Stolk Flora & Oasis

Stolk Flora grows on a total area of six hectares of orchids in the most sustainable way as possible. This means 'growing with an eye for people and the environment'. In their view, a sustainable mentality is cultivated in a way that is not at the expense of the world around us. That is why Stolk Flora is working on a more sustainable business management in many different ways. Their company is MPS-Product-proof, MPS A +, MPS GAP, MPS Quality and MPS Socially Qualified certified. In addition, the company has a footprint by Benefits of Nature.

Jan Stolk, owner of Stolk Flora, however, is driven to a higher pupose. He would like to switch to a 100% organic crop as a company as quickly as possible. Every year they improve the business process again and hope to achieve the goal by 2020!

Stolk Flora sells its plants under the name 'Your Natural Orchid' in order to be able to radiate their mission and vision. Sustainability is thought of in many different ways and the company is working on improving business operations. In order to prevent, among other things, the bee mortality, no chemical plant protection products are used. At least four times a year, a sample is taken in the company on the Phalaenopsis leaf to show that no chemical pesticides have been used. In addition, the company uses essential oils to protect the crop. These biological agents have been used to make the crop more resistant to bacteria and insects, so that they become stronger. In addition, the agents are also used to make the plant less attractive. With garlic extract, for example, they ensure that the plants smell less pleasant, so that animals and bacteria are less likely to attract to the crop. Finally, heat is stored from the outside air to heat the greenhouse in the winter, fertilizers are collected and reused and the water is already reused for 95%. The orchids are also sent to the relevant location in sustainable packaging, the ecotray. Not only the plants are grown in the most sustainable way possible, but Stolk Flora also pays attention to sustainable packaging.

What we remember most about our visit was our test with vital water. We got cress to taste, fed with just water and fed with vital water. The cress fed with the vital water clearly had a stronger and therefore better taste than the cress fed just water.

In a so-called 'vitaliser' the water flows like a vortex and the water gets a different composition together with the nutrients. This allows the plants to absorb the water with the nutrients more easily and better. Here the plants become stronger and more vital!

The demand for sustainable products is increasing in the floriculture sector. More and more growers are growing as sustainable as possible, companies are certified and florists want to work more sustainable.. Oasis responds to this development by introducing a new kind of floral foam on the market that is biodegradable, because the current floral foam is not.

For more than 60 years, Smithers-Oasis has been committed not only to the development of the flower industry, but also to the preservation of the environment. After years of development, Smithers-Oasis introduces the first floral foam that is biodegradable. Oasis NATUREBASE, Bio Floral Foam.

The NATUREBASE range is made from a biodegradable base (made from polymers) that looks, feels and performs like plastic, but is made entirely of sustainable materials. Tests show that this floral foam will be 51.5% biodegradable within a year and 85% within three years.

In the sustainable week, we have tested this NATUREBASE range from Oasis on the FloraPodium. It is time to share our findings with you!

On Friday, July 6, 2018 we put roses and raspberries in the floral foam. After a week we see no difference between the two flower arrangements. The pieces are both beautiful at the moment. We are very positive about the floral foam, so you can safely replace the green Oasis for the sustainable brown NATUREBASE range.