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December 31, 2002
Year after year, the Annual GPN/Summit Plastics State of the
Industry Report provides the most comprehensive data available about the past
year in floriculture. The big question is, what has changed so much in one
year? New trends, higher sales,...
November 05, 2002
Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' is destined to become one of the most sought-after perennials for growers and gardeners across the country. Limerock Ruby yields abundant, 1 1/2-inch, ruby red, daisy-like flowers with yellow eyes, above neat, narrow...
November 05, 2002
Over the past several years, there have been few changes in
the growth regulators available to the greenhouse industry. While there have
been many new insecticides and fungicides introduced, we have been working with
the same height control products...
November 05, 2002
I've been kidding around at some of the recent conferences
by polling the audience to determine its makeup. First, I ask how many in the
audience work in greenhouses, then how many work in nurseries or both since
many nurseries have associated...
November 05, 2002
There is always a strange sense of déjà vu in
working with new crops, remembering an earlier time where you worked with a
plant and then seeing it resurface on the market again. That's the way it is
with rex begonias. When I was first studying...
November 05, 2002
It seems like only a short while ago since I was trying to
write this article for 2001. Now it is 2002, and I wonder what has changed in
the past 12 months. Although we have seen registrations for new fungicides
during the past couple of years,...
October 10, 2002
With more and more new vegetative annuals being produced,
growers are finding themselves doing more pinching and cutting back to
stimulate better branching and to control growth. Many of the new vegetative
annuals are quite vigorous and designed for...
October 10, 2002
Fungus gnats are common pests in greenhouses. Their larvae feed
on the roots of many different crops, which can cause direct damage to the
crop. The root damage caused by the larvae also makes it easier for fungal
pathogens to enter into and infect...
October 10, 2002
Many growers are really excited about putting plants
together in container gardens. The "gardeners-in-us" get excited to
see how beautiful the plants look mixed together. The
"business-people-in-us" know this is an area to capitalize on because
of...
October 10, 2002
Raspberries have an exceptionally short shelf life, are
easily damaged when handled and do not transport well. Because of their
perishable nature, the opportunities to market high-quality, fresh raspberries
produced under favorable field conditions...
October 10, 2002
Pesticides used today are less toxic and used less
frequently than several years ago. Nevertheless, they can be a serious hazard
to employees if not stored and used properly.
Storage
Store pesticides in a room located away from eating areas,
boiler...
October 10, 2002
Versatile perennials, lamiums can be utilized in a number of commercial and garden situations. They look great in containers, alone or mixed with other plants in patio pots, window boxes or hanging baskets. In the landscape, they work well as a...
October 10, 2002
Let's face it, climates are different in Florida, Michigan
and Colorado, which can generate some very different results from trial
gardens. What succeeds in high heat and humidity may not succeed under cool
nights with low relative humidity, and...
September 10, 2002
This year's Ohio Florists' Association trade
show was, as usual, a mind-boggling mix of new crops and production technology.
The educational program was stuffed with great speakers, and I admire anyone
who can attend this event, walk the show and...
September 10, 2002
One of your most productive employees hobbles up to you
with a sore back. "It's been hurting ever since I moved that puncher to
the other side of the greenhouse," he says. "I think I need to go to
the doctor." What do you do? How do you report it?...
August 22, 2002
The Native American perennial heuchera has become one of the hottest, most must-have perennial plants for today's gardens. Heucheras belong to the family Saxifragaceae, which includes many other popular perennials such as astilbe, berginia,...
August 20, 2002
In 1988, research conducted by Dr. Jim Barrett at the
University of Florida demonstrated the potential of Bonzi (paclobutrazol)
drenches for poinsettia height control. This technique proved to be
particularly effective when used late in the...
August 20, 2002
Hydroponics was once thought simply to be the growing of
plants without soil. It has since evolved into a science--the growing of
plants in a nutrient solution with or without an inert medium such as gravel,
sand, peat, vermiculite, perlite,...
August 09, 2002
The most important primula species in production today
include English primrose or acaulis primula (Primula vulgaris, synonym P.
acaulis), polyanthus, polyantha primrose or hybrid primrose (P. xpolyantha),
fairy primrose or baby primrose (P....
August 09, 2002
Tulips are a good example of a flower bulb crop that can be
adapted to hydroponic culture. In Holland, approximately 30-35 percent of the
cut tulip crop is forced hydroponically, and we have been evaluating this
production method at Cornell over the...
