News » 08.06.2026 - Orchid propagator uses greenhouse-grown sphagnum

In the Netherlands, the search for sustainable and reliable growing substrates has become a priority in the greenhouse horticulture sector. Supply security, consistent quality, and reduced pressure on natural ecosystems are increasingly decisive factors. Klasmann-Deilmann's Sphaxx, a greenhouse-grown sphagnum product, is positioned as a response to these challenges. Dutch propagator Opti-flor shares its experience.

"When we first came into contact with greenhouse-grown sphagnum from Klasmann-Deilmann, around five years ago, we were still in an exploratory phase," says Ruud Duijvestijn, Cultivation and Energy Manager at Opti-flor. "We had already been working for several years with pressed sphagnum tiles from the Southern Hemisphere, but we were dealing with lead times of three months and inconsistent quality. We saw potential in a locally grown alternative, provided it could match what we were used to."

From small-scale test to serious volumes
The first steps were cautious. "We started a pilot, under strict confidentiality, with 48 plants in 7 cm pots, which we monitored closely together with Klasmann-Deilmann. The results exceeded expectations, and from that point we began scaling up gradually." Today, volumes have grown into a significant production stream. "We are now using Sphaxx in approximately 15,000 pots per week."

According to Duijvestijn, the foundation of this growth was mutual trust. "Trust is something you build together. By continuously testing, evaluating, and making adjustments, we got to know the product better and better. Close collaboration and short lines of communication make all the difference."

Consistent quality and direct communication lines
What stands out to him most is the consistent, clean quality of the product. "Sphaxx is grown here under controlled conditions, which makes it cleaner. Irradiation, which is required for imported tiles, is not necessary here. As a result, it contains more biodiversity and is free of weeds."

He adds: "The tiles are also very uniform, which matters enormously in practice. It gives us more predictable propagation results. And if something needs to be addressed, we can respond quickly with Klasmann-Deilmann. That proximity is a genuine advantage."

Resilient and agile
Supply security also plays an important role. "With overseas products, delivery can easily take three months. That creates vulnerability. With a local supply chain, that risk is significantly reduced. You know where the product comes from and can anticipate more quickly. That brings peace of mind in planning and certainty in business operations."

Finally, Duijvestijn sees a clear sustainability gain. "Natural sphagnum takes around 40 years to mature before it can be harvested. The sphagnum from Klasmann-Deilmann is grown as a cold crop and is ready to harvest within a year. That, too, is innovation, and I find it genuinely impressive. For us, this represents the future: a combination of quality, innovation, supply security, and conservation of nature."
 

Source: www.floraldaily.com

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