PETALING JAYA: Persistent downpours have hit flower growers hard, affecting harvests, driving up costs and weakening demand.
Cameron Highlands Floriculturist Association president Lee Peng Fo said members have reported that the weather has taken a toll on their crops.
“It’s not just about the weather, but the entire industry.
“The flower market is moving very slowly, and even workers’ salaries are being affected as businesses struggle to sustain themselves,” he said.
ALSO READ : Concerted effort to assist floriculture industry
He added that growers are trying to manage their pricing carefully as the cost of fertilisers and chemicals continues to rise.
“One way to cope is by categorising flowers properly. Whatever does not bloom well will be graded as B or C, while stronger blooms remain as grade A.”
Lee noted that it has been raining almost daily in Cameron Highlands for the past two weeks, conditions that are unsuitable for flowers.
“Flowers bloom better in the sun. Almost all varieties are affected by the weather, including chrysanthemums, roses and carnations,” he said.
Flower grower Dino Leong, 35, who owns a farm in Cameron Highlands, said the humid conditions have led to fungal problems.
He explained that flowers deprived of sunlight are unable to photosynthesise properly, resulting in smaller, weaker blooms that do not last long.
“We need to use fungicides more frequently and at higher dosages to prevent diseases,” he added.
ALSO READ : Season not so rosy for bloom trade
When asked if he planned to raise flower prices, Leong said doing so would further weaken already sluggish demand.
“The cost of flowers has already gone up by 10% to 20%. We would like to raise prices, but this will further affect demand, which is already dropping,” he said.
Among the flowers most affected by the current weather are roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums and carnations.
Alex Lau Kien Liong, 50, who owns a flower farm in Cameron Highlands, echoed similar frustrations.
“Orders were coming in, especially during Mothers Day and Teachers Day, but the erratic weather conditions caused low flower production on my farm,” he said.
He explained that sunflowers, which normally bloom and can be harvested within 50 to 60 days under good sunlight, are now taking longer because of the rain.
“This delay has reduced my sunflower sales by 50%,” he added.
Other flowers are also affected.
“Chrysanthemums, roses and gerberas are not blooming as big as they should. They are growing smaller, and I am unable to supply this type of production to my buyers,” he said.
To cope with the situation, Lau applies liquid fertiliser – a mix of chemical and organic inputs – to encourage faster blooming. He has also installed warm white LED (light emitting diode) lights to provide heat for some flowers.
Meanwhile, forestry researcher Dr Teckwyn Lim said non-native flowers such as carnations, chrysanthemums and roses often struggle to adapt to Malaysia’s humid climate.
“Farmers may consider growing native flowers and plants, but these are highly seasonal and do not provide the same market opportunities,” he explained, noting that orchids are among the few species that cultivate and adapt well in local conditions.
Lim, an adjunct associate professor at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia, said that native produce remains unpredictable.
“There is also the option of using greenhouses to control humidity, but such systems are very costly for flower growers,” he said.
