JACKSON GREENHOUSE RECOGNIZED FOR FLOWERS

The work of a Jackson greenhouse was recently chosen from among that of many others in the Midwest to be recognized by the St. Louis Flower and Growers Conference.

Knaup Greenhouses received a first place award in early November for its six-inch Lilo Red poinsettias. This year marks the third that the Jackson greenhouse has been recognized for its poinsettias, a tradition, Christmastime decoration.

"We've won on our Jingle Bell baskets the two previous years," said greenhouse owner John Knaup, explaining that Jingle Bell poinsettias are among the several poinsettias varieties the greenhouse cultivates. "It was a competitive contest and this year it was even more so."

Knaup said the greenhouse's participation in the growers' conference and its involvement in local growing continue a tradition that began over 80 years ago.

Knaup's father started working in the flower business in 1916 and purchased his own greenhouse and floral shop in 1920. That shop, Knaup Florist and Greenhouse at the corner of William and Pacific in Cape Girardeau, is still operated by John Knaup's brother Robert.

"I always tell people that I was born in a greenhouse," laughed Knaup, "but I really think my Mom took some time off to go to the hospital to have me.

"My Mom worked in the flower shop and Dad worked in both the greenhouse and the flower shop. I was born into this," said Knaup, who worked in his family's greenhouses and floral shop throughout his life.

His father constructed the Jackson greenhouse during the late 1960s. Shortly after, John Knaup and his brother took over the family business with John operating the Jackson greenhouse and his brother Robert operating the floral shop and greenhouse in Cape Girardeau.

"I enjoy it," Knaup said of his life's work. "You couldn't stay in this business if you didn't enjoy it. A few times I thought I'd like to be a mechanic or something but I became a gardener and got to be a mechanic anyway. Running your own business, you've got to be a mechanic, electrician, gardener, businessman and plumber."

Knaup said that just as he continued his family's gardening tradition, so will his son Todd. Formally educated in gardening, Todd Knaup worked for several years in a large greenhouse operation near Lawrence, Kan. before returning to Jackson to help operate the family greenhouse.

The Knaups explained that poinsettias, a traditional Christmas flower, are native to Mexico. Each year, the Knaups order about 6,000 rooted cuttings in July in anticipation of Christmas orders for poinsettias. These 6,000 cuttings, each the start of an individual poinsettia plant, are planted in clay pots and grow in the Jackson greenhouse from July through December. Many begin blooming and turning, red, pink, white or yellow, depending upon the variety, as early as the first part of November. Others may reach their peak around Christmas time, when orders also reach their high point.

The length of daylight determines when the traditional Christmas plants bloom. In the southern hemisphere, where they grow naturally, the poinsettias begin blooming in June. However, Knaup said the plants do not begin initiating blooms until the latter part of September in the northern hemisphere.

He said that the majority of poinsettias grown in the Jackson greenhouse are sold with in a 20 to 25-mile radius. Many are sold by floral shops while others are sold by grocery stores or purchased by hotels and malls for Christmas decorating.