On fields and home gardens, every flower bed and potted plant is cherished and cared for with the expectation of bringing brilliant spring colors to every family, while bringing a significant source of income for flower growers at the end of the year.

From early morning, when the mist still hangs, flower and ornamental plant growers are already in the garden. Some meticulously prune branches and leaves, some check for pests, some fertilize and adjust watering so that plants grow at the right pace. daisys, lilies, dahlias, ornamental peach blossoms, kumquats... each type has its own characteristics, requiring careful and different care. Just neglecting a small step, flowers can bloom early or late, leading to the effort of the whole season being almost lost because the value of flowers drops seriously.

In Thanh Nưa commune, one of the localities with a large area of flower and ornamental plant cultivation; the family of Nguyễn Thị Bảy grows more than 2,000m2 of various flowers and ornamental plants serving the Tết market such as roses, daisys, lilies, ornamental peach blossoms, and kumquats. On the neatly planned garden, each type of flower and ornamental plant is arranged in an area suitable for its growth characteristics, both convenient for care and ensuring output and quality when sold.

According to Bảy, growing Tết flowers and ornamental plants requires meticulousness and close monitoring every day. With roses and daisies, it is necessary to focus on pruning and pest control so that the plants flower evenly with beautiful colors; lilies must have watering and temperature adjusted to avoid early blooming; while peach blossoms and kumquats need careful calculation of the time to strip leaves and shape so that the plants bloom and bear fruit on the right occasion. “Each type has a way of care, it cannot be done casually. Just missing the rhythm affects the whole season,” Bảy shared.

Thanks to accumulating experience over many years and proactively investing in soil improvement and selecting suitable varieties, Bảy’s flower garden grows well every year, providing stable products. Many traders and people in the region often come to order early, especially daisies, lilies, and ornamental kumquats. Income from the Tết flower and ornamental plant season becomes an important economic source, helping the family have conditions to cover year-end expenses and reinvest for the next season.

In recent years, the demand for flowers and ornamental plants during Tết of the people has become increasingly diverse. Not only stopping at traditional flowers, the market also welcomes many new varieties and rich designs, suitable for many spaces from houses and agencies to service and tourism areas. Grasping that trend, flower growers in the province are also flexible in selecting varieties, both keeping traditional flowers and testing new varieties to meet tastes and improve economic value.

However, growing Tết flowers is not easy. Unlike many crops, flowers and ornamental plants are greatly affected by the weather. Just a prolonged severe cold spell or unseasonal rain can affect growth, reducing flower quality. Therefore, besides traditional experience, many households have proactively applied technical advances, using net houses, nylon covers, and adjusting reasonable nutrition regimes to limit risks and ensure flowers bloom at the right time.

At Bó village, Thanh Nưa commune, Lò Thị Nương is one of the experienced ornamental peach growers. This year, her family grows about 200 peach roots, focusing mainly on shaped peach trees and round canopy peach trees to serve the people’s Tết needs. At this time, Nương is pruning leaves, bending branches, and shaping the trees, while closely monitoring weather developments to adjust the care schedule appropriately. According to her, the leaf stripping stage plays a particularly important role, deciding whether the peach blossoms bloom on the right occasion or not. If stripped early, flowers easily bloom before Tết; if too late, peach blossoms may not bloom in time, reducing value.

Sticking with the peach growing profession for many years, Nương shared that growing ornamental peach blossoms requires more perseverance and meticulousness than many other crops. From selecting varieties and soil preparation to creating shapes and postures, all need careful calculation. Besides, the initial investment cost is quite large, the care time is long, while risks due to weather are always potential. However, if peach blossoms bloom beautifully, on the right occasion, and the selling price is stable, this is still an economic development direction bringing quite good efficiency for many households. Currently, some small traders have contacted to order peach blossoms for the upcoming Tết.

Production reality shows that, despite many hardships and risks, the profession of growing flowers and ornamental plants still attracts more and more households to participate. Because, compared to traditional crops, flowers and ornamental plants yield higher value on the same area of land, especially on the occasion of Tết. When the market is stable, growers can proactively calculate the season, allocate costs and care labor reasonably to improve efficiency. It is the acumen in grasping needs, combining production experience accumulated through each season that has helped many households boldly invest, gradually considering flowers and ornamental plants as a long-term economic development direction, contributing to improving income.

According to calculations by flower growers, the economic efficiency from flowers and ornamental plants is significantly higher than many traditional crops. On average, with about 1,000m2 of arable land, each flower and ornamental plant season can bring in revenue from VND 20 - 25 million, depending on the type of plant and time of consumption. Households that invest methodically, choose suitable varieties, master techniques, and have stable output also reach an income level of VND 100 - 150 million per year.

When Tết draws near, the pace of life in the Điện Biên basin becomes even more hurried. Flower growers are both busy caring for plants and anxiously waiting for favorable weather and a stable market for a Tết flower season full of joy. From diligent hands in the fields and gardens, the spring colors are nurtured and cherished every day. So that, when Tết comes, pots of flowers and ornamental plants from the basin area will follow buyers to bring the scent and color of spring to every home.