reducing labour costs. In another, the company supported the expansion of production fields in Guatemala. Elsewhere, they invested in infrastructure that allowed growers to produce larger palms for specialist projects.

These stories offer a reminder that the tropical plant industry is ultimately built on people as much as plants.

One particularly memorable story came from a sourcing trip to Guatemala. A volcanic eruption prevented the team's flight from landing, forcing an overnight diversion to Panama. When they finally reached Guatemala, they found communities already rallying to support those affected by the disaster. Despite having very little themselves, local people were donating food, water and possessions to help others in need.

For the Fachjan team, these experiences left a lasting impression.

Perhaps the biggest misconception they encounter concerns where plants come from.

Many consumers assume tropical plants are collected directly from the wild. In reality, the vast majority of plants entering the trade are grown in production fields and nurseries specifically established for cultivation. Growing plants in tropical regions where conditions are naturally favourable is often both more efficient and environmentally sensible than attempting to produce the same plants elsewhere.

Sustainability has also become an increasingly important focus.

Today, Fachjan heats much of its production using geothermal energy, drawing hot water from approximately 2,700 metres below ground. The company has invested in solar panels, operates a closed water system, uses very few chemical treatments and has spent years measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of its products.

When asked about the rare plant boom, the team took a surprisingly measured view.

While many collectors became fascinated by highly variegated plants commanding extraordinary prices during the pandemic, Fachjan largely stayed focused on its long-term strategy. Their view is that markets eventually find equilibrium. As production increases, previously rare plants become more accessible, while attention naturally shifts towards new and different species.

Perhaps the most refreshing answer came when discussing the value of houseplants themselves.

In an era where horticulture is often discussed through the lens of trends, rarity and social media, Paul Janssen offered a much simpler perspective:

"To buy a plant is a positive thing. It's a healthy piece of furniture."

It's a wonderfully straightforward observation, but perhaps that's why it resonates.

Whether a plant arrives from a local nursery or has travelled halfway around the world, it ultimately serves the same purpose: bringing a little more life, beauty and nature into our homes.

And behind every one of those plants is a story far bigger than most of us realise.

A Conversation with the Fachjan Team

How did you first become involved in the world of tropical plants, and what keeps your passion for them alive today?

Fachjan is a family business that began around 1960. Originally, the company grew grapes before later moving into cut flowers. Around 1985, when the second generation took over, the business gradually transitioned into pot plants, initially focusing on species propagated from cuttings, such as Aloe and Epipremnum.

In 1988, we started working with an import company bringing plants from Central America, including Yucca, Dracaena and Schefflera. At the time, Fachjan covered around 25,000 square metres, and imported plants gradually became an increasingly important part of the business.

As demand grew, so did the size of the plants we handled. We began importing larger specimens and eventually built taller greenhouses to accommodate them. A major turning point came with our involvement in the Masoala Rainforest project at Zurich Zoo, which required mature tropical trees and specialist growing facilities.

When the third generation joined the business in 2003, we could see the impact these projects had. We enjoyed operating in a specialist niche where we could work closely with suppliers and customers rather than competing purely on volume. Today, Fachjan covers around 130,000 square metres and employs approximately 120 people.

Fachjan works closely with growers throughout Central America. What are some of the most memorable places, people or experiences you've encountered while travelling?

One experience that stands out happened during a trip to Guatemala. Our flight was unable to land because a volcano had erupted nearby, forcing us to spend the night in Panama before travelling on the following day.

When we finally arrived, we saw first hand how local communities were responding. Although many people had very little themselves, they were collecting food, water and supplies to help those affected by the eruption. It was both humbling and inspiring.

One thing that has always struck us about Central America is the kindness and generosity of the people. We have often been invited into family homes simply to share a meal and spend time together.

Our relationships with suppliers go beyond buying plants. Over the years, we have helped growers invest in irrigation systems, expand production fields and develop infrastructure that allows them to improve efficiency and increase production. In Costa Rica, for example, we helped fund a larger shade structure so that palms could be grown to greater heights for specialist projects.

What's the biggest misconception houseplant enthusiasts have about where their plants come from?

Many people assume that all plants are grown by us from cuttings, or that tropical plants are collected directly from nature.

In reality, most of the larger plants we sell are grown on specialist production fields in Central America, Asia and Florida. They are cultivated specifically for the horticultural trade and are not taken from natural habitats.

Because plants grow much faster in tropical climates, it is often both more economical and environmentally sensible to grow them there and transport them by sea container.

If somebody visited Fachjan for the first time, what do you think would surprise them most?

Most visitors are amazed by the size of some of the plants we handle. They often wonder how a plant that is five metres wide can possibly fit inside a truck or container.

People are also surprised by where these plants end up. While many are destined for garden centres, others are supplied to shopping centres, offices, swimming pools, zoos and major commercial projects throughout Europe and beyond.

Another surprise is our approach to sustainability. Much of our heating now comes from geothermal energy. Together with neighbouring growers, we use hot water sourced from around 2,700 metres below ground, significantly reducing our reliance on natural gas.

Rare plants have become incredibly popular in recent years. How has that changed the industry from your perspective?

To be honest, not very much.

Rare plants became extremely popular during the Covid period and remained fashionable longer than many people expected. However, we have always focused on the long term and continued doing what we have always done.

It was certainly surprising to see some variegated plants selling for one hundred times the price of a normal specimen, but markets eventually find balance.

Are there any plants that collectors seem obsessed with that you don't quite understand, and equally, are there any underrated plants that deserve far more attention?

During Covid, it was fascinating to see the prices some variegated plants achieved. At times, they were selling for extraordinary amounts of money.

Today, those same plants are often available in much larger quantities and at more realistic prices.

Rather than there being underrated plants, we believe popularity often follows availability. As production increases and prices fall, attention shifts elsewhere and different plants become desirable.

As plant lovers, many of our readers care deeply about conservation. How do you balance demand for unusual plants with the need to protect natural habitats and wild populations?

For us, conservation begins with responsible production.

The plants we work with are not taken from nature. They are grown on production fields and in nurseries established specifically for cultivation.

Since 2017, we have measured the carbon footprint of our products and worked continuously to reduce it. Over the years, we have invested in geothermal heating, solar panels, a closed water system and reduced chemical use wherever possible.

Our philosophy has always been that understanding our environmental impact helps us find better ways to produce plants in the future.

You've seen many tropical plants growing in their natural environments. Has anything you've observed in habitat changed the way you think about growing, sourcing or collecting plants?

One challenge we have noticed is that regulations surrounding plant imports continue to become stricter.

At the same time, there is often a perception that horticulture relies heavily on chemicals, gas and energy intensive production. In reality, many growers have made enormous investments in sustainability and environmental improvements.

We believe there is still more work to do in communicating the positive role plants can play. Plants help create healthier indoor environments, reduce stress and bring people closer to nature.

Looking back over the years, what changes have surprised you most?

There are always changes in the market, but from our perspective there have been no dramatic shifts.

The popularity of rare and variegated plants during Covid was perhaps the biggest surprise in recent years, particularly the prices some collectors were willing to pay.

Beyond that, the industry continues to evolve steadily, as it always has.

Finally, what's one thing you wish every houseplant enthusiast understood about the journey a plant takes before arriving in their home?

Buying a plant is a positive thing.

Plants bring life into our homes, improve indoor environments and help people feel more connected to nature.

As we often say, a plant is a healthy piece of furniture.

We'd like to thank Paul Janssen and the wider Fachjan team for sharing their time, experiences and insights with the Happy Houseplants community.

One thing that stayed with us after this conversation is just how much of the houseplant world remains invisible to most of us. We spend our time choosing plants, finding the perfect spot for them at home and learning how to care for them, yet rarely stop to consider the extraordinary network of growers, propagators, importers and specialists working behind the scenes.

What stood out most was not the scale of the business, impressive though that is, but the importance of relationships. Whether discussing long standing partnerships with growers in Central America, helping suppliers invest in irrigation systems and infrastructure, or sharing stories from sourcing trips abroad, it was clear that the tropical plant trade is ultimately built on people as much as plants.

The interview also served as a useful reminder that the vast majority of tropical houseplants are not collected from the wild. They are grown, propagated and transported through a highly specialised global network that many enthusiasts never get the opportunity to see.

Perhaps our favourite quote from the interview was Paul's description of a houseplant as "a healthy piece of furniture". It's a simple phrase, but one that captures something many plant lovers instinctively understand. Plants do more than fill a space. They bring life, character and a connection to nature into our homes.

Conversations like this remind us that every plant has a story long before it reaches a windowsill, and that behind every leaf is a network of passionate people helping bring the natural world a little closer to home.

About Fachjan

Founded around 1960, Fachjan Project Plants is a Dutch family business specialising in tropical plants, specimen plants and large scale interior landscaping projects. Over three generations, the company has evolved from its origins in grape growing and cut flowers into one of Europe's leading specialists in tropical plants.

Today, Fachjan operates approximately 130,000 square metres of greenhouse space and works with growers and suppliers around the world. The company supplies plants for garden centres, offices, shopping centres, swimming pools, zoos and major public attractions across Europe and beyond.

Known for its expertise in large tropical specimens, sustainable production methods and long standing international partnerships, Fachjan occupies a unique position within the global houseplant industry.

Where to Learn More About Fachjan

If you've enjoyed this glimpse behind the scenes of the tropical plant industry, Fachjan shares more about its work, projects and plants through its website and social channels.

Website: https://fachjan.nl/en/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fafachjan/

And next time you walk past a towering palm in a shopping centre, tropical visitor attraction or public space, there's a good chance you'll wonder about the journey it took to get there.

If you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at the plant industry, you might also enjoy exploring the Happy Houseplants blog.

Photographs courtesy of Fachjan and reproduced with permission where applicable.