What Problem are you Solving?

Tolumnia Orchids

 

                                    What problem are you solving?

 

Business theory tells you that successful enterprises only exist if they solve a problem.

 

Commercial horticulture produces flowers that gardeners want to buy.  What is the problem that is being solved?  Homeowners want colorful plants to add to their landscape.  Home decorators want colorful houseplants to soften the room.  Weddings overflow with cut flower arrangements.  Traditional funerals have flower arrangements in memory of a good life.

 

We are in the business of growing unique houseplants in small pots.  The trend is graduating from green foliage to small flowering houseplants.

 

Small and flowering is a very difficult category.  Leading the list are Mini Violets or mini-Cyclamen or dwarf Crown of Thorns.

 

Orchids are now common at grocery stores.  Phalaenopsis are spectacular with long lasting flowers at affordable prices.  A worldwide supply line evolved to bring Orchids out of the exotic hobby/collector world and into the home market.  For twenty dollars or less than a large pizza, you can get a Phalaenopsis Orchid for everyday enjoyment.  Treat yourself, please buy one often.

Hiding in plain sight is a very miniature Orchid called Tolumnia.  This durable plant grows and flowers in 2”-3” pots.  I had a few 50 years ago and was fascinated by their wiry flower spikes that open with colorful, cute little flowers.

 

They are hidden in the Orchid hobby world due to limited supply.  But I’ve found a quantity to import and offer for sale to our Independent Garden Centers.

 

The problem is:  I need a small flowering houseplant.

 

The answer is:  Tolumnia.  It is a long-lasting flowering houseplant which happens to be an Orchid.