" When we decided to depart growing protea commercially , everyone think we were crazy . Proteas do n’t grow in Colombia , they said . But they do , and we can supply them 52 weeks a yr " , says Eli Perez , General Manager at Rosamina . presently , they are a 50 ha protea and foliage farm , with 40 hour angle in production . They are also hold bouquets and arrangement with third - company flowers , send off them worldwide . This article will be more about the farm , the challenge , and their future programme .
Eli Perez .
From pink wine to proteasThe Perez kinsfolk has been in the flowered business for 33 years already . Eli ’s father used to grow roses and always had a passionateness for protea . He started develop the first plants 20 geezerhood ago . In 2016 , they sell the rose greenhouse and adopt land to depart spring up protea and foliage . However , as it is a unexampled crop , a lot had to be study , and a lot of trial run had to be done and are still being done . The climatological condition in Colombia are different than in South Africa , where they are aboriginal . Therefore , they had to trial different variety show and different ways of grow them . " And we are still learning and trialing . For example , 2 to 3 years ago , we started to get several of the protea in a travelling bag instead of in the soil . Why ? We do not have to bet on the quality of the soil , if it rain a lot , not all fertilizers will be flushed away , and it is easier to change a plant . " Currently , about half of the protea crop is grown hydroponically . Why not the entire crop ? " We are very pleased with the results so far , but we do not know the long - term consequence on the plant when growing it in a cup of tea . That ’s why we stay a bit cautious . "
Proteas in the field , in the soil .
" We are different"“My uncle once pronounce you postulate to be first , last , or unlike . And dissimilar , we definitely are . First of all , we have a different flower compared to many other farm in the country or in Latin America . Secondly , we can grow proteas 52 weeks a yr . And last but not least , we also grow Leucospermum and Leucadendron , which are also quite unlike crops . We are incessantly trialing with raw protea varieties , like we begin producing King protea two years ago , and other varieties . As long as they are unlike , we like to start producing it . "
In both pictures , King proteas . However , they grow or trial them in different manner . In the picture , both are in bags , but on the left with wires . Click hereto enlarge the film .
weather condition is the main challengeAccording to Perez , the main challenge to produce proteas is the conditions . " We do not have a greenhouse , and in Colombia , we have a fortune of rain . Last year , about 20 percent of the farm go due to access to rain . And for the protea production , it is an Brobdingnagian impact as it take 3 years for a blossom to bloom and 2 years to rebloom . " But Perez is more worried about the frosts . " hoarfrost are terrible . During Covid , we lost 50 % of the farm to frost . It took 2 years to get the protea back . " .
Clockwise , weather condition station , Tingua , a critically imperil coinage enjoying the bracing reprocess pee at Rosamina , new aboriginal varieties are being planted as 15 % of the farm need to consist of native plants for the Rainforest Alliance certificate , like the Alcaparro ( bottom odd ) .
hoi polloi and environmentBesides the craw , the social and environmental aspects are a crucial part of their business organization . They , for example , crop rainwater , are increase their enjoyment of biocontrols , are Rainforest Alliance certified , and are design to set up solar control panel to become self - sufficient in energy usage . On the societal level , their employees are part of the family and are promote and financially supported to go to college . " In the past , we had buses picking up our colleagues , now we have to expand our parking lot for their automobile " , Eli Perez proudly say .
Post - harvest orbit , where they make the bouquets and arrangements . get across hereto enlarge the image .
Increase in demandThe demand for Rosamina ’s proteas is rise , and according to Perez , this has several reason . " The popularity of the heyday has been increase for several years . People are noticing the beauty and benefit of this works . It , for exemplar , has a vase biography of 3 hebdomad and changes every mean solar day . so as to keep and make fresh client , quality control is very rigorous . Another reason for the gain in demand is that the yield of proteas worldwide is decreasing because there are no successors for the patronage . " Rosamina ’s protea are sold worldwide under the brand name Global Proteas . In North America , Splendor is their allocator .
Elisabeth Zambrana , Designer and Sales Director , Pacho Franciscus , Farm Managers , Eli Perez , General Manager and Arvadio Martinez , Rosamina Manager .
elaboration plansIn the coming years , Rosamina will grow not only in size but also in assortment . Currently , 50 % of the area is planted with new variety , which will be in production by the end of the year . Also , they are contrive to tote up another 30 ha to the farm .
Leucadendron and Leucospermum in the field . Click hereto exposit the double .
For more information : Rosaminarosamina.com
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
