In 1972 Alfredo Manrique started his nursery business, Centro de Jardineria Manrique (CJM) in Lima, Peru. CJM roughly translates to Manrique’s Garden Center. He also runs the website: phragmipediumkovachii.com. His main focus at the time was on Conifers, Azaleas, and Begonias (orchids came later). The first orchid to enter his collection of ornamental plants was in the 1980´s, a Cattleya máxima, which he currently still owns.

In the early 1990´s, Alfredo realized there was a great demand for Peruvian orchid species.

He decided to convert the focus of his nursery, and dedicated 90% of it, to the cultivation of orchids.

In 2002, after the discovery of the Phragmipedium Kovachii, CJM was the first nursery to obtain a permit issued by the Peruvian Goverment, to collect 5 plants of this species. Together with  the help of Glen Decker , Fritz Schomburg and Peter Croezen, the cultivation , propagation and hybridization of this new species was done with excellent results.

Manrique's nursery has continued to work on different species and hybrids of orchids. In 1995 he started his own in vitro laboratory, working mainly on finding new ways to speed up the growing process of the in vitro seedlings.

Alfredo attends different orchid shows and gives lectures on Peruvian orchids species both in the US and internationally. Since 1994 Alfredo has been a member of the Peruvian Orchid Society where he served as President from 2001- 2004. He is also a member of the American Orchid Society.