Gaillardia: Unique Forcing Requirements Of Old And New Cultivars
Greenhouse Product News
September 2007
By Sonali Padhye, Catherine Whitman, Arthur Cameron and Erik Runkle
This article highlights the flowering requirements of the vibrantly hued gaillardia cultivars, which have recently reclaimed the limelight. Growers interested in successfully producing flowering potted gaillardias should keep reading.
PDF Version
Managing The Cuttings’ Environment
Greenhouse Product News
December 2006
By Roland Leatherwood, Roberto Lopez and Amy Enfield
In the second article of a 2-part series on cuttings, researchers at North Carolina State, Clemson and Michigan State Universities provide insight on managing temperature and light and preventing diseases during propagation.
PDF Version
Spring Season 2006 - How Was It?
Greenhouse Product News
August 2006
By Tim Hodson
Stephen Barlow summed up the spring season for many growers when he said,
“Overall, our season was OK. It wasn’t great; it wasn’t horrible. It was somewhere in the middle.”
PDF Version
A Cut Above The Rest
Greenhouse Product News
August 2006
By John Dole, Frankie Fanelli, William Fonteno, Beth Harden and Sylvia Blankenship
Researchers at North Carolina State University examined
the post-harvest handling of six greenhouse and field cut flowers.
PDF Version
Reducing PGR Liner Dip Variables
Greenhouse Product News
July 2006
By Rebecca Schnelle and Jim Barrett
New research from the University of Florida will help you eliminate
some of the guesswork when using liner dips to apply growth regulators.
PDF Version
PGR Liner Dips On Bedding Plants
Greenhouse Product News
December 2005
By Matthew Blanchard and Erik Runkle
Michigan State University research of PGR liner dips on five species of bedding plants provides suggested rates and information for greenhouse production.
Streamlining New Guinea Impatiens
Greenhouse Product News
October 2005
By Jim Faust, Kelly Lewis and Renee Keydoszius
In a perfect world, New Guinea impatiens would all flower at the same time, but that doesn’t happen. This Clemson University research will help you determine when your New Guinea impatiens will flower.
PDF Version
Crop cultivation: PGR Bulb Dips
Greenhouse Product News
October 2005
By William Miller, N.K. Damayanthi Ranwala and Anil Ranwala
Now that you have learned the basics of bulb soaks, from page 44, find out, with this Cornell University research, if plant growth regulator dip solutions “wear out” with repeated use.
PDF Version
Cool Campanula
Greenhouse Product News
October 2005
By Sonali Padhye, Cathy Whitman, Erik Runkle and Art Cameron
Cooling and daylength can regulate flowering of some campanula species and cultivars.
PDF Version
Grower 101: Rooting Hormones
Greenhouse Product News
August 2005
By Christopher Cerveny and James Gibson
Rooting hormones can improve the visibility of temperate and tropical annual and perennial species by increasing propagation success.
PDF Version
Subirrigating Poinsettia with Bonzi
Greenhouse Product News
August 2005
By Douglas Cox
In the August 2003 issue of GPN I reported the results of a seed geranium study, demonstrating that Bonzi successfully controlled plant growth when applied by subirrigation once or in dilute amounts applied 11 times. In this experiment growth control with Bonzi was not affected by subirrigation stock tank dilution unless it was 60 percent or more.
PDF Version
Factors Affecting PGR Liner Dips
Greenhouse Product News
July 2005
Rebecca Schnelle, Christopher Cerveny and Jim Barrett
Liner dips are a useful new technique that make the production of mixed containers and vigorous crops in baskets and other containers much easier and that allow for more efficient use of PGR chemicals.
PDF Version
crop culture report: ‘Tropicanna Gold’
Greenhouse Product News
June 2005
By Ian Smith
‘Tropicanna Gold’ provides an enticing combination of green and gold stripes. Leaves are a dark gray-green to light yellow-green with alternating interveinal yellow-green stripes, which fade to creamy yellow as the plant matures. Interveinal stripes begin at the midrib of the blade and extend upward and outward towards the outer edges or tips of the leaves, with the shape and color of the stripes being irregular. Makes great cut foliage.
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Echinacea purpurea ‘Little Giant’
Greenhouse Product News
June 2005
By Paul Pilon
This American native is used as an aromatic border plant to attract hummingbirds and butterflies into the gardens. Echinacea is widely used as an herbal medicine to stimulate the immune system and fight off various viral and bacterial infections.
PDF Version
Managing Light During Propagation
Greenhouse Product News
June 2005
By Roberto Lopez and Erik Runkle
Michigan State University research examines how environmental factors — especially light — influence the rooting and growth of vegetative annual cuttings.
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The Rest of the Trials
Greenhouse Product News
June 2005
By Carrie Burns, Catherine Evans and Bridget White
One thing is for sure, the genetics are getting substantially better in vegetative crops, and while we have a way to go before we reach the standard set by seed, it’s getting harder and harder to jump into the game with just any old genetics
PDF Version
Sumagic on Bedding Plants
Greenhouse Product News
April 2005
By Cathy Whitman, Mike Olrich and Erik Runkle
Usage of this highly active PGR on bedding plants
is a risky move; find out how to use it, when it’s best used and how much is recommended
based on this MSU research.
PDF Version
Disease-Suppressive Media
Greenhouse Product News
March 2005
By Bridget White
Appropriate technologies such as steam pasteurization, soil solarization and the use of disease-suppressive media are now widely accepted as viable non-chemical alternatives.
PDF Version
Five Keys to Quality Spring Plants
Greenhouse Product News
February 2005
By Roger Styer By Roger Styer
Days are full of transplanting, watering, moving crops, spraying and other needed duties; however, sometimes growers can forget about some key factors in growing quality plants.
PDF Version
Helleborus x hybridus
Greenhouse Product News
January 2005
By Paul Pilon
It has gained such popularity that the members of the Perennial Plant Association have voted Helleborus x hybridus the 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year.
PDF Version
Cold Storage of Colocasia
Greenhouse Product News
January 2005
By Jim Faust, Kelly Lewis and Jeff Adelberg
As a result, most cultivars are propagated by division and can be purchased as bareroot plants.
PDF Version
Grower 101:Growing Plants Cooler, Part II
Greenhouse Product News
October 2004
By John Erwin, Charlie Rohwer and Ryan Warner
Weigh the pros and cons of lowering greenhouse
temperatures and learn the effect it will have on
crop quality, timing and pest and disease control.
PDF Version
Feeding For Growth
Greenhouse Product News
October 2004
By Roger C. Styer
What the grower was concerned about was losing control of growth by using too much ammoniacal nitrogen feed.
PDF Version
Calibrachoa Photoperiod Requirements
Greenhouse Product News
September 2004
By Erika Berghauer and Jim Barrett
University of Florida research helps you determine which calibrachoa varieties are best for early spring production, hot-weather production and fall flowering.
PDF Version
Grower 101: Growing Plants Cooler, Part I
Greenhouse Product News
September 2004
By John Erwin, Charlie Rohwer and Ryan Warner
We studied the effects of temperature on a number of major bedding plant crops and showed that species time to flower is affected differently as temperature decreases.
PDF Version
Phygelius Possibilities
Greenhouse Product News
August 2004
By Matt Moyer and Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida
There are about 15 cultivars of the two species commercially available, many of which are interspecific hybrids.
PDF Version
Alternative Hydroponic Substrates
Greenhouse Product News
August 2004
By Bridget White
Rockwool and perlite have been the standard for years, but with so many alternatives out there now, it’s time
to reconsider the basis of your growing system.
PDF Version
Poinsettias: Early PGR Drench?
Greenhouse Product News
August 2004
By Jim Barrett
Just when you’re getting comfortable with late drenches,
a new technique from the University of florida suggests new drench timing.
PDF Version
Managing Perennial Stock Plants with Florel
Greenhouse Product News
August 2004
By Janelle Glady, Suzanne Lang and Erik Runkle
Michigan State research determines whether Florel can be used as a tool to keep perennial
stock plants vegetative and increase the number of cuttings harvested for six perennial species.
PDF Version
Magic Mimulus
Greenhouse Product News
August 2004
By Catherine Evans
The plants are frost resistant and can flower again in the spring. Flowering time is spring to late summer.
PDF Version
WINNER'S CIRCLE
Greenhouse Product News
May 2004
By Neda Simeonova
GPN’s annual Winner’s Circle introduces the best of the best
chosen by AAS, AARS, Fleuroselect and FloraStar.
PDF Version
Winter Trials 2003
Greenhouse Product News
May 2004
By Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida
Even though it was cold this year, there was a lot of good information in the trials.
PDF Version
Florel on Summer Production of Pansy
Greenhouse Product News
April 2004
By Erik Runkle and Royal Heins
These three factors — high temperature, high light intensity and long days — all contribute to early flowering of pansy. With many spring bedding plants, early flowering can be desirable
PDF Version
Aquilegia x hybrida Swan
Greenhouse Product News
March 2004
By Paul Pilon
The cultivars in the Swan series produce an abundance of large, spurred blooms above mounds of attractive, medium-green foliage.
PDF Version
Gaillardia
Greenhouse Product News
February 2004
By Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida
Gaillardia is a reseeding annual, although in mild winter areas it may remain green for a year or more. The plant can handle people sitting on it and still bounce back.
PDF Version
Gaillardia compositae 'Fanfare'
Greenhouse Product News
January 2004
Paul Pilon
Occasionally a really exciting plant comes along that can easily be placed into mainstream perennial production. Gaillardia 'Fanfare' is one of those plants that has caught my eye and is receiving rave reviews from countless growers, retailers and avid gardeners alike.
Portulaca and Purslane
Greenhouse Product News
January 2004
Rick Schoellhorn
With all the emphasis on low water use and the constant demand for color, these two crops should be a mainstay for growers. For consumers, the attraction to these flowers is that they are succulent and reflective, as well as tolerant of abuse in the landscape. The colors, which are basically available in all hues except blue, have a translucent intensity, and retailers need to market the plants in full sun for best effect.
Scrophulariaceae and Verbenaceae Response to PGRs
Greenhouse Product News
December 2003
Joyce Latimer, Holly Scoggins and Velva Groover
Though the Scrophulariaceae and Verbenaceae family names may not sound too familiar, you've most certainly grown some member species. Here, we will look at the currently known responses of perennial plants from these families to plant growth regulators (PGRs), using information from our own research or other published sources.
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Preventing Premature Bud Drop
Greenhouse Product News
December 2003
Susan Han
1-methylcyclopropene (MCP) is a newly registered plant growth regulator that is an organic gas with anti-ethylene effects, currently available commercially under the trade name EthylBloc (Floralife, Inc.). In impatiens, growers often encounter premature bud and flower drop induced by environmental or cultural conditions, and it would thus be critical to evaluate the possible use of MCP for protection under these circumstances.
PDF Version
Tiarella 'Jeepers Creepers'
Greenhouse Product News
December 2003
Paul Pilon
Growers often consider tiarella cultivars prime candidates for their product mix for shady locations. Tiarella 'Jeepers Creepers' is no exception. With its large, bold, well-marked foliage, abundance of cream-colored flowers and eye-catching winter contrast, this cultivar is sure to perform well in today's perennial marketplace.
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Blooming Plectranthus -- A Study on Flowering
Greenhouse Product News
November 2003
Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida
Everyone I know who produced this plant sold out immediately, and I think it will hold its place as a top novelty crop for quite a few more years.
PDF Version
PGR Rates and Timing for Plug Production
Greenhouse Product News
November 2003
Catherine Whitman and Erik Runkle
Catherine Whitman is a research technician and Erik Runkle is an assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, East Lansing. Erik may be reached by phone at (517) 353-3761 or E-mail at runkleer@msu.edu
PDF Version
German Primrose: A Fresh, New Look
Greenhouse Product News
November 2003
Meriam Karlsson and Jeff Werner
The use and production of German primrose have been limited because leaves of some cultivars produce an allergen called primin. After years of breeding work, primin-free selections are now available. The first primin-free cultivars were introduced in 1990 under the names Freedom and Beauty. As the risk for skin rash has dwindled with newer cultivars, the interest and production of German primrose have increased.
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Festuca glauca ‘Boulder Blue’
Greenhouse Product News
November 2003
Paul Pilon
Festuca 'Boulder Blue,' an outstanding cultivar of ornamental grass, has been produced regionally for quite some time but just recently became available to growers throughout the country.
PDF Version
Growth Regulators: New Approaches
Greenhouse Product News
November 2003
Jim Barrett
What's new in growth regulators? The answer is changes occurring with old chemistry. However, the changes are bringing new applications and options to growers. Let's review where we are.
PDF Version
Hedera helix 'Duck Foot'
Greenhouse Product News
October 2003
Paul Pilon
A sport of Hedera helix 'Merion Beauty' isolated in New Jersey in 1976, 'Duck Foot' gets its name from its small, 1-inch, three-lobed leaves that resemble the foot of a duck. Due to its distinguishing characteristics, ease of production and marketability, the American Ivy Society has named Hedera helix Duck Foot the 2004 Ivy of the Year.
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Poinsettia Vigor and Growth Control
Greenhouse Product News
October 2003
Roger C. Styer
This is the most critical time for last-minute adjustments to poinsettia height control, which determines if you make your specs, and your sale, or not. What complicates this job is the wide range of poinsettia varieties we currently grow. Some of these varieties grow slower than Freedom, while others grow faster. This is what is called poinsettia vigor. And it is something you need to take into consideration.
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Fall Pansy and Viola Performance
Greenhouse Product News
October 2003
Monica Kmetz-González and Claudio Pasian
Since we started our fall pansy and viola trials three years ago and due to publicity of the results, landscapers in our area have started realizing the potential of the crop and are planting fall pansies. We have seen a small increase of fall pansy beds in public areas like shopping centers and city plantings. This past trial was good for testing winter survivability due to lower than average temperatures.
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Ready, Set, Go with Winter Osteospermum Production
Greenhouse Product News
September 2003
Bob Shabot
The success of an osteospermum pot program or schedule depends on a number of key visual indicators that are easily measured and observed during various crop stages. Our ongoing research at the University of Connecticut indicates that by meeting these targets, a great osteospermum crop can be produced almost by the numbers.
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Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'
Greenhouse Product News
September 2003
Paul Pilon
With so many landscape uses, ease of production and wide availability, it is no wonder Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’ is gaining popularity and receiving national recognition. Pictum was the recipient of the 2002 Growers’ Choice Award by the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and most recently selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year.
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Counting on Coir
Greenhouse Product News
September 2003
Joseph B. Hanson
One growing media component that may be worth experimenting with is coir. Manufactured from the fibrous husks of coconuts in exotic places such as Sri Lanka and India, coir has emerged as a relatively new growing medium. But the question is, how well does it work? Growers from all over the United States shared with GPN the advantages and disadvantages they've experienced in using coir.
PDF Version
Lighting Effects on Black-eyed Susan
Greenhouse Product News
September 2003
Meriam Karlsson and Jeff Werner
Black-eyed Susan responds strongly to the type or quality of incoming light. Natural light with a balanced wavelength distribution supports growth and development optimally in most plants. The light of high-pressure sodium is concentrated to the yellow and orange wavelengths and limited in blue (short) and far-red (long) wavelengths. During periods of restricted natural light, small amounts of light from regular incandescent bulbs improve the high-pressure sodium spectrum with additional long wavelengths. We conducted this research to determine how much incandescent light was needed and what the benefit of that light actually was.
PDF Version
Report from the Southern Trials Part I
Greenhouse Product News
September 2003
Rick Schoellhorn and Erica Berghauer, University of Florida
With over 340 entries and 19 basic categories of plants in the 2003 spring/summer trials at the University of Florida, there is a lot to cover. To get the full story with data, check the trials Web site, (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/floriculture/springtrials2003), so you can compare what is said here with pictures taken every two weeks. So here are the plants in the groups we classified on the Web site to facilitate crossover. Also, due to the number of cultivars presented here, please use the Web site to locate sources for this material.
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Diascia Flying Colors
Greenhouse Product News
September 2003
Jeanne Svob
Flying Colors diascia is early to bloom and longer lasting in the summer garden than other diascias. Flying Colors will exhibit plant vigor under stressful conditions and will flower more profusely in warmer temperatures. Excellent branching habit and tight bloom spikes make these diascia spectacular in 4-inch pots as well as in hanging baskets. And they add bright, unique colors to combinations.
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Clematis 'Inspiration'
Greenhouse Product News
August 2003
Paul Pilon
This variety, with its unique flower color, long bloom time and exceptional vase life, has received rave reviews in European markets, earned numerous awards including the 1999 Award of Recommendation by the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society, The Netherlands, and was selected as the best introduction at the 17th Salon Végétal, France in 2002.
PDF Version
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Pyrenees Pink'
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Paul Pilon
Hardy hibiscus is an old-time garden favorite riding a new wave of popularity. Hibiscus moscheutos is a marshland native of the eastern United States and has hardiness in USDA Zones 4-9. With new developments in plant breeding, today's hibiscus cultivars offer improved flower sizes and colors, more appealing plant habits and extended bloom times.
Finishing Bedding Plants and Perennials
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Roger C. Styer
It's time to recap problem areas. My top five encompass the growers' greatest concerns. These top issues are where I spend most of my time with clients.
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Lamiaceae Response to PGRs
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Joyce Latimer, Holly Scoggins and Velva Groover
With the small number of ornamental members of the Lamiaceae family, this article contains PGR information on the primary ornamentals in this family and will provide you with a good starting point for using PGRs in your operation.
PDF Version
Methyl Bromide Alternatives
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Ann Chase
The combination of methyl bromide and chloropicrin has long been used to control weeds, nematodes and plant pathogens like Pythium. Some industries have found acceptable alternatives over the past five years and no longer use methyl bromide. Floriculture has been struggling to find an acceptable alternative.
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Grower 101: Bare Root Perennials
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Neda Simeonova
Bare root perennials are dormant plants with the soil removed from the roots. They are typically field grown for a period of time, usually one year, and harvested. Once the plants are dug, the tops are trimmed down to approximately 1 inch from the crown with the exception of evergreen perennials such as iberis, lavender, dianthus, Phlox subulata and yucca. These bare root plants are then shipped to finish growers or end users.
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Better Calibrachoas with Growth Control
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Jim Barrett
The need to produce more attractive plants led us to doing growth regulator work for our May field days. For this article, I have chosen the strategy of showing more pictures of the plants and letting them speak for themselves, as in "a picture is worth a thousand words."
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Trialing Diascia and Nemesia
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Rick Schoellhorn
The following report of diascia and nemesia trials conducted at the University of Florida trial gardens in Gainesville, Fla., was conducted in the winter of 2002. Gainesville is in USDA Zone 8b and is part of an ongoing research program to evaluate new crops for their potential as winter flowering crops. While Southern and Sunbelt producers can use this information to boost winter sales and extend fall-season sales, Northern growers might wonder how this type of trailing affects their use of product, and the answer is two-fold.
FloraStar Elite Awards: A Greenhouse Performance Trial
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Jim Barrett, Erika Berghauer and Phillip Hamilton
FloraStar, in cooperation with the University of Florida, has selected the winners of the first FloraStar Elite Performer trials that are designed to evaluate how well a variety performs for the grower. This year's trial included calibrachoa and double impatiens.
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Temperature and Light on Bedding Plants
Greenhouse Product News
July 2003
Lee Ann Pramuk and Erik Runkle
Last year, we began to research the effects of temperature and light intensity on four popular bedding plants: salvia 'Vista Red', celosia 'Gloria Mix', marigold 'Bonanza Yellow' and impatiens 'Accent Red'. Our objectives were to determine how temperature and daily light integral influence plant growth and development of these species. From this information, we can predict how changing your environment will influence the timing and quality of your bedding plant crops.
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Grower 101: Reverse Osmosis --The Pros and Cons
Greenhouse Product News
June 2003
Jeff Roseman
By starting with water that is free from impurities and minerals, reverse osmosis water can help make growing more calculable, since the water quality is constant. Nutrients can be better controlled without having to worry about what is in the water source at the beginning of the irrigation process. Contaminants in the water source, such as iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium and chlorine, can react with the nutrients and cause problems with fertilizer mix.
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Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles'
Greenhouse Product News
June 2003
Paul Pilon
Veronica 'Royal Candles' is a clump-forming, bushy cultivar often utilized in rock gardens, as a border plant or in containers. This cultivar has many distinguishing characteristics such as a compact growth habit, reaching only 10-12 inches tall; clean leafy foliage topped with numerous vertical flower spikes; and deep blue-purple flowers, lasting from late spring to midsummer. With these characteristics, it is well suited to production in small container sizes and for marketing alongside bedding plants.
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Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Superior'
Greenhouse Product News
May 2003
Paul Pilon
Lavender 'Hidcote Superior' is an improved version of the very popular cultivar lavender 'Hidcote'. The improvements over its predecessor include enhanced uniformity, consistent quality and improved flower power. This cultivar of English Lavender remains compact and is very suitable for container production or in border plantings.
Maximizing Chemical Growth Retardants
Greenhouse Product News
March 2003
Roger C. Styer
Growers need to use chemical growth retardants to produce quality plants that can be held in the greenhouse if needed, shipped properly, look appealing in the stores and grow out well for the end consumer.
PDF Version
National Floriculture Forum
Greenhouse Product News
March 2003
Rick Schoellhorn
The 2003 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) focused on ornamental plant breeding programs and germplasm resources in the United States. Here is an overview of what was discussed at this meeting and how it may impact the breeding and discovery of new crops in the future.
PDF Version
Flowering Poppy Anemones
Greenhouse Product News
March 2003
Meriam Karlsson
Poppy anemones have been grown for years as cut flowers either in fields or greenhouses. Another marketing opportunity is as flowering potted plants. In areas with moderate climates, poppy anemones are also suitable as early spring-flowering bedding plants.
PDF Version
Consumers Tell Which Poinsettias They Like
Greenhouse Product News
March 2003
Jim Barrett, Rick Schoellhorn, Allen Hammer and Joe Stoffregen
We are providing the results of the consumer surveys conducted at Purdue University, University of Florida and Homewood Nursery in Raleigh, N.C. These surveys are conducted in conjunction with the National Poinsettia Cultivar Trials and are supported by the major poinsettia breeder companies: Dummen USA, Paul Ecke Ranch, Fischer USA, Oglevee Ltd. and Selecta First Class.
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Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Perennial Solutions)
Greenhouse Product News
March 2003
Paul Pilon
Salvia 'Caradonna' is a unique cultivar of the reliable genus and species Salvia nemorosa. The violet-blue flowers are similar to other cultivars of this species except they are held on purple stems that provide an added element of texture. In the landscape, it is often used in borders and cut flower gardens where there is full sun to partial shade.
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Using Topflor, Part II: Perennial Plants
Greenhouse Product News
February 2003
Joyce Latimer, Holly Scoggins and Velva Groover
We have had the opportunity to test the Topflor formulation of flurprimidol on several perennials and have some very promising results to present to you.
PDF Version
Dianthus 'Bouquet Purple'
Greenhouse Product News
January 2003
Paul Pilon
Dianthus 'Bouquet Purple' has been produced as a bedding plant or cut flower for a few years, and it is still underutilized as a perennial crop. Bouquet Purple has many desirable perennial characteristics such as: quick finishing time from plugs, easy flowering that can be scheduled, hardiness in USDA Zones 4-10 and few known cultural problems. Bouquet Purple is a seed-propagated, interspecific F1 hybrid that produces lavender flowers on strong, well-branched stems. Throughout the country, it has been a terrific performer and has been named winner of the 2000 Minnesota Select Perennial award and the 2001 Mississippi Medallion award.
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Nemesia and Diascia
Greenhouse Product News
January 2003
Rick Schoellhorn
Both nemesia and diascia are in the same family as snapdragons. So cool temperatures are fine for production, photoperiod doesn't appear to be an issue, and both groups of plants appear to be fairly frost-tolerant once hardened off. So here are a couple of easy-to-grow crops you may want to fit into your production and early spring retail orders to give spring sales a boost. Like calibrachoa, these crops are changing quickly and have a diverse genetic background, so consider this a primer on succeeding with two strong spring crops.
PDF Version
Producing Ravishing Ranunculus
Greenhouse Product News
January 2003
Meriam Karlsson
In the 1960s and 1970s, efforts were intensified to develop seed-propagated ranunculus. Plants with dwarf growth habits were also singled out during the breeding process to identify suitable seed-propagated selections for bedding and potted plant markets. In 1983, Sakata Seed America, Morgan Hill, Calif., introduced the seed-propagated F1 hybrid series Bloomingdale.
PDF Version
Anthuriums Reinvented
Greenhouse Product News
December 2002
Rick Schoellhorn
Anthuriums are one of the crops where a lot of changes have taken place in the last 10 years. Breeding has really changed the face of this crop, but also, there are a lot of misconceptions floating around out there that have limited the adoption and use of this wonderful flower. Anthuriums remain one of the crops that most Northern nurseries bring in as pre-finished or finished, but the sparsely flowered forms of years ago are long since replaced by earlier and heavier-flowering varieties.
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Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'
Greenhouse Product News
December 2002
Paul Pilon
Leucanthemum 'Becky' is quickly becoming one of the most common varieties of Shasta daisy in commercial production today. This long-lived variety has gained so much attention that the Perennial Plant Association has selected Leucanthemum Becky as the 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year.
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Recycling the Rex Begonia
Greenhouse Product News
November 2002
Rick Schoellhorn
Rex begonias are not new by any stretch; however, they are being re-marketed and with some really nice results. In the past, the market for these plants was primarily as houseplants, but now we are thinking bigger than that and rex begonias are surfacing as an annual shade groundcover or as the foliage accent in shade mixed containers. There are also some new cultivars with better tolerance of high heat and humidity, and conversely, tolerance of low humidity. So there's lots of potential for marketing these plants as high-dollar annuals in the gardening season and carrying them over into the winter houseplant market as well for novelty sales and arrangements with seasonal plants.
PDF Version
Growth Regulators in Transition
Greenhouse Product News
November 2002
Jim Barrett
The lack of evolution in PGR products has actually been good for growers since they have had the opportunity to become very familiar with the products they use without having to learn new ones. However, changes in the available chemicals started a couple of years ago and will continue for at least a couple of more years.
PDF Version
Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' Hybrid Tickseed
Greenhouse Product News
November 2002
Paul Pilon
Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' is destined to become one of the most sought-after perennials for growers and gardeners across the country. Discovered by Mary Ann Faria of Limerock Plant Farms in Lincoln, R.I., this hybrid coreopsis with unknown parentage brings a new bright red flower to a genus that is dominated by various shades of yellow blooms. With these characteristics and ease of production, Limerock Ruby has the potential to be a classic American perennial.
PDF Version
University of Florida Field Trials
Greenhouse Product News
October 2002
Rick Schoellhorn
The spring field trials at the University of Florida this year contained 180 cultivars of vegetative annuals, both those more common to southern production and also several focus areas. The goal of these trials is to promote plants that are tolerant of extreme high heat and humidity, conditions common across the southeast sunbelt from Florida to West Texas. Obviously, the season here begins very early in the year and, for some plants, ends a lot earlier as well. The results of these trials can be used to help growers refine their late-season selections where heat and humidity have the biggest impact on crop quality.
PDF Version
Lamium 'Orchid Frost' Spotted Deed Nettle
Greenhouse Product News
October 2002
Paul Pilon
Orchid Frost is a cultivar of Lamium maculatum, which belongs to the mint family. Unlike most varieties of lamiums, Orchid Frost holds up remarkably well during the summer months, without foliage scorching or being overcome with leaf spots. It bears bright, orchid-pink flowers during both the spring and the fall over its variegated silver foliage.
PDF Version
Raspberries: A New Greenhouse Crop
Greenhouse Product News
October 2002
Meriam Karlsson and Jeffrey Werner
In an effort to extend local availability and the season for fresh raspberries, greenhouse production should be considered. The targeted local market is for high-value, top-quality, off-season, fresh raspberries, since greenhouse production is expected to be more expensive than conventional field systems.
PDF Version
Using Florel Effectively
Greenhouse Product News
October 2002
Roger C. Styer
Many of the new vegetative annuals are quite vigorous and designed for use in larger containers. However, growers are also producing them for individual sale in smaller pots as well as mixed planters. Whether you buy rooted or unrooted cuttings, the problems are the same ? get plants to branch early to fill out the pots faster and control the growth late.
PDF Version
Two From the Show
Greenhouse Product News
September 2002
Rick Schoellhorn, University of Florida
This year's Ohio Florists' Association trade show was, as usual, a mind-boggling mix of new crops and production technology. This year there were a couple of booths with something really different and off the map in terms of crops. These
wonderful plants -- Lachenalia and Scutellaria -- hold excellent potential to become high-profit specialty items that are not difficult to master.
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A Primer on Hydroponic Cut Tulips
Greenhouse Product News
August 2002
Bill Miller
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 past two seasons. While our experiences have been very positive, there are several important details to understand and act upon before a high-quality crop can be produced.
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Taming the Wild Calibrachoa
Greenhouse Product News
July 2002
Erika Berghauer, Jim Barrett and Rick Schoellhorn
As with many vegetatively propagated items, producing Calibrachoa hanging baskets does not come without challenges. Taming vigorous growth to produce a more attractive basket, facilitate shipping and keep plants untangled in a high-density growing situation are concerns. At the University of Florida, we have evaluated the use of growth regulator drench applications to slow the growth of Calibrachoa, which should make this high-value crop more appealing to growers.
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B-Nine + Cycocel: The advantages for poinsettias and pansies
Greenhouse Product News
July 2002
Kelly P. Lewis, Jim Faust and James D. Sparkman IV
Growers have different methods of determining the best B-Nine/CCC combination to use. Our approach was to apply a range of B-Nine (0-4,500 ppm) and Cycocel rates (0-1,500) to identify the interactive effects of these two products when applied as a tank mix. We applied 14 combinations of B-Nine/CCC (see Table 1, page 60) to poinsettias and pansies with the goal of identifying the optimal tank mix combination.
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Using PGRs on Spring Bulbs
Greenhouse Product News
May 2002
Bill Miller
In many cases, the real issue for growth regulation of spring bulbs does not come during production but during postharvest. Spring bulb growth regulation is often a case of PGR application in the greenhouse for growth control in the low light and warm interior environment.
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Maximizing Fertilizer Use and Minimizing Runoff
Greenhouse Product News
May 2002
John M. Dole and Janet C. Cole
Controlling fertilizer and water use and runoff is a necessity for some businesses due to their proximity to environmentally sensitive natural areas or water sources. Reducing water and fertilizer use for many businesses, however, is becoming increasingly important to control expenses. Research at North Carolina State University and Oklahoma State University is shedding new light on how to manage fertilizer and water use.
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GROWER 101: Nutrient Disorders in Greenhouse Crops, Part II
Greenhouse Product News
April 2002
Paul V. Nelson
The second of GPN’s two-part series on nutrient disorder shows you symptoms associated with additional deficiencies and toxicities of nutrients in greenhouse crops. When assessing nutritional status, remember the four sets of information: irrigation water quality, root substrate tests, foliar analysis and visual symptomology. The deficiencies below will help you with visual symptomology.
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Easter Lilies: A Challenge You Can Master
Greenhouse Product News
March 2002
Theo J. Blom and Paul Fisher
This year, Easter will be on March 31, 2002, and most plants will be ready to ship (puffy bud stage) between March 11-26, 2002. This early Easter makes for a very tight schedule and means that it is especially important to use the well-proven tools we describe in this article to help you meet flower date and final height specifications.
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Using PGRs on Plugs
Greenhouse Product News
February 2002
Roger Styer
Chemical growth regulators will still need to be used on many crops. The key is to understand which growth regulator works best on which crop, under what circumstances and at which levels. Knowing when to apply the right chemical for a particular crop is usually learned by painful trial and error. Varieties may react quite differently to the same chemical.
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What Really Causes Stretch?
Greenhouse Product News
January 2002
Paul V. Nelson, Chen-Young Song, and Jin-Sheng Huang
Does ammoniacal nitrogen cause stretch in plants, or conversely, does the alternative nitrogen source, nitrate, cause compactness? What does your experience indicate? Do you have all of the facts?
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