December 2018: Christmas preparations and more...

December is the month for Christmas preparations, so again several stories on the results and expectations of several Christmas crops. But more happened this month. For example: Dutch orchid grower got the biggest order ever for an Indian wedding, Ball Seed opened a new R&D facility in Bogota, Cyclone Gaja affects coco industry, and David Austin passes away.

Floral holidays with edible roses

A luxury Christmas dinner with a floral touch or festive toasting on the new year with a colorful glass of champagne. Rose growers Rodewijk focus fully on the holidays with their edible roses 'Rosalicious'. "The biggest difference is not in the cultivation, but in the sales", says Marius Rodewijk. "Each type…

Value of hydrangeas stays behind

Colombia flower exports: over 5 percent increase in volume and value

So far, so good. This probably crosses your mind first when looking at the export numbers of the Colombian flowers, shared by Asocolflores . When comparing the total exports from January till September of 2018 with that of the same period in 2017, one can see a 6.7% increase in volume and an 5.5% increase in value.…

Colombian growers preparing for El Niño

"Fenomeno del Niño is expected to affect La Sabana de Bogota from the end of December", Colombian grower Pablo Bazinni of La Plazoleta tells us. For more than three months, it is expected to become very dry, particularly in February and March, and growers are preparing for what is to come. "We already see it happening now in…

URALCHEM expands its presence in Africa

URALCHEM intends to expand cooperation with Kenya in the field of mineral fertiliser production. Dmitry Mazepin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC URALCHEM, visited Nairobi on 1-2 December 2018, where he met with President of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. The main objective of the two-day working trip of URALCHEM's management is business…

Alexander van Hoekelen, Van Hoekelen Greenhouses:

US (PA): "Better Christmas Cactus season compared to last year"

The Christmas Cactus season at Van Hoekelen Greenhouses in Kline Township (PA) has come to an end, and second generation Alexander van Hoekelen is pleased with this year's results. "Due to the combination of the upgrades we did, the quality of the crop, and the good US economy, this year was better compared to last…

Signify teams up with Dutch gerbera grower for 1 ha toplighting project

Holstein Flowers, one of the world’s largest gerbera growers, is beginning a trial project using Philips GreenPower LED toplighting in a full climate compartment of 10,000 m2. LED toplighting will provide the right light spectrum to optimize cultivation and boost efficiency, while improving quality and yield. “We are seeing a shift in…

Irene Njeru of Kenyan rose farm Mzurrie Flowers:

Cut roses: 'No Christmas mood at Dutch auction yet'

Kenyan rose farm Mzurrie Flowers is busy with shipping out their direct orders for Christmas, and Sales and Marketing Manager Irene Njeru was pleased with the pre-sales for this holiday. At the auction, in contrast, the Christmas mood hasn't set in yet. "The demand and prices are still low, while they should have been…

BellaRosa shares 16 years of rainfall data

Ecuador: November rain hits Tabacundo

Between October and November 2018, botrytis problems occurred in almost 10% of the Ecuadorian rose exports. But what was the reason for this problem? According to Gonzalo Luzuriaga of BellaRosa and RoseConnection, it was probably due to the significant increase in rainfall in November compared to 2017 and 2016. This…

Whirlwind destroys Dutch gerbera greenhouse

Dutch grower Van der Wilt Gerbera imagined the upcoming holidays a bit differently. Last Friday, his greenhouse was hit by a whirlwind, which destroyed around a third of it. The damage clearly shows the force of the whirlwind. The entire construction was torn apart in several spots, and glass was found 100-150 meters away from…

Dutch orchid grower Anco Pure Vanda sends 120,000 Vandas to India

"We've never had such a big order"

Recently Dutch orchid grower Steef van Adrichem received an order he won't soon forget. Anco Pure Vanda from Wateringen had been asked to send no less than 100,000 pink and 20,000 blue Vanda orchids to India for the wedding of Isha Ambani...

Colombia: New BallSB R&D facility opens its doors

Situated in Sesquile, an hour's drive from Bogota, the new R&D facility of BallSB is now up and running. This new and larger location was already privately inaugurated in the presence of headquarter staff last September, but is now open to all growers of the world. Showing growers HOW with the aim to show their customers that BallSB's varieties could…

Investment company Nimbus buys Koninklijke Van Zanten Group

Investment company Nimbus acquires Koninklijke Van Zanten Group from the Veldhuijzen van Zanten family. The investment by Nimbus creates scope for further growth for Koninklijke Van Zanten Group. “The financial scope created by this transaction enables us to take the steps that are now necessary to raise our professional standard and so serve our…

George Scott of Scott's Nursery:

US (NB): "Low wholesale prices for poinsettias"

"As it turned cold early this year, we saw a change in Christmas business a bit sooner", says George Scott of New Brunswick based Scott's Nursery. For Christmas, they sell several plants and greens, but their biggest Christmas crop is the poinsettia. They've been selling them for a month now, and even though they cut…

Cyclone Gaja tests resilience of coco industry

Coco coir is used broadly in the horticultural industry. Being reusable, it offers growers an alternative with lower discarding costs. In addition, growing on a plant-based substrate is valued by its users, as well as the forgiving nature of the substrate: it can contain a lot of water and realize a constant supply to…

Daniel Kaufman, Danziger:

"Focal Scoop fulfills designers' needs"

"Innovative breeding is our core value, and as such our breeding teams are in a constant effort not only to improve existing varieties but also to introduce new and innovative products", says Daniel Kaufman of Danziger. At the IFTF he tells about their newest cut flower range Focal Scoop. Daniel Kaufman of Danziger at the IFTF…

Ishai Sharon, F. Optimal Connection:

"Low supply of Red Naomi from Holland"

F. Optimal Connection had the chance to sit down with Head of Roses Department, Ishai Sharon, and he was able to give some insight on  the flower market performance. According to him, the market has started to improve slightly, but the colours are still low in price. High demand for red roses and also white roses is improving.…

EDD Group becomes part of Dutch Flower Group 

As of 1 January 2019, the EDD Group trading companies (E. den Dekker B.V., DRC Plantes B.V. and DRC Flor B.V.) will join forces with Dutch Flower Group (DFG). EDD Group, with founder Eddie den Dekker as its driving force, has been active in the trade of plants, plant concepts and fresh cut flowers since 1986.…

Carlos Castillo of NIRP Ecuador on new trial location in Cotopaxi

Ecuador: "Now, we can select new varieties with more information"

"We were about to eliminate some of our varieties in our showroom in Cayambe till we saw how they performed at our new location in Cotopaxi", says Carlos Castillo of NIRP Ecuador. For several years, this Italian rose breeder has been testing and showcasing their varieties in Cayambe, at Rosaprima, one of the largest…

Christian Schwartz, Gartneriet Rønbæk:

Denmark: "We never had such low prices for such a long period"

"I think we never had such low prices for such a long period", says Christian Schwartz of Gartneriet Rønbæk. This Danish phalaenopsis grower explains that 2018 has been a challenging year. "There was already an overproduction and the hot summer in Europe only made it worse. Now, prices are finally up a bit, but we…

new figures CBS & Agrimatie

NL: Good floriculture year, but decreased income due to increasing costs

The end of the year is nearing, but are the growers reaching the end of their financial possibilities? No, generally not, according to the income estimate for 2018 by Statistics Netherlands and Wageningen Economic Research. The average income from all types of agricultural and horticultural businesses fell sharply…

A visit to Royal FloraHolland in Aalsmeer

A round around the clock in the run-up to Christmas

It is often said that growers want to switch to direct trade, particularly when prices are unfavorable. At Royal FloraHolland, they do not see it happening yet. Selling through the auction clock is traditional, but still going strong. Tuesday morning in the run-up to Christmas, we had the opportunity to make a round at the auction…

David Austin passes away, aged 92

It is with great sadness that the Austin family announces the passing of David C. H. Austin Snr OBE VMH, rosarian and founder of David Austin Roses Ltd. David Snr died peacefully at his home in Shropshire on Tuesday 18th December, surrounded by his family. He was 92. For over 75 years David’s dedication to roses brought fragrance and beauty to gardens…

Norwegians warm up to Christmas tulips

Christmas is coming and that means a big demand for poinsettias, red and white roses, but red tulips too. At least for Norway, where Schouten produces tulips in a 7000m2 greenhouse in Lierstranda, Norway. Annually, they grow 20 million tulips that are supplied all over the country and Christmas is one of his most…

D.H.M.I and Lannes & Fils introduce the Breeder Protector

Breeders ‘put a ring on it’ to protect their plants

"The major difference between this product and license labels is, that it can’t start a life of its own after using it.” The product in question is a little plastic ring named Breeder Protector and is developed by D.H.M.I together with Lannes & Fils. In the category Non-Plant Product of the 2014 Innovert…