On a 30-minute drive from Ecuador's capital Quito, you will find Plantas Técnicamente Producidas. In short: Plantec. This breeding powerhouse has a big influence in the Ecuadorian growers market and, as a result, in the Ecuadorian roses that are available on the global market. Aviram Krell, the product manager and the face of Plantec invited me and my team to take a look behind the scenes. Let's go!
Walking Into Plantec's Greenhouses
Everything is neat and clean at Plantec. You don't just walk into the greenhouses without protective clothes. First things first, the whole group of visitors had to put on overalls and shoe covers. Those plants had to be protected from us, not vice versa. Aviram explains that it is very important to keep the breeding rooms free from any outside influences that may disturb the plant.
Once you're in, you feel like you are in rose heaven. As a grower, trader, or florist you may not be a stranger to the complexities of flower cultivation, but witnessing the birth of your beloved roses is fascinating. Especially when Aviram guided you through the whole process, from the rootstock to the full-grown stem. After all, he is one of the most knowledgeable and passionate experts in the field.
The Secrets of Breeding
Aviram takes his time to walk through the entire process. The tour went from putting the tiny cuttings of wannabe-rose plants via all the growth stages to the mature plant that produces the most popular cut flower in the world. Photographing the processes in the early stages is not allowed, simply to protect the trick of the trade, naturally. But Aviram did give a crash course on how it works.
He makes it all look so simple, however it's not. Rose breeding and growing is a meticulous process that requires not only green fingers and great skills but also analytical knowledge of what boxes should be ticked in order to get the best possible outcome.
In the greenhouse where the roses are finishing their growing stages, Aviram explains in detail how a single rose bud is taken apart to reveal its secrets for propagation. Breeding at Plantec isn’t just about creating a pretty bloom. It’s a science where genetics plays a crucial role.
Representing Breeders Worldwide
The role of Plantec in Ecuadorian floriculture cannot be underestimated. You must realize that you cannot just breed a rose and plant it everywhere expecting it to give good yields. Breeders from all over the world need to know how their varieties perform in the high-altitude climate of the Andes. Plantec presents the expertise to do this and measure a wide range of indicators that paint a complete picture of the probability a novelty rose will be a success or what could be improved in existing varieties.
Rows upon rows of meticulously tended roses from various breeders stretch over the greenhouses. One field of thousands of only red roses, all originating from the same mother plant, just to see if there might be one good enough to stand out. Perhaps the next big red rose is already growing here, who knows?
Thousands of (almost the same) red roses...
Home to Famous Rose Varieties
Plantec in Ecuador is a household name for propagating and testing for major breeders in the world, like Kordes Rosen, Delbard, Grandiflora, Fazari, and Interplant Roses. After careful selections, they have built an impressive range of famous winners for the future.
Check for instance the curious development Rose Explorer has made. By itself, Explorer is already popular, but a mutant of Explorer that popped up is becoming increasingly wanted as well: the red and dark pink colored Rose Red Panther. And, believe it or not, from Red Panther, another mutant was born with dark and light pink hues: Rose Pink Puma.
In other colors, varieties like Shocking Blue, Jacaranda, Quicksand, Mondial, and Star Platinum are ones to keep an eye on, because these are hot and trendy at the moment.
And it does not stop with regular tea hybrid garden roses. Also for spray roses, Plantec is a renowned address. Several of the popular Trendsetter varieties can be found here.
Networking for the Market
One important USP from Plantec is that the story continues after the whole process of propagating, testing, and selecting the right varieties for the Latam growers' market. Now the real networking starts. The company is the link between its foreign breeders and the regional growers, and, simultaneously, the promotor to the wholesale markets, like the USA. For instance. Plantec had a great presence at the Outstanding Varieties Competition of the Society of American Florists (SAF) where he took home several prizes.
Yes, Aviram is a busy man, and I was so lucky to spend a few hours with him together with my team to learn all about the important work Plantec is doing to guarantee top-notch roses to the world and make their breeding and growing partners shine confidently, knowing that Plantec has their back. In that role, he is not only a product expert but also an ambassador for Latam-produced roses in general.
Thanks for your insights, Aviram!
