Flower Farmer Finds Gold Above Ground

by Henrylito D. Tacio

Leonardo Cespedes doesn’t dig for gold, he finds it above ground. "And business is good," he says. Cespedes is the entrepreneur behind Reggie’s Orchid Garden – named after his wife Regina.

The garden is a prime source of quality orchids, cutflowers and ornamental plants there in Davao, a major player in the country’s flower industry.

"The business actually started as a hobby," Cespedes explained. "I enjoy watching plants grow and flower."

(Cespedes), former security supervisor at Dole Philippines is a green thumb. "My parents were subsistence farmer, that’s why I love planting."

When the family moved from Cotabato to Davao City, they bought a small plot nearby and planted it to orchids, cattleyas, dendobrium, vandas and hybrids.

Every time Leo and Regina visited a nearby orchid garden, they took notice of the business venture and decided to grab the opportunity.

In 1993, the family moved to Catalunan, Pequeno, about 15 minutes from downtown Davao, and bought less than a hectare of farm with their savings and retirement money.

They immediately encountered technical and marketing problems. Trying to solve these, they joined a cutflower cooperative. "We didn’t’ want to be left behind," Cespedes said.

The couple also attended conferences and workshops from where they learned about the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, or SET-UP.

In 1997, Cespedes applied for assistance. Two experts from the DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development visited the farm and recommended a complete fertilizer formulation of 20 percent nitrogen, 20 percent phosphorous, and 20 percent potassium to induce growth and flowering.

Cespedes started with 1,200 potted plants as test beds. Right before his eyes, he witnessed the undeniable changes: robust and beautiful flowers. His potting materials, especially for orchids, consisted of coir dust, livestock and poultry manure and garden soil. "We find this combination quite good for growing orchids," Cespedes said.

When the business boomed, their two daughters resigned from their jobs. The eldest Janet manages a flower shop in the city and keeps the records as well as do flower arrangements for weddings. Mary Ann oversees other aspects, including shipping. They hire workers every now and then.

Today, Reggie’s Orchid Garden harvests cutflowers mostly orchids, three times a week. It has eight (8) regular employees, hiring extra hands, (mostly neighbors) during busy days.

From less than a hectare, some 1.5 hectares are now planted to orchids and ornamental plants while another half hectare is grown to mango and other crops.

Regular buyers come from Davao and Manila. The cutflowers are sorted from extra large down to short-short stems. Even rejects are sold at bargain prices.

Most times, people passing the Davao – Bukidnon Highway drop in and buy cutflowers. They come, they choose and they buy, Cespedes said.

Through the years, Cespedes has managed to come up with some tips on how to grow orchids. For one, it is important to buy only healthy plant materials: no visible pest, and diseases, robust leaves, consistent floral qualities, among others.

Orchids, he said, need light. "Provide your orchids with the same lighting levels they would normally receive in nature," he said. "Too much or too little will kill them".

Water. "Do not over water your orchids," Cespedes said. "When unsure, do not water that day."

And fertilizer. "Remember the old saying, weakly and weekly, when applying fertilizer," he advised.

Orchids are susceptible to a number of insects and diseases. Scales are usually attached to the underside of leaves, and heavily infected plants should be discarded.

Snails and slugs can feed on buds, blossoms, leaves and tender stems. Physically remove them.

One common problem is the failure to flower – provide the right growing conditions, especially adequate light and/or fertilizer.

"Some people think that you have to dig the ground to find gold," Cespedes said. "I believe you can find it above the ground," (with flowers, beauty, and joy). /MP