Netherlands: OK Plant expands with 2.5 ha greenhouse

OK Plant is expanding their company with a 2.5 hectare greenhouse that is being build right next to the current company. A lot of preparatory work has already been done in the last few weeks: the poles have gone into the ground, the foundation and pipes have been laid and now it’s really starting to look like a greenhouse. And when it’s up - the aim is early 2017 – it will be filled with young Phalaenopsis plants.

"Because that’s what the building is primarily intended for," according to Thijs van der Valk, jointly responsible for sales at OK Plant. "We want to offer our customers more continuity and better be able to meet demand. It’s not so much the intent to offer more species - we have about 120 and we want to more or less keep it that way - but we see room for larger volumes. And more surface is needed for that."

When the greenhouse is up will it be entirely dedicated to the propagation of young plants, potting and wider setting. In the existing greenhouse the plants will then enter the cold phase. The existing barn will be adapted and used as packing/softening area. So internal transport will run from new to old. According to planning the first additional volumes should be produced as of the end of next year.

OK Plant provides all orchids under its own brand Little Kolibri Orchids. This includes five different series: Collection violet, white, pink current range; Big Sensation, with flowers up to 10 cm diameter; Liberty, with four branched that do not require supporting sticks; Exclusive, with separate flower drawings; and Victory Falls, with separate curved branches that, in fact, create the idea of a waterfall. In addition, two seasonal products are grown in the garden Campanula Addenda, Platycodon, Aster, Cyclamen, Primula Touch Me, Paphiopedilum.

By realizing larger volumes the company also hopes to better serve the (end) customer at store level. "We are working on several concepts for our (end) customers. We’re also pursuing added value and ceramics and try to let the mix and match principle begin on the shop floor. The consumer can then compose his own arrangement, thereby creating more value."

The greenhouse is being built by Technokas. Photos and updates are regularly shared on OK Plant’s Facebook page [link].