Lakewood Propagation ~ Quality Tubestock. That is our promise and we work hard to offer not just a good looking plant, but we want to offer the whole package to our customers.
When you purchase from Lakewood, you will receive the best possible tubestock that we grow and you can rest in the knowledge that it has come from a disease free, highly experienced environment. I am always happy to offer advice and information to ensure that our tubes grow on to become strong, healthy plants.
Customer service is paramount at Lakewood and we welcome our customers to give feedback and keep the communication channels open. When you purchase a tray of plants from us, the experience doesn’t end on the day of dispatch. Having an ongoing relationship with our customers is important to not only our business, but in strengthening this industry.
Nestled in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, we occupy 9 acres in a beautiful eucalypt forest. Being a wholesale production nursery, stock plants are important to our propagation success. Why is this important to us? Our staff have instant access to cuttings without leaving the property and we can 100% confirm the species of the plant we are producing. We also have full control over the health and treatment of our stock plants. We employ staff to care and maintain these plants. Everything from pruning, watering, fertilising and disease control is required to ensure we maintain healthy stock plants to produce healthy cuttings.
Not all plants reproduce easily. Strike rates, heating, space and regeneration of stock plants are important to take into consideration when planning and preparing our stock availability. Seasonal challenges are in play and as you look over our fortnightly list, you will see plants move in and out of the available now section. As we know, an Ixora isn’t going to grow well in winter and a big cut on the slow growing Nandina is going to see the stock plants take time to regenerate. Alternatively, the ever reliable Cuphea is a fast to strike cutting, space efficient in prop allowing 250 cuttings in a tray and the stock plant that quickly recovers. You will notice these traits are reflected in our pricing scales.
Not all plants are reproduced asexually, we buy seed when it is in season and fresh. We have experienced staff working to prepare and germinate our seeds in a purpose built igloo, carefully ensuring a successful batch. These tiny seedlings are expertly potted and cared for to give our customers a quality product. Seeds have a shelf life and mother nature is in control and decides if we have access to seed or not. Seed shortages happen and prices can fluctuate accordingly.
This is where tissue culture as a propagation method is a necessary option. Plants that are produced via tissue culture are grown and developed in a laboratory. They are grown in a growing media specific to each species and their light source is LED. Mother stock is stored and grown in containers on shelves saving space and the whole lab is a sterile environment. Of course there are costs involved in this technique. Skilled staff are required and the overheads are different to a production nursery. The preparation and planning involved before the first cutting taken is very time consuming. The main benefit of growing plants in a tissue lab is the ability to supply high numbers of plants to a high quality. The growth structure of a tissue culture plant is superior to its cutting grown counterpart. Faster, straighter, and in some cases, bushier. The plants are transferred to our deflasking area and carefully potted into tubes. These plants then require a temperature controlled environment for another few weeks before moving out to join the rest of the nursery.
Quality is checked and double checked within our dispatch department and freight delivery. Each tray is packed one plant at a time, inspected and loaded one tray at a time onto our own fleet of vans. If we are unable to personally deliver your order, we will follow up with the freight company and with our customer to ensure the safe and timely delivery of your order. It is important to me and my team that we are not just selling a plant, we are selling an experience.
Please look over our current stock list and get in contact with us. We would love to help you with supplying tubestock to your nursery or your next landscape project.
E ~ [email protected]
T ~ 07-5445 9695
M ~ 0402 863182