A Second Visit to V-flora

A visit to V-flora in Pinchbeck Lincolnshire is an eye opener for anyone who has never seen plants growing in such a mass produced manner and quantity, its breath taking.

First to put things into perspective it helps to know something about the company. It was established in 1985 as Taiwan Flora. The main function at that time was the importation of different flower bulbs, seeds and young plants. Introduction of new varieties became part of their philosophy as did cultivation techniques from Taiwan and overseas.

In 1994 they opened Chin-Jing nursery. From here they worked on reduction of costs in cultivation, the supply of young plants to growers, here also work was done on propagation and transplantation of the young plants. Flower cutting and breeding also being a part of this nursery.

1996 saw the China Floral Group become established. They took to China the already successful Flora International Co.Ltd and its business model which was applied here. Investment was put into production nurseries in Kunming, Guangzhou and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. From this they were then able to supply fresh cut flowers and pot plants to sales outlets in mainland China. Covering approximately 300 Ha they now work with professional breeding nurseries and sub-contract nurseries.

Seeing the need in Europe for pot plants of orchids the decision was made in 2003 to expand the pot market to Europe. Nurseries in Taiwan, China, Thailand and Vietnam through cooperation with overseas partners the Flora group quickly expanded its international markets.

French and British nurseries were established in 2005 to supply potted orchids to the likes of Morrisons, Asda, local wholesale markets, and other super markets, this became the business of the day.

In 2009 the British nursery at Pinchbeck produced one million (1,000,000) pots of orchids. With a staff of forty (40), three (3) packing stations and one arrangement line they provided orchids to supermarkets, garden centres, and exported to Flora Holland Auction. Two Million (2,000,000) potted orchid plants in 2010 and their aim is for 3 million (3,000,000) for 2011.

The aim of the company is to supply quality plants to outlets, by using mass production technology. By combining cultivation techniques of Taiwanese farmers with Taiwanese species, they hope to expand the global market as a whole. As varieties become commercialized but quality is standardised, they will diversify into the market.

As a group they are involved in gladioli, carnations, lilies, seeds, agricultural equipment, passion fruit apart from the orchids such as Cattleyas, cymbidiums, oncidiums and paphiopedilums. With multiple sales branches, 13 plus nurseries and some 1000 plus staff V-flora are a busy and forward going company.

So why visit V-flora a second time and so soon after the last one? After our initial visit I have kept in email contact with the company and it was from such an email that had me phoning round the whole of the membership.

The meat of the email was that due to a gene mutation within one batch of Phalaenopsis orchids they had become un-saleable on the orchid pot market and so an invite was extended to our society to go to the company where they would give us a quantity of FREE orchids for the members. FREE orchids my eyes lit up at the words typed in front of me. What an opportunity to get the new members some plants for their small (but growing) collections and also for the more experienced members to have a look at and indulge in a bit of experimentation.

On behalf of the members I replied to the email with a big “yes please” and asked if any time frame for collection was applied. An a.s.a.p message was received as the space was required for more valuable saleable stock.

2 phone calls were required to each member to first assess those who wanted to go and then a second call to confirm date and time. Some 24 members assembled and were all eager to get a look at and their hands on a few FREE orchids. A challenge to new members with little or no experience, so if a few died they would learn how to keep the rest alive, and to the more experienced member to see how they fared with whatever the gene mutation was, and could they also keep them growing and flowering. Before going to V-flora I did lay down one underlying condition and that was that each member MUST buy at least one other orchid that the company sold. I saw this as a fair exchange and all the members agreed to this condition. Those who had been on the previous visit it gave them a second chance to view the orchids for sale and so make their purchases so enlarging their collections. Those who were on a first time visit it was like being let loose in a sweet shop with no limits. Due time was given for all to look around and see the orchids and ask any questions they might have, all were duly answered.

Our hosts were exemplary. They took and answered the questions from new and experienced members all in their stride. Pound notes started to fly about faster than Concord on a New York flight. I spent my time collecting and gathering material for this article in the first instance, before buying a couple of lovely oncidiums, one in flower the other in bud.

It was then time to distribute the FREE orchids so graciously being donated to the members. A whole growing table, choker block with trays, 12 orchid plants in each tray was shown to me. A tray of orchids was given to each member, we then saw a line of individuals making for their cars and loading their boots. Orchids were set aside for those members who were not able to come to this event and then another member was delegated with the duty of delivery on their behalf. Extra trays were then distributed to those who required them and most took delight in being so handsomely treated.

 

Satisfied and beaming our enthusiastic members began to disperse leaving Pam and myself and two others to admire the displays. I had while the trays were being distributed purchased to the horror of Pam an enormous Cymbidium plant which she declared would not fit in our little car being as we were taking orchids for others as well as my own so I had to arrange for another member to take and deliver to me. It was two hours well spent.

Looking out over the greenhouse and seeing the employees at work among so many (and we are talking millions) beautiful flowers, was a heart warming experience. Such colours, shapes and sizes and even scents just had to be one of the best bits of the visit for me.

On behalf of the members (many who had already done so personally) I thanked those responsible for the arrangements, and being thought of, to allow us to take part in their most generous offer.

As to the gene mutation it would seem the spikes grew long and leggy and not in character. I do not know if this will correct itself in future flowerings but it is sure going to be interesting finding out.

With the permission of the company I passed on this good deal to our nearest orchid society, I hope they take it up and enjoy it as much as our members have.