Gediflora named International Grower of the Year

Gediflora has been awarded the accolade of International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2019 by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). Yesterday, this prestigious award was presented at the IPM Essen, in the presence of nine nominated companies, sponsors, as well as representatives…

Sustainability: a key word at the IPM Essen

The IPM Essen is well on its way. This 37th edition might have started off a bit slow yesterday, but the aisles were completely filled today. Exhibitors are meeting with their clients from all over the world, and a lot of novelties, ideas and new introductions are presented. Striking this year is the number of ideas…

Calathea grower opts for residue-free solutions

When insecticides for combatting thrips no longer worked, plant cultivation and propagation company Damsigt considered discontinuing their most successful variety - Calathea zebrina. Fortunately, the combination of predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii with Nutrimite feed brought results. “Thrips is now…

US (MD): MANTS reports best attendance in over a decade

The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) celebrated another successful event January 9 – 11, 2019 with increased attendee numbers and the debut of innovative new products on the show floor. A diverse group of green industry professionals traveled from across the country and several continents to…

Responding to the growing demand for plastic alternatives

The demand for bioplastics as an alternative to conventional oil-based plastics, is ever growing. Recent developments in European packaging and waste laws, boost that demand even more. But, it’s not just laws that force us to look for alternatives. Retailers, producers and consumers are becoming more and…

"China is one nudge away from the world’s biggest imported cut flower market"

China is the market that overseas flower exporters love and hate.  They love it for it has been growing so fast. In 2017, China imported USD 51 million worth of fresh cut flowers, registering a 47.2% year over year growth, as China Customs Statistics shows. They hate it for it is full of uncertainties. Is the market…

Aleia Roses receives MPS SQ Certificate

Tuesday the 22nd of January 2019, Aleia Roses received the MPS SQ (Socially Qualified) certificate of "Millieu Project Sierteelt" (MPS). Mr. Gerrit Jan Vreugdenhil, Commercial Director of MPS, handed the document over to María del Mar Parra, Agricultural Engineer at Aleia Roses. This festive event took…

"You can’t really have a farm without doing research"

Farming and science have always gone hand in hand. But when two biology professors took a summer teaching gig in Alaska, the last thing they expected was to become flower farmers. “We’re geek farmers,” says Jill Russell, who owns Boreal Peonies, a Certified American Grown flower farm, along with her husband, David Russell.…

Rose is in the February Flower Agenda 2019

Roses provide colour, scent and beauty indoors in the month when nature is still only hesitantly getting started. This Valentine’s essential is available in many colours and shapes from a spray rose to a solo star. With new varieties being added every year to enhance arrangements and bouquets.  Credit: Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk  Origin The…

NL: "Growing demand for fragrant orchids"

Since OKPlant introduced a fragrant orchid named Little Kolibri Orchid Fragrance during the Trade Fair in November, demand only increased. Thijs van der Valk: "Although we can only supply small numbers as of yet, various customers reserve a part of the production. Particularly garden centers are interested in the fragrant orchid, because…

Plants blink: proceeding with caution in sunlight

Like eye’s adjustment to sudden changes in light, plants have sensitive mechanisms to protect their leaves from rapid changes in radiation.   Plants have control mechanisms that resemble those in human senses. According to a new Weizmann Institute of Science study, plants adjust photosynthesis to rapid light changes…

Novel technology with lenses makes greenhouses more efficient

Temperature and lighting conditions in greenhouses need to be as uniform as possible for crops to prosper. For this reason, commercial greenhouse operators generally have to spend a great deal of money on heating, climate control, and shadowing. The Dutch company Technokas has developed a solution: their Daylight Greenhouse…

Using nuclear science in marker-assisted plant breeding

Imagine you must identify a glass of seawater among a hundred glasses of drinking water merely by looking at them. Almost impossible! But what if the glass with the seawater had a small red dot – a marker – on it? You would solve the riddle in no time. Finding this marker is exactly what new developments in science…

"You can’t really have a farm without doing research"

Farming and science have always gone hand in hand. But when two biology professors took a summer teaching gig in Alaska, the last thing they expected was to become flower farmers. “We’re geek farmers,” says Jill Russell, who owns Boreal Peonies, a Certified American Grown flower farm, along with her husband, David Russell.…

Dilution procedure: Determining initial substrate pH

Prior to transplant, growers can determine initial substrate pH by utilizing the 1:2 dilution method. This monitoring procedure determines: 1) the limestone reactivity thereby adjusting substrate pH; 2) if the substrate pH is too low or high; 3) if corrective procedures are required prior to transplant…

Calathea grower opts for residue-free solutions

When insecticides for combatting thrips no longer worked, plant cultivation and propagation company Damsigt considered discontinuing their most successful variety - Calathea zebrina. Fortunately, the combination of predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii with Nutrimite feed brought results. “Thrips is now…

Sharp drop in power use for Swedish greenhouse flower growers

The transition from fossil fuels to bio-fuels in Swedish greenhouses has gone fast. For the cultivation of ornamental plants and cut flowers in Swedish greenhouses, the use of fossil fuels has dropped from 460,000 megawatt hours to just 32,000 hours in a few years. That's a decrease of more than 90…

The problem with a picture: Pythium in propagation

As the old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” For most things this is true. Even in plant problem identification, utilizing digital images to aid in diagnosis is becoming standard. I remember the days when growers called and talked about what plant problem they were seeing, which usually…

Ethiopian producers visit Beekenkamp in the Netherlands

The production location in Ethiopia is an important part of the Beekenkamp Group. The whole process of the young plant material for Deliflor and Beekenkamp Plants starts here. Lemma Megersa – president of Oromo (province where the Beekenkamp Group's production facility is situated), Ethiopia – and Niek Bosmans – agriculture consultant in…

Rest in peace plant breeding innovation in the EU after the ECJ ruling?

MEP Christopher Fjellner is organising an event entitled "Rest in Peace Plant Breeding Innovation in the EU after the ECJ Ruling?" on Wednesday, 6th of February 2019, from…

US (PA): Annual flowers that will make a mark in 2019

A new line of old-fashioned impatiens that fight off deadly downy mildew disease, a zinnia that does shade, and what could be the best vinca yet top the list of interesting new annual flowers debuting in 2019. Growers, local garden centers, and other plant experts picked those and more for our four-part, best-new-plants series…

CAN (ON): RootSmart field trials show healthier tree establishment

Ontario horticulture researchers continue to demonstrate the impact of RootSmart, a tree propagation tray that uses air pruning to promote healthier root structures in seedlings. A.M.A. Horticulture launched the RootSmart innovation at the Landscape Ontario Congress in 2018. Now one year later, ongoing field trials…

Responding to the growing demand for plastic alternatives

The demand for bioplastics as an alternative to conventional oil-based plastics, is ever growing. Recent developments in European packaging and waste laws, boost that demand even more. But, it’s not just laws that force us to look for alternatives. Retailers, producers and consumers are becoming more and…

New mandevilla is naturally resistant to mites

While the star introduction from Suntory Flowers at the TPIE was a red hot mite-resistant mandevilla, Sun Parasol Mitebuster Red, two more intros include Sun Parasol Garden White in the bedding plant class and Sunrosa Yellow Delight in the compact shrub rose line. Sun Parasol Mitebuster Red Mitebuster Red is a compact, upright…

Netherlands: Colourful start to the tulip season

The new tulip season has started, with the international kick off on the Dam in Amsterdam (NL). Dutch tulip growers (TPN) had for the eighth year running laid on a huge picking garden using some 200,000 colourful tulips. An estimated 17,000 visitors from the Netherlands and abroad travelled to Amsterdam…

US (OH): Automatic sticking machine in action at flower grower

There's no doubt that it's winter outside in central Ohio. But inside the greenhouses at Timbuk farms, they are already getting ready for spring. Timbuk Farms is known for Christmas trees, but it manages to stay busy year-round. Right now, they are one of only two places in Ohio that recruits the seasonal help of…

"China is one nudge away from the world’s biggest imported cut flower market"

China is the market that overseas flower exporters love and hate.  They love it for it has been growing so fast. In 2017, China imported USD 51 million worth of fresh cut flowers, registering a 47.2% year over year growth, as China Customs Statistics shows. They hate it for it is full of uncertainties. Is the market…

Theresa May presents 'Plan B'

The uncertainty on Brexit hasn't cleared up yet. Yesterday Prime Minister May presented her 'plan B' to the British parliament. The media suggests her 'plan B' looks suspiciously similar to 'plan A'.…

RHS Britain in Bloom finalists go for gold in 2019

Communities from all four corners of the UK are donning their gardening gloves as they prepare to battle it out in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) 2019 Britain in Bloom competition. Now in its 55th year, the fiercely fought contest will see 71 finalists put their horticultural skills, community spirit and…

Floral trends for 2019 according to New Covent Garden Market traders

Peach blooms, old man's beard, houseplants and copper are all proving to be big hits at the New Covent Garden Market. Read on to discover more. And not only will you find out what was in demand last year, but also what's set to continue over the next 12 months.  British flowers Last year, British flowers, particularly cottage garden favourites, were highly…

EU publishes its proposals for free trade talks with US

On the website of the European Commission are listed the EU proposals regarding free trade negotiations with the United States of America. “The European Commission has today adopted proposals…

Swedish chain of garden centers reveals new products

The interest in the self-cultivation of plants and edible crops continues to grow in Sweden, which means that the demand for vegetable and flower seeds also increases. Especially young people are showing an interest in plants and gardening. Plantagen, a Swedish chain of garden centers, is responding to…

Florist predicts trends for 2019

Florists from Bloom & Wild have put together their top floral trends for 2019. Here's what Caroline Grimble, Lead Florist and Amelia Christoffers and Rowan Lewis, Floral Stylists at Bloom&Wild predicted:  Coral will stay big in the floral world with Pantone choosing it as 2019’s Colour of the Year  Foliage and grasses... and lots of them! They add beautiful texture and movement…

PCA organizes regional greenhouse tour of Tasmania

Australian growers can escape the summer heat in February and join the PCA in Tasmania on a two-day regional greenhouse tour. Together with fellow growers and PCA members, they will visit…

FNGLA's Annual Convention

June 21st and 22nd, the annual FNGLA convention will take place in Tampa, Florida. FNGLA's Annual Convention is a time each year for FNGLA members and industry friends to celebrate the past year of…

Gediflora named International Grower of the Year

Gediflora has been awarded the accolade of International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2019 by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). Yesterday, this prestigious award was presented at the IPM Essen, in the presence of nine nominated companies, sponsors, as well as representatives…

US (MD): MANTS reports best attendance in over a decade

The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) celebrated another successful event January 9 – 11, 2019 with increased attendee numbers and the debut of innovative new products on the show floor. A diverse group of green industry professionals traveled from across the country and several continents to…

Sustainability: a key word at the IPM Essen

The IPM Essen is well on its way. This 37th edition might have started off a bit slow yesterday, but the aisles were completely filled today. Exhibitors are meeting with their clients from all over the world, and a lot of novelties, ideas and new introductions are presented. Striking this year is the number of ideas…

Line Up of farms for the 2019 Field to Vase Dinner Tour

Throughout the year, t he fifth season of the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour will visit six flower farms across America, including a peony farm in Alaska.  The 2019 tour will be starting at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, on April 18. The American Grown Field To Vase Dinner Tour returns to this postcard of an…

"We provide access to a more sustainable way of growing"

Finnish Kekkilä and Dutch BVB Substrates have come together, combining decades of horticultural know-how to create a leader in the European growing media sector “Thanks to smart technology, vast…

Aleia Roses receives MPS SQ Certificate

Tuesday the 22nd of January 2019, Aleia Roses received the MPS SQ (Socially Qualified) certificate of "Millieu Project Sierteelt" (MPS). Mr. Gerrit Jan Vreugdenhil, Commercial Director of MPS, handed the document over to María del Mar Parra, Agricultural Engineer at Aleia Roses. This festive event took…

Vestaron appoints Sherry Mitchell as Director of Marketing

Vestaron has appointed Sherry Mitchell as Director of Marketing. Sherry most recently was North America Director of Communications for Nufarm Americas, a developer and marketer of crop protection and enhancement products, for its agriculture and turf segments. She also has strong brand and creative…

Paul

Momentous occasion as the first boiler is fired up, we now have heat 🔥🌡 #propwisley pic.twitter.com/g8OHqMq4Jo — Paul (@paul_atk79) January 23, 2019

UK: New warehouse doubles airlines’ existing cargo footprint

Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo are to move into the new purpose-built dnata City East, London Heathrow’s most state-of-the-art cargo facility. The move supports the airlines’ growing cargo businesses, enhances their trans-Atlantic partnership for customers, and future-proofs the joint venture’s…

Lemon delight