The abroad flower market pays a premium for long - stemmed pincushion without any curvature , insects or sign of disease . To deliver such heyday are easier said than done . Depending on the cultivar , South African fynbos farmers are presently only able to export between 40 % and 80 % of the local harvest . Thanks to new inquiry on growth regulator by a doctoral student at Stellenbosch University , Eugenie - Lien Louw , the cultivation of pincushions with short or crooked stem turn might be something of the past tense . Her research is hailed by some in the local fynbos industry as a " plot changer ” .
Credit : Eugenie - Lien Louw
Louw is a doctorial student in gardening at Stellenbosch University and focuses on the cultivation of fynbos plant . Her determination are important for the fynbos industriousness , as 46 % of all fynbos exports from South Africa consist of pincushion ( Leucospermum)cultivars .
In increase to farms in the Western Cape ( especially in the Boland , the Overberg , the West Coast and the Cederberg ) , pincushion are also arise in KwaZulu - Natal around Eshowe and Hilton .
The research was done by fynbos blossom expert Eugenie - Lien Louw as part of her doctorial research in horticultural science at Stellenbosch University . Credit : Eugenie - Lien Louw
Straight - stemmed flowersAccording to Louw , timing is important when applying the right combination of two growth regulators , ProGibb and Promalin . In the process pincushion crotch hair grow much more upright , rather than becoming bushy .
Growth regulators hap of course in plant life and see to it all prospect of their increment and ontogenesis . ProGibb is a natural version , while Promalin is a synthetical version .
Similar product have been used successfully for years by tabular array grape vine and citrus Fannie Farmer . Louw ’s enquiry is the first to show that such product can be used successfully on pincushions on a commercial-grade scale .
The right use of a increment regulator mixture can guarantee much longer pincushion stem , as can be seen on the right . The cultivar photograph is ‘ Soleil ’ . Credit : Eugenie - Lien Louw
The mixture must be sprayed before pincushion root word are 10 centimetre long . This assure that an ideal export prow duration of between 60 to 70 centimeters in length is obtained as a rule , rather than elision . The stems also enjoy near , continuous and uniform coverage of small plant leave , while well - formed flower head are convey .
" You see very few asymmetrical stem per works if the mixture is applied correctly and in time , " explains Louw .
Industry responseLouw has already pass along her findings to the local fynbos industry during the recent one-year worldwide group meeting ofCape Flora SA , as well as at two international Protea Association ( IPA ) group discussion in Australia and South Africa .
Some local producers , specially in KwaZulu - Natal and West Coast , are already succeed her advice . Some refer to the intervention as " Eugenie ’s Magic Mix " . Many recon that the input price is deserving it when it comes to their bottom line of descent .
" This is biz changer for our industry , and will benefit producers directly , " say Neil Hall of Philadelphia farm outside Citrusdal .
After being sprayed timeously with the increase regulator mixture , pincushion plants grow much more unsloped than is the average . The cultivar photographed is ‘ Soleil ’ . Credit : Eugenie - Lien Louw
Hans Hettasch , owner of Arnelia Farms outside Hopefield , also sees the treatment as a major discovery .
" It can have a substantial convinced outcome on the profitableness of sure Leucospermum cultivars , " he says .
Zuluflora ’s technical manager Kerry Rowlands allege they have already tested the treatment and have had " exciting results " . It was used in Hilton , Eshowe and Citrusdal on cultivars that typically have problems with bow length .
" In most cases , the plant have demo an surplus 30 centimeters of growth . The plants grow much more vertical than what we are used to , ” explains Rowlands , who believes that the research is helping to ensure a better product for the export marketplace .
ResearchBefore Louw was able-bodied to test the use of growth regulator , she had to do a exhaustive sketch of on the nose howLeucospermumplants arise and develop . This is the first time that such as subject was carry on on pincushions in such contingent . Similar information is available for protea species .
" If one know how the flora grows , one can sleep together how to falsify it correctly , " she explains the ground behind the initial work .
Louw ’s research follows on her work as technical manager of Arnelia Farms outside Hopefield . Her studies were carry under the leadership of Dr Lynn Hoffman and Prof Gerard Jacobs of the Department of Horticultural Science at Stellenbosch University . It was part funded by Arnelia Farms and theAlternative Crop Fundof the Western Cape Department of Agriculture , which is deal byCape Flora SA .
Her trials on the use of growing regulator were done on a semi - commercial scale . It was conducted since 2013 over five seasons on two farms : Arnelia Farms near Hopefield and Pomona farm at Piket - Bo - Berg . It has been test on two cultivar , ‘ Succession II ’ and ‘ Soleil ’ .
Louw tested the influence of growth regulators under different climatic condition . She found , among other thing , that it is good to immix the two growth regulator rather than spray them one by one .
For more data : Stellenbosch Universitywww.sun.ac.za
