LLC Dekorativno Tsvetochnye Kultury (LLC DTK) is one of Russia's leading rose companies. Grow light use plays a key role in their ambition to produce top-quality blooms. 
The history of Dekorativno Tsvetochnye Kultury (DTK) goes back almost 50 years. Initially, the Izhevsk-based business – Izhevsk is the capital of the autonomous republic Udmurtia – was focused on landscaping in urban areas and on the cultivation of pot plants and cut flowers. "To begin with we concentrated on the production of tulips, alstroemerias, gerberas, fruit crops and seedlings. We're now focused entirely on roses; we've made major strides in this field, particularly in recent years," says Alexander Melnikov, Managing Director of DTK.
Focus on highest segment
The business has undergone considerable growth over the years. Last year another three-hectare extension was realised, bringing the total rose acreage to 6.5 hectares. "We grow 46 different cultivars on this area, which we can harvest all year round. We try to match our range to the consumer's requirements as closely as possible. Alongside having a wide range, delivering top quality is our highest priority. We deliver across the whole of Russia, and we focus on the upper end of the market. That's why we use high-tech greenhouses for our cultivation, and why it's important to us to keep up with the latest developments in greenhouse design. This is one of the reasons why we've been among Russia's leading rose nurseries for many years now."
High light intensity
Grow light is inextricably linked to DTK's ambition to be a market leader. The rose company has been using grow light for more than 25 years, and in 2020 was the first Russian company to invest in a grow light system with a light intensity of 260 μmol/s/m2. "This is an extremely high light intensity for rose cultivation, even by Dutch standards. This type of light intensity enables us to produce the level of quality we want to provide. Incidentally, not all our greenhouses are fitted with a light intensity of 260 μmol/s/m2; in some locations, 198 μmol/s/m2 is sufficient. Not all cultivars require a light intensity of 260 μmol/s/m2; in fact, too much light can sometimes even have a negative impact on growth."
Selecting the system
"When we started looking into expanding our grow light system, we took a closer look at several manufacturers. Eventually, the Hortilux's HPS NXT2 fixtures met our requirements: they have good light distribution and are easy to maintain. These have been installed over a three-hectare area. At present, making full use of this installation's capacity is one of our main focuses."
For more information:
Hortilux
hortilux.com