Growing fynbos at Madibri

Many gardeners are apprehensive about growing fynbos outside of its natural habitat, believing it to be difficult and too much effort. Nico Thuynsma has proven otherwise, spending the last 25 years illustrating just how easy it is to grow these wonderful plants both in South Africa and around the world.

- Connall Oosterbroek

Turning a passion into a business

When Nico Thuynsma started growing cut flowers just outside Cullinan, Gauteng, in 1997, he could never have imagined that Madibri, as it became known, would be supplying gardeners around the country with a huge range of fynbos plants. Nico is particularly proud of his unique collection of ericas. “I am continually looking to add to what I offer the public by making my own selections and sourcing new plant material,” smiles Nico.

“The growing activity at Madibri revolves around our indigenous plant kingdom and is proudly South African, with the people at Madibri being its biggest asset,” says Nico. Madibri employs about 20 people from the local area in the nursery and cut flower production, at its four sites in the Cullinan district.

Partly because the farms are in the De Tweede Spruit Conservancy, but mainly because it is his personal ideology, Nico ensures that all the farming methods at Madibri are friendly to the environment. Rain and waste water is collected and used to water the plants, delivered to them through drip irrigation to minimise wastage and evaporation. He employs a biological system for disease management and fertilisation, and composts all waste plant material.

Nico, who obtained his B.Sc. degree in Agriculture from the University of Pretoria, regularly consults with prospective and existing farmers, and also presents workshops on fynbos growing at garden centres and garden clubs.