FLORICULTURE TODAY- June Issue

Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012

www.floriculturetoday.in

Chief Editor

S. Jafar Naqvi

Consulting Editors T.V. Satyanarayanan

K Dharmarajan Chief Coordinator M.B. Naqvi Editorial Coordinator Syed M K

Contents 8 10

Editorial Home Decoration Potpourri: A beautiful way to add fragrance to your home — Sunila Kumari and Pooja Gupta

14 Gardening

Need of Terrace Garden in today’s hazardous environment

— Dr. M. Kannan, Dr. M. Jawaharlal and P. Ranchana

News Editor Anwar Huda

General Manager Lalitha V. Rajan

Layout & Design Mohd. Iqbal

Faiyaz Ahmad

18 Event Report

Oh, to be in London!

Just when Chelsea’s there...

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22 Disease Management v Cultural practices and disease management in Rose

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— Kavita Poddar

v Strobilurin Fungicides: A Special Group of Fungicides

— Robert de Bos 28 Corporate News

Jain Irrigation Systems brings to India 1st Center Pivot Irrigation Systems 32 Varietal Development

Newly developed bougainvillea cultivars at CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow

— B.K.Banerji 40

Report FloraHolland Europeans continue buying flowers despite recession — Bureau Report

42 Nurser v American Professors visit Sri Satyanarayana Nursery

Gardens, Kadiyam v Success without government support!!

Printed, published and owned by M.B. Naqvi, Printed at Everest Press, E-49/8, Okhla Industrial Area Ph-II, New Delhi - 110 020 and Published from E-11/47 A, New Colony, Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi-110017 (INDIA) Editor : S. Jafar Naqvi Vol 17....... Issue 1...... June 2012

Floriculture Floriculture Today Today June June 2012 2012

48 v

v

v

NEWS Kodaikanal’s Summer & Flower Festival registers massive footfalls Sonipat witnesses growth in poly-house floriculture Uttara Kannada: Floriculture takes strong roots

Floriculture Today June 2012

Editorial

I

n all major events, including sports events, it is the fashion of the day for organizers to give considerable attention to flowers and plants for beautification. Greening is the buzzword everywhere. The last Commonwealth Games held in Delhi bore testimony to this growing concept. Nurseries were working overtime to supply thousands of flowering plants, shrubs and ornamentals to beautify stadiums, sidewalks, flyovers and roads connecting Games villages to venues of various games.

Organisers of forthcoming London Olympics seem to be taking one more step forward. Their contribution to nature lovers is going to be a permanent asset called Olympic Park, an exciting garden opening soon in an area of 250 hectares, carefully planned by American landscape architect George Hargreaves, in association with British designers.

In the Park will be a series of garden spaces, designed by talented Sarah Price, according to a report published in Financial Times. Giving some details, the report says, the most innovative section will be the 30 hectares of meadows that binds the scheme together. These have been conceptualized by Sheffield University academics, Prof James Hitchmough and Dr Nigel Dunnett, for both of whom creation of meadows is a fine art. Eight years back, Hitchmough used one of his innovative techniques of seeding in meadows in Sheffield Botanical Garden, a popular tourist spot. His another notable creation is a meadow of about 500 sq metres, next to the Royal Horticulture Society’s Bicentenary Glasshouse at Wesley. Typically, a meadow conceptualized by him contains 30 or 40 species that would extend the flowering season well into summer and autumn.

The Olympic Park meadows will comprise colourful fields of annual flowers, both exotic and native, as also a separate area of native wild flowers that would be cut about six weeks before the games so that they re-grow in time during the big event. Blooms will be in profusion, giving a look different from the normal meadows dominated by grass. After the Olympics, the perennial meadows will be over-sown with grass so as to give these meadows the ‘normal look’.

Before the opening of the Olympic Park, an immediate big attraction for flower and plant lovers in Britain is the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. This show is the 99th in the grounds of Royal Hospital.

Critics have listed some of this year’s best floral exhibits – ‘Rosa Heathcliffe’, an English shrub rose, deep crimson in colour with fragrance of sandalwood and tea; geranium ‘Rise &Shine’, a vibrant blue with conspicuous white centre; iris ‘Piste Noir’ having great depth of colour; osteospermum ‘In the Pink’, which can withstand up to minus 10 degrees C, yielding profuse blooms from June to October; ‘Aztec Gold’, well suited to landscape planting schemes because of its golden-hued slender foliage, enhancing the beauty of its small, white, almond-scented flowers, and many more.

What makes Chelsea a unique event is not only that the world’s top designers are participants, but the Queen herself is a regular visitor. No wonder, the show is big social event in the gardening calendar.

Comments are welcome at: MediaTodayMails@gmail.com

Views expressed by individuals and contributors in the magazine are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Floriculture Today editorial board. Floriculture Today does not accept any responsibility of any direct, indirect or consequential damage caused to any party due to views expressed by any one or more persons in the trade. All disputes are to be referred to Delhi Jurisdiction only.

.....Editor

10 Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012 11

Home Decoration Potpourri

Potpourri 2

When making your own potpourri, keep in mind that the fixative is the most important part of the recipe. It is what brings everything together and it is what keeps your potpourri to smell good. You can use powered orris root, oak moss, cellulose, ground gum benxoin, or fiberfix. It is what will absorb your oils and allow the substances to keep their scent

Potpourri satche 2

Potpourri A beautiful way to add fragrance to your home — Sunila Kumari and Pooja Gupta

P

otpourri is very important commercial item from the dry flower industry. The word “potpourri” has been derived from French word “pot-pourri.” Literally, however, the word “pot” in French has the same meaning as it has in Spanish and English, while the word “pourri” means rotten. In English, “potpourri” is often used to refer to any collection of miscellaneous or diverse items.

Potpourri happens to be a mixture of dried plant material and is used to make a room or an area smell great. It is usually used for its natural scents to fill a house with a soft scent. One can always place a bowl of potpourri out on a table or can tie it in small sheer bags.

Most people don’t know its use to enhance the smell of their home, but it is mostly used for decoration. Earlier, people used potpourri only when they were expecting guests. They would place the scent filled material in ceramic jars that were closed and they opened the 12 Floriculture Today June 2012

jars when they were using that specific room. But now the awareness is increasing and so its demand.

Make Potpourri at home: However, it is easy to make them at home also. It may be quite a refreshing hobby, which yields fragrance in home and beautiful gifts for friends too. Mostly potpourri is made for decorative use. It is shaped from dried plant materials, but it does not mean that it gets its scent from the material! In fact, most of the time you will find barks and flowers mixed together to make a wonderful, colorful mix, however, the smell comes from oils.

The essential elements for making a potpourri consist of flowers and leaves, essential oils, spices, herbs and fixative.

Home Decoration Potpourri satche

Potpourri bowl

After Potpourri is made and dried, add 6 drops of your favorite essential oil to every cup of dried potpourri mix. Keep it in a closed container for a few weeks to allow scent to penetrate plant material.

Stir the mixture daily.

When making your own potpourri, keep in mind that the fixative is the most important part of the recipe. It is what brings everything together and it is what keeps your potpourri to smell good. You can use powered orris root, oak moss, cellulose, ground gum benxoin, or fiberfix. It is what will absorb your oils and allow the substances to keep their scent. You will also need to use essential oils or even fragrance oils to enhance the natural scent of your potpourri. If you don’t use enough fixative material then your potpourri will end up dying quickly. You need just the right amount of fixative to keep the smell going on.

Also, if you place the potpourri in anything, make sure that it is not something that you are attached to. Some use strong dyes and they tend to bleed out on fabrics. The dyes have nothing to do with the flower or even with the scent. The dyes are added to give it some color and to be more pleasing to the eye.

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

Naturally scented plants used in traditional potpourri include: cinnamon bark and cassia bark (smells like cinnamon only less potent) cloves, cedar wood shavings (toxic, a moth repellent), allspice, cypress wood shavings (toxic, a moth repellent), fennel seed, incense-cedar wood shavings jasmine flowers and oil, jujube flowers and blooms, juniper wood shavings (toxic, a moth repellent), lavender leaves and flowers, lemon balm leaves and flowers, lemon peel, marjoram leaves and flowers, Mignonette leaves and flowers, mint leaves and flowers, mugwort (toxic, adds a musky note, a moth repellent) orange peel, rose flowers, hips, or oil, rosemary leaves and flowers, Modern potpourri consists of any decoratively shaped dried plant

Potpourri pot

material (not necessarily from scented plants) with strong synthetic perfumes (and also often strongly colored dyes) added, with the scent often bearing no relation to the plant material used. Sometimes, items which do not originate from plants are mixed in with the potpourri, to give it bulk and to make it more aesthetically pleasing. It is possible to spray scents onto potpourri. However, a fixative is needed so that the scent is absorbed for slow release. Generally, orris root is used for this purpose.

The number of plant species used in potpourri is large. Researchers have identified 300 species from 95 families, including fungi and lichens. A few toxic ingredients have been found, such as fruits from Strychnos nux-vomica, the strychnine tree.

Potpourri and Color Potpourri can add color, decoration, and scent to any particular room. The great thing about potpourri is that you can use it just like you would a scented candle. The best part is that you don’t have the smoky smell from the candles nor do you have to worry about a having an open flame, however, you get the same great results!

If you like to have something bold, you can try a mixture of berries, shells, woods, and flowers. You can do mixing and matching all sorts of things to make a potpourri special. Not only the scents but the appearance and look of potpourri also do matters.

To add some color to potpourri, you can include some flower petals from lavender, tulips, freesia, and even a marigold for added color. Also use things like peels, seeds, and pinecones to give it even more color and some texture.

Potpourri Blends There are so many ways for creating potpourri blends. One can have a combination of plant material, and scented oils according to preference. Some people need to have things looking more visual than smell, but others prefer the scent over the attractiveness. Usually one tries to make potpourri that is colorful, attractive, and smells like heaven. One may also want to place the potpourri in a decorative dish, container, or satchel. This is just one way that one can add a distinctive touch to his home.

Texture is something that you will want to think about when you are making your potpourri. Texture happens to play a big role in making your blend or mix. You will want to have tons of texture if you are going for a dramatic look. However, if you are looking for something delicate and warm, you can always go with petals and rosebuds.

Floriculture Today June 2012 13

Home Decoration Potpourri 3

You will be able to give your potpourri character when you mix flowers with other plants and plant material. You can also use whole flowers. Many people will use things like rosebuds to give their potpourri some added attractiveness. If you do not mix up your potpourri and only use petals, you will notice that it is flat and looks unattractive. You want to make sure that your potpourri has color, scent, and texture. If you are looking for the flat look, you will want to layer the pedals in a jar. This will give you plenty of color and room for creativity; however, a jar will prohibit you from getting a clear scent. The roses will create a soft scent and add softness to the décor. However, generally, a potpourri mix will have at least three different types of plant material. When it comes to mixing and matching the plant material, you will find that some things blend in well together, and some things are horrible together, you just need to find what works well for you and what doesn’t.

How to Use Potpourri If you place your potpourri next to a source of heat, you will find that your entire room or house could end up filling the air with warmth and comfort and plenty of flowers and spices to please the nose.

These are then kept in special pots known as potpourri pots with perforated lids to scent up a house. They are usually purchased in different forms from shops, but those inclined to be innovative can try making some at home, with their own brands of perfume. It’s the best way to keep your environment fragrant for a long time.

Potpourri Storage In case one end up making a lot more than required mixture, it can be stored for later use. The only thing is that one needs to take out all the moisture from the mixture. To do that use a silica gel, it can either be placed in a packet by using a muslin cloth bag or small plain envelope. This will make sure that the potpourri does not have any moisture, as well as the container.

Ingredients of some great potpourris: Purple Haze Ingredients: v 1 cup dried Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) (purple) v 7-8 drops Lavender essential/fragrance oil v 2 tablespoons dried Orris Root v 1/2 cup pink Carnation flower heads (Dianthus caryophyllus) v 1/2 cup (bright yellow) Lemon Marigold flower heads

(Tagetes tenifolia) v 1/4 cup (pale green) Lamb’s Ears leaves (Stachys byzantina) 14 Floriculture Today June 2012

American Dream Ingredients: v 1/2 cup (blue) Delphinium blossoms (Delphinium x cultorum) v 1 cup dried (red) Rose buds (red) v 1/2 cup (white) Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) v 1/2 cup (blue) Statice (Limonium sinuatum) v 4-6 drops Rose essential/fragrance oil v 2 tablespoons dried Orris Root Citrus Delight Ingredients: v 2 tablespoons dried orris root v 5 tablespoons Bearberry leaves (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) v 6-8 drops lemon essential/fragrance oil v 1/2 cup dried Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium) v 1/2 cup Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) v 1/4 cup dried Safflower flowers (Carthamus tinctorius L) v 1/4 cup orange peels finely sliced & dried Wild Flower Fields Ingredients: v 1/4 cup dried Elder Flowers (Sambucus nigra) v 2 tablespoons dried Orris Root v 1/4 cup Chamomile flower heads (Anthemis nobilis L. or Matricaria chamomilla) v 1/4 cup Bearberry leaves (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) v 1/2 cup Calendula (Marigold) flower heads (Calendula Officinalis) v 2 drops Lavender essential/fragrance oil Note: Orris root helps to preserve the fragrance of the herbs and flowers, it has little scent of its own so it is a good base to use in your potpourri mix. Orris is made from the dried root of the Florentine Iris. v Use 1-2 tablespoons of the dried orris root per cup of dried potpourri mix.

Rose potpourri Ingredients: v Rose petals v Essential oils v Spices and herbs v Fixative Method: Collect or buy some fresh rose petals from a florist, and dry them in a flat pan or any other flat surface until they turn crisp. For each quart of petals, add one tablespoon fixative. Dry lavender, oak moss, sandalwood or orrisroot are available in chopped form at any herb store. Add your favorite spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, dried citrus peel and vanilla beans. Finally, add a few drops of essential oil from an aromatherapy range, or your favourite perfume. Seal the mixture in a jar, and let it mellow for 10 days. Keep shaking the jar every couple of days so that the ingredients blend properly. Place it in a porcelain bowl in the house, or make a sachet of potpourri and place it in your drawer. n (The authors belong to the Dept of Horticulture, COA, IGKV, Raipur, C.G.)

Floriculture Today June 2012 15

Gardening

Terrace garden

Canna - bulbous plant

Aster - annual

Balsam - annual

Need of Terrace Garden hazardous environment s ’ y a in tod — Dr. M. Kannan, Dr. M. Jawaharlal and P. Ranchana

T

errace gardens are becoming a common feature in today’s urban environment. The phenomenon of landscaping on the terraces and rooftops has evolved due to excessive exploitation of the urban land. Bricks, concrete and asphalt have replaced greenery on horizontal as well as vertical planes. Skyscrapers, parking areas and network of roads have acquired a major of urban land. The modern means of transport compels us to create amenities such as bus- stands, railway stations and airports which have pushed away the

16 Floriculture Today June 2012

vegetation and natural green spaces from acres of urban land.

In such congested environment, rooftops and terraces of buildings provides a valuable potential sources of outdoor space accessible to users of buildings. Behind the idea of terrace gardens and rooftop landscapes is an urge to bring back greenery, which is pushed away from urban areas. These are necessarily green areas created on the concrete slabs.

Their need has increased with designing of high- rise buildings which deprive their

Gardening occupants of any visual contact with nature.

Terrace gardens bring back this missing link between the man and nature, though on moderate scale. Terrace gardens improve the quality of view from the surrounding higher buildings and can be specifically designed to be viewed from above. In cities around the world, terrace gardens are commonly created at three different levels, which are: i.

On rooftop of a building.

ii.

Porches, window boxes, portico balconies and such projected levels out of tower block, above the ground level.

shallow rooted rather than vigorous type. d)

Hardy plants, capable of withstanding windy conditions at terrace level should be chosen.

e)

The shape, colour and texture of foliage should complement the design features and not clash with them; huge plants look uncomfortable in small spaces & tend to dwarf adjoining smaller plants.

Foliage plants provide an interesting backdrop to flowering varieties.

f)

Plants are the growing element of

Boston ivy - Vine

Star Jasmine - Vine Bleeding heart - perennial

Campanula - perennial

iii. At the podium level, around the base or on roof of large basements.

Terrace gardens, designed with proper understanding of basic requirements and structural care, are able to create a pleasant natural environment at any level in the building. Roof landscape provides the outdoor areas for social inter- change that otherwise is almost impossible to obtain in densely developed cities. This, in turn goes along way in bringing about the much needed psychological and physical relief to stresses and strains of today’s urban life.

Choice and maintenance of plants for the terrace garden plants and vegetations Selection of plants is based upon : a) Limited space and the spread of foliage. b)

c)

Soil depths: Lawns – 6 to 8 inches.

Shrubs – 12 to 24 inches.

Tress – 36 to120 inches.

The root system of a plant should be

landscape design, so the rate of growth, size of full grown plant and relationship of plant with its neighbour has to be considered. g)

h)

Shade loving plants are preferable in case of scarce sunlight.

Cape Honeysuckle - Shrub

Plants should be suitable to a pot culture in flowerbeds on a terrace.

Suggested plants for terrace landscape : 1) Climbers - Philodendron scandens, Ficus pumila and Hedra helix.

2)

Foliage plants - Begonia acutifolia, Pileas and Cordyline terminalis (fire brand).

3)

Ground covers - Gynura, Sansvieria trifasciata (snake), Ficus elastica (rubber plant), Monstera, Setcreasea Purpurea and Helxine soleirolii. (Baby tears).

4)

Ferns-Nephrolepsis exalta & Maidenhair

Fire bush - Shrub

Pygny - cactus

Yucca - succulent

Floriculture Today June 2012 17

Gardening

Lantana Camara: a nostalgic journey

5)

Lawns - Dhoop or Hariyali, Crabgrass, Mexican grass, Burmese grass.

6)

Hedges - Dedonia, Clerendendron, Acalypha, Lantana camera, Duranta, Coleus and Ponsettia euphorbia.

7)

Trailers - Wanderin Jew (Zebrina), Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum).

8)

Flowering plants - Begonia, Chrysanthemum, Impatiens Scherezranium, Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Anturuim scherezranium and Impatiens petersiana.

— Reshmi R. Dasgupta

L

antana Camara, once found on the most common hedges surrounding bungalows and semi-detached houses, was “a very British import”. Children not only made chains with the tiny multicoloured compound flowers that made up each bloom, they also used to surreptitiously eat the green berries too that had a sweet, tangy taste. But people don’t see those flowers anymore because the hedges – in fact, hedges in general – have disappeared, especially from government colonies.

Now the affluent people prefer opaque fences of cane or steel mesh around their open spaces, usually topped by barbed or concertina wires, with savagely-pruned sentry-like trees at safe intervals.

One can wonder whether the children who grow up within those sanitised compounds ever experience that once-upon-a-time childhood joys – eagerly waiting for season flowers to bud and bloom, learning about trees, vegetables and fruits from the kitchen garden in the rear and trimming the lawn with the maali with the old fashioned mower and then watching the bullock chew its way through the aromatic grass afterwards.

Lantana Camara

Annuals and Biennials Annuals are the plants which produce flowers, mature and die in a course of one year. They provide abundant bloom and quick colour for any type of garden and they are inexpensive. If one want colourful terrace landscape, annuals are indispensable. Annuals and biennials should be planted in full sun unless it is known that they can tolerate shade. Some annuals and biennials which are easy and fast-growing: 1. Aster - Pink and Scarlet 2. Balsam - Lilac and Red 3. Marigold - Yellow and Orange 4. Zinnias - Pink and Lilac 5. Lobelia - White and Blue 7. Cosmos - Rosy and Purple Perennials Unlike annuals they continue flowering, year after year, though some go dormant in winter after storing food in their roots for next spring’s growth. As a group, perennials are a hardy lot, even in the coldest climates. In mild climate, many perennials hold their foliage all the year. For many years, perennials were valued for their effectiveness in border planting. This is still one of their best uses. But today they are used in a same way as the annuals, in mass planting, in edging, as bulb covers and ground covers. v Perennials are excellent pot plants for gracing of deck or terrace.

A book was published late last year called Flora’s Empire: British Gardens in India by Eugenia Herbert. The author avers that Lord Curzon’s ‘restoration’ of the formal gardens around the Taj Mahal was not authentic as the original was less regimented, but that’s hard to believe given the Mughals’ love for geometrically laid out greenery. Ironically, now regimentation coupled with security concerns, has led to quite dreadful aberrations.

By the 20th century, the British had moved on to the ‘carefully careless’ style of gardens anyway, of which one can see some glorious examples in Indian hill stations. Municipal horticultural authorities, though, appear to be opting for ‘phoren’ flora for their regimented layouts. So, instead of tried and tested plants, fancy imports are colonising gardens and public spaces – like the greyish palms that sprouted on traffic islands all over Delhi before the Commonwealth Games in October 2010. Predictably, they did not last a summer, unlike the imported lantana.

18 Floriculture Today June 2012

v

While massing the perennials, one should choose them carefully, so they will work together in harmonious pattern of colour, form, size and texture. Though some of the perennials require shade, most prefer full sun.

Some perennials which are popular and fast growing: v 1. Agathaea - Sky Blue.

2. Alyssum - Golden Yellow.

3. Astilbe - Pink, Red and White.

4. Bergenia - Rosy and White.

5. Bleeding Heart - Pink.

6. Campanula - Blue and White.

Bulbs All the bulbs share a common characteristic of storing the food in swollen underground parts during dormant seasons. When their growth season comes around, roots and leaves sprout from this

Gardening natural storehouse. Bulbs often bloom in spring except some like lilies which bloom in summer. Bulbs need a highly organic but rapid draining soil. Preferably, dig round holes for bulbs with a concave bottom. This works better than pointed holes that leave air pockets below the bulb.

1. Lily - Many colours 2. Canna - Chrome Yellow Vines Vines cover a multitude of sins including cracked walls and unsightly areas and they create a cascading effect that is very appealing. They screen walls and fences and blackout objectionable views. Some vines produce for cutting or for display. Some got striking foliage, others bear fruits and berries. Vines can give a colourful and soft green background to the terrace garden. Vines, hang from upper terrace or deck can from clusters. Multilevel designs become more beautiful and effective by the neat and aesthetic use of the vines.

1. Boston ivy - dense, deciduous 2. Star jasmine - spreading, evergreen 3. Trumpet - yellow flowers, evergreen Shrubs Shrubs are available for almost any use in the terrace garden.

The best shrubs for permanent landscaping are those that grow quite slowly but once established, maintain their character year after year. Shrubs grow almost free of care other than occasional pruning.

Evergreen shrubs are most popular where weather conditions are hospitable. In colder climates of course deciduous shrubs are favoured because their foliage blocks sunrays in summer and a bare branch allows heat in winter. Some shrubs need space to grow.

1. Firebush 2. Cape honey suckle

Cacti and Succulents Cacti are remarkable for tolerating much neglect and growing in locations where few other plants can succeed. Nearly all cacti originated in the desert of the African continents. There are many forms of cacti, such as globular, columnar, segmental, crystal and even monstrous. The growing of exotic varieties such as the Maryad Pin Cushion Species of Mammilaria, Pigmy Cactus, Rebutia which has spectacular blooms, can be most rewarding experience and is relatively easy. Larger and sturdier succulents like Opunita and Yucca can be planted outdoors in bright sunlight, the smaller more delicate and flowering plants can be grown in house placed indoors to provide exotic decor. Cacti should always be watered whenever the soil looks dry. Over-watering is not good for cacti. Add extra sand coarse grit to the soil mixture to ensure good drainage. Once a year or when roots have filled the pot, cacti need to be repotted, i.e. replanted in a pot, one size larger than the old one.

Succulents Succulents are one of the fascinating groups of plants in the entire plant world. Cacti - euphorbia, crassulas and agaves are all succulents but each appears distinctively different. All cacti are succulents but all spiny or sharply pointed hairs arranged in clusters separated by areas of spineless skin, the plant most likely is a cactus. n (Authors are from the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, HC& RI, TNAU, Coimabtore)

Lawn Lawn is a major vegetation element in design of terrace garden. It can control heat and glare of sun. It gives pleasant feeling to eyes. It is used for aesthetical purpose also. Lawns are also used in combination with other landscape element like paving material. There are four types of grass which are mainly adopted for the purpose of creating a lawn on the terrace.

1. Hariyali is the most common. It grows vigorously and spreads uniformly. It does not require much attention for maintenance.

Lot of water and sunlight is required.

2.

Blue grass has soft texture with bluish tint. It has velvet texture but it doesn’t grow uniformly. It is very delicate and requires more maintenance. It is not suitable for active recreation.

3.

Crab grass has good spreading characteristic. It grows in humid zones also. It can grow under certain percentage of shade. Crab grass is suitable for active recreation also.

4.

Dichondra has tiny circular leaves and spreads uniformly. It is suitable for rock gardens; grass jointed paving and general purposes.

Floriculture Today June 2012 19

Event Report

Oh, to be in London!

Just when Chelsea’s there...

by Kavita Poddar Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society, Kolkata in profusion in a stand from Korea. Vegetable growers have their own innovations and so does the flower arranging society of UK, NAFAS. Major exhibits Among the eye-catching exhibits were: Making wonders with grass; a Chelsea plant of the year -- Nepenthes Linda, a carnivorous plant with huge pitchers; Another Chelsea year plant, Tillandsia Samantha, new shape; another specimen, Hyacinthus-orientalis, royal blue.

Among the gardens were, the M&G garden, where one could see a contrast of metal and plants; Pyramidal Tower garden

by Thomas Hoblyn, and Sunken garden, artistically laid out.

Chatting with the commoners.

T

he RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. The show is usually ranked as one of the best, not only in UK but the world as well, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Chelsea Flower Show is famous for the avant-garde show gardens designed by leading names. The Show also features smaller gardens such as the Artisan and Urban Gardens.

Dream of one & all It’s a dream of every plant, garden and flower lover. For most gardeners and plantsmen, it is a ‘must do’ in their summer calendar. This year, May 21-26, the Chelsea Flower Show was sponsored by M&G investments.

I was lucky to be invited to the preview and VIP day, Monday. The Queen always comes and a spotless red carpet awaits her 20 Floriculture Today June 2012

arrival. The Chelsea pensioners in their Sunday best, red uniforms and medals galore strike the chords to welcome her. The Queen talks to the people and seems to enjoy this outing. This being the Diamond Jubilee year, it is a bit more special for the Brits.

Grand Marquee There are trade stalls which are also given awards for their products and display.

But the main attractions are the Outdoor Sponsored gardens, and the Grand Marquee.

Each exhibition garden is designed, planned at least a year in advance; the perfect plant in the ideal hue, and size and shape is ordered or booked with the nurseries. All over Europe the plantsmen travel and pick up their perfect specimen.

Concerns for Nature Recycling is a big thing that is talked about and also water scarcity, evidence of which is there in the exhibits. Thailand supplied 80,000 orchid stems for its gorgeous display, and phaelonopsis orchids were seen

Heavy Rush & Curiosity Chelsea is always a big people-puller.

There is always a crush of people. You walk a little, you shuffle a little, but mostly you inch from display to display, waiting patiently for a gap to open up at the front so you can get closer and enjoy an unobstructed view for a few precious moments and the chance to snap a couple of photos.

There are always elegantly dressed men and women wearing summer hats. There are always people in the adjacent Ranelagh garden sipping champagne and Pimms well before noon and nibbling on large white ice creams after noon.

The BBC is always on site doing endless TV presentations that get hours and hours of prime-time scheduling every day of the show. All of England is apparently fascinated by every aspect of this show.

And there are always immaculately displays of plants, everything from foxgloves to clematis, peonies to primulas, inside the Great Pavilion where attention to detail is quite simply extraordinary with not a flower, petal or leaf out of place.

Hard work, passion & big budget You might think the stars of the show at Chelsea are always the main show gardens,

Event Report

A wooden sculpture of a dog at a trade stand.

An urban landscape made with various kinds of slate at another trade stand.

The royal visit.

most of which take at least two weeks to build and, in some cases, cost more than $300,000. This year, there were 16, nine of which walked away with gold medals for excellence – the highest award you can win at Chelsea.

But in reality, as beautiful as the show gardens are, what makes Chelsea special, what makes it totally unforgettable, is the amazing complexity of elements that combine to produce an overall impression of refinement, intelligence and sophistication – classy statuary, stylish patio furniture, beautiful plants, clever innovations, all set within a cheerful garden party atmosphere that makes the event such a favourite spring celebration, a cornerstone of the English gardening calendar.

Experimental approach Judges at Chelsea love the avant garde.

In fact, this year, for the first time, they introduced a new category of Fresh Gardens that were supposed to be experimental and unconventional in their approach, embracing fields such as technology, film and arts in their designs.

But despite its eagerness to update itself, stay current and reach out to a new generation of gardeners, Chelsea couldn’t hide the fact that is it still madly in love with cleanly executed, refined, well-structured formal gardens that acknowledge the long and illustrious history of garden-making that preceded them.

Gardens that won gold medals were

mostly ones that succeeded at balancing formal and informal elements in an evenhanded harmonious composition that achieved a happy synergy between rigid structural materials and relaxed, naturalistic, country-garden planting.

A bit of overhead planting in the seating area.

Best Gardens Best garden in show was just such a landscape, one designed by Cleve West, featuring beautifully formed clipped beech hedging, symmetrically placed linden trees, handsome pillars of natural stone and a confident use of yew topiaries, surrounded by herbaceous perennials.

Andy Sturgeon, one of Chelsea’s favourite designers, also snatched up a gold medal by pressing all the right buttons with his superbly well-balanced garden.

It featured warm cream-coloured natural stone with multiple holes drilled into some polished pieces for novelty, a rippling “energy wave” sculpture made from a series of copper rings, and a smart planting of boxwood balls around a shallow rectangular pond with clumps of purple-flowered sweet rocket dotted here and there to create a rhythm of colour.

Joe Swift, a gardening writer for The Times newspapers and BBC presenter, won a gold medal for his sensational garden, which was easily the most original with large cedar frames that turned the garden into a series of living TV-screen images.

He worked hard on this project, even going to the extent of taking large sandstone

The M&G garden where a contrast of metal and plants are seen.

A sunken garden artistically laid out.

How to recycle water, and waste not

Floriculture Today June 2012 21

Event Report boulders, slicing them into horizontal pieces, and then reassembling them into a wonderfully attractive stack.

Other winning gardens made bold use of the Dutch idea of ruthlessly clipping beech and hornbeam to establish an impressive architecture of bleached trees and razorsharp hedges.

A vertical planting idea, and digitals too.

Backs of sprite and beer bottles used as pavings.

Making wonders with grass

A chelsea plant of the year, Nepenthes Linda, A carnivorous plant with huge pitchers.

Plant Attraction Common hedgerow cow parley (Anthriscus sylvestris), a.k.a. by many people as Queen Anne’s lace, was boldly used in several Chelsea displays. This is perhaps not surprising since cow parsley is now virtually a standard feature plant in many top English gardens, such as Sissinghurst and Great Dixter, along with buttercup and field daisies.

Other plants favoured in Chelsea displays include euphorbias, alliums, astrantia, epimediums, aquilegias, geums, hardy geraniums, smyrnium, thalictrums and rogersias. These were all used extensively slotted along with oriental poppies, white and purple hesperis, vabascums and foxgloves. Clipped beech, hornbeams, yews, boxwood and limes were used in most gardens as standard foundation planting.

Wow Factor This is always a great attraction and the theme for this year was Monet’s garden.

A bit of India was there in the Kadai Firebowls where the owner proudly confessed that he visited India every couple of months to order more which he sold for Bar B Q’s.

New plant specimens are always being introduced, and a special place of honour is reserved for them. Every direction you look, there is a wow factor and you always feel I hope I haven’t missed anything. Nobody ever goes back disappointed –always looking forward to the Next Chelsea Flower Show.

Phaelonopsis galore.

Inspired by Monet.

Vegetable display.

Another specimen, Hyacinthus orientalis, Royal Blue.

Thai stand, showing an orchid drape.

22 Floriculture Today June 2012

Sleeping beauty.

Pyramidal tower garden ,by, Thomas Hoblyn.

Floriculture Today June 2012 23

Disease Management

Cultural practices and disease management in Rose

Anthracnose

Powdery mildew

Downey-mildew

Knockout

Rose mosaic

Black spot

— Atul Batra and B.K.Banerji

Some of the common rose diseases

Roses grow best in full sun but will grow satisfactorily if they have 6 hours of sun daily. Early morning sun is preferred to afternoon sun since it gives the foliage a chance to dry early in the day. Damp conditions favor the development of diseases. Roses should not be planted too close to trees or shrubs where they will have to compete for light, nutrients, water, and air

T

he rose is one of the oldest flowers in cultivation and is still considered one of the most popular garden flowers today. Most modern roses are descendants of eight European and Asian rose species. Long range of biodiversity available in flower forms and colors of garden roses are the result of bud sports, extensive breeding and hybridizing that began in the 18th century.

Types of Roses Roses can be grouped into 3 classifications according to their On the basis of growth pattern roses are classified into bush, climber, and shrub. (i) Bush Roses Bush roses grow straight and are self supporting and bear flowers primarily at the top of the plant. Plant height vary from 15 to 180cm. Bush roses are further divided into groups by their growth and flowering habits. (a) Hybrid teas: Hybrid teas are the most 24 Floriculture Today June 2012

popular type of rose in America today.

Most feature attractive, long, pointed buds and large, fragrant flowers that are well formed and symmetrical. Hybrid teas grow from 45 to 185cm tall and generally bloom continually through out the growing season. Flowers are usually borne singly on long and strong stems which make them desirable for cutting. Flowers are generally double and come in all colors except true blue. Most hybrid teas are vigorous, and although not fully winter hardy in the cold winters, they can be grown in winters with protection.

Use: cut flower (b) Hybrid perpetual: Hybrid perpetuals were popular before the development of the hybrid teas. These roses flower once in June and often rebloom inconsistently during the growing season. Large flowers are borne on vigorous bushes that are winter hardy.

The plant has a stiff, erect habit. All the cultivars are developed and maintained by grafting method.

Use: Garden display (c) Floribunda: Floribunda roses, as the name implies blooms abundantly, bearing clusters of single to fully double flowers which resemble small hybrid teas. They have popularity due to their profuse blooming and lower maintenance requirements.

Floribundas are useful in landscape planting where masses of color are desired. Plant size usually does not exceed 120cm.

Use: Floribundas also can be used for cut flowers. (d) Grandiflora: Grandiflora roses are evolved as a result of crosses between hybrid teas and floribundas. Plant produces small clusters of large flowers

Disease Management which are borne on long stems. The tall plants grow up to 185cm. Grandiflora blooms more freely than hybrid teas but less than floribundas.

gens

Soil patho

Use: Grandifloras are useful in the landscape, especially as background plants, as well as for cut flowers.

Ti ps to save seedlings

(e) Polyantha: Polyantha rose flowers are smaller than those of the grandiflora and are borne in large clusters. Greater winter hardiness allows polyanthas to be grown where hybrid teas are difficult to maintain.

S

Use: These low growing roses are excellent for mass plantings and edging. (f) Miniature: Miniature rose plants are generally attains height between 30 and 45cm tall, with some cultivars reaching a maximum height of 15cm. Their diverse leaf and flower characteristics are smaller versions of the largerflowered types such as hybrid teas or floribundas.

Use: Miniatures are useful for rock gardens, edging beds, borders, and containers.

Miniatures can be grown indoors with special care. All are grown on their own roots. (g) Tree or standard roses: Tree or standard roses are formed by grafting a bush rose onto a long, upright trunk, resulting in a small tree appearance. Many of the popular rose cultivars are available as standards. These plants are used in formal plantings, in containers, or as accent plants. Tree sizes range from 90-180cm. Weeping roses are formed by grafting climbers onto an upright trunk. Tree roses require special care during winter. (ii) Climbing Roses Climbing roses are extremely vigorous plants with long canes (branches) that require support. Canes can be trained to a trellis or fence or allowed to sprawl as a bank cover. Canes may range in size from 1.5 to 6mt depending on the type of rose and how they are supported and maintained.

Some are grafted, while some are grown on their own roots. Climbing roses are also sub

oil is a complex habitat where a large number of different micro organisms including fungal pathogens interacting with plants.

These soil pathogens always depend on host to survive and reproduce.

They prefer to live within the soil and causing diseases in plants particularly tree seedlings.

Fungal pathogens Common soil borne fungal pathogens and the diseases caused by them in tree seedlings are as follows.

Fusarium is a common soil fungal pathogen that causes root rots and wilt diseases in several tree seedlings in nursery. It reproduces very rapidly in the soil with adequate moisture.

Phytophthora causes root rot, crown rot and leaf blight in oak, poplar and eucalyptus seedlings. It is mostly found in contaminated soils and easily spreads through water.

Pythium is a fungal pathogen infects early stage of seedlings and causes damping off disease.

Excessive moisture favours this pathogen to infect the seedlings.

Rhizoctoniat causes leaf blight in teak and damping off in most of the native tree species.

Verticillium fungi causes wilt disease at nursery stage in poplar, oak and shisham. Water stagnant in nurseries is one of the predisposing factors for the verticillium wilt disease.

Soil solarization Soil solarization is the possible way to control or prevent these soil pathogens through raising of soil temperature. Clean thin and transparent polythene sheet can be spread over the nursery soil. Solar energy will be trapped in this method and heats the soil. This can remove all the soil pathogens.

Soil fumigation with 4 per cent Formalin is also effective. The seed beds or nursery soils can be covered with thick polythene sheet and thereafter the Formalin solution sprayed on soil for fumigation. Overnight fumigation will give effective management of soil pathogens in nursery.

Preventive measures * Right location with good drainage and appropriate sun light must be chosen before establishment of nursery. *

Injuries in seedlings should be avoided. (by A.Karthikeyan & N. Krishnakumar, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore)

Floriculture Today June 2012 25

Disease Management divided into groups based on flowering and growth habit.

ramblers. They are most often trained on posts or other supports and require heavy annual pruning to keep them manageable. These roses work well in a small garden if trained against a wall or trellis. The large flowers of these climbers are useful for cutting. Most bloom twice per year, in early summer and early autumn.

(a) Ever blooming: Ever blooming climbers bear flowers abundantly in spring, followed by scattered bloom through the season and may flower heavily again in fall, weather permitting.

They originated in the 1950s, and improvements are being made on this type of rose to bloom more continually with greater winter hardiness.

(d) Trailing: Trailing roses make good wall or bank plantings. They have a sprawling growth habit which is effective for holding soil on steep banks. Trailing roses do not have showy flowers but do set attractive fruit (rose hips) in the fall, which attract birds and small game. Some climbing roses originate as chance mutations of popular bush hybrid teas, floribundas and polyanthus. Usually, the climber is given the same name as the bush rose with the name climbing added.

These climbers are usually less hardy

(b) Rambler: Rambler roses are very rapid growers, developing canes as long as 6mt in a season. Small flowers, less than 5cm across, are borne once per season in dense clusters on 1-year-old wood. The plants are very hardy with glossy foliage, but some cultivars are very susceptible to powdery mildew. (c) Large-flowered: Large-flowered climbers grow slowly in comparison to

and do not blooms as continually as the bush form, but other flower and leaf characteristics are similar. These climbers are usually shorter and flower less freely than the true climbers. (iii) Shrub Roses Shrub roses belong to a non-specific class of wild species, hybrids, and cultivars that develop large, dense growth needing little maintenance. Many have fine textured foliage, making them suitable for use as hedges or screen plantings. Species and old-fashioned roses generally bloom only once per season. Old-fashioned roses were popular in colonial gardens for their fragrance. Their flowers do not compare with the roses of today, but the plants are very hardy and require little care. Many oldtime roses are still commercially available.

Cultural Practices Roses grow best in full sun but will grow satisfactorily if they have 6 hours of sun daily.

Table 1: Insect pests of roses and their control Pest

Description

Aphids Pear shaped generally wingless,

various colors

Rose Chafers

Chemical controls

Suck plant juices, causing leaves to curl and flowers to be malformed.

Acephate, Disulfoton, pyrethrin

Metallic green with coppery brown Chew foliage, stems and flowers wing covers and make irregular shaped holes

Rose Beetles Grayesh brownin color

Rose slugs

Damage to plant

Eat notches on leaf edges at night. Larvae feed on plant roots.

Greenish white in color with Larvae feed on leaf under sides. bristly hairs

Rose leaf hoppers Light green, yellow or white

in color with red eyes and run

on leaf under sides

Rose Midges Tiny, red or yellow in color

Spider mites Spider like, very tiny, orange

green or yellow in color

Thrips Orange yellow or brownish

yellow in color.

Rose Curculios Red in color with long and

black snout

26 Floriculture Today June 2012

Acephate, Permethrin Carbaryl, Acephate, Cyfluthrin.

Carbaryl, Acephate, insecticidal soap.

Leaf hoppers cause stippling on leaf undersides. They cause leaf edges to curl.

Acephate, Cyfluthrin, Permethrin

Larvae feed on buds and leaves.

Buds and leaves turn black and become deformed and die.

Acephate, Cabaryl, Esfenvalerate

Suck plant juices from leaves causing leaves to appear stippled, red yellow to brown.

Horticultural oil, insecticidal soap

Feed on flowers or leaves.

Buds are deformed or do not open at all.

Acephate, Spinosad, Cyfluthrin

Eat holes in buds and create gouges in stems

Acephate, Cyfluthrin

Disease Management Table 2: Diseases of roses and their control Disease

Symptoms

Most Susceptible Roses

Chemical controls

Rust

Yellow or orange postules appear on the undersides

Hybrid teas, climbers

Triforine

Crown Gall

A bacterial disease that begins All classes as small swelling usually at ground level.

There is no effective chemical control

Powdery Mildew

White, powdery masses of spores Hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers, on young leaves, shoots and buds. ramblers

Thiophanate-methyl, triforine or myclobutanil

Canker

Appear as small reddish spot on the stem, causing the leaves and flowers above to die

Hybrid teas, hybrid perpetual, tea roses

Lime sulfur spray before spring growth starts

Rose Black spot

Circular black spots surrounded by yellow holes on leaves

Hybrid teas, hybrid perpetual, polyanthus, tea roses

Chlorothalonil, thiophanate-methyl, triforine or myclobutanil

Early morning sun is preferred to afternoon sun since it gives the foliage a chance to dry early in the day. Damp conditions favor the development of diseases. Roses should not be planted too close to trees or shrubs where they will have to compete for light, nutrients, water, and air. Plant at least 45 to 60 cm away from buildings or solid barriers (except for climbers). Walls can be used to advantage if roses are located so the barrier provides protection from north and west winter winds. To provide adequate air circulation, hybrid teas, polyanthas, and grandifloras should be planted 24 to 30 inches apart. Floribundas may be spaced slightly closer together at 18 to 24 inches apart. Allow 90 to 150 cm between hybrid perpetual and 2.4 to 3.0 mt for climbers.

moisture in the soil. Be sure that the source of mulch is free of weed seeds.

Transplanting If established plants must be moved, early spring when roses are dormant is the best time to transplant. Prune bush roses back to 45to 60cm, and dig the plants with as large a ball of soil as you can handle.

Prepare the new planting holes ahead of time so that the rose will not remain out of the ground for long. Replant and water well just as you would do when first setting the plants.

or growth and may eventually dominate the plant if allowed to grow. Use only sharp cutting tools such as pruning shears or a fine-toothed saw to cut canes. Remove dead, damaged, weak, or excess canes by cutting close to the point on the crown from which they originate, making sure no stubs are left behind. To shorten lengthy stems, make a 450 angle cut close above a bud that faces the direction you want new shoots to grow.

Water Bedding roses should receive the equivalent of 2.5cm of water every 7 to 10 days throughout the growing season.

Water in the morning or early afternoon is advisable to allow foliage to dry quickly and help to prevent foliar diseases. Methods such as soaker hoses or drip irrigation which never wet the foliage are preferred.

Disbudding Disbudding is a technique used to produce fewer but larger blooms. Remove the side buds by pinching them with your fingers while the buds are very small, leaving only the top bud on each stem. This will allow the plant to concentrate the energy of the entire stem on growth of one flower.

That resulting flower will be larger than if it were only one of many flowers on the stem.

Be sure you remove the side buds as soon as they are visible; disbudding is ineffective once the early growth phase of the flower buds is completed.

(i) Bush Roses Bush roses should be pruned in early spring to remove winter-damaged canes and to shape the bush. Remove all dead wood as indicated by darkened color, and weak, twiggy branches. Prune canes that cross or grow towards the center of the plant. Your rose should have 4 to 8 strong canes cut to uniform lengths that spread away from the center in the shape of a vase. Tree roses require heavy pruning in the spring and light pruning during the growing season to keep the tops from becoming too large for the stem. After removing the dead wood, cut back the live canes to 20 to 30cm and shape the overall structure of the plant.

Cultivation and Mulching Because roses are very shallow-rooted plants, cultivate only the soil surface to avoid damaging the roots in the upper soil level. Mulching with a 5 to 7.5cm layer of peat moss, shredded bark, straw, or similar material will discourage weeds, minimize root disruption from cultivation, and retain

Pruning Roses should be pruned annually to improve their appearance, remove weakened and dead wood, and control the quantity and quality of flowers produced.

Prune suckers (shoots from the rootstock) of grafted plants whenever they appear.

Suckers do not produce attractive flowers

(ii) Climbing Roses Ever blooming climbers and largeflowered climbers which flower throughout the year should need little pruning for 2 to 3 years after planting. Only dead or weak wood and spent flowers should be removed during that period. Thereafter, spring pruning should remove the oldest,

Floriculture Today June 2012 27

Disease Management long canes which become unproductive.

On intermediate age canes (2 to 3 years), cut back lateral branches to 2 to 3 strong buds.

The best quality flowers are produced on these laterals. Ramblers and large-flowered climbers which bloom only once should be pruned immediately after flowering since blooms form on previous seasons growth.

New canes are produced at the plants base or very near the base as side branches of older canes, and will produce flowers the following year. Therefore, canes which bore flowers should be completely removed and the new canes trained in their place. (iii) Shrub Roses Pruning of shrub roses should be limited to thinning to remove dead or damaged wood. Shaping is rarely needed, and heavy pruning may destroy the plants attractive natural habit. Renewal pruning of very old shrub roses may be practiced as with other landscape plants.

Insect pest, diseases and their control measures Roses are attacked by numerous insect pests and diseases. Good general care of roses is the first step towards battling these problems. Some cultivars are more resistant

28 Floriculture Today June 2012

to disease than others, but all roses require some protection from pests. Applying pesticides on schedule is a necessity.

Insecticides and fungicides can be applied as either spray or dust. Spray is more effective due to better coverage and offers a wider range of chemicals.

Both dusts and sprays should be applied in the morning. Early morning dew will help dust cling to the leaves. Spraying should be done after the morning dew has had a chance to dry. Apply chemicals only when the air is still to avoid drift. Roses can be attacked by a wide variety of insect pests in the Midwest.

The list of reduced-risk options starts with a steady stream of water that can be used to mechanically remove pests from leaves. Repeated water sprays can actually reduce aphid and mite numbers, while sparing many of the beneficial insects and mites. Many insects such as Japanese beetles may be hand-picked to reduce their damage.

Removing and destroying plant parts infested with other insects such as scales, rose midges, and thrips can reduce the number of pests available to attack plants.

Removing blooms past their prime can reduce the number of hiding places for thrips and beetles. Finally, a fall clean up

can eliminate the over wintering sites for other pests. Managing pests may require the use of insecticides when other options fail to maintain an acceptable level of plant appearance. Short-lived insecticides such as horticultural oil or insecticidal soap can smother soft-bodied insects like aphids and spider mites, but spare more hardbodied predators. Other insecticides, like azadiractin (Neem) can kill immature insects when they molt and repel some adults trying to feed.

Many long lasting pesticides are available. These include soil-applied materials like imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control).

Others, like disulfoton (several products), last for several weeks against some labeled pests. Foliarapplied materials such as carbaryl (Sevin), cyfluthrin (Bayer Advanced Lawn and Garden Multi-Insect Killer), cyfluthrin+imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Garden Rose and Flower Insect Killer), esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-BGone), malathion, and permethrin (several products) give control for a week or more. Acephate (Orthene) when applied to the leaves can move into concealed buds (Table 1 and 2).

n

Floriculture Today June 2012 29

Corporate News

Jain Irrigation Systems brings to India 1st Center Pivot Irrigation Systems sprinkler that irrigates uniformly on the crop. These nozzles require low pressure of only 10 to 15 meters and therefore the whole system requires lower pressure compared with a conventional portable sprinkler system of this size.

(In photo) VK Gaur, MD, State Farms Corporation of India after inaugurating the Center Pivot Irrigation System at Jetsar Farm, Near Shri Ganganagar

J

ain Irrigation Systems ltd, largest manufacturer of micro irrigation systems in India have added yet another feather in their cap. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd added center pivot and linear irrigation systems to their product range when they acquired franchise of yet another global leader in this field Valmont Inc, USA manufacturer of Valley brand of center pivot and linear irrigation system.

State farms Corporation of India placed order for two Center Pivot Irrigation Systems on Jain Irrigation for their farms at Jetsar and Sardargarh. Unit at Jetsar was recently inaugurated by VK Gaur, Managing Director of State Farms Corporation of India. Each system consists of 7 spans. Total length of 7 spans and an overhang is 438 m and can irrigate 150 acres Both Center Pivot and Linear Irrigation Machines are most modern and efficient form of irrigation for multiple crops/cropping patterns from cereals, pulses, oil seeds, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and orchards. This form of irrigation is being extensively used all across the globe and is very energy efficient. Machines have long life and provide low cost efficient overhead irrigation. Light irrigation at higher frequency over large area possible to achieve optimal use of water.

v

This overhead pipeline is supported by different towers mounted on wheels and propelled with electrical motors. This allows the machine to rotate around the central pivot point and therefore irrigate in the shape of a circle. Electric motors of 0.25- 0.5 hp only move theses towers at very slow speed through a special gear box which is a USP of Valmont Inc.

v

A unit from one tower to the other is called a “span”. A span can be 49, 55 or 60m long. The system is completely modular, and spans can be added together to irrigate different sizes of field.

As said, a typically economical size would be about 7 spans, irrigating a circle of about 50Ha.

Linear Move Irrigation System v In Linear move machines water carrying pipe is also mounted on towers that move, but along a straight path. Such systems are very useful in irrigating square or rectangular fields. v

Water source is an open channel/water course along which the machine is guided. Alternatively water source can be pressurized water outlets along the side of the field connected to linear machine with a drag hose.

Center Pivot and Linear irrigation systems are similar to sprinkler form of irrigation with the added advantage that almost daily irrigation is possible which helps in preventing moisture stress and help in steady plant growth like in case of drip irrigation. Crop yields are much higher when compared with surface irrigation and conventional portable sprinkler irrigation system and is comparable with that achieved with drip irrigation.

Center Pivot Irrigation System v The machine’s center is a pyramidal structure that consists in the pivot point around which the complete system will rotate. v

v

It is through this central point that the water is supplied.

Manufacturer would supply all components up to this point.

PVC or HDPE pipes required from the pumping station that conducts the water to the machine according to the field’s specifications.

From the central point, an overhead pipeline will conduct the water until the end of the machine. Typically there are outlets with a hose dropping down towards the ground at every 295 comes and at the end of the hose you will find the actual

30 Floriculture Today June 2012

Center Pivot irrigation systems at large farms of State Farms Corporation of India will provide help irrigate large tracks with very little manpower. Saving in water, increased area under irrigation and enhanced crop productivity at lower cost are many advantages which State Farms Corporation of India will get from these time tested form of mechanized irrigation system. n

Floriculture Today June 2012 31

32 Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012 33

Varietal Development Los Banos Variegata Silver Margin

Los Banos Variegata-Jayanthi

Arjuna

Abhimanyu

Pixie Variegata

Mahara Variegata abnormal leaf

Newly developed bougainvillea cultivars at CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow — B.K.Banerji

I

n floriculture industry and cut flower trade there is a big demand of new and elite cultivars. In floriculture section various available tools are used for genetic improvement of ornamental plant which includes hybridization, seedling selection, bud sports and induced mutations. CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow is a pioneer organization where genetic improvement is going on in different ornamental plants i.e. (Bougainvillea, Canna, Chrysanthemum, Gladiolus, Hibiscus, Marigold, Rose and Tuberose) by seedling selection, hybridization and mutation breeding method, resulted in to development 34 Floriculture Today June 2012

of many new and novel cultivars.

The development of floriculture and mutation breeding are the first and oldest activities of this Institute. The newly developed bougainvillea cultivars by somatic mutation at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow are discussed in the paper (Table-1).

Bougainvillea The National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow has performed a pivotal role in advance research in bougainvillea under the dynamic leadership of late Dr.T.N.Khoshoo in mid sixties and work is

still continuing. Plant improvement work in bougainvillea at CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute Lucknow has been carried out by three main groups.

Scientist from mutation breeding group mainly concentrated their research work with double bracted bougainvillea as hybridization is not possible due to absence of flowers from the bracts and mutation breeding remains the only alternative way for its further improvement.

T he scientist from cytogenetics division started work with single bracted bougainvillea by using hybridization and colchiplody as a major tools for its further

Varietal Development improvement. Scientist of Plant introduction and acclimatization division and Garden division have been deeply involve in maintaining huge germplasm collection at National Botanical Garden from time to time and many bud sports in bougainvillea have been reported by them, which added new dimension to our germplasm collection.

Cytogenetical improvement of single bracted bougainvilleas have been undertaken and many novel cultivars such as Dr.B.P.Pal (4x=68), Tetra Mrs. McClean (4x=68), Begum Sikandar (3x-2=49), Wajid Ali Shah (3x=51) and Chitra (4x=68).

Seven gamma rays induced mutants of Bougainvillea viz. Arjuna, Aruna, Los Banos Variegata, Pallavi, Mahara Variegata, Los Banos Beauty Silver Margin, Mahara Variegata abnormal leaf mutant have been released and four of them has already been registered with International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI New Delhi. Two Chemical mutagen induced (EMS) mutants have been released in the name of Los Banos Variegata- Jayanthi and Pixie Variegata and already been registered with International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI New Delhi. One spontaneous mutant of ‘Arjuna’ is released in the name of ‘Abhimanyu’ in 2010.

Senior Scientists of this Institute have not only enriched our knowledge in bougainvillea but also have given rich diversity in terms of socio-economic benefits to nursery men, soft landscape architect and hobby oriented growers. Detail description of the bougainvillea (Plate -1) developed by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow is given below: Abhimanyu: It is a chlorophyll variegated bud sport of Arjuna (Arjuna is a gamma ray induced mutant of Partha) detected in the year 2008, multiplied in 2009 and released in 2010 by Dr.B.K.Banerji, NBRI, Lucknow.

The mutant has attractive variegation pattern in foliage. The central portion of the leaf lamina is green while the narrow margin is decorated with creamish white colour (Yellow Group 4D, Fan1, Yellow group 4C Fan-1). The young and medium size bract colour is Red Group 42B, Fan-1 and the mature bract colour is Red Group 53 B, Fan-1). An application form for its registration has already been submitted to International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI, New Delhi.

Use: This cultivar is idea for pot culture and quite suitable for topiary work.

Arjuna: It is a gamma ray induced mutant of ‘Partha’. Gupta and Shukla (1974) reported this mutant from National Botanic Garden, Lucknow. Leaves are variegated. Central portion of the leaf is green and its margin is surrounded by uneven creamish tissues.

Bract colour is pinkish purple.

Use: Cultivar is ideal for pot culture and soft landscaping.

Los Banos Variegata: It is a gamma ray induced mutant of multibracted bougainvillea cultivars ‘Los Banos Beauty’ (Banerji and Datta 1987). Leaves are variegated and has excellent pattern (Datta and Banerji, 1990).

It looks very attractive due to presence of green irregular center and white margin with of which is more than 1cm. Bract colour remains the same i.e. mallow purple. In extreme cases few albino shoots are emerged in old plant with pink stem. Very old plant produces few branches with Rhodamine purple bracts, which are Mahara type. These branches have green leaves. International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI, New Delhi, has already registered it.

Use: This cultivar is ideal for landscaping and pot culture.

Los Banos Variegata silver margin: It is a gamma ray induced mutant of multibracted bougainvillea cultivars Los Banos Beauty (Banerji, 2002). Leaves are variegated. Leaf lamina is green and its margin is silver.

It looks very attractive due to presence of green regular center and silver white margin width of which is 1-2mm. variegated leaves are slightly incurved and in extreme cases leaves are spoon shaped. Mutant is not clearly visible from a long distance as its variegation is not very contrast like Los Banos Variegata. Bract colour is mallow purple just like Los Banos Beauty and Los Banos Variegata.

Use: Plant can be used in topiary work and grown as a potted plant.

Los Banos Variegata ‘Jayanthi’: This is a chemical mutagen (Ethyl Methane Sulphonate {EMS} 0.02% aqueous solution) induced chlorophyll variegated mutant of bougainvillea cv. ‘Los Banos Beauty’ (Jayanti

and Datta, 2006, Jayanthi et.al, 2008). The mutant differs from original variety only in foliage colour. Mutant showed two types of variegated leaves. One type is mosaic with four visible colours i.e. Olive green (Yellow Green Group 146B, Fan-3), Pale (Yellow Green Group 146D, Fan-3), Deep Green (Yellow Green Group 146 A, Fan-3) and Light Yellow (Yellow Green Group 154D, Fan-3), mixed with different shades of green.

The second type of leaf has green center with white margin. Foliage of this type has three major colour combinations i.e. Light Yellow (Yellow-Orange Group 19C, Fan-1)’ Green (Green Group 147B, Fan-3) and Light Green (Yellow-Green Group 148C, Fan3).The plant looks very attractive if grown in bush form.

Use: It can be grown as pot plant.

Mahara Variegata: It is a gamma ray induced mutant of multibracted bougainvillea cultivars ‘Mahara’ (Datta and Banerji, 1994) Leaves is variegated and their pattern is irregular. Variegation varies from leaf to leaf with combination of creamish yellow and various shades of green overlapped patches. Young leaves are coppery while the old leaves have dull yellow and faded green colour. Bract colour is Rhodamine purple which remains unaltered. The cultivar is registered with International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI, New Delhi.

Use: It can be grown as potted plant and can be used for landscaping.

Mahara Variegata abnormal leaves: It is gamma ray induced mutants of multibracted bougainvillea cultivar ‘Mahara’ (Banerji, 2002). Leaves are variegated and are of peculiar types. Margin is uneven, undulated and leaf lamina is asymmetrical in shape.

Variegation in various shades of green and light green pattern haphazardly spread all over the surface of leaves giving it a curio look. Texture of old leaf is leathery. Bract colour remains unaltered but its shapes and size reduced. Most of the bracts are asymmetrical. This is the first mutant of bougainvillea where leaf variegation is accompanied with change leaf and bract shape and size.

Use: The cultivar can be ideally used in topiary work.

Floriculture Today June 2012 35

Varietal Development Table 1: Bougainvillea new cultivars developed by Induced mutation at NBRI, Lucknow S.No. Original cultivar 1.

Partha

(Single bracted)

Characters Mutant Name/Mutagen Green leaves, Bract Arjuna pinkish purple, (Gamma Rays) Non persistence

Characters Variegated leaves, creamish white, dark and light green, Bract pinkish purple, Non persistence

2.

Los Banos

Beauty

(Double bracted)

Green leaves, double bract, persistence bract, bract colour Mallow Purple

Variegated leaves, margin creamish white, centre green and light green

Green leaves, Los Banos Variegata double bract , Siler Margin (Gamma Rays) persistence bract, bract colour Mallow Purple

Variegated leaves, Margin silver white, persistence bract, bract colour Mallow Purple

Green leaves, Los Banos Variegata - Jayanthi double bract, (Ethyl Methane Sulphonate) persistence bract, bract colour Mallow Purple

Variegated leaves, centre green and light green and margin creamish yellow and white

Los Banos Variegata (Gamma Rays)

3.

Mahara Green leaves, Mahara Variegata

(Double bracted) double bract, (Gamma Rays)

persistence bract,

bract colour Rhodamine

Purple

Variegated leaves, margin creamish yellow and centre green, persistence bract, bract colour Rhodamine Purple

Green leaves, Mahara Variegata

double bract, Abnormal leaves

persistence bract, (Gamma Rays)

bract colour Rhodamine

Purple

Leaves are abnormal with asymmetrical lamina, Light and dark green patches, margin undulated, persistence bract, bract colour Rhodamine Purple

4.

Roseville’s Green leaves, Pallavi

Delight double bract, (Gamma Rays)

(Double persistence

bracted) bract, bract

colour Burnt Orange

Variegated leaves, Variegation is prominent in Juvanile shoot and foliage, masking effect in mature foliage, persistence bract, bract colour Burnt Orange

5.

Pixie

(Single bracted)

Green leaves, Pixie variegata Bract pinkish (Ethyl Methane Sulphonate) purple, Non persistence

Pallavi: It is a gamma ray induced variegated mutant of ‘Roseville’s Delight’ evolved at National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (Banerji et. al. 1983).The Variegated mutant has been released in the name of Pallavi (Banerji et. al., 1987). The mutant has been registered with International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI New Delhi. Variegated leaves have light green, pale green combination in various shades. Variegation is very prominent in young shoots and it masks with age and in older shoots it is not very clear. No Change in bract colour was noticed however in 36 Floriculture Today June 2012

Variegated small leaves, Centre green margin creamish white and light yellow, Bract pinkish purple

older plants shoot having Mahara types of bract bunches developed which are very common as it is occasionally found in the old Roseville’s Delight plants. Bracts are persistent.

making bonsai. ‘Pixie variegata’ is released during Bougainvillea Festival-2009 at IARI, New Delhi. The cultivar has been registered with International Bougainvillea Registration Authority, IARI New Delhi.

Use: Variety is ideal for pot culture and topiary work.

Pixie Variegata: It is a chemical mutagen (EMS 0.02%) induced mutant multiplied and released in the name ’Pixie Variegata’ (Banerji, 2009). The plant looks very attractive due to variegated foliage. The plant is ideal for pot culture and excellent for

Use: Plant is ideal for making bonsai, pot culture and rockery. n (The author is from the Floriculture and Garden Division, CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow)

Floriculture Today June 2012 37

38 Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012 39

Disease Management

Strobilurin Fungicides A Special Group of Fungicides

— Robert de Bos, Bangalore Plants First

T

he strobilurins are a group of fungicidal products from the same source, the mushroom Strobilurus tenacellus and some other mushroom species. Many of them cover a broad spectrum of fungi like downy mildew, rust, powdery mildew and many types of leaf spots (Alternaria, Cercospora, Myrothecium and Sphaceloma).

Some also provide good control of soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium, Cylindrocladium and Rhizoctonia stem and root rots, but not black root rot (Thielaviopsis).

Although it is synthesized and made more stable for use in agriculture, it is almost a biologic product with low toxicity for mammals and leaving no residues in a short span of time. The products of this group are highly effective and have the positive side effect of inducing strong growth in the plants, especially at points of stand-still or stress.

They have however a very specific mode of action on the fungi, it inhibits exclusively the mitochondrial respiration. Because of this single, specific mode of action, repeated applications may develop resistance in the fungi and hence, has to be used sparingly and in combination with products from other groups of fungicides, with different mode of action. It is often recommended not to use strobilurins more than 2 times in a season.

Although used in many crops there are cases of phytotoxicity, e.g the apple variety Macintosh. As always trial sprays are recommended before definite use is decided.

History It was discovered that the mushroom Strobilurus tenacellus was able to defend itself against fungi in its environment of rotting woods.

This defense mechanism was discovered and isolated. With the help of this, products with strong anti fungal effect were developed.

Especially the companies ICI (now Syngenta) and BASF have taken the lead in this in the 1990s Some products have the ability to act systemic (azoxystrobin), others like kresoxim, function trans-laminar; they fix on both sides of the leaves in the wax layer on the outside of the leaf. In both cases, systemic and trans-laminar, it takes several days after treatment to pass from one side of the leaf to the other side. Since the product is in the plant, washing off does not occur and hence sticker is not used. The products are persistent and the effects last for more than a week. The strobilurins are very strongly preventive and some of them only slightly curative. Early detection and quick action is therefore required for effective control.

Our own experience with these fungicides Some years ago I came across an article in De Bloemisterij 40 Floriculture Today June 2012

(Dutch weekly floriculture magazine) about the strobilurins and other products, being fungicides but with a strong effect on plant growth, especially in stress conditions. Since then we have looked into availability of the strobilurin products in the market and studied its effects on our plant material. We developed a rather integrated program, taking in account the pro’s and contra’s. We incorporated these programs in our procedures in the form of standard spray schedules. It was found that if used properly the results were very helpful to control diseases in the crops at specific points of time, while revitalizing the plants.

Integrated pest & disease control To control pests and diseases it is not sufficient to spray with chemicals or biological products. Early detection and quick and correct action is important. For the right decisions knowledge of the life cycle of the fungus is important. To avoid development of diseases, we also have to take in account practices such as cultural handlings, e.g. plant spacing and climate control, e.g. humidity control, ventilation.

Commercial Products Amistar (azoxystrobin) is a systemic fungicide of broad spectrum.

It was patented in 1992.

Ergon (kresoxim methyl) is a translaminar product and can be used for spraying and drenching. It is less effective against rusts and downy mildew. Patented in 1995 Cabrio Top (pyraclostrobin) is translaminar and is used in spray and drenching. It is effective on a large number of crops.

n

Floriculture Today June 2012 41

Report

European consumers continued to purchase flowers and plants in 2011, causing the increase in volumes

FloraHolland

Europeans continue buying flowers despite recession — Bureau Report The Royal FloraHolland Flower Auction Cooperative closed the 2011 financial year with an annual turnover of more than €4.15 billion and a net result of €12 million. The sales realized represent a small increase of 0.7 per cent compared to the previous year.

This is primarily the result of a 2.5 per cent increase in volume to 12.5 billion flowers and plants.

According to General Director Timo Huges, “Although the economy was unstable, the financial crisis intensified, and several countries — including the Netherlands — were hit by recession, the floriculture industry and FloraHolland experienced a good year.”

European consumers continued to purchase flowers and plants, causing the increase in volumes. According to Huges, the strength of this sector partially stems from the entrepreneurship of FloraHolland’s members and customers, who, thanks to their cooperation, are able to weather the storm.

A hub for global trade In 2011, the flower auction achieved its commercial, as well as its financial, goals, something that not every individual grower 42 Floriculture Today June 2012

will have experienced. Thanks to differences at product level, certain groups of growers will have achieved good results while others will have not been as successful. With its stable and slowly increasing market share, the Netherlands is the hub for global trade in ornamental plant and flower crops. The trend that sees the floriculture industry and FloraHolland operate on an increasingly international level has consequences for the auction’s services for international members, and increasing levels of international production and sales require logistical investments, as well as the development of an information system. In this way, the unique qualities of the flower auction are exported internationally.

Creating opportunities around industry developments The developments within the floriculture industry are proceeding unabated. Both the international production of flowers in East Africa and the sales in Eastern Europe and Russia continue to grow. Additionally, the digitization process in the floriculture chain is taking off, making extensive mutual information exchanges, digital trading platforms and tailored clock solutions

possible. Moreover, growers are looking to contact one another to collaborate and strengthen in the market the areas of logistics, marketing, purchasing, sales and information exchange. This is already happening in the chain in order to be able to cooperate more effectively and efficiently in certain market segments. With these developments in place, FloraHolland is creating opportunities for its members to distinguish themselves in the market as individual or as a group of growers. On the road to the future, the strength of the floriculture industry lies in the cooperation between growers, the trade and FloraHolland within the chain.

The Royal FloraHolland Flower Auction Cooperative offers growers and customers a network of six national and international market places (Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, Rijnsburg, Bleiswijk, Eelde, and Veiling Rhein-Maas), and a national intermediary organization (FloraHolland Connect).

Veiling Rhein-Maas (Herongen, Germany) is a joint venture between FloraHolland and Landgard. FloraHolland, the world’s largest auction organization, handles over 12.5 billion flowers and plants a year. Annual sales exceed €4.15 billion. About 4,100 n employees work for FloraHolland.

Floriculture Today June 2012 43

Nursery

American Professors visit Sri Satyanarayana Nursery Gardens, Kadiyam

A

group of Professors from Ohio State, USA, visited Sri Satyanarayana Nursery Gardens in Kadiyam in the last week of April, and were amazed by the great progress made by the nursery.

Paul Cooper (Milford, Ohio), Phillip Duero (Prowler, Ohio), and Jim Kenny (Liberty Township, Ohio) shared his thoughts and ideas about American nursery sector with Palla Venkanna, Founder of Sri Satyanarayana Nursery Gardens, and his three sons-Satyababu, Subramaniun and Ganapati.

They praised outstanding achievements brought in the Kadiyam Nursery Sector, particularly Sri Satyanarayana Nursery Gardens. The growers, they said, have brightened its name throughout Asia.

The Professors group had gathered useful information from Nursery management about different plants that are grown in the Nursery. They expressed happiness and praised its beauty.

They discussed about American Quarantine Methodology for Plants with the founder. “Despite having physical limitations, Mr Palla has done something only a few can achieve. It is simply awesome,” said Paul Cooper. The Amereiacn delegates also praised Indian hospitality and said that they had a unique experience and accumulated a lot of new ideas and information by interacting with the Nursery owners and management team.

44 Floriculture Today June 2012

Sri Satyanarana Nursey Gardens frequently participates in various regional and national flower and plant exhibitions such as Flora Expo, organized by Media Today Group, where its handicapped but visionary Founder got the Trendsetter Award a few years ago.

Palla Venkanna introduced a disciplined planting system in foliage and ornamental plants. His hard work fetched him tremendous response. The East Godavari District took notice of his success. It was a big achievement for Palla Venkanna as he is physically handicapped--both legs are polio affected. He was always considered unfit for any hard labor. He was taught by his parents that “nothing is impossible to a willing heart”.

He took this advice to heart and it is this bold decision which leads him to perform literally a miracle in an otherwise a hopeless condition. His management of labour, clever planning of growing ornamental plants at

reasonable price for quality plants brought customers from all over India. The nursery movement started in Kadiyam and in no time, spread all over Andhra Pradesh and all over in India.

His system of maintenance is also very effective, not only does he generate employment but he also teaches latest techniques of marketing in horticulture. He received “Rajiv Gandhi” Excellency award from Karnataka Government for his work and technical knowledge in the horticulture field.

He was also given “Best Nursery” Award four times by the Department of Horticulture.

He was also bestowed with the Award “UDYANAVANA SASTRA PRAVEENA” by the Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam. Now, Sri Satyanarayana Nursery Gardens has capability of producing fruit plants, flower plants, indoor plants, and lawn landscaping and avenue materials. n

Floriculture Today June 2012 45

46 Floriculture Today June 2012

Floriculture Today June 2012 47

48 Floriculture Today June 2012

Nursery

Success without government support!!

Set in the picturesque village of Kadiyapulanka in the beautiful East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Veera Hanuman Nursery (Kadiyam) has been supplying various kinds of plants to different states all over India. It has a team of skilled workers and efficient supervisors who develop different varieties of plants in large quantities.

Floriculture Today Correspondent Azeem Haider met its Owner Margani Satyanarayana, and was highly surprised that there is no help/aid or contribution from Government Departments like State Horticulture Board behind the success of this nursery, and of course, all the nurseries in Kadiyam. The government has several so called beneficial policies for the entrepreneurs related to such segments, but unfortunately, they hardly get beyond tables. Today, if Kadiyam is acknowledged as the Nursery Hub in Asia, it is because of the toil, passion and self-help of the nurserymen like Margani Satyanarayana. The Government’s contribution is zero, or only on table, which should be a matter of concern. Excerpts from the interview: When did you start Sri Veera Hanuman Nursery?

Sri Veera Hanuman Nursery was established in 1989. In the beginning, we have to struggle a lot, but we prevailed against all odds, as we were determined to become a name in the floriculture map of this region.

What are Nursery’s activities?

The main goal of the nursery is to popularize floriculture in the region and country and to introduce new products. We are proud to take part in various regional and national exhibitions like Flora Expo and International Gardening & Landscaping Expo, organized

by Media Today Group, which is India’s most comprehensive event atrracting reputed players from the country and abroad. Apart from this, we also participate in those expos, which are organized by INA and other organizations in Kadiyapulanka.

What are the varieties that you grow?

We grow several varieties, especially seasonal plants. Major of which are fruits, ornamental, indoor and outdoor. The list includes Palm (15 varieties), Ficus (10 to verities), Mosambi, Mango (50 varieties), and Lemon, among others.

Where do you buy your plants and seeds from?

We buy these mostly from Kolkata and Bangalore, and seasonal plants from Pune.

Whom do you supply?

We supply all over India including Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, MP, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal and Odisha. We have our own packing system to deliver the plants safely to the customers.

Do you get any government support?

No. The government should encourage nurseries as it encourages other forms of agriculture through subsidies and other benefits. It would surely help floriculture to grow.

Do you export also?

We have got the export license recently, and we will soon begin to export.

What is your future plan?

We want to establish Sri Veera Hanuman Nursery as the leading plant grower in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. We have branches in New Delhi and Pune. We will grow further and explore possibilities to compete with other established players. Our belief in hard work and dedication has won us much appreciations and awards like Best Nursery Award, which was given

by Former Governor of Andhra Pradesh ND Tiwari.

Floriculture Today June 2012 49

News

Kodaikanal’s Summer & Flower Festival registers massive footfalls

T

he increasing popularity of Kodaikanal’s summer and flower festival can be measured by the ticket collection on the first day. For the first time in five decades, entrance fee collection at Bryant Park touched a whopping Rs.4,15,705 on the inaugural day, almost double the total collection amount of the inaugural session of the previous summer festival.

The 51st summer festival had created another record in the history of Kodaikanal summer festivals. Gate entrance fee collection of Bryant Park between January 1 and May 20 was Rs.38.50 lakhs this year when compared to the entry fee collection during the same period in 2011 was just Rs.28,49,039 lakhs, according to Deputy Director of Horticulture (Central Schemes) S. Raja Mohammad. Number of tourists arrived on the opening day of the festival was 21,979 when compared to the arrival of 12,329 tourists on the same day in the previous year.

The park had also attracted 2,27,240 tourists between January 1 and May 20, 2012 and number of tourists visited the park during the same period last year was just 1,30,768.

Commencement of holidays for schools and colleges and sharp rise in mercury level in plains too tempted many tourists to come to the hill station to spend their holidays.

Creation of more facilities and development

50 Floriculture Today June 2012

of infrastructure at Bryant Park were some of the valid reasons for such huge arrival of tourists.

Rehabilitation of musical fountain too increased arrival in the late evening hours.

Already, the Department of Horticulture had pumped around Rs.1.1 crore for infrastructure and other development in the park. The Department of Tourism too has been organising cultural programmes, bharatanatyam, debate, folk music, dance and light music, and various competitions and events for tourists and children in the

park during day time to draw more tourists in the park. Tourists’ arrival to the hill station also increased manifold.

A total of 459 prizes were distributed to winners of various flower competitions held at flower festival at Bryant Park, venue of the summer festival in the hill station. A total of 158 first prizes, 133 second prizes and 101 third prizes were given to winners of various competitions under different categories.

Besides, 35 rolling trophies were also given to best horticulturists and florists, who took part in the flower festival.

Floriculture Today June 2012 51

News

Malabar Flower Show attracts large crowds

T

he Malabar Flower Show-Monsoon Festival (May 18 to May 27) took place at Beach Marine ground, Kozhikode, and attracted large crowds with its wide variety of flowers. Rare and beautiful flowers and plants like banana saplings, rose bushes, decorative plants, medicinal plants, birth star tree saplings, anthurium and orchids are on display in the fest.

The show was organized jointly by the south Indian Youth Council and Green India Agri-horticulture society.

A separate orchid and anthurium stall set up by M P Sulekha, hailing from Karuvanthuruthi, Feroke, attracted a lot of people. “I put up my stall to encourage

women to take up gardening as a hobby,” said Sulekha, who had around 200 varieties of anthurium and 150 varieties of orchid and 300 varieties of decorative flowers in her stall.

“I have been receiving overwhelming response from women, and some of them have expressed their desire to visit the nursery at my home. Floriculture can easily make up to Rs 20,000 a month,” said Sulekha.

Another attraction is the mango fest which showcased 69 varieties of mangos from across the state and neighbouring states. Jackfruit dishes were attraction of the fest. “We have 57 varieties of jackfruit dishes including chakka puttu, chakka biryani, chakka payasam, chakka juice and halva,” said P L George, Wayanad Foods.

TN’s Dept of Horticulture organizes Annual Floral Carnival

F

lowers play a key role in ensuring the economic well being of the state, said the Agriculture Minister S. Dhamodharan while inaugurating the three-day Annual Floral Carnival (AFC) organized by the Department of Horticulture in association with the district administration at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) in Ooty on May 18.

Pointing out that Tamil Nadu now stands first in the production of loose flowers, he said that the activity extends over 25,000 hectares and the production was 1.75 lakh tonnes. Pointing out that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was keen on developing horticulture, he said that a number of subsidy schemes relating to cultivation technologies are being implemented for the benefit of small and tiny farmers engaged in cultivating flowers. He urged farmers to make optimum use of them.

Listing the plans on the anvil to help the farming community, he said that Model Villages for Micro Irrigation are in the process of being created in each district.

In each block Integrated Farms would be established. An international horticulture show would be organized in Chennai. Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked for it.

In a bid to take floriculture in the state to a higher level, a demonstration unit will 52 Floriculture Today June 2012

come up at Kodaikanal at an estimated cost of rupees 3.5 crores. There is also a move to create model horticulture villages in the Nilgiris by extending subsidy for inputs. Adverting to the Golden Nematode problem in potato cultivation in the Nilgiris, Dhamodharan said that it would be tackled by putting up seed production units at Erode and Krishnagiri.

A cold storage facility will be established at Mettupalayam at a cost of rupees 4.6 crores.

Farmers’ festivals are being organized to enhance awareness about various schemes.

Pointing out that the Ooty Flower Show was internationally renowned, he said that it not only motivated flower growers but also had a soothing effect on the visitors.

Blaming the previous regime for the power problems in the state, he assured

that a plea for exempting the Nilgiris from power cuts would be taken with the Minister concerned. The demand of horticulture workers here for a wage hike would be considered.

The Commissioner, Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Santosh Babu, who presided, said that for the first time the Flower Show had been organized in a totally different manner and added that focus was on making it environment friendly. Novelties like a sand art by World renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik had been introduced.

Emphasis was on making the show as plastic free as possible.

The Nilgiris Collector Archana Patnaik said that this year’s flower show was a mixture of old and new. The Ooty MLA M. Buddhichandran said that the novelties should be welcomed. Former Minister A. Miller, Senate Member, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University K.R. Arjunan and the Chairperson, Udhagamandalam Municipal Council K. Sathyabhama also spoke. The Joint Director of Horticulture G. Mohan welcomed the gathering. The Assistant Director of Horticulture V. Ramsundar proposed a vote of thanks. The release of a DVD on flowers of the Nilgiris and dedication of a website on the AFC by Dhamodharan marked the occasion.

News

Sonipat witnesses growth in poly-house floriculture

O

ne-year-old National Horticulture Mission’s (NHM) Poly-house Project at Gharaunda has now started paying dividends. An Indo-Israel collaboration in horticulture that started in January last year is now spreading awareness about polyhouse farming which has caught the fancy of farmers. Due to NHM’s initiatives and Haryana government’s subsidies, Sonipat finally got its first poly-house floriculture farm.

Ravinder Mohan Dahiya, the farmer who established the farm said, “We have been in this farming (poly-house floriculture) for over six months. As of now, we are concentrating on lilies but flowers like marigold, sunflower and rose are definitely on our radar.”

Extolling the practice, the farmer said that this particular style helps farmers to save their produce from pests. He attributed the advantage to the fact that the technique acts as a firewall against pests. “That helps you save a lot of money on pesticides.”

He further added, “The focus remains on Delhi market and NCR. The flower business has been growing exponentially and its proximity to Sonipat is the biggest plus point.

And the cost of setting up a poly-house with the help of subsidies is not much”.

“It costs somewhere around Rs 125 per square metre to install drip irrigation. For

walking tunnels (structure is like a tunnel) and net house, the investment comes close to Rs 600 per square metre. NVPH incurs an investment of Rs 900 per square metre.”

Ravinder was also categorical about returns on investment. “One crop can be reaped in just three months with 55-60 percent returns on investment while using all these techniques”. He, however, maintained that drip irrigation - which can be adopted by small farmers also - could be done in open farm with plastic culture at the bottom of the plants protecting them from weeds and saving expenses on medicines. “It requires very little investments,” he said.

So far, three floriculture poly-houses have been established in Sonipat. According to sources, NHM has allotted Rs 700 crore for polyhouse farming (for vegetable, fruits and flowers) this year as subsidies.

experts and farmers with the latest developments,” said AS Saini, joint director of Haryana Horticulture Department.

“Israel has the expertise in horticulture farming and its technology is widely accepted across continents to enhance vegetable production. This motivated us to seek their expertise in technology and know finer nuances about farming,” he added.

“NHM has extended its hand to farmers by providing 50 per cent subsidy on adopting the technique. The NHM initiative has also invited the state government’s attention attracting an additional subsidy of 15 percent for farmers,” said Surinder Singh Dahiya, former deputy director of horticulture in Haryana.

Dahiya added, “The government has been magnanimous to farmers adopting Israeli techniques. They have been granted 40 per cent subsidy for drip irrigation too.

Capitalising this opportunity, farmers are showing interest in drip irrigation exclusively for poly-house floriculture. It requires only 10 percent of the net investment from the farmers. On top of it, income generated from

Tech Support “The technologies that are being used in our polyhouses are supplied by Israel.

Their technical expert visits our farms for a fortnight every month to update our Floriculture Today June 2012 53

54 Floriculture Today June 2012

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News this venture is 100 per cent tax-empted”.

He added that there are other horticulture techniques that can be used in poly-house floriculture such as naturally ventilated poly houses (NVPH), net house and walking tunnels. A farmer is eligible for 65 percent subsidy in all these techniques (50 percent coming from NHM and 15 percent from the Haryana government). In drip irrigation technique, it is 90 percent (50 percent from NHM and 40 percent from the state government).

Israeli Connection “Green house farming, hi-tech nurseries,

NVPH, vegetable farming without the use of soil, poly culture and drip irrigation are the technologies that the Indian government has acquired from us,” said Uri Rubinstein, an Israeli counselor for international cooperation, science and agriculture.

Rubinstein added, “The endeavour has been to share our expertise through applied research and share the findings with the Haryana government, which they pass on to local farmers. Generally, open house floriculture is done during winters. Polyhouse technique scores over open house irrigation in this regard”.

“It can be done for eight months in a

calendar year owing to temperature control mechanism inside poly-houses by 10-15 degrees,” said Dr SK Arora, horticulture expert at the Centre for Excellence in Gharaunda.

“The wastage of flowers goes down by 15-20 percent with the Israeli technique. The plants are strong as their growth is uniform.

This ensures higher margins of profits”.

Dr Arora assured farmers, who haven’t yet adopted poly-house technique. “A farmer can devote himself completely to floriculture and is not needed to shift to vegetable farming if he uses poly-house.”

Kenyan flowers rule the world market

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he flower industry is among the top three foreign exchange earners for Kenya with the best time to export the produce being the February and March period when it exports almost a third of its flowers. “During Valentine’s and Mother’s day, which fall in February and March respectively, our sales hit the roof,” said Rachael from Zena Roses farm.

Rachael took part in a recently held international flower growers’ expo in Nairobi, where breeders, growers and buyers were able to interact and showcase what they have to offer in the market.

Tanzania, Rwanda, Israel, India, Holland and Spain among others were some of the countries represented at the expo which is a platform that brings together players in the flower industry to facilitate its growth.

In her speech, the Minister for Agriculture Dr Sally Kosgei pointed out that “it is an ideal forum for buyers to directly interact with a large and varied number of growers, because until now, some buyers have only dealt with growers in auctions abroad.”

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Other flower expos include one in Holland in October 2012 and the expo flora in September, 2012 to be held in Russia.

Breeders are the ones who come up with the varieties of flowers while the growers plant the seeds and prepare them for export and sale to buyers.

During their interactions, the growers can get specifications from the buyers for a variety they would want and in turn the grower seeks the variety from the breeders.

The local flower industry has largely concentrated on the European market with the Netherlands being the country’s major

destination along with the UK, Germany and France.

According to statistics, 55 per cent of flowers at auctions in the Netherlands and 40 per cent of flowers in the EU zones come from Kenya.

The Middle East is also a lucrative market for the business. The flower culture has been growing in recent years with the market share shifting from the eurozone market to other countries.

Israel, the Middle East, and Australia have become part of the market players taking up more than 20 per cent of the share of flower exports from Kenya.

Demand in Russia, Japan and America has also increased especially because of the popularity of flowers grown in Africa.

But Floriculture is not for just anyone because of the costs involved. Those who want to give it a try would be best advised to start on a small scale.

And for this, summer flowers are the most suitable as you can grow them on an acre or less.

News

Popularity of floriculture is growing in Sri Lanka: Dr. S. Krishnarajah

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lower growers need to select different varieties of plants to grow in order to meet the demand in the world market, said Dr. Shalomi Krishnarajah, Deputy Director on Floriculture Research of the Department of Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. “There is a heavy demand in the world market for cut leaves and to meet this, local growers need to pay more attention to grow suitable foliage.

“The world markets change from time to time and we need long term projections to keep the trade viable,” she said. As she explained flower and foliage trade is a

challenging business that requires a lot of quality control and climate sensitive.

“Fortunately Sri Lanka has a conducive

environment to grow foliage except in areas like Nuwara Eliya which would be too cold,” she said.

The world market highly demands plants such as ‘Dracaena sanderiana’, Cordyline species and Chinese Grass.

Under Economic Development Ministry’s Divi Neguma program floriculture is getting popular as a household industry. “Under this program we will be issuing shade nets to small and medium scale growers in order to help them upgrade the quality of their products and earn a better income,” she said.

Uttara Kannada: Floriculture takes strong roots

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loriculture is now becoming popular as a subsidiary occupation in Uttara Kannada district. Over 270 families have taken up floriculture in Bhatkal, Sirsi, Yellapur and Siddapur taluks. Ornamental flowers such as Orchid, Gladiolus, Anthurium and Heliconia are being grown in more than 30 units, each covering 100x200 metre area. The flourishing floriculture units in the district indicate that floriculture can be one of the major farming activities here.

Interestingly, a West Bengal-based firm Florena-Flora has set up a poly house covering an area of two acres on Banavasi Road at Sirsi now. Nearly 20 farmers in

and around Banavasi have floated a society called Canflora to market the flowers in Goa, Bangalore and Pune. Virupaksha Gowda, a farmer from Banavasi, has been growing Chrysanthemum (Sevantige) flowers in floriculture acres of his land.

A farmer in Mundgod taluk has been growing red roses exclusively. Nearly 200 families of Bhatkal taluk are engaged in growing Bhatkal jasmine in 50 acres of land.

Shankar Hegde Bhaskarmane, a farmer of Mensi village in Sirsi taluk, is receiving national award since the last two years for his flower garden.

According to Deputy Director of Horticulture H R Nayak, the climatic condition and the soil in the four taluks in Uttara Kannada are ideal for floriculture. The government has now proposed to provide marketing facility to these farmers at Sirsi at a cost of 2 crore, he said.

“The floriculturists also get the subsidy from the government,” he added.

The department has organised an exhibition of fruits and flowers at Sirsi on February 28 and 29, 2012 to encourage the farmers to take up floriculture in a big way.

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Date of Publishing 25-26 Every Month Date of Posting 3-4 Every Month

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