Pleomele (Dracaena) reflexa 'Song of India'
Tuft
1PLSIBP10
Costa Rica is considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world and this is certainly due to its rich flora and fauna. There are no less than 12,000 different plant species and probably many unknown species growing in remote areas. As part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", Costa Rica is home to some of the most enchanting volcanoes in the world. Scattered throughout the country are 7 active and 115 inactive volcanoes. The volcanic activity creates fertile soil that benefits growers in Costa Rica.
Production in Costa Rica
For almost 35 years, Nieuwkoop Europe has been producing and importing a large part of the plant assortment in and from Costa Rica. The knowledgeable growers, fertile soil and desirable climate combine to make Costa Rica an ideal place for production. Nieuwkoop Europe works closely with 25 nurseries in Costa Rica and annually imports many plants into the Netherlands, such as varieties of the Aglaonema, Dracaena and Ficus.
Origin and production of the Pleomele reflexa
The Pleomele reflexa is part of the Dracaena family, also known as the Dragon's blood tree. The plant is native to West Africa but can also be found in the tropical regions of South Asia and Central America, such as Costa Rica. Thanks to the tropical climate in Costa Rica, the plants grow much faster than we are used to here.
Rooting
Production starts with the air-layering of the plant for propagation. Air-layering is a technique in which shallow cuts are made in the bark, after which the bark is covered with foil and soil. Thanks to the high temperature and humidity under the foil, new roots grow on the cutting. When enough roots have grown, the rooted stem is cut off from the parent plant. Together with several other cuttings, they are planted in the ground.
Development
For 3 to 4 years, the plants are pruned twice a year to get nice branches. The plants are air-layered again, but this time at ground level. After about 12 weeks, new roots grow at the base of the trunk and the plant is cut down. This is because its original root ball is far too large. After a production period of about 4.5 years, these branched Pleomele come from the field and go into the greenhouse for 12 weeks to root. In the greenhouse, the plants are kept at a high temperature and humidity level under a shade cover. The shade cover ensures that the plants are not exposed to the full sun and can thus harden off. Under these conditions, the plants can root optimally.
As soon as the plants are strong enough, they are transported to the Netherlands in containers by sea. The journey takes about 2.5 weeks. Upon arrival in The Netherlands, the imported plants are first fully inspected and acclimatized. Once the plants have been restored to their optimal condition, they are ready for sale.
Origin and production of the Ficus
The Ficus belongs to the Moraceae family and is native to the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and South America, but also parts of Australia and the Mediterranean. The plant comes in many different shapes and sizes. We gladly tell you more about the production of the Ficus varieties with remarkable stems.
Cuttings
The cuttings, from which the various Ficus species are cultivated, originate from larger plants. These mother plants are approximately 4 to 6 metres tall. The cuttings are used for all sorts of varieties, such as braided stem, spiral stem, or cylinder. The cuttings that are meant to be used for larger plants go back into the soil and are given another 3 to 8 years to grow. The smaller plants are placed directly into propagating pots. It takes an average of 6 to 9 weeks for the plants to become well-rooted.
Braided stem
When creating a braided stem, a bamboo or PVC support pillar is often used to form a straight stem. During the braiding, the bending of the stem causes very small cracks to appear. When these cracks repair themselves, the braided stems bind to each other at the point where they cross.
Spiral stem
For a spiral-shaped stem, a bamboo support pillar is placed between the stem parts. This will slowly collapse as the shaped stem grows around it. The graceful stem is then strong enough to stand upright.
Preparing for transport
As soon as the plants come off the field, they are placed under a shade cover, just like the Pleomele. This keeps the plants out of the direct sun, and they get used to less light intensity to harden off. Hardening off the plants takes 4 to 6 weeks. When the plants are strong enough for their journey to the Netherlands, they are transported in conditioned sea containers. As mentioned before, the journey takes about 2.5 weeks. Upon arrival in The Netherlands, these plants are also fully inspected and acclimatized first. Depending on the size and condition of the plant, this can take 3 to 6 months.
At the end of the described production processes, these plants are ready for sale and reach their destination, which is a beautiful spot in your interior.