The Amaryllis is the star of our Holiday collection this year. Of course, we always have the very best varieties, and these are grown by Erik Knoppert and Martijn van der Ende: two Dutch growers who have been lovingly cultivating this flower for years. Erik and Martijn tell us what makes this flower so special to them.
Erik Knoppert is at the helm of the Knoppert family business, which has been growing Amaryllis flowers for generations. Erik’s Amaryllises are included lots in our Holiday collection.
Why do you grow amaryllis?
“Firstly, because the flower has a gigantic wow effect: the transformation from bud to a huge flower is so beautiful to see. It was also a strategic choice, because by growing Amaryllises we have no competition from the warmer Southern countries. The Amaryllis does well at low temperatures, so that makes the Dutch climate a favourable one for growing this flower. It is therefore also more sustainable – because you don't have to heat the greenhouse as much.”
What else do you do to grow as sustainably as possible?
“We generate the energy we need to grow the Amaryllis ourselves with a combined heat and power installation. In addition to generating electricity, the heat produced from this installation is used to heat our greenhouses. That way the power stations don't have to do that for us. We also use geothermal energy, a sustainable energy source that is free of CO2. We use CO2, a nutrient that the Amaryllis needs during the cultivation process, from the port of Rotterdam. Because of these practices we are proudly CO2 neutral. We always want to continue to develop this and work in an increasingly sustainable manner.”
Can you tell us something about the growing process of your Amaryllis and what makes them so special?
“We grow large-flowered Amaryllises in all kinds of colours such as salmon pink, white, red with white stripes and many more. After each harvest, the best bulbs go to the lab to propagate. Then they go into the ground, and after two to five harvest years, those bulbs are ready to propagate again. This way you get stronger and more beautiful flowers. For example, the diameter of the flower is very important to me: the bigger the better. An Amaryllis in bloom can have a diameter of about 15-20 cm, which is the size of a large broccoli. I think the most beautiful of all is the Amaryllis 'polaris'. It is a beautiful white colour and the flower is pleasingly straight on the stem - it almost looks at you once it has come out of the bud."
What do you like best about your job?
“Working with great people. If you give people enough space in their role, they will flourish. Employees can often do much more than they think. We have a very nice team that works with a lot of passion every day. I always say: our people don't have blood flowing through their veins, but amaryllis juice.”
Finally, do you have any good care tips?
“Always add the flower food to the water, so you not only give the flower extra food – but you also slow down bacterial growth at the bottom of the stem, so that you can enjoy your Amaryllis for an extra-long time.”
Martijn van der Ende is the proud owner of nursery van der Ende. The family business has been growing Amaryllises since 1990. Martijn has grown all the Amaryllises in our Mono Amaryllis bouquets.
What types of Amaryllis do you grow and what makes them so special??
“We grow a lot of different varieties: arachnids, large and small flowered, and Amaryllis with a double row of petals. I think the most special thing about this flower is that the stem grows from 0 to about 80 cm high in 6-8 weeks. My favourite is the 'tarantula', which has pointed leaves. And of course, the 'Isabella', named after my daughter. I always have an Amaryllis in a vase at home. We also cross new varieties and I test them at home to see how the flower is does.”
You supply 4-flowered Amaryllises for our Mono, what makes this variety special?
“It is the top tier of Amaryllises. These flowers grow from bulbs that we have been preparing for this harvest year for a long time. Every year we select the best bulbs, we propagate them, and they produce better and better flowers. This process can take about two to three years. With every harvest I pay close attention to the length of the stems and the drawing of the petals. I love to see how the flowers look in people's homes, then I can actually see how beautiful the product I have grown is.”
What makes your job the most fun?
“The combination of variation in work and challenges. People often have no idea that it takes a lot of time to grow the perfect Amaryllis. It takes more than a year before you have a good flower that you can harvest – there is a lot of preparation beforehand. In addition, we are trying to become more sustainable. We have 500 solar panels on our roof, and we buy residual heat from the neighbours in order to reduce the usage of the boiler. We also use an aqua flex, a water reservoir – 13 meters underground – that pumps cold water around for cooling. We also only use biological crop protection products. It remains a fun challenge to continue developing in this area.”
What is your ultimate care tip?
“It is difficult to get it wrong. Provide a clean vase with clean water and the flower will emerge after a few days. Then change the water regularly, cut the stems again and you will enjoy it for a long time.”