Overcoming challenges as a poinsettia grower in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is known for its beautiful beaches, the colonial architecture of the Old San Juan and of course the Coqui frogs.
In this island of 110 miles long and 40 miles wide, there are different kinds of climates, from tropical to mild weather in the mountains. The municipality of Adjuntas is located in the west side of the Central Mountain range; for its mild climate, in this location there are a lot of nurseries, and Ornamentales de Adjuntas, owned by Diomedes Plaza and family, is one of them.
Diomedes Plaza is a great example of persistence and love for plants. Since he was young, he has showed an interest for horticulture and he began to study at the Residential School of Agriculture in Adjuntas. While he was a student, he started to work in a nursery in Adjuntas, P. R.
After a while, he realized that he wanted to dedicate his life to the production of plants, his passion. After finishing his studies in horticulture, he saw the need for independence, but his financial situation didn't allow it. Diomedes decided to look for another job and began to distribute copies of two different newspapers very early in the morning, and then went to work at the nursery. He performed those jobs for eight years.
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