The Plant Company expands greenhouse space for Proven Winners leafjoy houseplants

To meet the growing demand for Proven Winners leafjoy houseplants, houseplant grower The Plant Company has added five acres of high-tech greenhouse space to its operation.

The expansion enables the company to effectively double its annual output and increase labor efficiency by about 20%.

The new growing space contains the ideal infrastructure to continue expanding both the liner and finished plant sides of the business. Proven Winners reports it has seen increased demand for the leafjoy littles line, as well as H2O and Terraform Terrarium products.

“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 to 15% and concentrates the handling of plants for more efficient sticking, sorting and shipping.

The project is also improving energy expenditures, with a PAR Perfect shade curtain and double energy curtain reducing electric inputs and 100% recirculation of irrigation water reducing 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. And 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.