Poor weather and the recession are being blamed for the loss reported at this year's Ellerslie International Flower Show.

The show made a loss of $88,000 after turning a profit of $224,000 in its first year in Christchurch in 2009.

Visitor numbers dropped from 75,000 to 57,000.

But Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says given the weather and the economic situation it was "an amazing success".

He says there is no cost to ratepayers because they have been able to offset this year's loss with last year's profit.

The show injected almost $15 million into the local economy. That is about $5 million down on last year.