Indeed, you will only read positive news in this report. 

15 years ago, we took our first steps in the breeding of Helleborus. What started out small has now grown into a producer of some 52 varieties of young plants in all colours, pot sizes and flower shapes. As you can see, we’re all about growth.

And this time, we’re taking growth literally. We are building a brand-new Helleborus greenhouse adjacent to our breeding company. With 3000 m² of extra space, this will allow us to further develop our range of high-quality products in the best possible conditions.

What’s so special about this greenhouse?

The roof will feature diffused glass with high haze, a first for Microflor! This special glass has a positive effect, offering improved light diffusion and penetration, reduced stress for the crop and a lower plant temperature.   

There will also be double-sided continuous ridge ventilation for maximum ventilation and cooling. Air humidification will also take place via high-pressure atomisation, making it possible to cool the greenhouse in an energy-efficient manner. The plants will be watered by a semi-automatic watering robot, allowing us to provide water and fertilisers in a highly targeted and efficient way. 

In the sustainability arena, there are also a number of additional features. Examples include insect screens in the ventilation windows to keep the use of chemical pesticides to a minimum. And the collection of drain water which is purified and reused to keep water consumption as low as possible, to name but a few.

The new greenhouse will allow us to grow the most profitable plants for our customers, always of superior quality.

Did you know that we test each new variety for two to three years, both at two test breeders and at our own sites? We will only commercialise a variety and offer it to our customers if it scores well across the board. 

Thanks to the interaction with our customers, we continue to innovate and surprise the trade with new products!

Some of our strongest newcomers:

ViV®Valeria (202): an ericsmithii like no other. This fast grower blooms very reliably from the end of October onwards. The pink buds develop into white flowers and then beautiful pink blooms that provide ornamental value for months. The sleek lines ensure smooth loading on the trolley. Thanks to its naturally compact nature, there is no need for growth inhibitors. P13 –P19

ViV®Diana (326): our first interspecific cross on the market. This variety has large, pink flowers that last for a long time, and continues to bloom for months. ViV® Diana blooms as early as November and always within its first year. P13 – P17

ViV®Alexander (277): a very versatile niger variety that can also serve as a naked bloomer. It is not prone to premature blooming in the summer, which saves on labour. This variety starts to bloom in November, with strong white flowers on sturdy stems, and continues reliably until after Christmas. P13 – P19

ViV®Elena (225): this variety blooms abundantly with raspberry pink, large double flowers. It is a truly spectacular sight and the colder it gets, the more impressive the flowers become. ViV®Elena loves larger pot sizes and starts blooming from the end of October. P15-P19

If you are interested in our Helleborus range, feel free to contact our account manager Stefanie Desmet. You can reach her at stefanie.desmet@microflor.com or simply explore the varieties in our catalogue.