Germany: "Growing into other spheres, that's my goal"

Malin Lüth originally comes from the vegetable sector. Near Freiburg, between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains in the border triangle, she has been cultivating cut flowers sustainably and pesticide-free on her small field since 2019 and co-founded the Slowflower movement in Germany. "With…

"All the tulips are gone"

In Italy, a strong hailstorm hit the South of the country a couple of days ago. Many growers and producers got hit with different damages to their crops and infrastructures.  A tulip grower from South Italy voiced his desperation in a video that got shared by many national newspapers.  "It's over," he says in clear distress. "It's hailing.…

US (CA): “An atmospheric river of Tulips”

It is rainy, then sunny, then snowy, then rainy, and then sunny again in California. If you've been watching the West Coast weather report, you may be wondering how Sun Valley is holding up. "Great," says Bill Prescott, Director of Sales and Marketing. "We are well on track, and we have excellent…

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US (NB): Wild Roots Nursery: A fun interest turns into a successful business

With the guidance of YouTube, Bryan Markley began growing succulents for fun in his greenhouse. One day, he planted them in 2-inch pots and took them to the Pearl Farmers Market in San Antonio—and they were a hit.

200,000 Phalaenopsis cuttings from Sion potted at Bevo Farms in Edmonton, Canada

Sion and Bevo Farms potted the first 200,000 Phalaenopsis plants last month. This start looks promising, as both root and leaf development are going very well in the first few weeks. The half-grown plants, an assortment of 60 species potted in 12 cm pots, will be available from August 2023. The partners…

Ecuador: Rosaprima now also grows spray roses

Rosaprima is again expanding their range of flowers. This Ecuadorian grower, who used to grow premium cut roses only, added ranunculus and anemones to their catalog last year and have now added spray roses. "During our 27 years of experience, we have cultivated and curated some of the most unique and…

Alexandra Farms introduces seven garden rose varieties to our diverse collections

Alexandra Farms, Colombian fresh-cut garden roses, announces the latest additions to their collections. "We continually search for and test garden roses to find those that are worthy of a welcome into our family of unique varieties. In addition to special colors, shapes, and fragrances, roses must have…

NL: Sustainable hydrangea greenhouse opens its doors

Hydrangea nursery Van Klaveren Plant is perhaps the most sustainable hydrangea nursery in the world. In 2022, it started building a sustainable greenhouse, for which Bosman Van Zaal installed the water systems and an internal transport system. This new greenhouse was built next to the main location,…

"High demand for our orchids and we see a shift from flowers to flowering plants"

“Demand was very strong for our orchids, partly this is due to production volumes in the Netherlands starting to reduce, but also there looks to be some shift from cut flowers to flowering plants,” says Andy Burton of Double H Nurseries when looking back at UK Mother’s Day, which fell on March 19 this…

Plantables celebrates 5 year anniversary

Husband and wife duo Adrian & Jodi Roelands, owners of Roelands Plant Farms, a 21-acre greenhouse that propagates seedlings for production greenhouses across North America, are thrilled to announce the 5th anniversary of their latest start-up, Plantables. Five years ago, an idea sprouted, pairing their…

NL: A colorful spring at Van der Sar nursery

Plant nursery Van der Sar Plants in the Westland area, Netherlands,  is run by Marianne and Bas van der Sar, who are siblings. Their father started the nursery as a hobby, and now the company has grown into a well-known nursery with 5 hectares of cultivation area. The team is run by only five employees and…

“'Made in Italy' is always appealing, even in garden roses”

Of course, you know NIRP international for their cut rose varieties, but the breeder is also known for breeding garden roses. About five years ago, they started a pilot project in Italy, growing potted garden rose plants for wholesalers, garden centers, and garden shops. They introduced their new…

Abele Greenhouse & Garden Center

US (MI): Abele Greenhouse opens again after fire

The smell of soil and smoke lingered in the air Monday morning, March 20, the first day of spring, as the crew at Abele Greenhouse filled pots and planted annuals in preparation for a busy season ahead. That was just hours after a fire destroyed part of the well-known greenhouse, one of Saginaw County's…

"May the White Force bloom with you"

"A new way to enjoy Gypsophila and raise the Floriculture industry has arrived." Florequisa chose Wffsa Floral Distribution Conference 2023 as the ideal setting for the launch of its exclusive premium Gypsophila variety: White Force.  "As its name suggests, The White Force is an exclusive Gypsophila by Florequisa, genetically…

“I was looking for a solution which would help me create a very specific climate in my greenhouses"

Two weeks ago, Marta Gentile (Sales Manager Phormium) and Carla Sentel (Managing Director at TecnOlanda) visited their customer Vivai del Ponte, located in Cepagatti, Italy. Vivai del Ponte is an Italian agricultural company founded in 1991, which today counts on five sites and more than 100 employees…

March on a flower farm

As flower farmers across the country gear up for the start of a new season, Jessica Roberts of Featherstone Flowers takes us behind the scenes and into a busy world where keeping up with the pace is priority number one. The 1st of March is the beginning of meteorological spring, and the 20th of March will be the start of…

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This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat — just not about Trader Joe's orchids

Paul Gripp served in the Navy after the Korean War, not during the war, as was incorrectly stated in an earlier version of the story. In Santa Barbara's rarefied world of orchid breeders, Paul Gripp is as close as you can get to royalty, and today he's doing what he loves best: holding forth at the…

"Today, I see the fact that I’m a woman as an advantage"

In a traditionally male-led industry, it's not a common sight to see a major company founded and led by a woman. Rona Orlicky, formerly a successful business attorney, pivoted after two decades to agri-tech with the mission of making the world greener. Orlicky co-founded DryGair, one of the leading…

Tea growers make real horticultural tea together

Four growers who make tea and work together under the name 'Theelers' have been nominated for the 'New crops, new applications' theme award of the Horticultural Entrepreneur Award 2023. They are Westlandpeppers, Gova, Bak Bromelia and De Kruidenaer. "It was a lot of sparring, throwing out ideas. But…

This month's special: Labor and Staff

Robots aren't fully ready yet, and there's a widespread lack of human labor in many sectors. Wages, work conditions, but also skill level, are all points to address, currently. That's why this month, the special is going to focus on Labor and Staff. SpecialIf you have news to share regarding this topic or…

Introducing native perennials as cut flowers

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Slow Flowers member Alexandra Cacciari of Seeley Farm has introduced her floral customers at the Michigan Flower Growers Cooperative to native perennials suitable as cut flowers. Through a Farmer-Rancher grant from North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education…

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CAN (QC): A local Quebec flower farm is leading the way in The Slow Flowers Movement

During the month of August, Au Beau Pré is a sight to see. Over 300 varieties of Dahlias are in full bloom. They come in every shape, size, color, and texture that one could only dream about. This flower field gives visitors the option to come and cut their own flowers to take home. Walking through the…

Alternative spring crops from Köder Gartenbau

"We see great opportunities for our crops in the future, not only for autumn offers but especially for spring," Johannes Köder of Köder Gartenbau says. With Hebe iBE® Blue Dream, Hebe iBE® Lemon Rose, Trifolium, Euphorbia Hybrids, Hebe Magicolor®, Leptinella, Sedum evergreen, Grasses Mix with Carex Magic…

US (WI): Yoga in the greenhouse

Mill Creek Gardens, Greenhouse + Flower Farm, is hosting a yoga event in the greenhouse to fend off winter blues and improve wellbeing. On Saturday, February 25, they will welcome 30 folks into their greenhouse for their second yoga event.  Last year's edition "There is no better way to boost your mood than by practicing yoga while…

UK: "Why we're going peat-free?"

Amateur gardeners in England and Wales will no longer be able to buy peat-based compost and growing media from 2024. In the video below, Rosy Hardy of Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants explains how peat became a popular product, why they're going peat-free, and what the amateur gardener can do and look for to ensure they're peat…

NL: 365 days of summer with full-LED

The past year hasn't been exciting for those working in the flower industry in the Netherlands, and for Van den Berg RoseS, it is no different. The energy crisis forced this, and other, growers to take unprecedented measures: a new planting was brought forward, instead of June, it was done as early as…

Avri Farms starts pink hydrangea production in Ecuador

Ecuador is well known for its roses and other field flowers, but not for its hydrangeas. Therefore Jaime Ruiz of Arvi farms, as part of Groflowers, is very pleased with their Ecuadorian-grown hydrangea. "And on top of its large head, it is pink!" Jaime Ruiz with their pink hydrangeas Experience in…

"We make sure the varieties are really grown as bulb-on-pot varieties"

When you think of Roma nova, you think of bulbs in apple-green pots. The nursery, run by Erik and Brenda Willemse, has a strong brand with high-quality products in a wide range.  Beautiful bulbsRoma nova buys bulbs from bulb growers that grow the bulbs outside in the fields. They have been doing this for years…

A tour of the Colombian floriculture industry

During the past days, Ascoflores has paid a visit to the affiliated companies in the Sabana de Bogotá. During these visits, they were able to experience first-hand the entire process behind the most beautiful product in Coiombia.  The tour began in Saga, a crop specialized in Roses, the product of the work…

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US (NJ): Farmer growing flowers a little greener thanks to grant to convert to geothermal heat

A Brooklyn couple with no agricultural experience outside a few chickens and peas in the garden thought it would be fun to live on a farm. In 2019 they moved to East Windsor with their young daughter Rose and started Moonshot Farm on 9.5 acres. Now, the flower farm is blooming. “We’re growing 40,000…

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Cyprus: Life for flower grower is no bed of roses

With a boom in sales for Valentine’s Day, you would imagine it is a welcome time of year for a high-tech flower grower. But Theo Panayides meets a man who explains he is a farmer, not a sentimentalist. Driving back from Rosary Gardens – on the old Limassol road, somewhere between Kornos and Kofinou – I…

Flores El Capiro celebrates 10K container shipment of chrysanthemums

Flores El Capiro sent their 10,000th container shipment and celebrated this milestone on February 3rd. This Colombian company, specialized in the cultivation and commercialization of chrysanthemums for cut flowers, is a pioneer in shipping flowers by sea, generating 2,500 direct jobs and benefiting 5,000…

"Ecuador's unpredictable weather has been the major challenge this year, but all in all, we are very pleased"

"Ecuador's unpredictable weather has been the major challenge this year, but all in all, we are very pleased", says Michelle Jibaja of Rosaprima, Ecuador's largest premium rose grower who recently expanded their assortment with Ranunculus and Anemones. Valentine's Day is one of their largest holidays,…

“We can be more energy efficient while adjusting our electricity use based on energy price fluctuations”

Fluence is supporting sustainability and operational cost efficiency amid volatile energy market conditions in Europe. Europe’s soaring energy prices have affected many growers in countries like the Netherlands that primarily produce electricity via the gas-powered cogeneration method. Gas prices have…

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Kendi finds her life calling preserving beauty of blooms for up to 2 years

Preserved flowers, rather than fresh ones, are gradually becoming an interior design option. And Kendi Kamanja, a florist, is pushing the boundaries on what constitutes a beautiful bouquet of dried flowers. Business Daily Africa meets her at her factory in Kikuyu, teeming with workers in the process of…

FLORES EL CAPIRO S.A

Así fue la despedida del contenedor 10 mil desde puerto en santa marta! Gracias a @puertodesantamarta por ayudarnos a hacer este sueño realidad🚛🌸#exportaciondeflor #floresdecolombia #floresdeoriente #capiro10k #flowermakeitbetter pic.twitter.com/bbCTjH851c — FLORES EL CAPIRO S.A (@florescapiro) February 8, 2023

"Producing thousands of healthy, vigorous plants from cuttings is not easy"

Serres Yargeau, located in Sherbrooke in the province of Quebec, Canada, produces annual flowers, vegetable plants, and poinsettias for the retail market, mainly in Quebec and the United States. At Serres Yargeau, it is the quality of the product that is paramount. Since Serres' creation, the company has…

"2022 was a prominent year for strengthening sustainability, reuniting, and promoting Flowers of Colombia"

For the Colombian flower growers, 2022 was marked by strengthening a sustainable activity that generates decent and formal employment, welfare for its communities and workers, and inspiring experiences for the consumers and processes involving top-quality standards of social, economic, and environmental…

UK: MP visit to Alban Hill Nurseries highlights pressures on the horticulture industry

Alban Hill Nurseries in Newport Pagnell hosted a visit by local Member of Parliament Ben Everitt on February 3, to showcase the business and raise issues impacting the horticulture industry, including the peat ban and the cost of doing business. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), which organized…

Flor y Miel creates a better climate for flowers with Luxous and Harmony

Flor y Miel, located in Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico, is a company with the capacity to produce 140,000 orchids and anthuriums annually. With Svensson's climate screens, Flor y Miel improved the climate inside their greenhouses and the quality of their plants. We had the opportunity to interview Fernando…

US: Memorial tribute established in memory of Nicholas I. Paul

A memorial tribute honoring Nicholas Ignatius Paul has been established by Georgianna and Dennis Paul through the American Floral Endowment (AFE). Nicholas Ignatius Paul “Nick” (affectionately known as “Chief” by his colleagues) of Paul’s Wholesale Florist Company passed away on January 14, 2023, at the…

"There is still so much to understand about the new market reality"

While the US consumer Valentine's Day spending forecast is optimistic (see the Prince & Prince survey), flower buyers seem to be hesitant. "Pre-books were below expectations, and market players were holding up orders until the last minute", explains Pablo Bazzani of Plazoleta, the first winner of the…

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NZ: From one bunch to four greenhouses

With no flora experience but the need for a new direction, Colin and Mary Birch have become the owners of a lily nursey in Cambridge. n the past, Colin Birch would venture down a country lane every week to collect a bunch of lilies for his wife, Mary. Then the couple began looking for a new business…

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US (NJ): Locally, sustainably grown tulips bloom at Somerset Co.'s flower farm

With a little education and practice, Jessie Babbitt of Neshanic Station in Branchburg turned her "black thumb" into a "green thumb" and a thriving flower farming business. Babbitt, along with her husband Eric, and their 4-year-old pitbull rescue named Chance, took a leap of faith in 2019 when they…

Kenya: Parfum Flower Company's water tank project at Tambuzi

In January 2022, Parfum Flower Company visited Tambuzi Garden Roses in Kenya. In recognition of climate justice for all, they wanted to understand the most pressing needs of the employees of Tambuzi, and what came to light was their need for water.  Why water tanks are neededTambuzi has been growing garden-cut…

Alexandra Farms announces collaboration with True Client Pro

Alexandra Farms has partnered with True Client Pro, an all-in-one business management platform for florists, event planners, and venue owners. True Client Pro is excited to…

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US (GA): Q&A with Nakita Hemingway, cut flower farmer and politician

The first African American woman to run for the post of Georgia’s commissioner of agriculture, Nakita Hemingway, hadn’t planned on becoming a politician. A graduate of Georgia State University, she majored in real estate and later received a degree in finance from the American Intercontinental…