N.Z Couple Grow Orchids For Export

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 13

N.Z Couple Grow Orchids For Export

“The Prsss" Special Service

TAURANGA, Jan. 7. A respectable export income is being earned in the Bay of Plenty with a commodity far different from the stock New Zealand lines of meat, wool and dairy produce.

This money-spinner is the orchid, which is being airfreighted in tens of thousands to the United States to decorate homes and adorn the shoulders of smartly dressed women in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and Chicago. The way the business has expanded during the last 10 years is a tribute to the hard work and initiative of Mr and Mrs W. J. Hepburn, of Awakeri, the only orchid exporters in New Zealand. At their home. Orchidridge. on a hill overlooking the dairy lands of their district, Mr and Mrs Hepburn care for more than 3000 potted orchid plants in a glasshouse 300 ft long and about 30ft wide. They have terraced another site and have plans for a second glasshouse just as big. Formerly a dairy farmer, Mr Hepburn said. “At least you can leave these on their own for a few days. You can’t with cows.’’ But to grow perfect blooms —and nothing less will do for the selective American market—requires long hours of careful work with strict attention to detail. Packing Sterna During the flowering season from July to November, Mr and Mrs Hepburn are out of bed at 5 am. to tackle the big job of packing stems in cardboard crates, 3ft 6in long. About 80 per cent, of the orchids are exported. Each stem with its 20 or more flowers must be placed in a small glass tube of water to ensure that it will last. The tubes are corked with rubber stoppers, through which the end of the orchid stem passes. Prices on the American market vary. Sometimes a single flower will bring a dollar, but this is rare, and more often the prices range from 30 cents to 50 cents a flower. Keeping up with every new ’ trend in the market, Mr and Mrs Hepburn import their seedlings from America. They concentrate on the Cymbidium orchid, a type fairly well known among fanciers, but which cannot be grown all the year round in the United States.

Many orchid* are grown in America from Christmas to June and th* couple take advantage of the off-season. Profits are not quit* as good as they might look at first glance. Freight and packing cost about Ta a flower and agents' commission amounts to about 25 per cent. Fine Hewers

Orchidridge produces orchids of most hues except blue, fine shapely flowers which flatter vanity and which reach their wearers without a blemish or defect Orchids like a clear, crisp atmosphere without excessive humidity. The Orchidridge climate and the soil a loam formed from Tarawers ash suits them well.

They like plenty of water and plenty of humus and at Awakeri they get both. Mr Hepburn ha* a sprinkler system in hi* glasshouse and make* compost to mix with the soil.

When seedlings arrive, they are about the size of small onion plants. On an average, it takes about three years before they produce. Mr Hepburn maintains that there is plenty of »cope for others to grow and export orchids, but he emphasises that, to be an economic proposition. the flowers must be grown in quantity and with particular emphasis ,on quality.