Mexico: Dutchman runs floral greenhouse in Chiapas

After graduating as an agricultural engineer with a specialization in ecology, Tammo Hoeksema moved from the Netherlands to Mexico in 1997. Without any background in cultivating flowers, he established a gerbera greenhouse in 2006. "One day, my old classmate Gidus Hopmans, who worked at Terra Nigra and recently became agent for Terra Nigra in Costa Rica, came up with the idea to start up a gerbera greenhouse in the Chiapas region. He told me about the beneficial climate for gerbera cultivation in the Chiapas region", says Hoeksema. So, in 2006 Hoeksema established, together with two partners, a greenhouse named Xochipilli. Over the last years, the greenhouses improved and the assortment became broader. Nowadays, Hoeksema owns modern greenhouses and not only grows gerberas, but also lilies, tulips and poinsettias. However, this is not everything, more changes are coming at Xochipilli.

Gerbera cultivation

The gerberas are grown in a modern 2,500 m2 sized double plastic greenhouse with ventilators, automatic windows and irrigation systems. For the cultivation hydropony on cocofibre is used. Therefore, the production is stabilized, leading to healthier cut flowers, and quality. Hoeksema is the only grower in the southeast of Mexico that uses this technique.

Regarding the climate, Hopmans was right. During the winter months the climate is very beneficial for the gerbera cultivation. However, during the summer months and especially during autumn, they have to deal with a high level of humidity and are forced on using fungicides. “We'd rather only use biological products, but due to this level of humidity we have to use fungicides." To control insects they use IPM with biological control from Koppert.

Other varieties

The gerberas are sold to fixed customers in the Chiapas region. "Due to the fact that there are no growing possibilities regarding selling the gerberas, I started to broaden my assortment with lilies, tulips and poinsettias", explains Hoeksema.

The lilies are grown in a 1000m2 greenhouse and the tulips are grown in a 1000m2 sized shadehouse. Hoeksema cultivates 2 varieties of lilies; hybride and oriental. The hybride and the oriental are popular varieties. “Here in Mexico, they prefer very large flowers with a lot of colours”. The lilies grow all year round and the tulips are grown in Dec, Jan and February. The poinsettias were added last year, after noticing an increase in popularity for this variety. Last year they grew 8,000 poinsettias. The demand was high and this year, they are planning to produce 15,000 plants.

Upcoming changes

Besides the addition of poinsettia to the assortment, more changes are coming at Xochipilli. A new 1000 m2 sized greenhouse for Phaleanopsis is being built and will be finished in two months. For the last five years, Hoeksema tested the possibility of growing Phaleanopsis in the Chiapas region. "The new greenhouse will hold 42,500 Phaleanopsis from Anthura B.V.. Cymbidiums will be added later this year or in 2016. This because of the fact that the climate is more beneficial for the Cymbidiums than Phaleanopsis."

Besides that, screens from Royal Brinkmann are going to be installed at the gerbera greenhouse. These screens will protect the gerbera flowers from the bright sun and will keep the night temperatures high in the winter months. "It enables the gerberas to grow higher stems and larger flowers."

For more information
Xochipilli
Tammo Hoeksema
Email: tammo@xochipilli.com
www.xochipilli.com.mx