Cultivation

Starting material

A great deal of attention is paid to the growth of the plants, in order to grow a high quality product for the consumer market. The start of the growth takes place at highly regarded foliage growers. They multiply the plants by sowing, using cuttings or grafting and deliver high quality starting material. The foliage is trimmed in the winter and stored ready to be potted in the refrigerator cell, at -2ºC. The potting process takes place at a potting line which consists of a potting machine, mulching machine and a robot to place the plants back on the ground.

Cultivation

A basic fertiliser of slow-release fertilisers is mixed through the potting compost to provide the plant with nutrients during cultivation, but also afterwards during its stay at the point of sale. For fragile products, Perlite is added to make the soil extra airy. To prevent weed and moss growth, the top layer of the pot is sprinkled with quick-drying covering material to prevent the germination of unwanted vegetation. Using roll containers on trolleys, the plants are transported to the fields and then placed on the container fields with a planting truck. In summer, the crops are pruned and widened. The plants are placed on a buffer belt after which they pass under a pruning machine via a conveyor belt. They are then buffered again and placed on the field with the planting truck. The planting truck is then equipped with a spacing fork that places the pots at a preset planting distance. Hedge conifers are cut manually. To prevent them from blowing over, they are placed in plant racks, which also guarantees a fixed planting distance.

Substrate

A lot of attention is paid to the potting soil in which the plants grow. The substrate is tailored to the needs of the plant. Moisture-loving species require a different composition than plants that prefer drought. Because peat is an important contributor to CO2 emissions, 50% peat substitutes have now been mixed into our mixtures. And work is underway to increase this percentage even further. More about this in the video below.

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Irrigation

The plants are sprayed with rain water which is stored in large basins. In case of severe drought, ground water is used which is purified by reverse osmosis. We have two modern devices for the watering process, which mostly spray the plants at night. Extra fertilizer is also added at that time, which is attuned to the season and requirements of the plant. The container fields consists of a water permeable top cloth, with a 10 cm layer of lava rock, which provides vertical water drainage. Below that, is foil, with drain slots which provide drainage to the water basins. This way, the residual plant protection resources are collected, and fertilizers are recycled.

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Care

In summer, the plants are pruned and spaced. The plants are placed on a buffer belt, and they are led under a pruning machine, on a conveyor belt. They are then buffered again, and placed back on the field by the plant truck. The plant truck is then fitted with a spacing fork, which places the plants at the configured distance. Hedge conifers are pruned by hand. To prevent the plants from blowing over, they are placed in plant racks, which also guarantees a fixed plant distance. Shade loving types are placed in a shaded hall with a movable screen. For disease-sensitive plants, there is a cabriolet greenhouse. The plants are in a protected environment, which shields them from the influence of extreme weather conditions.