Antalya Water Lily

Water-based tulip production is a modern cultivation method implemented in Antalya, Türkiye’s center for cut flower production, using soilless farming technologies. In facilities operating in the Belek district of Serik, this production method replaces traditional soil cultivation with water and specialized water containers, resulting in a natural product free of any chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Initiated approximately ten years ago based on the Dutch model, this process has now become a significant sectoral activity meeting a substantial portion of Türkiye’s domestic tulip demand^【1】.

Water-based tulip cultivation begins with placing tulip bulbs in specialized water containers and follows carefully monitored stages. The production process consists of the following steps:

• Chilling Requirement: Tulip bulbs planted for cultivation are stored in cold air storage facilities to meet their chilling requirement necessary for root development and growth. This phase lasts between four and eight weeks at temperatures of 7 to 8 degrees Celsius.
• Greenhouse and Harvest: After completing the chilling phase, the tulips are transferred to greenhouses where they continue developing in water-filled trays. Within a short period of 21 to 25 days after the greenhouse stage, the plants reach maturity for harvest.
• Technical Advantages: The water-based method reduces the production cycle from 1.5 months in soil-based cultivation to just one month (30 days). Additionally, it overcomes common problems in soil-based agriculture such as stem elongation and short stems^【2】.

^{Water Tulip Harvest} (Anadolu Ajansı)

This production activity in Antalya follows a commercial cycle focused on specific dates of the year. Current sectoral data includes:

• Production Capacity: Annual production volumes range between 200,000 and 500,000 stems per business and can be scaled up to 400,000 stems depending on demand.
• Consumer Preferences: Although production is possible in eight different colors, yellow and white tulips are the most in demand, largely due to the influence of popular culture.
• Market and Distribution: All produced tulips are supplied to the domestic market and shipped across Türkiye, primarily to major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
• Special Date Planning: The production calendar is structured to cover the period between November and March, with special shipments of up to 100,000 stems prepared for Valentine’s Day on 14 February and International Women’s Day on 8 March.

^{Water Tulips} (Anadolu Ajansı)