Vectorworks Landmark Updates the 2009 Plant Database with Monrovia Plants

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Columbia, Maryland (October 1, 2008)—Nemetschek North America is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Monrovia, the leading grower of premium ornamental plants, to enhance the plant database in Vectorworks® Landmark 2009. This long-awaited addition has more than doubled the number of plants in the Vectorworks plant database as well as improved the geographic coverage of plants in regions such as Florida and California.

“We are excited to offer this new comprehensive plant database to Vectorworks Landmark users,” explains Darick DeHart, Nemetschek North America’s vertical products manager. “Clients are starting to ask for more sustainable and native plant designs, and landscape architects and designers will now have better resources for fulfilling this request.”

Plant information in the database includes: persistence, hardiness zone, typical size, leaf and flower characteristics, typical use, tolerance, and other general information. In addition, the database integrates seamlessly with online industry-standard sources for plant images and additional information. The database information is used to create plant lists, take off sheets, planting plans, and take-home sheets.

As Monrovia is a national plant supplier, Vectorworks Landmark users will have the added comfort of knowing that when they choose a plant, they’ll definitely be able to source it.

“It’s a great opportunity for those premiere landscape designers and architects who want to easily specify Monrovia plants,” said Andrea Gutierrez, director of online marketing for Monrovia.

Vectorworks Landmark 2009 users can download the free database by visiting: www.nemetschek.net/downloads

Monrovia is one of the world’s largest producers of container-grown plants, with more than 2,200 different varieties available. Since it was founded in 1926 by Harry E. Rosedale, the company has introduced hundreds of patented plants, more than 200 of which are Monrovia exclusives. Monrovia plants are shipped to independent garden centers nationwide. Throughout its history, Monrovia has pioneered many new technologies and new plant introductions. It remains a family-owned entity. For more information, please visit www.monrovia.com

Nemetschek North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Nemetschek Group. A global leader in design technologies, Nemetschek North America has been developing CAD software for the AEC, entertainment, landscape design, and manufacturing fields since 1985. For more information, visit www.vectorworks.net

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Bonsai in Florida Through The Years - 2009

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by Henry Robbins

The Bonsai Societies of Florida is proud to announce our 2009 convention "Bonsai in Florida Through the Years" at the Sun Resort in Orlando, Florida. Our guest artists will be Boon Manakitivipart, Suthin Sukosolvisit, Min Hsuan Lo and Pedro Morales. Guests will be treated to World Class demonstrations and workshops with our artists.

The dates of the convention will be March 19–23 at the centrally located Sun Resort in Orlando. The Sun Resort convention facilities are outstanding. We have secured a room rate of $89 a night for convention registrants. Guests are invited to come early and take advantage of this great location. The resort is within three miles of Disney World and as well as other area attractions.

The 2009 convention will encompass one of the largest exhibits of Florida bonsai specimens. Guests can expect to see a extensive display of trees, and for the first time in Florida, an superb exhibit of Florida's finest Shohin specimens.

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Bonsai News and Events

January 17-18, 2009 - Hayward, California, USA

Bay Island Bonsai
Bay Island Bonsai presents the 10th Anniversary of An Exhibit of Fine Bonsai at Centennial Hall, 22292 Foothill Blvd., Hayward, CA. Hours are Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. This will be the largest exhibit of bonsai trees in the history of the club with over 75 formal displays of high quality bonsai trees and accent plants. On Saturday, a very high quality bonsai auction will be held. The auction preview will be at 12 noon with the live auction at 1-3 pm. An auction catalog will be available at www.bonsaiboon.com. On Sunday, a silent auction of specially selected trees and bonsai pots is scheduled for 10 am to 1 pm, and a demonstration by Boon on a very old Western Juniper will occur from 1-3 pm. A benefit drawing at 4 pm on Sunday will be held. You need not be present to win. Vendors will be available both days from 10 am to 4 pm. There is a single $5 admission fee for both days and all events and parking is free. Contact Boon for more information at 510-865-1008 or visit http://www.bonsaiboon.com/.


February 28-Mar. 1, 2009- Hexham, Northumberland, UK

British Shohin Association
4th British Shohin Association Exhibition at Willowbog Bonsai at Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Featuring Marco Invernizzi and Peter Warren. An exhibition album is planned. For details visit: http://www.willowbog-bonsai.co.uk/BSA/index.asp


March 6-8, 2009 - Murcia, Spain

EBA-ESA 25th Anniversary Congress at Murcia, Spain on its SE Mediterranean coast. Featuring David Benavente, Gabriel Romero, Antoni Payeras, Jaime Canals, Erasmo Garcia, Santi Galán, Jesús Quintas, Salvatore Liporace, Kevin Wilson, Mark Noelanders, François Jeker, Pilar Guillen, Jesús Revuelta, Luis Vallejo, Takeo Kawabe, and Rafael Monje. Host language is Spanish, but events will be translated into English, French and Italian. For details visit http://www.bonsaillevant.org/xxv_european_congress_bonsaisui.htm.


March 19-23, 2009 - Orlando, FL, USA

Bonsai Societies of Florida
BSF 2009 "Bonsai in Florida through the Years" at the Sun Resort in Orlando, FL. Featured artists will be Boon Manikitivipart, Suthin Sukosolvisit, Min Hsuan Lo and Pedro Morales. Convention room rate is $89 a night for convention registrants. Guests are invited to come early and take advantage of this great location within three miles of Disney World. The diverse exhibit will feature shohin specimens. Visit http://www.bonsai-bsf.com/ for more information and updates.


April 17-18, 2009 - Houston, TX, USA

Houston Bonsai Society
LSBF 2009 Convention hosted by the Houston Bonsai Society at the Marriott West Chase in Houston, TX, USA. Featured artists include Boon Manikitivipart, Roy Nagatoshi, and Milagros Rauber Herrera. For more information, go to: http://www.houstonbonsai.com/


April 17-19, 2009 - Kerhonkson, NY, USA

MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies
Annual Spring Festival at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa, 400Granite Rd. Kerhonkson, N.Y. (outside of New Palz) Featured Artists: Isao Omachi (Japan), Farrand Bloch (Netherlands), David Easterbrook (Canada) and Susan Amoy (U.S.A.). Special for first time attendees: pre-registration for weekend 1/2 price. (Registration fee only, no workshops.) Workshops, large vendor area, exhibit, banquet and auction are offered. Details at http://www.midatlanticbonsai.freeservers.com/.


May 22-25, 2009 - Brisbane, Australia

AABC Ltd and Bonsai Society of Queensland Inc
AABC Ltd and Bonsai Society of Queensland Inc are holding the Annual Convention in Brisbane Australia on May 22-25 . Our guest overseas artisit is Bill Valavanis, Australian and International artist Lindsay Bebb. Tony Bebb and another 8 Australian artists will make this event one not to be missed.Full registration will give you total admission to the event for the whole weekend and workshops are available with Bill Valavanis, Lindsay Bebb and Tony Bebb for an additional fee. More details are available at: http://www.bonsaisocietyqld.asn.au/


June 11-14, 2009 - Boise, ID, USA

American Bonsai Society
ABS Learning Seminars 2009 at Doubletree Hotel—Boise Riverside, 2900 Chinden Blvd., Boise, ID, USA. Hosted by the Boise Bonsai Society and featuring Peter Adams, David DeGroot, Larry Jackel, Rob Kempinski, Jerry Meislik, John Muth, Pauline Muth, Kathy Shaner, and Arthur Skolnik. For details contact Pauline Muth at 7 Western Ave., West Charlton, NY 12010 or phone: (518) 882-1039 or e-mail: ABS@pfmbonsai.com or visit http://www.absbonsai.org/seminars/ABS2009/main2009-5.html.


June 19-21, 2009 - New Orleans, LA, USA

Bonsai Clubs International presents Survivors of the Storm in the New Orleans Botanical Garden at City Park in New Orleans, LA, USA featuring Lindsay & Glenis Bebb of Australia, Willi Benz of Germany, Tedy Boy of Indonesia, Peter Chan of Great Britain, Nacho Marin of Venezuela, I.C. Su of Taiwan and Americans Richard Cranford, Guy Guidry, Dora Ross, Ed Trout and William N. Valavanis. Bonsai, Suiseki, Ikebana and special programs for kids. Invitational exhibition of Gulf Coast Bonsai. Registration and information at BCI2009@cox.net or telephone 504-832-8071.


July 7-13, 2009 - San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

World Bonsai Friendship FederationWorld Bonsai Convention VI at the Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For details visit: http://www.worldbonsaiconvention2009.com/

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Tropical Plants

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Understand all the trivia and get all the information on tropical plants with hundreds of digital photos plus HOW TO information for tropical plants, right here at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au/.

Tropical plants have been known all over the world thanks to their prolific beauty and unusual sense of scenery. In Australia too there are many nurseries and the plants outlets that go in for such auctions and selling of tropical plants. There are various bifurcations in the category of plants, seeds and even bushes all over the world. These are categorically stated as land plants, green plants comprising of green algae. A biological name of Primoplantae comprises green plants, tropical plants, red algae and glaucophyte algae.

Then there are other different types and categories of tropical plants that carry out photosynthesis are called plants as well, but they do not constitute a formal taxon. The places from where one can get the information about the various species and characteristics of these tropical plants and their different types of classes through the nurseries as listed with us. Enjoy the beauty that the tropical plants are so famous and renowned about.

Understand the care and the attention needed for the purpose of tropical plants. Every plant has its own plethora of ways of information and ways to look after. Tropical plants are no different. Understand the entire way of care and attention that these tropical plants need and do accordingly. Get all the information about the same right here on the website. With us, you will never have any sort of shortage of information thanks to our comprehensive factual database. You will never have to look anywhere else.

Explore everything about tropical garden plants, tropical rainforest plants, indoor tropical plants, growing tropical plants, tropical plants care, tropical forest plants, and tropical aquarium plants that are beautiful and serve the purpose of aromatherapy and such other various useful features all across the continent of Australia, right here with us at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au/tropical-plants.html.

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Bonsai Plants

Learn everything about Bonsai Plant Sciences - Resources. Catalogue. Directories and Gateways. Library Guides. Search Engines. Databases & EJournals. Research and Study Aids. All this and more only at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au/.

Everyone loves plants and flowers. They are not just a symbol of beauty but also they are considered as good luck charm as well. Bonsai plants are one of such amazing plant species found in Australia . Furnish yourself with the proper understanding of the mechanism of the bonsai plants. This would enable the buyers and the people at large to know and handle them with the care and attention that the bonsai plants deserve. The scientific fact remains that about three hundred or so plant species do not entirely and independently photosynthesize but they form as parasites on other species of photosynthetic plants. Understand all such factual details about bonsai plants too.

A lot many people around the world believe that a plant are living organisms and if one keeps them happy by talking to them, smiling to them and treating them as living organisms they grow faster and look better. This is on the similar lines of the raising and tending of one's children. The botanic and scientific details of bonsai plants are also provided on our database listings. A more close study reveals that plants are distinguished from green algae, and other kinds of bushes and weeds. All such details are necessary for the understanding and the nurture of plants and bushes.

We bring you the listing of the nursery details and the places from where detailed information and deals about buying and caring for the shade plants can be sought with the maximum ease. All you have to do is log on to our site and get all the specific information for bonsai plants and bonsai shrubs and bushes, trees and bonsai bushes, flowers and bushes, how to grow bonsai plants, bonsai bushes and hedges, bushes and briars, flowering trees and bushes, and planting bonsai in the major cities of Australia.

Explore everything about indoor bonsai plants, bonsai plant, bonsai plants, bonsai plants, bonsai plant, bonsai plant, bonsai plant care, and bonsai plants for sale all across Australia right here with us.

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Ornamental Plants

Learn everything about strappy leaf and grass like plants, Drought hardy & low maintenance plants right here with us at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au./

Ornamental plants make your life beautiful.

The flora and fauna of every country makes for an interesting study and areas of interests for majority of the people all over the world. In the continent of Australia , the places and the nature are very well known for their exoticism and beauty. Perhaps this is the reason why the natives and even the tourists alike are very much interested in the plants and the natural flora of the country. Australia shares this concept of beautiful ornamental plants.

Ornamental plants make for excellent decorum and gifts. Ours is a trusted database and we make sure that we don't miss any fact or information to give you a comprehensive detail about all the information on plants throughout the continent of Australia .

Understand the care and the attention needed for the purpose of tropical plants. Every plant has its own plethora of ways of information and ways to look after. Tropical plants are no different. Also understand the entire way of care and attention that these tropical plants need and do accordingly. These ornamental trees and show plants can be found to be extremely helpful in preserving and maintaining internal architecture and décor.

Ornamental plants make for an extremely rich and elegant décor, for the purpose of indoor architecture and there are many stores across the continent of Australia that provide these shades and vases and other means of decorative pieces that accelerate the beauty of ornamental plants. Get to know all these details right here with us.

Explore all that you wanted to know about ornamental grass plants, ornamental shrubs, ornamental bushes, plants grasses, ornamental pepper plant, ornamental plant, ornamental trees and shrubs, and ornamental pepper plants all across the continent of Australia right here with us at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au/ornamental-plants.html.

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Shade Plants

Know plants' growing requirements before planting them in shade gardens. Learn about the way they need to be looked after and the places wherein you can find the shade plants all across Australia right here at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au/.

Shade plants are renowned the world over for their beauty. These shade plants represent a mode of photosynthetic life similar to the kind modern plants are believed to have evolved from, by having specialized reproductive organs protected by non-reproductive tissues. Explore more about shade annuals, shade shrubs, seasonal plants, shade blooming plants, shade plant, plants shade, plants for shade, plants in shade, shade garden all over the exotic continent of Australia right here with us.

Indoor plants that are also a kind of shade plants are extremely useful for the horticulture therapy and in house domesticated gardening. Tree rings are an important method of dating in archeology and serve as a record of past climates that have been affected throughout the continent of Australia . And such shade trees and show plants can be found to be extremely helpful in preserving and maintaining internal architecture and décor.
Some of the shade plants are used as national and state emblems also, the trend being very useful in Australia . There are concepts of state trees and state flowers and even ancient trees that are all shade plants and bushes. Basic biological research has often been done with plants, and even the space stations or space colonies may one day rely on plants for life support which is, quite interestingly, proved by the space centers in Australia . We bring you the listing of the nursery details and the places from where detailed information and deals about buying and caring for the ornamental plants can be sought with the maximum ease all across the major cities in Australia .

xplore other interesting stuff on shade plants, shade garden plants, shade growing plants, shade plants flowers, perennial shade plants, full shade plants, flowering shade plants, shade shrubs, and dry shade plants right here with us at http://www.plantsinfo.com.au/shade-plants.html. Get all the information about the same right here on the website. With us, you will never have any sort of shortage of information thanks to our comprehensive factual database. You will never have to look anywhere else.

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SEMAI SPORA TANAMAN PAKU: Satu Daun Jadi Ribuan

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Spora paku berfungsi sebagai alat persebaran (dispersi), mirip dengan biji. Perlu media semai yang cocok agar spora tumbuh menjadi tanaman baru.

SALAH SATU CIRI KHAS TUMBUHAN PAKU (PTERIDOPHTA) ADALAH TERDAPAT SPORA yang terletak di dalam kotak spora (sporogonium). Spora inilah yang menjadi organ untuk perbanyakan tanaman paku. Berikut cara yang ditempuh Arief, petani tanaman bias di daerah Ciapus, Bogor, Jawa Barat, untuk menyemai spora menjadi tanaman paku. *

MENYIAPKAN MEDIAUntuk menyemai spora paku digunakan media tanam berupa cacahan akar pakis. Arief menyarankan sebaiknya menggunakan akar pakis tua. Akar pakis itu direbus atau dikukus kira-kira 10-12 jam. Tujuannya, untuk mematikan bakteri maupun jamur. Selanjutnya, media yang sudah matang itu diletakkan ke dalam wadah plastik yang dilubangi. "Biasanya pakai besek," ujar Arief. Sebelum diisi media, besek itu dilapisi plastik terlebih dahulu.

TABURKAN SPORASetelah akar pakis dimasukkan dalam besek, lalu disiram air dan ditiriskan. Bila air sudah this, spora ditaburkan ke media. Caranya, bagian berwarna cokelat yang ada di permukaan bawah daun digosok dengan pinset atau ranting berujung runcing. Spora akan berjatuhan di media semai.

Usahakan spora jatuh merata di permukaan akar pakis. Biasanya, perlu 4-5 besek untuk menaburkan spora dari satu daun. Kemudian besek dibungkus plastik putih agar cahaya matahari dapat menembus masuk. Selama proses perkecambahan, cahaya perlu, tapi tidak langsung. "Sinarnya perlu disaring beberapa kali," ujar Arief. la lantas menggantung plastik-plastik berisi besek spora itu di bawah rak-rak tanaman. Sehingga cahaya matahari pun tersaring oleh paranet, rak berisi pot tanaman, dan plastik pembungkus besek semaian.

PISAHKAN BIBIT MUDAPemisahan bibit butuh beberapa kali. Sebulan sesudah spora ditaburkan, biasanya akan tumbuh bibit berukuran sangat kecil. Ambit bibit satu per satu dengan pinset, lalu ditata di media yang baru.

Selanjutnya sekitar tiga bulan, bibit dipisahkan lagi. Pertumbuhan antara bibit yang satu dengan yang lain bisa tidak sama. Bibit yang tumbuh cepat akan menutupi yang lain sehingga menghambat pertumbuhannya. Karenanya, perlu dilakukan pemisahan lanjutan. Bibit yang masih kecil diambil, ditanam di media baru. Usai pemisahan, besek digantung di bawah rak tanaman diambil dari wadah persemaian. Tinggi tanaman sekitar 5-10 cm. Arief menggunakan gelas beka5 air mineral sebagai wadah pembesaran bibit. Caranya, ambit bibit satu persatu lalu ditanam di gelas berisi cacahan pakis. Kali ini akar pakis untuk media tanam tidak perlu direbus. Lalu gelas digantungkan di rak bambu. Bila sudah cukup besar, bibit ini bisa ditanam di pot.

Satu besek semaian Spora bisa menghasilkan kira-kira sepuluh besek berisi bibit paku muda. Lalu bibit paku muda itu masih bisa dipisahkan lagi beberapa kali. Begitu seterusnya, hingga hasilnya bisa mencapai ribuan tanaman. Agar penyemaian berhasil, kelembapan perlu dijaga.

Anda pun bisa mencobanya.

TEKS/FOTO: ELLY

Discan dan OCR oleh Sabina dari Flona Edisi 70/V Desember 2008

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Best of British Bonsai 2009

Here is the place to be next year. Anyone who is anyone in the Bonsai fraternity from the UK will be here. So keep the dates free next year and as soon as I have any other information I will post it

http://www.bonsaiinformation.com/BBB2009.htm

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Secantik Delapan Dewa

Hidupnya menyendiri di pinggir tebing. Akarnya mencengkeram pada bebatuan. Kaudeks berdiameter sekitar 6 cm menyembul di antara celah batu. Begitulah hidup Euphorbia waringiae di habitatnya. Namun, di tangan Boen Soediono anggota famili Euphorbiaceae itu tumbuh di dalam pot. Kehadirannya memperindah sudut ruang di kediamannya di Jakarta Pusat.

Euphorbia asal Madagaskar itu menjadi pilihan Boen lantaran bersosok unik. Kerabat jarak pagar itu memiliki bonggol bulat seukuran telur. Dari ujung bonggol tumbuh batang bercabang dua. Salah satu cabang hanya berukuran sekitar 6 cm dan diselimuti daun lanset hijau keunguan. Sedangkan cabang yang lain panjangnya sekitar 40 cm dan memiliki 2 anak cabang.

Masing-masing anak cabang itu tengah memunculkan bunga berwarna kuning dengan semburat salem. Bentuknya mirip Euphorbia milii yang populer di tanahair. Hanya saja berukuran lebih kecil yakni berdiameter 5-7 mm. Agar lebih cantik, tanaman itu ditanam pada pot keramik setinggi 20 cm. Cabang yang panjang dibiarkan menjuntai dan dito-pang batu fosil seukuran kepalan tangan sehingga membentuk gaya cascade.Dari Thailand

Dengan penampilan seperti itu, Euphorbia waringiae ibarat naik kelas. Tanaman liar yang hidup di antara semak-semak itu kini berbalut pot nan indah. Saat dipajang pada pameran Trubus Agro Expo di Parkir Timur Senayan, Jakarta, tanaman itu banyak mengundang pujian para pengunjung. Ia memang pantas mengikuti jejak kerabatnya, seperti poinsetia dan Euphorbia milii yang lebih dulu dikenal sebagai tanaman hias.

Mengoleksi E. waringiae kian istimewa karena tergolong tanaman langka. Meski hidup jauh dari jangkauan manusia, keberadaannya di alam terancam punah. Maklum, ia tumbuh di daerah kritis dan minim hara. Keluarga jarak-jarakan itu hidup di bukit-bukit batu di bagian barat daya Madagaskar.

Untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hara, ia hanya bersandar pada humus yang berasal dari daun semak yang berguguran. Seandainya humus itu makin terkikis, maka terancam pula hidupnya. Dengan mengoleksi tanaman itu berarti memperpanjang kehidupan mereka. Apalagi bila kerabat singkong itu dibudidayakan dan diperbanyak baik secara vegetatif maupun generatif.

Tak hanya Euphorbia waringiae yang dikoleksi Boen. Euphorbia endemik Madagaskar lainnya juga ia datangkan via Thailand. Salah satunya Euphorbia capsaintemariensis. Penampilannya tak kalah unik. Dari ujung batang yang hanya setinggi 3 cm, tumbuh sekitar 20 cabang.

Di ujung cabang tumbuh daun tebal berukuran 2 cm yang bagian tepinya bergelombang dan menggulung ke dalam. Bunganya kuning dan mungil seukuran bunga Euphorbia waringiae. Hanya saja semburatnya hijau. E. capsaintemariensis juga hidup di daerah berbatu.

13 tahun

E. capsaintemariensis sejatinya varian dari Euphorbia decaryi. Jenis inilah yang dikoleksi Hanodo Buntoro di Pati, Jawa Tengah, sejak 13 tahun silam. Pantas bila dilihat dari bentuk daun keduanya hampir mirip. Bedanya, daun E. decaryi lebih tebal dan berwarna marun. Meski sedang tidak berbunga, sosok kerabat sambang darah itu menawan karena bertajuk rimbun. Saking rimbunnya batang dan cabang nyaris tak terlihat diselimuti daun.

'Tanaman itu pertumbuhannya lamban, hanya beberapa milimeter setiap tahunnya. Ia lebih suka tumbuh membentuk cabang baru,' ujar Buntoro. Oleh sebab itu, koleksi pemilik nurseri Soetomo Flora itu hanya setinggi 15 cm meski berumur 13 tahun. Namun, ketika daun disingkap tampak puluhan cabang yang sangat rapat.

Euphorbia endemik Madagaskar yang juga didatangkan Boen adalah Euphorbia suzannae-marnieriae. Daun tanaman yang hidup di Provinsi Toliara, Madagaskar, itu juga mirip capsaintemariensis dan decaryi. Hanya saja ukuran daun lebih panjang dan lebar. Daunnya juga lebih tipis. Namun, ia memiliki kaudeks seperti E. waringiae yang berukuran 5-6 cm.

Ada lagi Euphorbia neohumbertii yang penampilannya berbeda dengan ketiga jenis sebelumnya. Batangnya menyerupai kaktus dengan penampang melintang berbentuk segi delapan. Daunnya oval dan bertangkai menyerupai raket tenis. Daun hanya tumbuh di ujung cabang sehingga membentuk tajuk seperti payung. Tanaman terlihat indah bila daun pada setiap cabang tumbuh serempak.

Hibrida

Keelokan jenis spesies menitis pada turunannya. Salah satunya silangan antara Euphorbia labatii dan E. ambovombensis. Bila dilihat dari bentuk daun, hasil silangan itu didominasi karakter E. labatii. Ciri khas utama tanaman itu berdaun tipis dengan tulang daun berwarna hijau muda sehingga menimbulkan corak pada daun. Sedangkan E. ambovombensis memiliki karakter mirip E. decaryi yakni berdaun tebal, berwarna marun, dan keriting di bagian tepi daun. Alhasil, dari persilangan itu muncul karakter labatii, tetapi daunnya lebih tebal. Penampilannya kian cantik karena daun tumbuh roset.

Kecantikan kerabat bunga delapan dewa itu membuat Jeanne Wenas, kolektor asal Surabaya, rela merogoh kocek demi mendapat koleksi saudara dekat bunga delapan dewa itu. Ketertarikan pemilik nurseri Green & Grow itu bukan tanpa alasan. Keindahan kerabat-kerabat euphorbia ternyata dapat dinikmati meski sedang tak semarak bunga.

(Imam Wiguna/Peliput: Destika Cahyana)

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Bisnis Bonsai Sangat Menggiurkan

JAKARTA – Bagi Anda yang menyukai tanaman, tentu tidak asing dengan tanaman mini atau populer dengan sebutan bonsai. Tanaman mini yang terlihat tua ini memiliki daya tarik yang begitu tinggi, membuat mata ini tak jua bosan memandang setiap lekuk akar, kokohnya batang pohon dan rimbunnya dedaunan yang dengan segenap perasaan kagum.

Terlebih lagi begitu mengetahui harganya yang terdengar ‘tak masuk akal’ bagi orang awam.

Bagaimana tidak, ada satu pohon bonsai yang tidak dilepas pemiliknya-seorang pengusaha tekstil asal Bandung-meski ditawar seharga Rp 500.000. Padahal, untuk mendapatkan pohon bonsai asal Taiwan ini dua tahun lalu, pemiliknya ‘hanya’ mengeluarkan kocek Rp 100.000. “Maklum mas, pohon bonsai ini kerap menjadi juara di setiap kontes bonsai, “ kata Ahmad Susanto, pedagang sekaligus pehobi pohon bonsai kepada SH, baru-baru ini.

Dalam rangka memperingati hari jadinya tahun ini, BI mengadakan pameran pohon bonsai sekaligus menggelar kontes pohon bonsai yang diikuti oleh para kolektor dari berbagai daerah di Indonesia. Setelah memperkenalkan diri, Ahmad lantas menuturkan awal perjalanan dia sampai terjun ke bisnis yang memang menjadi hobinya sejak lama. Rupa-rupanya, dia dulu karyawan sebuah bank swasta nasional. Pada awal krisis perbankan tahun 1998, ia memutuskan untuk mengambil tawaran dari perusahaannya, mengambil pensiun dini.

Pesangon yang diperoleh dari pensiun dini tersebut saat itu cukup besar karena sudah bekerja di bank itu selama 15 tahun. Pesangon itulah yang kemudian dijadikan modal awal Ahmad Susanto dalam menekuni bisnis pohon bonsai dengan mengunjungi negeri Cina dan Taiwan untuk ‘berburu’ tanaman bonsai.

Lebih Mahal
Mengapa tidak pergi ke negeri yang memopulerkan pohon bonsai, Jepang, ia beralasan harga pohon bonsai di sana lebih mahal ketimbang di Cina dan Taiwan. Sepulang dari sana, ia hanya menenteng dua atau tiga pohon Bonsai yang dibelinya dengan harga Rp 50 juta per pohon.
Kagetlah ia karena ada orang Indonesia yang bersedia membeli pohon bonsai dagangannya dengan harga dua kali lipat. Begitu mengetahui besarnya keuntungan yang ia peroleh dari berbisnis pohon kerdil itu, setiap satu bulan sekali, ia rutin ke luar negeri untuk berbelanja pohon bonsai.

Selain menjadi pedagang, Ahmad Susanto memiliki sedikit lahan di Cipanas Jawa Barat untuk merawat pohon bonsai dan tanaman hias lainnya. “Pohon yang kita jual tidak selalu laku dalam waktu cepat, oleh karena itu, dirawat dulu sampai bagus. Dan setelah rawat lagi, biasanya malah meningkat harga jualnya,” katanya.

Bonsai yang dirawat tersebut ada yang impor tetapi ada juga yang lokal. Dulu, koleksi bonsai Lokal Ahmad cukup banyak namun karena pemeliharaannya memakan waktu lama mengingat pohonnya masih setengah jadi, ia tidak sabar. “Beda dengan memberi langsung dari luar negeri yang sudah jadi dan siap jual.”

Di lahan seluas 500 meter itu, terdapat 200 tanaman hias termasuk Kamboja Jepang dan Adenium mulai dari harga Rp 50.000 sampai yang mencapai jutaan rupiah. Khusus untuk Adenium, Ahmad bisa memborong 3000 pohon sekaligus di Taiwan yang dimasukkan dalam satu dus dan sampai di tanah air, tanaman hias itu ludes dibeli orang.

Bagi Ahmad, pasar tanaman hias lebih luas ketimbang pohon bonsai. “Pendapatan dari tanaman hias bisa rutin, berbeda dengan pohon bonsai yang hanya sesekali namun langsung dalam nilai nominal yang besar,” katanya.

Setiap bulannya, ahmad bisa menjual pohon dagangannya dengan nilai penjualan mencapai Rp 5 juta ke atas. Mungkin Rp 5 juta itu hanya dari satu pohon tetapi terkadang berasal dari penjualan bermacam-macam pohon.

Oleh karena itu, Ahmad menggunakan ajang pameran dengan tujuan sebagai sarana promosi untuk menarik kolektor baru. Biasanya setiap penyelenggaraan pameran ada lebih dari lima orang peminat baru.

(SH/danang jm)

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