Consumer watch: What your customers will be asking for

Retail garden center operators, consider this your official alert: The February 2012 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine will feature a new plant and a new plant packaging idea that its readers -- your customers -- are likely to want.

The plant is a pink aglaonema (top photo)  from Costa Farms. It will be in the magazine's Garden Know-How section.

The plant idea is featured in a story on growing early-season bloomers in charming containers -- and it seems very easy for a retailer to package plants in compelling little presentations like this (bottom photo). The magazine's website, bhg.com, is also carrying an online feature about early-season bloomers. Check here to put yourself ahead of that curve.

To help our readers be on the lookout for plants and products customers are likely to be seeking in 2012, we are partnering with the National Green Centre and Better Homes & Gardens, and will post regular alerts about items featured in Better Homes & Gardens and on bhg.com.