Tucked away in Olifantsfontein, Imbali Cut Flowers stands as a testament to resilience, craftsmanship, and the power of doing things differently. The business was born in 1988 when Tania’s parents, Marcus and June Henkel began growing Gypsophila—an easy-to-establish flower that, at the time, fetched good prices. But as markets shifted and new opportunities arose, the farm transitioned to cultivating Gerberas in 2001, a crop that has become synonymous with Imbali’s identity ever since. Today, the farm consists of seven greenhouses stretched across two hectares, each one filled with rows of vibrant, delicate blooms.
Gerberas are not for the faint-hearted. They are highly hybridised, expensive to establish, prone to burning, vulnerable to pests, sensitive to nutrition, and heavily dependent on root health due to their shallow root systems. Yet, these challenges are precisely what make Imbali’s success remarkable.
A Crisis That Changed Everything
Up until 2018, Imbali relied solely on chemical control for managing pests and disease. Everything changed the year a devastating whitefly outbreak nearly wiped out the entire farm. The whitefly population had grown resistant to every chemical available — nothing worked. “We were at a complete standstill,” recalls Tania. “We were on the brink of losing everything.”
In a last attempt to save the farm, Tania and her father opened their doors to three companies:
- A conventional chemical supplier
- Another biological supplier
- RealIPM
Each was invited to run their programme in parallel. The results were stark.
The chemical was unsuccessful.
The other biological supplier didn’t offer any supporting service.
RealIPM was successful.
The Real Difference: Partnership, Not Products
For Tania, the breakthrough was not just the efficacy of the solutions - it was the unwavering service and partnership.
“In addition to the products, it was the service that made the difference,” says Tania. “Michael from RealIPM visited me every week to help solve the problem, giving onsite advice and working through issues as they cropped up. No other company bothered with this level of service.”
RealIPM didn’t just supply solutions; they stood side by side with the farmer. They helped transition the farm away from overreliance on chemicals, replacing them with a structured IPM programme that improved plant health from the inside out. The shift took time, especially convincing Tania’s father, but once the programme succeeded, even he became a believer.
And the relationship only deepened over the years.
Tania shared a deeply personal reason she remains loyal to RealIPM:
“The team believes in building relationships. We even know about each other’s families. When my dad died, I was hesitant to inform suppliers because I feared they would demand all debts to be paid. When I told Evan what had happened and that payment would be delayed, but I still needed products, he didn’t hesitate. He told me not even to worry and offered support with the farm while I was busy. That is something amazing in a world that only takes.”
This level of trust and humanity is rare and it has shaped Imbali’s journey as much as any product.
The IPM Programme Behind Imbali’s Success
Today, Imbali’s Gerberas are managed almost entirely through a biological and softer-chemistry approach, relying on Real IPM solutions such as:
✔ Real Metarhizium 69 and Real Metarhizium 78
Used for controlling both whitefly and spider mites, two of the most destructive pests in Gerbera production. The fungi infect and suppress pests while remaining gentle on the crop.
✔ Real Bacillus
Used when necessary to combat powdery mildew, a disease that thrives in greenhouse conditions and can quickly ruin delicate Gerbera blooms.
✔ Nutrition & Soil Health Support
Because Gerberas are tissue-cultured, highly hybridised, and fragile, their health relies heavily on their nutritional and soil management programme. Tania continuously refines this to keep plants resilient enough to resist pests and disease.
With Real IPM, the farm has struck the balance between control, plant safety, and long-term health.
A Blooming Future Built on Collaboration
For Tania, farming Gerberas isn’t just a career — it’s a craft honed by decades of learning, crisis, and triumph. Imbali Cut Flowers stands today because biology was embraced, chemicals were reduced, and a partnership rooted in trust was formed.
Real IPM didn’t just offer products. They offered presence.
They offered consistency.
They offered care.
And in the delicate world of Gerberas, that made all the difference.
Contact realIPM for an onsite visit or advice
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