Our laboratory produces millions of plants every year using a process called plant tissue culture propagation. This process also goes by the names of micropropagation, meristem culture or cloning. The goal of this technology is to “clone” or reproduce a large number of identical copies of an elite plant. Plant tissue culture represents a very efficient method of plant propagation and over the last two decades has become an important part of both horticulture and agriculture.

The tissue culture process involves isolating a growing point or “bud” from a healthy plant and placing it on sterile tissue culture media. Once successfully established, the bud will continue to grow and in a few weeks or months we can transfer it to fresh media and divide it into two (or more) plants. The process continues and every two to four weeks we divide and transfer the plants to fresh media. The number of plants increases rapidly in a geometric progression so from 2 plants we get 4, from 4 we get 8 and from 8 we get 16 and so on. Over time we can produce thousands of identical plants that are then shipped and grown by commercial growers around the world.

The application of plant tissue culture for commercial propagation began in the early 1970’s. Since 1975, Oglesby has been a leader in plant tissue culture propagation, pursuing technology and innovation necessary to remain at the forefront of a global industry. Our experienced laboratory staff has gained international recognition for their ability to consistently deliver quality products from a broad spectrum of plants. We also offer a number of tissue culture related services such as contract research and contract propagation, including large scale agricultural projects.

Our Young Plant division consistently grows high quality liners using the industry’s best technology for growing starter plants. Our facilities incorporate the latest space saving and efficient handling equipment gathered from around the world. All of our greenhouses are monitored and controlled 24 hours a day 365 days a year by environmental computers to ensure that proper conditions are always available. From start to finish, our young plants are grown under optimal conditions to give our customers consistent quality and on time delivery. 

Every week of the year, our young plants are shipped to the best growers in the U.S. and all the major horticulture centers around the world. 

Oglesby is well known in the plant industry as a leader in the development and marketing of new plant varieties. We firmly believe that our industry needs a constant infusion of new and superior plants to help growers maintain profit margins and to keep the buying public interested in our products.

To ensure the continuous flow of new varieties, we have committed significant resources to our new product development department where we manage an extensive breeding program. Every year we literally grow thousands of seedlings of numerous genera to find that one special and hopefully superior plant. Our breeders are not only looking to improve the aesthetic quality of the plant but to improve disease and insect resistance that benefits the grower and consumer alike. As an example, every new Anthurium we release is screened, with the help of the University of Florida for susceptibility to multiple strains of the bacteria Xanthomonas, a devastating disease in tropical and subtropical growing areas. With this information we can help growers pick the right plant for their growing conditions.

But having a new plant is just the starting point where the real work begins. Once a plant has been accepted into our program, our laboratory research department starts to develop tissue culture protocols to successfully propagate the new plant. Once a few hundred plants are produced, all new plants go through an extensive testing program in diverse growing facilities and climates to gather as much information about the plant as possible. On average it takes a minimum of five years to deliver a tested “new” variety to the market.

Some of our most popular introductions include Anthurium in the ‘SmallTalk’ ® series, Anthurium SalsaPAT#13608, Dieffenbachia ‘Splash’PPAF, Musa ‘Super Dwarf Banana’®, Philodendron Congo PAT#11724 and Rojo CongoPAT#14116, Schefflera ‘Amate’® , Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’® PAT#6964, Spathiphyllum ‘High Five'(ppaf), Syngonium ‘Glo-Go’PAT#12282. In recent years we have been diversifying our development efforts to include patio, garden and landscape plants like our new Mandevilla Tropical Breeze series. A group of fast growing colorful tropical vines that have excellent tolerance to common insects and diseases common with older Mandevilla varieties.

You can expect to see many more exciting new introductions from Oglesby in the coming years…