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September 13, 2010
“To understand the next 20 years, we have to look back at the last 20 to 30 years and the evolution of our industry. The 1980s, decade of low-cost production (tables, transplanters); 1990s, decade of breeders (Wave petunias, Proven Winners); 2000s,...
September 13, 2010
Gaillardia ‘Mesa Yellow’ is the first F1 yellow–blooming gaillardia from seed. It was bred and introduced to the industry by PanAmerican Seed Company. ‘Mesa Yellow’ has numerous attributes that make it well suited to commercial production. It has a...
September 10, 2010
For greenhouse and nursery businesses to remain profitable and sustainable in today’s economic environment, production systems need to be as efficient as possible. To work toward this goal, growers must continuously identify and manage waste and...
September 10, 2010
When Tim Hodson, editorial director of GPN, asked me recap the last 20 years of the floriculture industry in celebration of the magazine’s 20th anniversary, the request sounded fairly straightforward and easy to fulfill. But as I started to mull...
September 10, 2010
Ipomoea, better known as sweet potato vine, has become an important mainstream crop for growers across the United States. Ipomoea has become one of the accent plants that growers reach for when designing mixed containers and baskets. Notable for...
September 09, 2010
Customers rule. When it comes to beautifying their landscapes, most flock to garden centers and big box stores in search of perfect plants and flowers that promise great looks, easy care, and reflect their lifestyle. Put simply, they are looking for...
September 09, 2010
Our first-ever Hort Hero is Ken Altman, who is dedicated not only to selling plants but also to supporting the industry's future. Case in point: his Center for Applied Horticultural Research
Long before Ken and Deena Altman started Altman Plants —...
September 08, 2010
GPN started 20 years ago; time does move on. Looking at history is always interesting, and I believe the adage that you study history to avoid making the mistakes of the past. In the case of the floriculture industry, there is a value in looking at...
September 08, 2010
As we were putting this issue together, I couldn’t get two Beatles songs out of my head: “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Birthday.”
No, my iPod was not stuck on repeat, so you may be asking yourself, “What do those two songs have to...
August 17, 2010
Gibberellins are plant hormones that are commonly used to increase plant height, overcome a plant growth regulator overdose and, for GA4+7, inhibit lower-leaf yellowing. There are several GA products available for commercial floriculture producers...
August 17, 2010
Did you know that one of the most perennially popular garden plants is also our national flower? The rose was designated the official flower and floral emblem of the United States of America in 1986. The popularity of roses has rapidly gained ground...
August 17, 2010
Angelonia is a genus of almost 30 species native to Central and South America. Our current commercial varieties have been developed primarily from hybrids of two species, Angelonia angustifolia and Angelonia integerrima. Angelonia is a perennial in...
August 17, 2010
OFA brought back its pre-show reception this year, an opportunity for Short Course attendees to meet and greet over drinks and hors-d’oeuvres. That way, when they took to the show floor, they could hit the ground running.
Booth spaces at the 2010...
August 17, 2010
Fungi grow everywhere. They can grow on your feet; bacteria also can grow in the back of your throat. They can grow on the lawn and garden, too. Though people and plants do not share the same pathogens, both attract microbial critters that can be...
August 17, 2010
Now that spring 2010 is in the books, we wanted to find out how growers have fared this year.
We surveyed more than 200 GPN subscribers to get an idea of how their spring season went. After a tough 2009, we wanted to know how their 2010 sales and...
August 17, 2010
Business was brisk, the aisles were full and the mood was upbeat last month at OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio. According to OFA, more than 9,000 people attended this year’s trade show and educational sessions, where the theme was “The Heart of...
July 20, 2010
There are several ways to apply a plant growth regulator to floriculture crops. The two traditional application methods are a foliar spray and a substrate drench. Growers of garden plants, particularly bedding plants, are increasingly using the...
July 20, 2010
Physostegia virginiana, with its upright habit, is primarily used as a backdrop in landscapes or for late-season production in large container sizes. However, thanks to the breeding efforts of Benary Seed and its introduction of ‘Crystal Peak White...
July 20, 2010
Improper nutrient management is one of the primary causes of poor crop quality and plant losses in commercial greenhouses and nurseries. Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities are often related to high substrate pH due to the use of poor quality...
July 20, 2010
The calibrachoa Caloha series was bred by Breier in Israel, exclusively for Cohen, in 2004-2005. The first four varieties were introduced commercially in Europe and North America for 2006.
The idea was to create a range of varieties that would fit...
