Plants are their passion  

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Dick Mous turned his hobby into a career when he established a company specialising in aquarium plants in 1965 in Vinkeveen. Since 1996 the company's fortunes have been guided by his daughter, Esther Mous, and Frank Riechelman, both of whom have worked for Aquaflora for many years.
Huge range of aquatic plantsIn 1980, Aquaflora was divided into two different companies, which together employ 50 people. This staff complement increases to as many as 80 workers in the season. Aquaflora Aquarium BV concentrates on aquarium plants, while Aquaflora Vinkeveen BV specialises in pond plants and coldwater fish. The fish are imported from various breeders in Europe, Asia and the USA, but the company grows the majority of its plants itself, producing 80 per cent of its aquarium plants and 90 per cent of the pond plants.Although pond plants were first included in the range in the mid-1970s, the pond sector including coldwater fish now accounts for 55 per cent of the company's overall sales. Around 350 different pond plant species are stocked, including roughly 50 to 60 types of water lilies and 30 varieties of submerged plants; the rest are marginal or floating plants. In addition to its own propagation facilities, the company can obtain plants from breeders in the region and its own business in China, where various types of water lilies, lotus plants and pond plants are produced.The stock of aquarium plants comprises approximately 200 varieties, which are sold depending on type as pot plants, bunched plants and loose plants, or in terracotta pots. The company is currently experiencing considerable demand for aquarium plants growing on wood or stone in particular. Other plants that are in vogue at present are the new Echinodorus varieties and foreground plants such as Pogestemon helferi. Anubis continues to enjoy great popularity and remains the undisputed no. 1 in plant sales.Terrarium plants have also developed into an interesting niche market in view of the Europe-wide boom in reptiles. Aquaflora offers 25 different species in this segment, including various types of Myriophyllum, Nomaphila and Hygrophila.
Export business is increasingly importantExports account for over 60 per cent of Aquaflora's sales. Its principal customers include the neighbouring states of Germany and France, plus Scandinavia, Italy, Austria and the USA. The company's proximity to Europe's biggest flower auction in Aalsmeer facilitates swift dispatch…