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| 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.
