Latest news with #Phalaenopsis
HKFP
a day ago
- Business
- HKFP
‘We can't pull out': Taiwan's orchid growers dig in as US tariffs shoot up
Since the start of US President Donald Trump's global trade war, Taiwanese orchid grower Lee Tsang-yu has watched tariffs on his seedlings shoot from nothing to 20 percent. But, after weathering many economic crises, the 61-year-old seasoned farmer is digging in. Lee is cultivating new markets in Thailand and expanding in Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil, while cutting back shipments to the United States. 'The US is such a huge market, we can't pull out, and we won't,' said Lee, whose company, Charming Agriculture, operates four rugby field-sized greenhouses in Houbi, a district of the southern city of Tainan. Taiwan's more than 300 orchid growers rank among the world's biggest producers of the thick-leaved plants, with Phalaenopsis orchids, also known as moth orchids, dominating exports. The island's orchid shipments reached NT$6.1 billion (US$204 million) in 2024, with about NT$2 billion worth of plants sent to the United States, its biggest market, official data shows. Until now, most growers have been absorbing the cost of the 10 percent tariff that Trump slapped on nearly every trading partner in April, said Ahby Tseng, 53, secretary-general of the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association. But 'no one can bear' all of Trump's temporary 20 percent levy on Taiwan announced last week, he said. Tseng said Taiwan's main rival in the United States was the Netherlands, which has been hit with a relatively lighter 15 percent tariff. The five percentage point difference is significant, he said. 'It is actually very difficult to immediately pass the cost on to consumers because consumers can choose not to buy, or they can choose to buy other types of flowers,' Tseng said. And stockpiling orchids in a warehouse wasn't an option given that the plants 'keep growing'. While the higher tariff would erode his bottom line, Lee said he was more concerned about the general state of the US economy since Trump took office. 'Everything has become more expensive in the US, and consumer spending is shrinking — that's what worries me,' he said. 'Since late May, we've already cut shipments by 15 percent. Before that, the US accounted for 45 percent of our exports.' Lee said he was optimistic his efforts to expand into other markets, though slow and not always as lucrative, would 'gradually offset this impact'. Taiwan's orchids also had a competitive edge, he said — their flowers could last longer than Dutch plants.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Alan Titchmarsh's 'don't you dare' pruning tip will help your orchids bloom again
Orchids are known for their beautiful flowers, but they can be tricky to coax into blooming again. Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has a simple pruning tip that will help Orchids have become a go-to houseplant due to their stunning looks, varied species and ability to flower for months on end without needing much room. Their graceful blooms and structured stems bring a dash of class to windowsills and bookshelves. Among the many kinds available, moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are the top choice in the UK thanks to their hardy nature, enduring flowers and suitability to indoor environments. However, they share a common issue with many other orchid types: unpredictable blooming. Unlike some houseplants that thrive with minimal fuss, orchids appreciate specific care, especially when it comes to pruning. Green-fingered guru Alan Titchmarsh explains that with the right approach and timing, these plants can put on dazzling displays time after time. How to revive wilting roses in minutes with florist's easy, natural trick Banish rats 'far away' and for good with three garden plants they 'hate' Orchids don't all stick to a strict seasonal schedule; their growth cycles can differ greatly depending on the type and even the individual plant. Marc Hachadourian, an orchid specialist, suggests that the prime time to trim, repot or split your orchid is when it's showing signs of active root and leaf growth — not before or during flowering, reports the Express. Messing with the plant while it's in bloom can shorten the lifespan of the flowers and hinder future growth. So when is the best time to prune orchids? Alan Titchmarsh points out that moth orchids, famed for their long-lasting blooms, wide, succulent leaves, and unique moth-like flower shape, should be pruned sparingly after they've flowered. During a Gardeners' World segment, the horticultural expert advised orchid enthusiasts to fight the impulse to chop stems right back to the base straight after blooming. He warned: "The temptation is to whip the stems off now that the flowers are gone, right at the bottom... don't you dare! "If you look down the stem, you'll see scales [or nodules] every so often. They're surrounding buds, and if you only cut back to where the stem has died as little, without going any further than that, then other stems can grow." Adhering to this straightforward principle offers the plant its optimal opportunity to flower once more, whilst cutting beyond this point eliminates the possibility for fresh blooming spikes. Nevertheless, there's one caveat to bear in mind. Should an entire stem have yellowed or browned on your orchid, it's perfectly fine to snip it off at the base, since it won't produce flowers again. For those uncertain about their orchid's flowering schedule, monitoring its development patterns proves worthwhile. Keep a keen eye out for emerging roots and foliage—these indicate the perfect timing for pruning or splitting. Since each orchid may behave uniquely across the seasons, learning through careful observation remains essential. The Orchid Society of Great Britain suggests expecting your moth orchid to develop spikes once more when temperatures begin dropping in early autumn (September). Flowering can potentially be triggered by relocating the plant to a chillier spot in your home for a fortnight or three weeks, irrespective of the season, before returning it to its usual, toastier location.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Taiwan's orchid growers dig in as US tariffs shoot up
Agencies Since the start of US President Donald Trump's global trade war, Taiwanese orchid grower Lee Tsang-yu has watched tariffs on his seedlings shoot from nothing to 20 percent. But, after weathering many economic crises, the 61-year-old seasoned farmer is digging in. Lee is cultivating new markets in Thailand and expanding in Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil, while cutting back shipments to the United States. 'The US is such a huge market, we can't pull out, and we won't,' said Lee, whose company, Charming Agriculture, operates four rugby field-sized greenhouses in Houbi, a district of the southern city of Tainan. Taiwan's more than 300 orchid growers rank among the world's biggest producers of the thick-leaved plants, with Phalaenopsis orchids, also known as moth orchids, dominating exports. The island's orchid shipments reached NT$6.1 billion (US$204 million) in 2024, with about NT$2 billion worth of plants sent to the United States, its biggest market, official data shows. Until now, most growers have been absorbing the cost of the 10 percent tariff that Trump slapped on nearly every trading partner in April, said Ahby Tseng, 53, secretary-general of the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association. But 'no one can bear' all of Trump's temporary 20 percent levy on Taiwan announced last week, he said. Tseng said Taiwan's main rival in the United States was The Netherlands, which has been hit with a relatively lighter 15 percent tariff. The five percentage point difference is significant, he said. 'It is actually very difficult to immediately pass the cost on to consumers because consumers can choose not to buy, or they can choose to buy other types of flowers,' Tseng said. And stockpiling orchids in a warehouse wasn't an option given that the plants 'keep growing'. While the higher tariff would erode his bottom line, Lee said he was more concerned about the general state of the US economy since Trump took office.
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Taiwan's orchid growers dig in as US tariffs shoot up
HOUBI: Since the start of US President Donald Trump's global trade war, Taiwanese orchid grower Lee Tsang-yu has watched tariffs on his seedlings shoot from nothing to 20 percent. But, after weathering many economic crises, the 61-year-old seasoned farmer is digging in. Lee is cultivating new markets in Thailand and expanding in Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil, while cutting back shipments to the United States. 'The US is such a huge market, we can't pull out, and we won't,' said Lee, whose company, Charming Agriculture, operates four rugby field-sized greenhouses in Houbi, a district of the southern city of Tainan. Taiwan's more than 300 orchid growers rank among the world's biggest producers of the thick-leaved plants, with Phalaenopsis orchids, also known as moth orchids, dominating exports. The island's orchid shipments reached NT$6.1 billion (US$204 million) in 2024, with about NT$2 billion worth of plants sent to the United States, its biggest market, official data shows. Until now, most growers have been absorbing the cost of the 10 percent tariff that Trump slapped on nearly every trading partner in April, said Ahby Tseng, 53, secretary-general of the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association. But 'no one can bear' all of Trump's temporary 20 percent levy on Taiwan announced last week, he said. Tseng said Taiwan's main rival in the United States was The Netherlands, which has been hit with a relatively lighter 15 percent tariff. The five percentage point difference is significant, he said. 'It is actually very difficult to immediately pass the cost on to consumers because consumers can choose not to buy, or they can choose to buy other types of flowers,' Tseng said. And stockpiling orchids in a warehouse wasn't an option given that the plants 'keep growing'. While the higher tariff would erode his bottom line, Lee said he was more concerned about the general state of the US economy since Trump took office. 'Everything has become more expensive in the US, and consumer spending is shrinking—that's what worries me,' he said. 'Since late May, we've already cut shipments by 15 percent. Before that, the US accounted for 45 percent of our exports.' Lee said he was optimistic his efforts to expand into other markets, though slow and not always as lucrative, would 'gradually offset this impact'. Taiwan's orchids also had a competitive edge, he said—their flowers could last longer than Dutch plants. And, he reasons, 'Trump won't be president forever.'—AFP
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Taiwan orchid growers adapt as US tariffs rise to 20%
HOUBI: Taiwanese orchid grower Lee Tsang-yu has seen US tariffs on his seedlings jump from zero to 20% since the start of Donald Trump's trade war. The 61-year-old farmer remains resilient despite the economic challenges. Lee is expanding into Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil while reducing US shipments. 'The US is such a huge market, we can't pull out, and we won't,' said Lee, whose company operates four large greenhouses in Houbi. Taiwan is one of the world's top orchid producers, with Phalaenopsis orchids dominating exports. The island's orchid exports hit NT$6.1 billion (US$204 million) in 2024, with NT$2 billion going to the US. Most growers initially absorbed Trump's 10% tariff, said Ahby Tseng of the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association. But the new 20% levy is unsustainable, he added. Taiwan's main US competitor, The Netherlands, faces a lower 15% tariff. The five-point difference is significant, Tseng noted. Passing costs to consumers is difficult as buyers may switch to other flowers. Stockpiling orchids isn't feasible since the plants continue growing. Lee worries more about declining US consumer spending than tariffs. 'Since late May, we've cut US shipments by 15%,' he said. Lee remains optimistic that new markets will offset losses over time. Taiwanese orchids last longer than Dutch ones, giving them an edge. 'Trump won't be president forever,' Lee added. - AFP
