Kwekerreportage: Sonneveld Plants

The spring sun breaks through. The garden center is bustling, and with smiles on their faces, people are loading their favorite bedding plants into their shopping trolleys. This report is about the stunning bedding plants from Sonneveld Plants, but to be honest, I’m writing this on a crisp November day, and spring is still a long way off. Yet, the foundation for next spring is being laid right now. Bas Sonneveld explains everything to me.

What are we looking at?

Here, you see the tiniest versions of the bedding plants we’ll eventually sell next spring. These are cuttings of Marguerite Daisy’s, Scaevola, Sanvitalia, and many other varieties. While many growers have their cuttings rooted by propagators, I choose to do it myself. In November, I have the time and space for it. But there’s an even more important reason: the first eight weeks of a plant’s life are crucial for its entire lifecycle. I devote more time and care to rooting than propagators typically would. We keep the temperatures lower, which prevents the plants from being rushed. Once they develop roots, I trim them again to ensure the starting material is extra well-branched. Both I and, ultimately, the customer benefit from this approach.

What else goes into cultivating bedding plants?

We’ve developed a growing method that we believe delivers the best results. We grow relatively cool and dry. More heat and water would encourage growth, but the challenge with bedding plants is keeping them compact while ensuring they produce flower buds. There are growth inhibitors available to keep plants compact, but we prefer not to use them.

The necessary nutrients are partly in our potting soil mix and partly in the water we provide. We’ve created our own super mix, enriched with silicon.

How do you deal with pests and fungi?

We start every day with an “anti-fungi hour.” We crank up the heating and open all the windows. After this hour, the moisture is expelled from the greenhouse, and the heating can be turned off or lowered. Because we grow cool and dry, we don’t face many fungal issues.

Our main pests are thrips and fungus gnats. We’ve been using biological controls for years. We deploy predatory mites and Atheta beetles, the latter being particularly effective at catching fungus gnats.

How do you choose which varieties to grow?

When it comes to bedding plants, there are countless varieties from breeders to choose from. We’re shown stunning images of new series, but I’ve found that when I trial them in our greenhouse, the reality isn’t always as rosy. Take the Petunia, for example. We’ve been growing the Petunia Surfinia® for as long as I can remember, and I’ve yet to find a Petunia that delivers equally impressive results. So, we continue to choose the Surfinia®. Unfortunately, this quirky variety refuses to bloom before week 16, so people will need to be patient until mid-April.

Personally, I’ve recently fallen in love with the Argyranthemum, also known as the Marguerite Daisy. What a fantastic bedding plant, available in multiple colours! Did you know the Marguerite Daisy starts blooming in mid-March and doesn’t stop until November? I feel like this plant doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, and I’ve taken on the role of its ambassador. I’m about to become a father to a baby girl, and I’d have loved to name her Marguerite, but my wife wasn’t on board, ha ha ha!

How can I identify high-quality bedding plants?

It’s not that difficult, really. Sometimes you’ll see bedding plants with dull leaves and lackluster flowers. That’s not the best quality. Often, this happens when plants are heavily treated with growth inhibitors. The leaves should be fresh green, and the plant should have a natural, healthy shine.

You took over the nursery from your father and have now been a grower for eight years. How’s life as a grower?

Each year is different, and that brings its own challenges. I work with seasonal products that need to sell no matter what. If sales aren’t going well, I notice it immediately in my wallet. Some traders try to pit different bedding plant growers against each other. I don’t believe in that. Ultimately, we all want the same thing: a healthy, thriving ornamental horticulture industry now and in the future. Thankfully, Javado shares my perspective.

Despite the unpredictability, being a grower has brought me a lot. I’ve built a great group of friends, many of whom are also growers. Every Friday afternoon, we meet up at someone’s greenhouse  for a friendly drink. It’s a unique profession, incomparable to anything else, but we understand each other, and that creates a special bond.

The Story of Petunia Surfinia

Petunia Surfinia® has become one of the biggest brands in ornamental horticulture. Despite the vast range of bedding plants available, one thing is certain: people ask for Surfinia®.

It all started in 1990 when breeding trials at Suntory revealed a new Petunia variety with remarkable traits. Stunning flower cascades spilled over the test fields. The name Surfinia®, a combination of “Surfin’” and “Petunia,” was an apt choice.

Surfinia® was exceptional in many ways: not only did it create richly blooming hanging plants, but it was also highly weather-resistant and self-cleaning. There’s no need to deadhead this plant; it naturally sheds spent blooms.

Garden enthusiasts and landscapers quickly recognized Surfinia®’s qualities, and its popularity skyrocketed. These beautiful hanging plants now adorn everything from the streets of Southern European cities to picturesque mountain villages, from English pubs to iconic Dutch bridges.

Thirty-five years later, what began with a purple variety has expanded into a diverse range. Surfinia® is still regarded by many as the best Petunia available.

Geothermal Heating

Sonneveld Plants uses geothermal heating, drawing water from a depth of 2.3 km. Through a pipe system, water at 87°C is brought to the nursery to heat the greenhouses. Once the water cools, it’s pumped back into the ground at a different location.

Calibrachoa | Did You Know?

• You might not have known this: Calibrachoa is named after Mexican botanist Antonio de la Cal y Bracho.
• Calibrachoa resembles Petunia but has smaller flowers. While related, they are distinct species. Recently, it has become possible to crossbreed the two, resulting in a hybrid called x Petchoa.
• Sonneveld grows Calibrachoa both by colour and in trio combinations.

Published on: 3 February 2025