Spanish retailers follow the trend

Lidl trials its first shop to have an urban garden

A few weeks ago people were talking about the plans of El Corte Ingles to install a vertical garden in their store in Valladolid, now their focus is on Lidl, which has put into operation its first store in the world with an urban garden. The discount company has opened this pioneer establishment in the…

PGRs for growth regulation of Buddleia spp.

Butterfly bushes (Buddleia spp.) are great perennial flowering plants to meet the current interest in pollinator gardens. These very vigorous plants are typically grown as herbaceous perennials although they become quite woody in the landscape. We’ve conducted several PGR trials with different cultivars…

Producing robust plugs – Part I

Growing high-quality, seed-propagated bedding plants starts with a robust and toned plug. Judiciously manage crop cultural practices and environmental factors such as substrate moisture, pH and EC, light and temperature to produce the best plugs possible. First up — moisture management. by Nick Flax - nzf123@psu.edu We are at…

"Switching to hydroponics also possible when land doesn't have the proper slope"

The benefits of growing hydroponically are well-known, but it still might be a step. Reinforcing the structure and levelling the terrain for starters. The team with Hydroponic Systems created the Elevated System to offer a solution "Our Elevated System was born to improve the collection of the drains in…

Tulips growing on aeroponics system

“The Japanese say, If the flower is to be beautiful, it must be cultivated”, writer Lester Cole once said. AEssenseGrows is doing this by growing tulips and roses in the AEtrium-4 system. The company posted a time-lapse video of tulips blooming at the AEssenseGrows’ lab in Shanghai. Watch the video here.…

Hortival Diffusion, France, on shading products Sudlac

"It helps our plants to thrive"

With 300 hectares and more than 250 employees, Hortival Diffusion (Minier nursery) is one of France’s biggest nurseries and one of the top 10 European nurseries. For 180 years, the family-owned company steadily expanded until it was bought out in 1997 by the French group Terrena. The company is known to the general public for…

Prevent emissions when cleaning the cultivation gutter

When cleaning the cultivation gutter during the crop change, fertilizers and crop protection agents are set free again and are removed via the cleaning water. Cleaning…

An inside look at specialist propagation methods

Jena Holland, the lead hydroponic grower in GrowSpan’s greenhouse center, recently gave an inside look at the propagation process. She discussed the mediums and methods used in the GrowSpan greenhouse to propagate hydroponically grown plants, along with a few tips and tricks for growers to implement.…

Substituting HPS with light-emitting diodes for supplemental lighting

In Canada, as in other higher latitudes, there is not enough natural light for production of many greenhouse commodities during the darker months of the year. In these regions, it is necessary for growers of year-round commodities to augment their naturally occurring lighting deficit with artificial…

Why photosynthesis works better for some plants than others

RuBisCO plays a key role in photosynthesis and is one of the most abundant enzymes in the world. A Japanese research team has revealed how charge distribution on RuBisCO’s active sites is linked to the enzyme’s ability to recognize carbon dioxide. This discovery can potentially be used to improve the…

"Have you evaluated your irrigation water quality recently?"

As an Extension Educator with Penn State I spend my winters on the speaking circuit addressing growers and farmers on a variety of topics. One of the many talks that I cover deals with irrigation water quality and its impact on both plant growth and pesticide efficacy. Before I start into my…

Robert van Kooten, Yield by Nature, about OxyHydrogen:

"Charged water improves resistance of plants"

Treatment with water that is enriched with hydrogen gas improves the immune system of bulbs, plants and, for example, seeds, from within. Moreover, it ensures higher yields and lower expenses for crop protection and nutrition. This is said by Robert van Kooten of Yield by Nature, a company that supplies…

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

"Immense potential for tulip cultivation"

Although tulip cultivation in India has been largely limited to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have a huge potential for growing this highly commercial flower. To commercialise tulip cultivation in Himachal, scientists of the department of…

Lite-Cubes of Lite-Soil

"With these cubes rejection of seedlings will be lower"

It was launched at the Myplant & Garden last month and immediately received an innovation award during the show. The product in question is Lite-Cubes of Lite-Soil. These new cubes act as water accumulators and are claimed to improve any type of soil, increasing water storage capacity and preventing…

Moisture management for rooting of cuttings

Managing moisture during rooting of vegetative cuttings is critical for achieving uniform rooting. Before sticking cuttings it is important to thoroughly moisten the media (rooting soil). Apply water slowly to obtain uniform distribution (wetting). This may require 2-3 applications. A well-moistened…

Improving ecosystems with aquatic plants

Researchers Lyn Gettys and Kimberly Moore conducted a study and a series of experiments at the University of Florida to determine whether littoral aquatic plants could be grown effectively using a variety of substrates and irrigation methods similar to techniques used by traditional greenhouses for…

US: Meeting growers' needs with water conservation extension programs

Nursery and greenhouse growers comprise an important sector of United States agriculture that is uniquely situated to conserve water while growing plants that provide many social and environmental benefits. In order for Extension professionals to effectively help growers use water conservation…

US importer Andre Savrmoutou sees good opportunities

Mexico – a new frontier for rose growers

With air transport rates from Colombia and Ecuador to the US skyrocketing, alternatives like sea transport are on the rise. Another alternative to get roses to the US market more inexpensively is by growing them on another location, like Mexico. "Mexico is quickly becoming the 'new frontier' for fresh…

JHL Potplants' focus on plant vitality

As ever more plant production moves into greenhouses and growrooms, the issue of plant vitality arises. Growers wish to grow plants that are as strong as possible for superior appearance and better shelf life. Dutch grower JHL Potplants is no exception. This family-run business grows potted gerbera since…

"Chelated calcium benefits poinsettias"

Vegetatively propagated unrooted cuttings of annual ornamentals are typically grown in equatorial locations and shipped via airfreight to propagators located in temperate climates. Cutting quality, defined as the resistance to external forces—such as physical damage and pathogen infection—has an impact…

"Boom in edible flowers is sweeping Japan"

"A boom in edible flowers is sweeping Japan." Nippon Television investigated the trend and one of their reporters started at a friend's wedding dinner where she saw flowers used in the menu. The flowers are grown locally and a visit was paid to an edible flowers greenhouse in Akita. Click here to view…

Geerten van der Lugt

Controlling oxygen use uncommon in greenhouse horticulture

The Netherlands is generally blessed with a lot of good quality water, although it was a bit different during last summer's drought. With rivers and rainfall, the Netherlands…

Peter Korsten, Botany, on combining product development and business

"We have made research affordable"

Peter Korsten, Botany, graduated from the HAS Hogeschool, Horticulture and Agriculture in 1993, and founded Botany 15 years ago, a company that develops products for the horticulture sector. Boany is a company with extensive knowledge and expertise in both cultivation and research. Botany is located in…

Reducing irrigation quantity and improving water quality to grow better plants

This video presentation by Jane Stanley, woody grower of Saunders Brothers, Inc located in Nelson County, Virginia, is a case study on how old and new technologies are being implemented to cut water use and reduce plant loss. Learn how to manage water quantity and quality as a tool to grow better plants…

New light spectrum improves quality of Red Naomi! and Avalanche+ roses

One year after the introduction of the Philips GreenPower LED toplighting with the new rose spectrum, it appears that the roses react well to the new light spectrum. The combination of LEDs and climate control according to the principles of Next Generation Growing brings top quality and sustainability…

Sensory data, water deficit control and the challenges facing poinsettia growers

Research from Volmary has confirmed that, without granular data, growers are overwatering their crops. Data has shown that, due to floor unevenness, there is significant variation in plant moisture in Poinsettia plants. Implementing water deficit control requires the flexibility of wireless sensors and…

Australia: ‘Living Lab' helps researchers understand plant selection for urban spaces

A changing climate has ramifications across the whole of the horticulture sector, but in particular for the nursery industry, where the commercial objective is essentially to sell healthy plants that remain healthy into the future. This is what is being addressed by the research project, “Which Plant…

Modiform, Van Tuijl and LKP Plant present Root Barrier

Protective layer reduces plant root sticking to the tray

In cooperation with Van Tuijl and LKP Plants, Modiform introduces an innovative protection for plant roots: Root Barrier. By applying a protective layer to the tray root sticking is reduced. As a result automated transplanting of more mature and stronger plants is possible with less damage and rejects.…

Valentine's Day flowers in space

When you’re living and working aboard the International Space Station on Valentine's Day, flower delivery options are slim to none. An astronaut tackled this challenge in 2016 by growing zinnias to create the first-ever floral arrangement in space. Seeds from the flowers grown in the orbiting laboratory have germinated into…

Maria Castellani, Flora Toscana on project SubSed:

“We want to turn waste into a supply”

A lot of flowers in Toscana are being produced on peat but in the future they may be skipping the peat for dredge remediated sediments from the port of Livorno. At least that is the aim for the project SubSed that Flora Toscana is working on with the support of the LIFE program of the European Union. “We…

March 13-14, Fredericksburg

US (VA): Conference helps farmers incorporate flowers into their operations

“People don’t often think of farmers growing flowers, but the cut flower industry is significant in Virginia, and is often an excellent source of income for farmers with small acreage,” said Susan Cheek, Virginia State University (VSU) Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP) agriculture management agent. To…

Dehumidification units now available on frames above the crop

Moisture problems in the greenhouse have always existed, but certainly in winter it is a challenge for many growers to dehumidify their greenhouse air. Previously the motto was: the heating high, the screen ajar and the air windows open. But that is not very energy efficient, and a lot of valuable CO2 is…

Charlotte Holde, HortiAdvice on GreenPlan:

"Earn more money with better planning"

Having the right mix of varieties and colors available in due time is a challenge for many pot plant growers. For this reason Horti Advice decided to design a planning program particularly for this group. After several years of developing, using the best knowledge and experience from pot plant growers,…

US (MI): Greenhouse disease and insect management recommendations for 2019

Michigan State University Extension entomology specialist for ornamentals David Smitley has released his “ 2019 Greenhouse Insect Management ” recommendations. These are the recommended products to control thrips, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, broad and cyclamen mites, fungus gnats, mealybugs and…

Orchids in history

A blast from the past

“It is difficult to realize that one of these tiny plants may well eventually prove to be a champion and worth a small fortune.” Greenhouses filled with orchids as we know them now are actually the result of orchid hunting by curious botanists in the past. One of them is David Sander who is making his appearance in this old…

Uneven seed germination in plug trays

With spring production underway, seedling plug production is in full swing. As with any greenhouse crop, uniformity is key to produce high-quality plants efficiently and economically. For seed-propagated crops, this starts in the plug tray. by Christopher J. Currey - ccurrey@iastate.edu The first step in…

US: 2019 PGR Guide for Annuals now available for growers

Growers now have access to the latest plant growth regulator (PGR) research and use tips in one handy resource with the release of the 2019-20 PGR Guide for Annuals. “The PGR Guide started as a creative way to bring growers practical, usable information that’s invaluable for their operations,” says Greg…

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