The largest gladiolus flower village in Dong Nai is 'holding its breath' as ​​it watches every day for the Tet season.

The largest gladiolus flower village in Dong Nai is entering a crucial stage; flower growers must monitor the weather and regulate irrigation water to ensure the flowers bloom at the right time to serve the Lunar New Year market.

These days, the market for Tet (Lunar New Year) flowers in 2026 is starting to get busy, with gladiolus, a familiar flower on altars and in the living rooms of every family, being carefully tended by gardeners in Dong Nai to ensure it blooms in time for the occasion.

The largest gladiolus growing area in Dong Nai. Photo: Hoang Anh

In Xuan Loc commune, the largest gladiolus growing area in Dong Nai province, the atmosphere of production is bustling. In the flower fields, people are busy tending to the plants, adjusting irrigation water, and closely monitoring each row of flowers to ensure their growth progress and meet the market demand for Tet (Lunar New Year).

According to gardeners, despite being a regularly consumed flower during the Lunar New Year, gladiolus still faces many risks. Even slight changes in weather or the appearance of pests and diseases can cause the flowers to bloom too early or too late, resulting in significant losses.

"This type of flower is very 'fussy'; to sell it at a high price during Tet (Lunar New Year), growers have to carefully plan everything from planting, fertilizing, and watering to pest and disease control," a gardener said.

Mr. Ut poses with his gladiolus garden, which is almost ready for harvest for the Lunar New Year. Photo: Hoang Anh

Mr. Tong Van Ut (66 years old, of the Cho Ro ethnic group, residing in Trung Son hamlet, Xuan Loc commune) said that the time from planting to harvesting gladiolus flowers is about 75 days. Therefore, farmers usually have to sow the seeds around the 10th day of the 10th lunar month to ensure timely supply for the Lunar New Year market.

"Weather plays a huge role in determining quality and selling price. If there's too much sunshine, the flowers will bloom early; prolonged rain easily leads to root and leaf diseases. If detected late, the entire flower field can be lost," Mr. Ut said.

Locals say that traders start buying gladiolus flowers around the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, with the busiest period leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). Early-blooming flowers are harvested and sold first, but the price is only average. Closer to Tet, gladiolus prices usually increase sharply, fluctuating around 100,000 VND per bunch (10 stems), depending on size and quality.

Farmers point out the signs of weakness that gladioli often experience. Photo: Hoang Anh

This year, many flower growers in Xuan Loc commune are hoping for a bumper crop of gladiolus flowers and good prices, given the stable market demand during Tet (Lunar New Year). According to the growers, if the weather is favorable in the days leading up to Tet, the flowers will bloom evenly, with long stems and vibrant colors, so the selling price could remain high, providing a source of income for the people to have a prosperous Tet.

Mr. Dinh Van Tin (Xuan Loc commune) said that this year his family planted more than 2 acres of gladiolus flowers to serve the Tet market. According to Mr. Tin, with nearly 10 years of experience working with this type of flower, the gladiolus garden is developing on schedule, and the harvest is expected to coincide with Tet, when the selling price is usually highest.

"At this point, we're just hoping for stable weather. If the flowers bloom simultaneously, with straight stems and vibrant colors, traders will buy them quickly and the price will be more reasonable," Mr. Tin said.

Currently, Xuan Loc commune has about 30 hectares dedicated to cultivating gladiolus flowers at the foot of Chua Chan mountain. The harvested flowers not only meet the needs within the province but are also purchased by traders and transported to Ho Chi Minh City and many other locations in the South. During the peak season leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the flower-growing area is always bustling with trucks constantly coming and going to transport flowers for sale.

Locals have to spray pesticides to ensure flowers bloom profusely for the Lunar New Year market. Photo: Hoang Anh

According to Mr. Phan Cao Lam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Loc commune, local people have been involved with gladiolus cultivation for more than two decades, considering it a key crop for the Lunar New Year market. In recent years, the commune has gradually encouraged people to switch from traditional gladiolus varieties to hybrid gladiolus varieties originating from Lam Dong province, helping to improve productivity and economic efficiency.

“The local authorities are orienting the development of gladiolus flower cultivation towards improving product quality and gradually stabilizing output for the Tet market. Simultaneously, the commune organizes technical training courses and supports access to loan capital so that people can confidently invest and expand production,” Mr. Lam shared.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lang-hoa-lay-on-lon-nhat-dong-nai-nin-tho-canh-tung-ngay-cho-vu-tet-2488420.html