We have made a R1.4m investment into a complete irrigation system which will improve the quality of plants and reduce growing times at our Restio Ridge growing operation.
This is a huge benefit to Servest and our clients. The next phase of investment, at Resito Ridge will aim to install a fertigation system to work in tandem with the irrigation system.We have also recently completed the introduction of biological control at Restio Ridge, which is a method of controlling diseases using other organisms, rather than the traditional spraying of chemicals.
We operate the largest interior plant growing operation in South Africa, and have two facilities. The main growing operation is called Restio Ridge and is 12km outside Malelane Mpumalanga. On average, the growing operation holds approximately 75000 plant specimens to supply the interior plants division with a steady supply of quality plants. Our growing operation employs 26 colleagues, and includes a guesthouse which can accommodate 10 guests and is available to rent. We rent land from local farmers for their expanding production which benefits the local economy. The intensive growing operation has a minimum of 70000 plants in the ground at any time, with an average growing time of four years for each plant, from the original cutting to the delivery to Lone Creek.
Lone Creek is the home base for Servest installation teams. The acclimatisation and holding facility is where, at any given time approximately 20000 specimens are stored, and all orders are received and prepared for delivery to the clients’ premises.
We are unique in that we are the only interior plant service provider in South Africa that has our own growing operations. We also have a footprint in the operations used by our competitors, and have agreements with several other growers in Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal.
We supply to retail businesses and the public, and our focus is on quality and to set the standards within our industry.