Patience with Helleborus pays off

Breeding the perfect plant by natural selection is always a long slow process with many opportunities to give up completely.

Potential of tropical flowers still to be realised

Production of tropical cut flowers for the international market is still small scale compared with the traditional favourites. Breeding developments during the last few years are increasing their potential for production

and transportation.

Kenya defends attacks by environmentalists

The flower industry in Kenya continues to grow, but at what cost? Some people believe not enough attention is being paid to the environment and workers.

Rooting of roses directly related to size of leaf

Leaves are essential for the propagation of roses since they influence survival, rooting and

bud growth. Although this could be via many ways, one of the assumptions it that current

photosynthesis plays a key role and consequently that leaf size is an important factor.

Novel means of humidity control and heating

A system which reduces relative humidity in the greenhouse and therefore brings about less disease has also been designed to save energy.

How to hire good people… and keep them

The goal of any employer is to hire the best people and then keep them happy. In today’s

competitive business climate, this requires a sound personnel strategy.

Eliminating the need for growth retardants

As the legal availability of growth retardants decreases, breeders have a number of options available to produce compact plants, but will these satisfy consumers?

Global rose trade higher than figures reveal

The billion dollar trade in roses continues to grow. Some traditional markets are declining

while in the US roses are as popular as ever and new producing countries are emerging.