Anthurium Adventure

Going by the book

All products come with the instruction manual? In this case it is the "Cultivation Guide Anthurium-Global Know-How for Growers aaround the Globe". However, I do not want to thoroughly read this 140-page book in one sitting on a subject that I will not be formally tested on. Luckily I have had the benefit of field trips of the St. Lucia Floral  Co-operative Society Limited during which I was privy to best practices. Also, mentorship has provided me with a live resource to refer to as problems require resolutions.  

Written guide

Getting down to work

The plants that I am responsible for are already planted but are in desperate need of some tender and devoted loving care to bring them to optimal productivity. Light work, I imagined....

New beginnings

Leaf Cutting

Did you know that old anthurium leaves use much sugar at the expense of flower production? Leaves are  therefore pruned to divert more of the plant's energy towards flower production. Too many leaves results in aborted buds, damaged flower buds and crooked stems. Regular pruning is also necessary for better air circulation which reduces problems of molds and bacterial infections. My ideal number of leaves is 4.

Weeding and Irrigation

"Weeds are flowers too once you get to know them" says Winnie the Pooh character, Eeyore. In the flower production business, weeds once identified have to be removed. Regular weeding of ferns and other weeds are required for its control. Chemical control of weeds in anthurium production is not recommended particularly  for newly planted crops and when new shoots are desired. If your production site is not near to a water source then your next labour-intensive task is irrigation.  Mostly I just hope and pray and watch the weather forecasts for rain to save me this task.  

So much to do...

Pests

Everything that can happen will happen. Slugs and snails feed on root tips and damage the leaves and buds. Caterpillars feed on the leaves.  The slug bait has been set and I am monitoring for progress. While white flies are present in the shade house they do not present much of a challenge. Butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and caterpillars when hatched feed on the leaves and flowers. While frogs are not a problem to the plant they do reduce my own life line every time one jumps from the coconut husks at me!  

One of  the better flowers

St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Field Trip

The St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Society Limited (SLFCSL) is the primary representative body of the flower producers in St. Lucia since its establishment in 1999.  Previously, the organization named the St. Lucia Flower Growers Cooperative performed this function. A historic perspective provided in “Profiles of Farmer Organisations in Saint Lucia” a publication of IICA, speaks of the Flower Growers Cooperative in its formative years as “experiencing the customary growing pains characterized by the vicious circle: farmers do not take an active role in the organization because the group cannot offer services, and the group cannot offer services because their membership is small and the farmers do not play an active role”.  From its headquarters at Vide Bouteille, Castries the SLFCSL manages its island-wide membership for increased productivity and developing local, regional and international markets. Some of the products marketed by the SLFCSL include anthuriums, heliconias and ginger lilies.

In the spirit of volunteerism, I have accompanied the SLFCSL on several field trips to their membership. The purpose of the interaction is to facilitate dialogue on production challenges and other concerns of the members. If you are new to the industry as I was, you will the following notes interesting:

Orchid production is growing business in St. Lucia. Although production has increased, large quantities of these blooms are imported to meet market demand. When bought from the Tissue Culture Lab at Union the medium used is sphagnum moss. However, the SLFCSL recommends washed pebbles as a sustainable option for transplanting with a small part of the initial sphagnum moss. For more orchid photos, please visit the D.I.G Facebook photo album.

Orchid

The ant, the farmer; the shepherd to be more precise. The symbiotic relationship between ants and mealy bugs is termed mutualism. Mealy bugs produce a sugary substance called honey dew, a source of nourishment for the ants. In exchange, the ants tend the mealy bugs, often “shepherding” the “herd” of mealy bugs to the better "grazing pastures" in softer leaves and protecting them from predators. The delicate balance: Without the ants to consume the accumulation of honey dew, sooty mold would cover the area of the leaf and prevent the plant’s food manufacturing process resulting in growth retardation. On the other hand, the ants also destroy the flowers by building their nests in the blooms. This was observed in heliconias.

The ant, the farmer

The white fly is a major pest challenge to the floral industry, with particular effect on orchids. They too produce honey dew which is growth medium for sooty mold.

Anthurium leaf: white flies on the underside (left); sooty mold on the top (right)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Flowers of any kind are generally considered beautiful. Someone once commented that the beauty is powerful to stave off hunger. You would agree that the attraction of flowers is predominantly the brightly coloured petals. Consider then the beauty of “green anthuriums” and “brown hibiscus” hybrids.

Is this your kind of beautiful?

Saint Lucia flower production is not characterized by large farms, but primarily by backyard production. 

Feel free to contact the SLFCSL for assistance when you decide to start your venture or to participate in its floral subsciption service.

 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Society

Profiles of Farmer Organisations in Saint Lucia

ORCHIDS

Orchid blooms are marketed as "exotic" and are priced accordingly. Recently, since the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), orchids have been re-classified from agricultural material to a luxury item. Therefore, the plants attract the tax and the sale price has increased.

The increased local production of orchids on a commercial scale is due in large part to the Taiwanese Technical Mission Plant Tissue Culture Project at Union, Castries. But it is also possible to grow these plants in your own backyard as a source of income or leisure. Many members of the St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Society, are small scale producers of flowers from their homes.

Despite the increased scale of production, there remains scope for new entrants in the industry as local florists continue to import orchids on regular basis for weddings, professional functions and as presents.

The delicate beauty of the orchid is matched by the delicate care with which these plants must be tended. The aspiring orchid producer should expect challenges with fungus and thrips.  For technical support in venturing into the industry, refer to the St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Society which is located at Vide Boutielle, Castries.

For more orchid photos visit the D. I.G Facebook page: D.I.G Facebook Page/Orchids

Orchid Ordeal

Photo credit: erin ehnle/keeping it real: through the lens of a farm girl

The home garden is usually-and successfully- tended to by women. However, women have not transferred this success to the management of large scale farm business. In my experience, I have observed that the majority of large scale farm production is managed by males. Still, women are employed within the production process weeding and harvesting; providing supporting services such as veterinary services.

Today I visited the operations of a female farmer in St. Phillip, Barbados. This was as part of the activities for the ARDYIS Web 2.0 Workshop. Ms. Margaret Lovemore is in the business of producing dendrobium orchids. Orchids are a high value agricultural product used in bouquets, corsages and other floral arrangements. Her market is the local hotel industry and florists.

At present, orchid production in Barbados is affected by blossom midge infestations. The female blossom midge deposits its eggs inside the orchid buds. The maggots feed on the buds causing deformed buds and flowers that are not marketable. This pest wreaks all this damage in a life span of 21-28 days!

Ms. Lovemore has employed technology to mitigate this problem. She is in the process of setting up a 30 by 90 feet greenhouse, an investment of approximately USD 40,000.00. High temperature is common disadvantage in green house operations in the Caribbean. This structure has been equipped with fans and louvers to maintain an optimal temperature.

I wish Ms. Lovemore all the best in her endeavours!

The flowers

A section of the green house from the outside

Under construction: A view of the green house from inside

HIBISCUS

Remember when, the mention of "hibiscus", conjured the image of RED, wide petals? Now, hibiscus hybrids provide a rainbow of colours. Hibiscus flower colours even venture outside the rainbow to include BROWN. While science has progressed, product marketing has not blossomed. In St. Lucia, hibiscus does not have a significant commercial portfolio. 

However, these blooms are a fixture of the home garden. These pictured here are testament of the aesthetic therapy that the plant provides.Hibiscus flowers, naturally, attract insects such as butterflies and bees, contributing to biodiversity. 

The versatile hibiscus is also used in DIY home shampoos and other remedies.