The Floriculture Research Center

SLIIT

Project idea

Horton plains is a Sri Lankan identity with a very long history. Moreover, Nuwaraeliya is one of the places where you can earn foreign exchange for ornamental flowers and it is in this area that the best weather and climate and environment conditions are maintained.
The unique and valuable floral plants in the Horton plains are destroyed because of the ignorance of its value and lack of knowledge.
Its main purpose is to plant a very special and endangered flower plants in the Horton plains regenerate and release it to the world market and obtain foreign value.


Need of floriculture Research center

This is primarily concerned with the preservation of the tissues of endangered flower plants in the Horton plains and the protection of these flowers.
These plants has a high probability of being destroyed in future; therefore we must work towards the conservation of these plants and donate to the public for the benefits of the future environment and future value propagation of the plants and the spreading of this flowers to the foreign market.

Project description

Floricultural products exports bring a considerable amount of income to Sri Lankan economy and there is a huge development potential. Upcountry is a main cut flower production area in the country. This study’s focus is to identify the general information on cut flower production, marketing, problems and suggestions for the improvement. Recognizing the true potential of floriculture industry to the economic development of Sri Lanka, the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka has developed an action plan for the year 2016 to 2020 to assist the floriculture growers and exporters to expand their export potential.
Nuwara Eliya is well-known for the floricultural industry where the fresh flowers are grown for the export activities. The floricultural industry can be found in most of the parts in Nuwara Eliya where there are many species of endemic flowers can be found in this area.
Horton Plains its surroundings forests and the adjoining Peak Wilderness constitute Sri Lanka’s most important catchment area of almost all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty and conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemic plants and animals representative of the country’s wet and Montane zones. The western slopes support the most extensive area of Montane cloud forest surviving in the island. Horton Plains is not merely a destination for nature tourists. Since the rich biodiversity of Horton Plains is still grossly underexplored, it affords invaluable opportunities to those engaged on educational and research activities. Protecting Horton Plains is a call of duty for all Sri Lankans.
Even though many researches are conducted on the flora and fauna there are no specific researches are done for the floricultural related factors. Floriculture is beneficial in preserving the Bio diversity within the specific climatic segment where floriculture should be given a better concern than the present situation. Yet, in Sri Lanka the concern and significance given to the related factor is less where there should be a proper system and a program to develop the floriculture related activities.
The research on the Floriculture in Horton Plains will mainly consider on the endemic species of flowers which exist in Horton Plains and surroundings. The decaying value given for the floriculture in this area should be taken into the consideration at the present situation. The floral diversity is high in the area of Horton Plains where most of the people have no idea on the value of this diversity. (Gunatilleke, Pethiyagoda & Gunatilleke, 2017)
The new innovations and other productions which are done by floral industry can be researched in this research center to make the Sri Lankan economy better with the foreign income. Therefore the Floriculture Research Center is an essential in the present day context to promote and advance the value of floral products and natural floral exquisiteness.

"Nature itself is the best physician.” –Hippocrates

Floriculture, or flower farming, is a branch of horticulture. It is concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. A major occupation of floriculturists, is to develop the field of floriculture, through breeding, of new plant varieties.
In the present world, there are a variety of floriculture crops. These crops include bedding plants, houseplants, flowering garden and pot plants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers. Rather than nursery crops, floriculture crops are generally herbaceous. Bedding and garden plants consist of young flowering plants (annuals and perennials) and vegetable plants. The floriculture crops are usually grown in a controlled environment. Hence, they are grown in cell packs (in flats or trays), in pots, or in hanging baskets, and are sold largely for gardens and landscaping. Pelargonium ("geraniums"), Impatiens (“busy lizzies”) and Petunia are considered as the best-selling bedding plants. The many cultivars of Chrysanthemum are the major perennial garden plant in the United States.
The major flowering plants that are grown in floriculture are poinsettias, orchids, florist chrysanthemums, and finished florist azaleas. For indoor use, these flowering plants are largely sold in pots. For indoor and patio use, foliage plants are also grown in pots and hanging baskets and are sold. Apart from this, lager specimens of foliage plants are sold for the interior decoration of office, hotels and restaurants.
The production of cut flowers is specifically known as cut flower industry. These cut flowers are usually sold in bunches or as bouquets with cut foliage. Cultivating flowers and foliage contains special features of floriculture, such as spacing, training and pruning plants for optimal flower harvest; and post-harvest treatments like chemical treatments, storage, preservation and packaging. In Australia and the United States, some species are reaped from wild (forests) for the usage in cut flower market.

Horton plains climate

Horton Plains lies at the eastern extremity of the Wet Zone and experiences a subtropical monsoon climate.
A mesodermal climate, a temperature of 12°C and rainfall amounting to 2100-2200 mm per year.
Driest months are January and February, temperature of 27°C .
Weather is dominated by persistent cloud cover and strong winds.
Frost is frequent in January and February Because,
 cloudy skies
 Low evapotranspiration.

Technical information

BAMBOO

The material used in building construction have great impact on the environment depending on the material abundance as well its production. The most used products in the building industry happens to be steel and concrete which require a large amount of energy for production and has a larger carbon footprint in comparison to natural materials.
The use of wood can greatly reduce the impact on the environment by a noticeably large amount especially in comparison to Steel and Concrete. Furthermore, it has the lowest impact on the environment, considering the fact that an acre of forest can absorb approximately 3 tons of carbon dioxide and releases 2 tons of oxygen, but the growth speed of a tree against the high cutting down rate of a tree as well as its mature time, greatly tips the over the natural equilibrium of nature. Introducing bamboo as a an alternate solution to concrete and steel could make a better impact on the environment, and considering the fact that bamboo can be used in different instances, its flexibility could be used as an advantage. Furthermore, since it is a renewable source, it is eco-friendly.

VERTICAL GARDEN GREEN WALLS
Used as a partitioning element which enhances clean, cool interior environment as well as a screening element from tropical weather condition (monsoon + sunlight

STEEL SECTION
Steel sections are used as a structural element in columns, beams, roof structure and structural portal frame system; due to its load bearing capabilities, the lightweight and easy modular construction promotes a considerable reduction of construction duration