FLOWERS
From page 24
Why choose flowers over
chickens or sheep ~ more
traditional plot industries?
K The barriers to entry for
cymbidium flower farming are
often high due to set up
infrastructure costs, so one
needs to have a five-year plan
as the flowers take on average
four to five years to start
producing cut flowers of the
quality required at market.
K Competition is low due to
the higher start up costs.
K Cymbidium orchids are
seasonal, only flowering in the
winter months, so essentially
it is a five to six month crop.
K Staff requirements are low
due to the seasonality of the
crop. One can cope with two
staff for general plant
management year round and
bring in temporary staff during
the cutting season.
K Stock theft is virtually
nonexistent, and the average
person would not necessarily
know the value of a five year
old cymbidium orchid.
K Once the stock has
reached the production age
of four to five years, it will
keep on producing year after
year and the shoots from
each increase per plant each
year as well.
K Splitting existing stock also
keeps the overall crop
increasing at a lower input
cost since the split plant will
produce a flower sooner that
one grown from an immature
plant.
Cymbidiums
are grown in
temperature
controlled
environments
which require
monitoring
seven days a
week. If the
temperature
spikes too high,
this will affect
the viability of
the flower crop.
As a result the
electricity
supply to the
farm needs to
be consistent
and a good
backup
generator is a
must.
Weather
conditions are
key factors in
Flower spike of a cymbidium orchid.
the viability of
the crop since the cymbidium daytime and night time
temperatures. A difference of
flowers in winter. This is
brought on by the significant
Continued on page 25
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