Day to day
Vegetative Annuals and Florel
Monday, February 4th, 2008Like most growers, I use plenty of Florel this time of year and it’s one of my favorite PGR’s. Our list of crops we use it on includes verbena, geraniums, calibrichoa, petunias, fuschia, ipomoea, lantana, and others. If possible, I try to use Florel to replace a pinch but usually I use […]
Busy, busy.
Thursday, January 17th, 2008I’ve been superbusy lately and haven’t been posting as much as I should. This time of the year is the busiest for propagators and the next 2-3 weeks will be our largest production weeks for our Young Plant Division. I plan to return to posting regularly very soon but in the meantime I would love […]
Reiger Begonias
Sunday, January 6th, 2008Does anybody grow reigers as a spring crop?
We grow lots of them in 4 inch, 6.5 inch and hanging baskets. We also use them in combos. They’re a great plant for spring bedding customers.
I’m looking for some good pictures of ours but I can’t find them. I’ll post them tomorrow.
Young Plant Reseach Center
Thursday, December 27th, 2007I heard about the Young Plant Reaseach Center at an industry conference over a year ago. It is led by Paul Fisher from the University of Florida and John Erwin from the University of Minnesota. These two researchers are among my favorites and I follow their research closely. I take in their talks when they […]
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Friday, December 21st, 2007I hope all our readers have a safe and happy holiday season. Those of us that grow plants for a living will probably have to spend some time in the greenhouse on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but that’s life for a grower. And if you’re a propagator, then the holidays are only backing up […]
Unrooted cuttings Vs. Rooted
Thursday, December 20th, 2007So who roots their own and who buys in rooted liners?
As a propagation facility, we don’t have to worry about buying in liners but a lot of growers don’t have the facilities or abilities to prop their own vegetative annuals.
I’m wondering what percentage of growers buy in rooted liners vs. unrooted cuttings.
Does anyone have any […]
Pansy Production
Wednesday, December 12th, 2007We are currently planting our 3rd batch of pansies for our spring production and I’m getting ready to really drop the temps on our first 2 batches.
My question is: How cold do you grow your pansies?
We let ours freeze, which I wasn’t thrilled about when we first tried it but, it works. So […]
Osteospermum Production: Dummen’s Summertime Purple
Monday, December 10th, 2007We are transplanting Osteospermum this week and I am very happy with our liners at this point. Check ‘em out. This is Dummen’s Summertime Purple propagated in a 25mm ellepot. Elle’s Rule!
Cortez Burgundy: The Reverter
Saturday, December 8th, 2007It’s too bad Cortez Burgundy reverts to red so often. It’s a nice plant with a good habit and, for some reason, lots of people seem to want a purple poinsettia. It sure beats Plum Pudding. I wish Cortez was a bit faster and a little less vigorous but it works.
Poinsettia Shipping
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007Points are finally starting to go. It’s been a slow start but they are moving now. From what I hear, it’s been slow everywhere this year. Have consumers cooled on the $3.00 commodity, big-box poinsettia? Are sales slow at independents as well?
What kind of poinsettia season are you having?
