Expectations for the Tet flower season

Ornamental flower production at Ms. Lan's household in Truong Xuan commune.

Take good care of the flowers.

Farmers in Can Tho City have been growing many types of ornamental flowers for the 2026 Lunar New Year. Among them, many long-lasting flower varieties, especially chrysanthemums and petunias, were planted months ago and are now thriving. Farmers are actively caring for them, particularly pruning and shaping the plants to create beautiful potted flowers.

Mr. Phan Van Khoanh, a flower grower in Tan Long A flower village, Phong Dien commune, said: “Preparing for this year's Lunar New Year, I planted 2,000 pots of Lisianthus, an increase of 500 pots compared to last year. The flowers have grown tall and are budding. I am currently pruning away unnecessary buds and shaping the plants. However, due to the weather, many types of pests and diseases are quite complex, so I proactively check them regularly to protect and care for the flowers in the best way possible.” Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu, residing in Tan Long A hamlet, Phong Dien commune, shared: “I planted over 1,000 pots of various flowers, mainly chrysanthemums, crystal chrysanthemums, and velvet flowers. This year, growing flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year) has been somewhat challenging due to unfavorable weather conditions, high labor costs, and the high prices of many input materials. However, thanks to years of experience in flower cultivation and careful attention to care, my flower garden is thriving, promising a successful harvest. My family believes that growing ornamental flowers is a 'labor-intensive' endeavor, so we haven't hired additional workers to keep costs as low as possible.”

Recently, unseasonal rains and unusually cold weather have created many disadvantages for ornamental flower production. Many input materials have increased in price, driving up the cost of growing flowers. However, thanks to proactive care, the ornamental flowers grown by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ho's family in Thoi An area, Thoi An Dong ward, are developing quite well and are expected to bloom in time for Tet (Lunar New Year). According to Mr. Ho, for the 2026 Tet flower season, he has grown 3,000 pots of flowers including chrysanthemum, Taiwanese chrysanthemum, Korean chrysanthemum, periwinkle, sunflower, carnation, lucky bamboo, and marigold. This is an increase of about 400 pots compared to last year. Last Tet, his 2,600 pots of flowers sold quite well, all sold out by the 28th day of the lunar month. With his efforts to create beautiful flower pots at suitable prices, he believes that sales will continue to be favorable this year.

Reduce costs, mitigate risks.

Despite concerns about declining purchasing power due to austerity measures, many flower growers in Can Tho City have maintained their scale, and even increased, the production of ornamental plants to serve the Tet market this year. However, to mitigate risks, most households that have increased the quantity of ornamental plants have established connections with distributors and have the best possible sales plans. In addition, these households are focusing on growing mid-range and affordable ornamental plants with reasonable prices that match consumer demand and preferences, ensuring easy and convenient sales. Simultaneously, they are promoting solutions to reduce production costs and create competitively priced products. Specifically, they are increasing the application of scientific and technological advancements, using more organic fertilizers, and implementing cost-effective and efficient fertilizer and pesticide usage methods. They are also proactively adopting a "labor-intensive" production model, minimizing hiring of labor to maximize cost savings.

Mr. Le Van Sau, residing in Thoi Phong A hamlet, Thoi Lai commune, stated: “The demand for marigolds for Tet (Lunar New Year) in the locality is quite high, and many customers have placed orders in advance, so this year my family continues to grow about 1,200 pots of this flower. By maximizing the use of our family's available labor in planting and caring for the flowers and not hiring additional workers, the production costs have been quite low, allowing me to lower the selling price while still ensuring profit.” According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, residing in Truong Tho 1 hamlet, Truong Xuan commune, her family has been growing ornamental flowers for Tet for the past five years, including marigolds, cockscomb, and ornamental corn plants. These items are quite affordable, sold at the garden or delivered to households in the locality for 50,000-70,000 VND per pair, making them easy to sell. Her family also puts in the labor to grow flowers and utilizes local straw as fertilizer, resulting in lower investment costs and higher profit potential compared to households that have to hire laborers.

In Can Tho City, ornamental plants for the 2026 Tet (Lunar New Year) market are grown in almost all communes and wards. The concentration is particularly high in Long Tuyen, Thoi An Dong, Thoi Long, and Thot Not wards, and Phong Dien and Thanh Xuan communes. According to the Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-Department of the Can Tho City Department of Agriculture and Environment, as of January 9, 2026, farmers in Can Tho City had planted approximately 1.8 million potted ornamental plants of various types. Many households are continuing to cultivate more short-term ornamental plants, so the number of potted plants for Tet is expected to increase in the coming time.

Text and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ky-vong-vu-hoa-tet-a196802.html