TECH ON DEMAND brought to you by GrowerTalks

This episode includes critical information for both nursery and greenhouse producers! You may or may not know exactly how much time, labor and ultimately money you spend each year managing weeds in outdoor and indoor production, but chances are it's a lot. If you don't have protocols and strategies in place for weed control, that can lead to even bigger issues.   To discuss this topic, host Bill Calkins is joined by two guests from Envu—Dr. Janna Beckerman and Steve Larson—to talk through best management practices related to weed control and specifically the use of Marengo, a preemergence herbicide that not only controls more than 90 weeds (including broadleaf weeds, grasses and sedge) but also clocks in with residual activity for up to 8 months. It's labeled for use inside greenhouses and can be a key player in your greenhouse sanitation lineup.   Envu's Janna and Steve have decades of experience in our industry and bring a lot to the table when it comes to the science behind greenhouse and nursery production, as well as the real-world application of products and strategies. When it comes to weed control in production settings, Janna said it best—the greatest cost is the cost of neglect.   In this episode, the conversation starts with an overview of Envu's history and innovative product range before quickly moving into weed control in nursery and greenhouse production. From regionality and seasonality of weeds and their impact to application strategies for preemergence herbicides and keys to safe use, there's a lot to discuss. And with its residual staying power, wide range of weeds controlled and labeled indoor applications, Marengo (granular and liquid) is a product with benefits for just about every type of greenhouse and nursery operation.   You'll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode to hear all the tips, tricks, research and anecdotal success stories the Envu team had to share!   Resources:   Envu's Ornamentals Segment Website: https://www.envu.com/segments/ornamentals   Envu's Products for the US Market: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals   Envu's Products for the Canadian Market: https://www.ca.envu.com/greenhouse-and-nursery   Marengo Herbicide: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/po/products/marengo   VIDEO (English)— Marengo Application/Calibration: https://youtu.be/7ZbCBCfHnb8   VIDEO (Spanish)—Marengo Application/Calibration: https://youtu.be/DhiSEXDGAPk   Envu Brochure—Nursery Weed Control: https://bynder.envu.com/m/5a01a4fcb5ddb3e7/original/Digital_TO_Nursey-Weed-Management_product-guide_NA_US_EN.pdf  

Corteva's technical guru, flower grower and greenhouse and nursery “coach” Broch Martindale is back on the podcast to share strategies for controlling and preventing some of the more common pest and disease challenges you might face in poinsettia production—like whiteflies and powdery mildew—using chemistries like XXpire, Floxcor and Eagle. Over the course of this episode, Broch and host Bill Calkins discuss safely using chemistries in rotation and what chemistries are appropriate for poinsettias late in production (when bracts are in color), as well as specific active ingredients that have been successfully trialed and tested to tackle common but challenging greenhouse pests. Throughout the podcast, Broch offers tips and tricks he's turned to over the years producing crops and working with growers to manage and prevent pests when producing everyone's favorite holiday crop. Be sure to read Broch's article KEEPING POINSETTIAS MERRY AND BRIGHT in the May 2025 issue of GrowerTalks magazine for even more on this topic.   WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION!   RESOURCES: Floxcor fungicide offers ornamental growers fast uptake and broad-spectrum disease control, and is rainfast in just 15 minutes. Floxcor Fungicide Ornamental Fact Sheet Prevent and control virtually every major soil and foliar disease with the winning combination of Floxcor fungicide and Eagle 20EW specialty fungicide. Floxcor + Eagle Fungicide Ornamental Fact Sheet The two active ingredients in XXpire combine to control more than 39 insects, including 7 of the top 10 chewing or sap-feeding pests. XXpire Insecticide Fact Sheet Learn how XXpire insecticide can help poinsettia growers control damaging insects, without residue or phytotoxicity. XXpire Insecticide for Poinsettias Fact Sheet More information on XXpire insecticide

This Tech On Demand podcast episode is all about fall control, integrated pest management and implementing biocontrol strategies that work. Host Bill Calkins is joined by Phil Gerry, a Technical Sales Consultant for the Northeast Region covering six states for Koppert. Koppert is a global market leader specializing in biological crop protection and team members have joined the podcast before covering biological IPM for spring crops and strategies for hybrid and truly integrated strategies. Phil was lead grower for large nurseries and greenhouses in the Northeast and Northwest before joining Koppert in 2021 and brings an incredible amount of practical knowledge and creative strategies to the topic of managing key pests in garden mum and poinsettia production.   In this episode Bill and Phil discuss the spring production season before jumping into the main topic—IPM for crops produced in summer for fall and holiday sales. Phil explains the importance of understanding the compatibility of biological controls and traditional chemistries, as well as why it's critical to define what success looks like for your greenhouse or nursery before integrating biocontrols. As he reiterated, when making a move to bio-based approaches, it's best to start slowly—choose one crop or one pest and hone skills before moving on to a more comprehensive plan.   When it comes to biological controls for garden mums, indoor versus outdoor production must be considered and beginning applications in propagation is the best approach for various reasons Phill addressed. Key pests discussed include aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, whiteflies and spider mites. Moving on to poinsettias, of course the main pests (whiteflies and spider mites) require diligence, scouting and early preventative controls and Phil explained some of his go-to tactics. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this discussion because these notes barely scratch the surface!   RESOURCES & PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:   Koppert U.S.: https://bit.ly/4kR5r13 Koppert Consultants & Locations: https://bit.ly/455PYpp Side Effects Guide: https://bit.ly/4kOoZmP Isarid: https://bit.ly/4mASHxc Spidex: https://bit.ly/4dHyf9S Enermix: https://bit.ly/3SAoy3p Swirski-Mite: https://bit.ly/3HEZOEI Airobreez: https://bit.ly/3SAp815   2025 GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_2025.pdf

Syngenta Flowers' Lauren Kilpatrick joins Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins to talk combos—specifically Kwik Kombos multi-liners and the new Patio Playbook program. Lauren explains just about everything you need to know to select the combination that will work in your greenhouse and deliver results for your retail customers, as well as tips and tricks for producing them at the highest quality. Lauren and Bill kick off the discussion with a quick chat about California Spring Trials 2025—specifically Syngenta's “Rooted In Teamwork” theme—and some of their favorites from the trial in Gilroy, CA. Kwik Kombos is not a new program from Syngenta but they add new mixes every year and have their rigorous trialing dialed in so you can be assured that the mixes will work in production and perform beautifully at retail. Lauren explains the benefits of this early-, mid- and late-season spring program. Patio Playbook is new (just released at 2025 California Spring Trials) and offers inspirational recipes for ALL seasons—using a wide range of inputs from foliage varieties including coleus to heat-loving annuals, perennials, tons of Syngenta's geraniums and even garden mums. Recipes allow growers to deliver color-blocked combos to retail throughout the year, extending seasons and helping bring shoppers in to fill their carts with high-value impulse combos. It's a win-win for everyone! Of course, Lauren shares plenty of tips and tricks for combo culture, as well as some of her favorite mixes in both programs. Be sure to stay tuned all the way to the end of the conversation so you don't miss any words of horticultural wisdom! Watch the video version! https://youtu.be/3zRssbYo3kM   Resources: Syngenta Flowers Website: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/ Kwik Kombos Catalog: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/636494595/92/ Kwik Kombos Culture Guide: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/sites/g/files/kgtney846/files/media/document/2025/02/26/culture_vegetative_kwik_kombos.pdf Patio Playbook Guide: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/208275210/

POINSETTIA PRODUCTION: WHEN NEGATIVES CAN BE A POSITIVE FROM THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JAMES DOUKAS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: A mastery, or at least a proficiency, in many growth strategies allow for a grower to select the correct “tool” from their “toolbox” no matter the situation that arises in the fall to achieve their desired goal for their poinsettia crop. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_05/index.aspx

HOW MUCH DOES A GREENHOUSE PROJECT REALLY COST? FROM THE APRIL 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Anyone who's completed a greenhouse project knows that a lot more goes into it than you might think. But how much, exactly, as a percentage of the total cost? We asked three experts—Paul Golden with Prospiant, Matt Stuppy with Stuppy Greenhouses and Jeff Warschauer with Rovero North America—to help us with the math. It was a challenge because every site and every project is unique, and their usual answer is, “It depends,” but we forced them to break it down into key components and what percent of the project each might be. The figures below are minimums you'll need for each category; in some cases (like site work), it could be much higher.   Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_04/index.aspx

Forcing perennials out of winter dormancy and into bloom for spring and summer sales isn't a new concept for most growers, but growth in the perennial market has inspired a lot of folks to add perennials to their mix and there's been plenty of research done to update protocols for breaking dormancy. Because of this, Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins wanted to have a quick discussion with perennial plant guru Chris Fifo (from Darwin Perennials) to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to waking perennials up this spring.   In this concise tech tip-style conversation Bill and Chris discuss the “traditional method” of forcing perennials and the “new-school way,” which results in better uniformity and reduced losses. Then Chris explains tactics any grower can use to force long-day perennials using an extension cord and a string of lightbulbs, as well as offering suggestions for reducing the risk of disease when perennials are being forced to wake up in early spring. The bottom line: It's not as difficult as it sounds—warming them up and basic night interruption will work wonders on your perennial crop this spring.   WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rsq3hRTX0l0   Resources: GROWERTALKS WEBINAR: 3 1/2 Steps to Overwintering Perennials   MICHIGAN STATE GUIDE: Long-Day Perennials

For this installment, Lorentina McKoy, the North American sales and product rep for Suntory Flowers, joins host Bill Calkins to talk about Princettia—the unique poinsettia assortment from Suntory that looks different than traditional holiday poinsettias because it's bred to be different. This opens up some unique uses and retail specs and also requires some production nuances. Because breeding on Princettia is quite active, a whole new range of colors and patterns has come to market in the past couple years, as well as a new sub-series with a more vigorous habit. In this episode, Lorentina offers tips and trick to produce Princettias to their full potential, some ways she's seen them marketed and sold around the world, why the fact they're a true “family” of genetics is important and much more. Although this episode is focused on one crop, Lorentina and Bill actually get into many different topics—from an early-Spring outlook and consumer trends to retail garden center tips and strategies to sell premium products. You'll want to listen all the way to the end because this episode closes with some other top picks in the Suntory range of new varieties for 2026.   RESOURCES: 12-page Princettia Brochure—with culture notes: suntoryflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Princettia-Brochure-2023-digital-1.pdf The 2026 Suntory Flowers Catalog - Suntory Flowers Princettia Section—direct link: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/232823221/40/ “Just for Retailers” Page: Princettia Poinsettia - Suntory Flowers Princettia Consumer Information: New Ways to Display Princettia Poinsettias this Holiday Season - Suntory Flowers

One of the greenhouse pests growers have been dealing with more and more recently is broad mite. This specific mite pest is extremely challenging to diagnose and treat and can wreak havoc on a very wide range of crops across multiple seasons. Host Bill Calkins is joined by well-respected professor and extension specialist in horticultural entomology at Kansas State University, Dr. Raymond Cloyd, to discuss this pest—from susceptible crops and theories why broad mites are on the rise to symptoms and identification. Dr. Cloyd then shared a bit about the pest itself and strategies to minimize the risk of losing crops due to broad mites and methods for control. Once broad mites were covered, Bill asked Dr. Cloyd about Lewis mites (based on challenges with this pest on poinsettia crops in 2024), and the episode closed with the importance of sanitation, diligent scouting and IPM protocols during spring production. You'll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode and share it with your entire production staff.   RESOURCES: Broad Mite and Cyclamen Mite Management in Greenhouses and Nurseries:  https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2938.pdf Dr. Raymond Cloyd Contact Information: https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/Cloyd-Raymond-A.html Extension & Research Program (Publications, Articles, Reports, Etc.): https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/extension/Cloyd-Ext-Research/    A bit about Dr. Raymond Cloyd: Raymond has an extension (70%) and research (30%) appointment in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS). Raymond received his MS and PhD from the Department of Entomology at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), and was employed as a professor at the University of Illinois (Urbana, IL) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences for six years prior to his employment at Kansas State University. His research and extension program involves plant protection/pest management in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turfgrass, conservatories, interiorscapes, Christmas trees, vegetables, fruits, cannabis, hemp and pollinators. Raymond is the extension specialist in horticultural entomology for the state of Kansas with a major clientele that includes homeowners, master gardeners, and professional and commercial operators. Raymond has published over 100 scientific refereed publications, over 900 trade journals, and over 60 extension publications on topics related to pest management/plant protection. In addition, he has authored or co-authored numerous books including Greenhouse Pest Management, Pests and Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials, IPM for Gardeners, Plant Protection: Managing Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests, Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests, Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests, and Western Flower Thrips: Insect Pest of Greenhouse Production Systems. Raymond has also written book chapters, manuals, PICT or picture-pocket guides, and extension-related publications. Raymond is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences and seminars; and has received numerous awards and honors during his over 25-year academic career. Raymond's professional specialty areas are plant protection, biological control, plant-insect interactions, insect ecology, pesticides, integrating pesticides with biological control agents and sanitation.

Host Bill Calkins welcomed GrowerTalks' editor in chief Chris Beytes and editor Jennifer Zurko to the podcast to share thoughts on the event—the plants, the trends, the fish tacos—and the overall impact spring trials has on the professional horticulture industry. When Chris, Jen and Bill return from Spring Trials each year, folks in the industry always ask for overall thoughts, hot new varieties expected to be big sellers and what they consider to be industry breakthroughs. It was Bill's bright idea to record a podcast answering some of these questions and of course, his partners in crime for the annual trek westward agreed to it. Here are the questions the three tackled in this episode: If the 2025 California Spring Trials were a person, how would you describe their 2025 vibe? Name a few new introductions from CAST 2025 that stand out in your mind—and why. Do you go to CAST looking for something specific or just to see what's new and report back via the magazine, videos and social media? If you could have ONE new introduction shipped to your house for free, what would it be? What are some new intros that you feel are Instagram-ready? What new variety should launch on Shark Tank? Name some 2025 CAST varieties that got major promotion at the event that you think will live up to the hype? Were there any new intros that made you think, “what the heck is that” OR that surprised you? What's a new product you haven't seen yet that you WISH would be introduced (i.e. if you were launching your own product, what would it be?) What's ONE reason why a grower who's never been to Spring Trials should go at least once?   CHECK OUT BALL PUBLISHING'S INDUSTRY-LEADING COVERAGE OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA SPRING TRIALS: Daily Newsletters YouTube Playlist (26 Videos) Facebook Instagram (@growertalksgreenprofit) LinkedIn

Just in time for warmer, spring temps and the insect pests that seem to come along, Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins caught up with Broch Martindale, the national nursery and strategic account manager at Corteva. The discussion centers on pest management in greenhouses and nurseries but because Broch is a phenomenal educator and “coach” there are plenty of best management practices and training strategies mixed in. Broch and Bill start with a conversation about XXpire, an insecticide with two active ingredients that provides control for 39 pests—while minimizing phytotoxicity risk and risk to beneficials and pollinators.  Then the topic shifts to IPM and the steps greenhouse teams can take to create a holistic plan that leads to results. Broch then dives into the importance of resistance management, a topic that is becoming more critical each year and one that he has plenty of expertise in and experience to share. You'll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode and share it with your entire production staff.   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/1qwbpAyXe5k    RESOURCES: XXpire Insecticide Insecticide Resistance Action Committee IRAC Mode of Action Structures Poster (English) IRAC Mode of Action Structures Poster (Spanish)

Recently retired Ball Technical Services Manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to talk finished vegetative petunia production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials AND this one is the final installment of our finished petunia miniseries—joining “common” seed-raised petunias and the Wave family of petunias in a dynamic trio of content.   From transplanting best practices and nutrition strategies to irrigation management and container selection, there are plenty of tips and tricks for your entire team. Will spends extra time on nutrition in this video, because fertilizer choice and application is so critical for vegetative petunias, as well as viral pathogens to watch out for and ideally prevent.   Resources:   GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide.pdf   GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide (Spanish): https://growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide_Spanish.pdf   GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_0624.pdf

Retired Ball technical manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to share protocols for finishing Wave petunias as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From media selection and nutrition to water, light and temperature, finishing crops requires careful attention to avoid losses and send high quality product out the door on time. In this discussion, Will continues our finished crop miniseries on petunias by sharing nuances for finishing Waves, especially looking at the differences in culture between Wave and common seed-raised petunias. Some of these intricacies include crop times, nutrition, photoperiod research specific to Wave and more.   As Will and Bill continue to say, PanAmerican Seed (the breeding company behind Wave) has done so much research into Wave and has developed tools to practically ensure success with this amazing collection of series and varieties. Some of these tools are listed below.   FINISHED CROP VIDEOS—FULL PLAYLIST   Resources:   PanAmerican Seed—All Wave Information: https://www.panamseed.com/Products/Brands/Wave/   Wave Smart Scheduling Tool: https://www.panamseed.com/Products/Brands/Wave/SmartSchedule/

Retired Ball technical manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to share protocols for finishing more common types of seed-raised (multiflora and grandiflora) petunias as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From media selection and nutrition to water, light and temperature, finishing crops requires careful attention to avoid losses and send high quality product out the door on time. In this discussion, Will focuses on turning crops quickly by transplanting induced plugs, keeping night temps above 65F and photoperiods longer than 10 hours.   FINISHED CROP PRODUCTION VIDEO—FULL PLAYLIST

Members of the Marketing Committee of That Flower Feeling join GUEST HOST Joan Mazat (Business Manager—Cut Flowers at Ball Seed Company) to share why this movement is so important to the cut flower industry. Join a dynamic group for an equally dynamic discussion about how and why industry leaders are actively working to motivate more consumers to view fresh flowers as a central part of their everyday routines, thereby raising overall floral integration and consumption. Guests: Karen Oie—Director of Sales, Smithers-Oasis North America Lisa Nason—Director of Marketing, Kennicott Brothers Carmen Marquez—Marketing Director, Ball SB That Flower Feeling is an industry-wide cooperative effort to encourage consumers to purchase more flowers regularly. The philosophy is simple: As long as people are bringing home flowers regularly, it's considered a success. The initiative aims to make the experience of having fresh flowers a part of daily life, challenging the notion that flowers should be reserved for special occasions. Resources: Learn more about That Flower Feeling at https://thatflowerfeeling.org/ Ball Seed Cut Flowers: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/  

This Tech On Demand podcast episode is all about spring pest control, integrated pest management and implementing biocontrol strategies that work. Host Bill Calkins is joined by Heidi Doering, the National Ornamental Team Lead and Technical IPM Consultant for the Midwest Region with Koppert. Koppert is a global market leader specializing in biological crop protection and Heidi has not only been with Koppert for almost 10 years but has a broad range of horticultural experience from greenhouse production to product management and sales, which means she has a unique perspective and breadth of knowledge to find unique IPM solutions for growers wherever they're at on the continuum of chemical, biological and hybrid approaches.   In this episode Bill and Heidi discuss what she's seeing and hearing as spring production ramps up across North America, her role as a “greenhouse CSI” when walking into a facility and meeting with owners and growers, common spring pests and potential prevention and management strategies, education and planning as they relate to biological IPM, the importance of relationships and her thoughts on Thrips parvispinus, the pepper thrips hitchhiking their way North on tropical plants. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this fantastic discussion!   RESOURCES: Koppert U.S.  Koppert Consultants & Locations Koppert Crop Protection Products 2024 GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide  

REDUCING THE RISK FROM A 2025 INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WEB-EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TRACI DOOLEY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: An increase in the frequency of severe weather events, reduced market capacity, higher labor, material, and equipment costs, and unusually high jury awards are all causing insurance premiums to rise across industries. For horticultural businesses, as the cost and frequency of your risk increases, your insurance must account for them to help keep your livelihood protected. Understanding these changes will help you make informed strategic decisions, including how best to mitigate your total risk to help offset several of these costs in the coming year. Here are five key trends that will affect your agribusiness risks and coverage in 2025, along with practical steps you can take to reduce risks and manage your policy expenses.   Read the web-exclusive article at Inside-Grower.com: https://www.inside-grower.com/Article/?articleid=27227

Whether you're finishing Zinnia Elegans, Marylandica or Angustifolia crops, Dr. Will Healy has the “rules of the road” to avoid or manage stretch (… if you turn your back on the crop, it's going to stretch!) and mitigate disease risk. Zinnias are a true classic when it comes to home gardens and breeding has brought this crop a long way, with new varieties, colors and flower forms still wowing customers generation after generation. But sending high quality out the door to landscape customers and garden centers requires close attention throughout production.   WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/vYpzo65kFCU   RESOURCES:   (VIDEO) At Risk Crops—Zinnia: https://youtu.be/XzX2dXs9584?si=fJnwFhfr9nNIrkwb   GrowerTalks' Grower Guides: https://www.growertalks.com/GrowerGuides/

There's a lot of “Sweet William” going on in this video … Tech On Demand host Bill “Sweet William” Calkins is joined once again by Dr. Will “Sweet William” Healy to discuss tips and tricks for finishing amazing dianthus crops at a time of year that can be challenging. From receiving plugs in cold weather and starting dianthus under long days to soil considerations and phosphorous deficiency risks, Will has plenty of advice to share so you and your team can be successful.   WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/7RcXvyFTdMo   

Impatiens walleriana might be the most-recognized garden plant—certainly the favorite for shade gardens and landscapes. Ball's recently retired technical guru Dr. Will Healy joins us once again to share tips and tricks for finishing key seed annuals. When you're producing impatiens, there are plenty of best practices to follow to avoid issues like stretch, tip abortion and guttation. Will has tons of experience to share to help keep you and your production team on track with impatiens!   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/iLWlxDOKJyw   RESOURCES:   VIDEO: Impatiens 2.0: https://youtu.be/ZYlEcrqWO5Q?si=eoa5u01KZfJrCmk7   VIDEO: At-Risk Crops—Impatiens: https://youtu.be/3o7CyRb-jUE?si=_s_dj8vRCiUkqff_   GrowerTalks' Grower Guides: https://www.growertalks.com/GrowerGuides/  

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR GROWTH FROM THE FEBRUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY AVIVA LeSHAW NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Shoppers today want more than a good deal on plants. They're looking for an experience—something seamless and personal. Research from the Square Future of Retail Report: 2024 Edition shows that a full 100% of retail businesses prefer automation for tasks like tracking inventory or ordering out-of-stock products, highlighting the growing demand for efficient, technology-driven solutions. For garden retailers, meeting these demands is essential.   Read the digital edition of Green Profit Magazine—February 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_25_02/index.aspx

Every garden center—big and small—offers tomato plants for home gardens. Your key differentiators are varieties, container sizes and quality. Be the top wholesale supplier in your market by following Dr. Will Healy's tomato production advice! In this Ball Tech On Demand crop-specific episode, he takes you through all the key factors necessary to finish high-quality tomato plants and send them to retail ready to sell. Tips for avoiding stretch and building root mass are covered in detail, as well as plenty more strategies Will has helped growers put into practice over many decades.   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/Zc4-LGfMTA0   RESOURCES:   VIDEO: At-Risk Crops—Tomato: https://youtu.be/aCBmuleuVXU?si=JV1wA7tF4ua6NRLb   GrowerTalks' Grower Guides: https://www.growertalks.com/GrowerGuides/  

THE ROOT OF LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY HARRISON DOWNING NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Just as early root health is the foundation of explosive plant growth in its influence on a plant's ability to develop properly and produce high yields, so is the importance of a thorough onboarding program for new hires in a company.    Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_01/index.aspx

Ball Seed Cut Flower Business Manager Joan Mazat takes over the golden TOD microphone to join Ball Cut Flower Guru Dave Dowling for a wonderful discussion about cut flowers. Dave shares stories from his beginnings growing flowers, owning a cut flower farm in Maryland for more than 20 years and subsequent career in the world of cut flower supply and product management. He also shares about his long-term involvement with the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) and how proud he is of the ASCFG Dave Dowling Scholarship that supports the future of the domestic cut flower industry by awarding scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career in horticulture—focusing on cut flower research and production.   Learn more about ASCFG's Dave Dowling Scholarship: https://www.ascfg.org/outreach/dowling-scholarship/   Find new varieties, best-sellers and many cut flower resources form Ball Seed: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/

COMMON SENSE FOR UNKNOWN PAYROLL PRESSURES FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL McCURRY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: With the country headed in a potentially different economic direction, old truths prevail. All payroll factors are local to your area's economy, your business realities, and your employees' financial situations. Let's look at ways to lessen employee stress, without pay raises that incur employer payroll taxes and employee income taxes.   Read the digital edition of GREEN PROFIT Magazine—January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_25_01/index.aspx

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT SOURCE FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL CALKINS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: … the team-based approach Ball Seed and its perennials partners employ to help customers solve challenges and optimize assortments. In this case, the grower worked with their sales rep, who in turn worked with supplier technical experts and R&D managers to find the best solution. This type of success extends across the entire Ball Seed perennial supply partner network and shines a spotlight on the importance of feedback loops and close communication.   Read the digital edition of GROWERTALKS Magazine—January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_01/index.aspx

Ball Technical Services specialist Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to talk finished vegetative Angelonia production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   From transplanting best practices and nutrition strategies to irrigation management and container selection, there are plenty of nuances to be aware of—especially avoiding boron deficiency—and Josh is here to help.   Resources:   WATCH THE VIDEO! Finishing Vegetative Angelonia—Promote Branching & Avoid Boron Deficiency: https://youtu.be/qaQ06b3kO7k   (ARTICLE) Branching Out with PGRs: https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=26878   (RESEARCH) Going Viral: https://e-gro.org/pdf/2023-12-39.pdf   (GROWER GUIDE) Plant Growth Regulator Guide for Annuals 2025-2026: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/PGR_GUIDE_2025-26_Annuals.pdf

Ball Technical Services specialist Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to share best management practices for propagating vegetative angelonia from unrooted cuttings as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   From receiving, prioritizing and handling through all stages up until transplant, Josh is going to help you reduce risk and produce top-quality liners. Research on optimum light levels and tips for holding cuttings (if that is necessary) are key points in this discussion.   Resources:   WATCH THE VIDEO! Vegetative Angelonia Propagation—Temperature, Light and More!: https://youtu.be/BbQ9G6z4LaY?si=JJsijOu_ZpRqy6Cz   (DOCUMENT) BMPs for URC Hydration: https://www.ballseed.com/PDF/TechOnDemand-URC-Hydration.pdf   (ARTICLE) Avoiding Diseases in Propagation: https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=24435   (RESEARCH) Effects of Increasing Light Quantity on Greenhouse Crops: https://e-gro.org/pdf/203.pdf

TAKING CONTROL EARLY FROM THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY TROY BUECHEL NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Building roots on young plants can be challenging. With poor weather conditions in winter and early spring, variable sun appearances, inconsistent rooting or germination, unknown plant genetics, etc., it's difficult to build great roots. Although these issues are outside of a grower's control, this article will cover some variables that can be controlled to help build great roots on young plants. Read the digital edition of GROWERTALKS Magazine—January 2025: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_01/index.aspx

In this comprehensive episode covering a key cut flower, Ball Seed's cut flower business manager Joan Mazat and Sakata Seed America's product technical manager Bob Croft discuss the Champion II series of campanula—with a uniform, shorter flowering window compared to older series, saving time and providing a quicker cycle for growers.   Bob shares tips and tricks for based on years of campanula production experience taking viewers from germination to transplant and on to finishing and post-harvest care. Campanula crops certainly have some nuances to be aware of, and Bob provides plenty of critical information for managing all factors of plant growth (light, water, nutrition, temperature and gas exchange), as well as strategies for controlling pests and diseases.   RESOURCES:   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/UaJZZgj3KfE Campanula Champion II from Sakata: https://sakataornamentals.com/plantname/champion-2/  Ball CutFlowers: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/ Tools from Ball CutFlowers (presentations & literature, market trends, videos, podcasts, Dave's newsletter, industry resources): https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/Resources/

MAXIMIZING PLANT POTENTIAL: SUBSTRATE INNOVATION EXPLAINED FROM THE WINTER 2024 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JOSE CHEN LOPEZ NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Choosing the right substrate for a particular application can be a challenge. Choosing the right beneficial microorganisms for a specific plant, mode of action and ensuring compatibility with other beneficial microorganisms can be excruciating.   When choosing and adding beneficial microorganisms to the substrate, growers must ensure that they're viable, that the carrier is compatible, that the application rate is uniform and homogenous within the whole volume of the substrate, and that they're from a reputable company. Read the digital edition of INSIDE GROWER Magazine—Winter 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/ig_24_11/index.aspx

Syngenta Flowers' Dr. Alicain Carlson joins host Bill Calkins to discuss some key components of successful cut flower mum programs. Dr. Carlson starts by discussing some of the reason cut mums are so popular before highlighting some key varieties in the Syngenta Flowers portfolio. Then she jumps right into cultural and technical tips and tricks for sending high-quality flowers to market.   From the start, you'll need to follow some best practices when receiving and handling young plants—planting immediately, protecting the crop in hoop houses when planting them in summer, using support netting to reduce losses and more. Once they are in production, lighting and temperature are critical, and understanding the impact of photoperiod is necessary for optimum flower timing. Alicain covers all of this, as well as strategies for pinching and bud removal to enhance branching and create different forms (single bloom vs. a spray of flowers). Then she wraps up with when to harvest and tactics for postharvest care.   RESOURCES:   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/sSURz16OGng   SYNGENTA FLOWERS CUT FLOWER ASSORTMENT & CULTURE GUIDES: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/cutflowers   CHRYSANTHEMUM AGRONOMIC PROGRAM: https://www.greencastonline.com/programs/pdf/mumagronomic.pdf   ALL ABOUT SUNFINITY (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/FkNh4yDCTU8   GROWING CUT FLOWER DAHLIAS (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/ddd680snZM8

Retired Ball technical services manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to discuss the ins and outs of finished African marigold production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   Will says African marigolds and French marigolds are like oranges and grapefruits when it comes to production protocols—meaning they're similar (like the two citrus fruits) but very different in many ways. He takes you from plug transplant to shipping, with a particular focus on iron toxicity related to phosphorous deficiencies, tips for minimizing stretch to avoid the need for too many PGRs, nutrition to keep them growing strong and how to avoid Botrytis in the flower heads. Will has worked with many growers dealing with leaf spots and his advice on phosphorous is based on hundreds of crops and decades of experience.   Will also spends plenty of time on fall production of African marigolds for Day of the Dead sales, which is certainly a growing market and newer sales opportunity for many of you.   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/nfA66OczRQM

Retired Ball technical services manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to help growers finish French marigolds for quick turns as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   If elementary school kids can grow French marigolds in Dixie cups, they must not be too difficult … But finishing professional-quality crops requires attention to detail—especially pH, nutrition, moisture management and lighting. Will is here to explain all the nuances so you can avoid stretch and turn them quickly to maximize profits.   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/dePbEKylbYo

Ball Technical Services specialist Chris Ferguson joins host Bill Calkins to talk finished lantana production as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   From transplanting best practices and nutrition strategies to irrigation management and container selection, there are plenty of nuances to be aware of and Chris is here to help.   Resources:   Watch the VIDEO! https://youtu.be/Gqoz00MIr7M   GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide.pdf   GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide (Spanish): https://growertalks.com/pdf/2025_IMF_Guide_Spanish.pdf   GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_0624.pdf

Ball Technical Services specialist Chris Ferguson joins host Bill Calkins to share best management practices for propagating lantana from unrooted cuttings as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   From receiving, prioritizing and handling through all stages up until transplant, Chris is going to help you reduce risk and produce top-quality liners.   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/Tff-o5FfZ9U 

Syngenta Flowers technical lead Dr. Brian Krug joins host Bill Calkins to discuss two new series—Pansy Delta Pro and Viola Penny Pro—sharing tips and tricks for maximizing production of these breakthrough new varieties. The Delta Pro pansy series was released a couple years ago as a comprehensive upgrade to Delta, an industry leader for more than 30 years and Penny Pro violas are new for 2025. When such iconic series are completely retooled, it shows that the breeders have been hard at work and truly identified improvements that can be brought to growers and end users.   Brian explains exactly why both Delta Pro and Penny Pro offer major benefits for growers, including Delta's super-short timing window (all colors bloom within 10 days!), reduced need for PGRs and huge 3-inch blooms; and Penny's flower power, non-stretching habit and vigorous root system.   After taking you through the key features, Dr. Krug dives deep into best practices when propagating and finishing both Delta Pro and Penny Pro. Although your production of these new series will look a lot like typical pansy and viola plans, there are a few nuances to note. Breeding for compact habit in production dictates lower PGR needs and the tight bloom window for Delta Pro means you don't have to stagger these pansies to ship the full color range in flower. Brian also shares some tips and tricks learned throughout the years working with pansy and viola growers that will no doubt benefit your team. NOTE: Delta Pro was bred for Spring OR Fall production, which is fantastic, and Brian touches on this in his presentation, as well as some regionally-specific advice to help growers across all of North America.   RESOURCES: Delta Pro—Produced for Precision: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/deltapro   Penny Pro—Produced for Performance: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/pennypro   Syngenta Technical Library: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/techlibrary/search/techlibrary   WATCH Delta Pro Grow—Comparison Trial Time Lapse Video: https://youtu.be/PnChUHNehcE?si=NVe-8QVNQe0XmZ_Z

Ball Technical Services specialist Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to take vegetative coleus to the finish line as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   From transplanting and pinching to selecting media and producing for a range of finished container sizes, there are certainly best practices to follow when growing coleus. Josh covers all of this and more, including nutrition, light, temperature and PGRs to help you create a winning production plan. Then he touches on pest and disease management with an emphasis on reducing risks associated with coleus downy mildew.   Resources:   VIDEO: https://youtu.be/cVbRSj7K7dM    GrowerTalks PGR Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/PGR_GUIDE_2023-24_Annuals.pdf   e-GRO Coleus Disorder Guide: https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2022-11-06.pdf

Ball Technical Services specialist Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to share best management practices for propagating vegetative coleus from unrooted cuttings as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials.   From receiving, prioritizing and handling through all stages up until transplant, Josh is going to help you reduce risk and produce top-quality liners.   Resources:   VIDEO: https://youtu.be/G32TupPcTF4    e-GRO Coleus Disorder Guide: https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2022-11-06.pdf   Avoiding Diseases in Propagation: https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=24435

In this comprehensive discussion covering a key cut flower, Ball Seed's cut flower business manager Joan Mazat and Sakata Seed America's product technical manager Bob Croft discuss F1 Anemone Gemstone (seed-raised anemone) and share tips and tricks for selecting and producing top-quality crops.   Bob shares his experience with this F1 seed series—from germination to transplant and on to finishing and post-harvest care. He helps cut flower growers and flower farmers manage all factors of plant growth (light, water, nutrition, temperature and gas exchange), offers strategies for controlling pests and diseases and explains the benefits of starting anemone from seeds versus corms.   RESOURCES: Anemone Gemstone from Sakata: https://sakataornamentals.com/plantname/gemstone/   Ball CutFlowers: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/   Tools from Ball CutFlowers (presentations & literature, market trends, videos, podcasts, Dave's newsletter, industry resources): https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/Resources/

Ball Technical Services specialist and culture research manager, Dr. Nathan Jahnke, joins Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins to share research-based best practices for rehydrating unrooted cuttings before sticking.   Cuttings can (and will) lose water at multiple points in the supply chain—arriving at greenhouses dehydrated by as much as 20%. As soon as harvest occurs, dehydration begins and although offshore farms have greatly improved harvest and handling processes in recent years, your young plants go through a lot before they land on your benches, ready to grow. Wilted cuttings can negatively impact production from the earliest stages, resulting in shrink and losses.   Dr. Jahnke walks growers through potential dehydration points in the supply chain and the challenges that result from dehydrated cuttings before explaining why water loss occurs and some of the ways farms are working to improve cutting hydration and handling. Then he moves quickly into ways growers can rehydrate cuttings before sticking, from good (misting) to better (dipping) to best (fogging) practices. From arrival to inspection and staging, protocols are offered to help production teams manage cuttings effectively.   RESOURCES   Article: Tech On Demand Best Management Practices for URC Hydration https://ballseed.com/PDF/TechOnDemand-URC-Hydration.pdf   Article: Rehydrating Unrooted Cuttings https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=26603   Article: Tips for Rooting Difficult or Slow-to-Root Cuttings https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2020_904.pdf   Article: Swish-Swish—Dipping Unrooted Vegetative Cuttings to Reduce Incoming Pest Populations https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2024-13-05.pdf   Article: Improve Your Success with Unrooted Cuttings https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=24307   Article: Stick & Die—How to Avoid It https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=25582   Article: Tech On Demand Poinsettia URC Action Guide https://ballseed.com/documents/Poinsettia-URC-Shipping-Performance-ActionGuide.pdf   Video Playlist: The Importance of Vapor Pressure Deficit https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8NX3KFjAfBn48BahYB5oaQpfb-jRy_3C&si=DXEDmuI0lNLxeq4K   Video Playlist: BMPs to Enhance Rooting Uniformity https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8NX3KFjAfBkUFpE72nX37ByIG9mjqg_o&si=giBR0RLmBDPd4cAO

This episode is all about a cutting-edge approach to insect and disease control—the use of botanical oil-based pesticides within IPM programs. Host Bill Calkins is joined by the director of research and development with the crop technologies division at Kemin Industries, Emily Fuerst. Emily is a highly accomplished scientist with more than 15 years' experience merging science with agricultural insights to drive innovation across product categories and her passion for insects and expertise in the science of essential oils has led to the launch of a wide range of products responding to grower needs and agriculture challenges.   In this episode, the conversation starts by getting to know Kemin, a family-owned company operating since the 1960s producing science-based ingredients found in the food we eat and supplements we use, as well as nutrition for healthy livestock, poultry, aquaculture and more. Since about 2018, Kemin has been focusing a lot on our industry, bringing innovative solutions to the greenhouse and nursery markets.   As Emily and Bill move into the topic of oil-based biopesticides, you'll learn why essential oils have the potential to keep pests and diseases under control while minimizing the use of standard chemical pesticides in an IPM program, all supported by scientific trials and success stories. Research and application show these products not only prevent or control greenhouse pests and disease to the same or greater levels compared to conventional chemistries but can be much safer for workers with low to no REI.   Some of Kemin's leading products such as Romivex DIP (contact miticide and insecticide ideal for cuttings dips), PathoCURB (thyme-oil based fungicide and bactericide) and TetraCURB (miticide-insecticide for TSSM and soft-bodied insects) can not only prevent and solve common greenhouse problems but also extend the effectiveness of conventional chemistries when used in IPM programs and rotations.   It's truly a fun and informative conversation, so be sure to listen all the way to the end!   RESOURCES:   Kemin Crop Technologies: https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/crop-tech   Kemin's Greenhouse & Nursery Products: https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/crop-tech/greenhousenurserysolutions   Kemin Team Blog: https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/blog/crop-tech   LinkedIn—Kemin Crop Technologies: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kemin-crop-technologies/

Retired Ball technical manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to share protocols for finishing seed-raised coleus as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From media selection and nutrition to water, light and temperature, finishing crops requires careful attention to avoid losses and send high quality product out the door on time. Will is going to help reduce your risk in this process.

Retired Ball technical manager Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins to share protocols for finishing seed-raised begonias (semperflorens and interspecific) as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From media selection and nutrition to water, light and temperature, finishing crops requires careful attention to avoid losses and send high quality product out the door on time. Will is going to help reduce your risk in this process.   VIDEO: Achieving Uniformity in Begonia Germination VIDEO: Training Your Team to Water Properly More Tech On Demand Videos on YouTube    

Syngenta Flowers' Dr. Jamie Gibson joins host Bill Calkins to discuss just about everything you need to know when producing amazing crops of both Sunfinity Yellow Dark Center (from seeds or plugs) and Sunfinity Double (from unrooted cuttings or liners). This sunflower broke into the industry as a gamechanger not long ago and after multiple years wowing shoppers at retail and in landscape installations, the Syngenta team debuted Double Sunfinity at California Spring Trials this year. Yellow Dark Center and Double are very different crops—from their form (seed vs. vegetative) and how they need to be produced. Dr. Gibson discusses both in detail, including all of the nuances for growers to remember when adding these sunflowers to the mix.   Jamie shares research-based tips and tricks for scheduling, culture and production, positioning for optimal sales during three seasons and even gives a sneak peek into what's coming next in the Sunfinity lineup. The team at Syngenta has conducted extensive research and trials with Sunfinity and you'll definitely benefit from all of this work, so be sure to listen all the way to the end of this discussion to set your team up for success.   RESOURCES: Sunfinity—The Next Generation of Sunflowers: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/portfolios/sunfinity   Sunfinity Inspiration: https://mysunfinity.com/   GrowerTalks PGR Guide for Annuals: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/PGR_GUIDE_2023-24_Annuals.pdf  

Syngenta Flowers' Dr. Alicain Carlson joins host Bill Calkins to discuss some key components of successful cut flower dahlia programs when starting from unrooted cuttings (URCs). Traditionally, most dahlia crops have been started from tubers, which were dug up and stored each year before replanting. Now, with beautiful dahlias available from URC, many growers are taking advantage of the benefits that come from this form of production. When buying from a reputable supplier, these inputs are virus and disease free with excellent uniformity across the crop, as well as simplified scheduling and potential cost savings. Dr. Carlson digs into the pros and cons of stating from URCs, as well as highlighting some key varieties in the Syngenta Flowers portfolio before moving into culture and production strategies.   Here's what you'll learn throughout the discussion:   Propagation tips for rooting into 50- or 105-cell trays Importance of long-day lighting in prop Rooting hormone trials and recommendations Why NOT to pinch young plants Winter dahlia production strategies Protocols for maximizing flower quality and “double-ness” Trial results from temperature research specific to dahlias How and when to perform a “hard pinch” after transplant Irrigation and nutrition in the field Pest and disease management in finished crops Postharvest care of dahlias   SYNGENTA FLOWERS CUT FLOWER ASSORTMENT & CULTURE GUIDES: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/cutflowers

This episode supplements information shared in the past two editions of the GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide that was released in June 2023 and 2024—a popular grower tool intended to help professional growers stay up to date on the latest research into biosolutions, as well as trialed and tested products and strategies.   Many greenhouse owners, growers and IPM managers are moving down the path of softer, more sustainable pest and disease control tactics but continue to use traditional or synthetic chemicals, as well as bio-based products and beneficials or biological control agents. It is this conjunctive approach and the compatibility knowledge required that provides the basis for host Bill Calkins to talk to this episode's special guest.   Dr. Carlos Bográn wrote two well received articles for our first Biosolutions Guide—Using Bioinsecticides in your Greenhouse and Using Bioinsecticides in Conjunction with Biocontrol Agents—and now he joins the podcast to dig much deeper into these topics. Carlos and Bill also discuss high-tech new research findings, different ways to approach pest population management, how the economics of biosolutions has evolved, the current state of the market and new, cutting-edge products becoming available.   Resources:   GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide—1st Edition: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/Biosolutions_Guide_2023.pdf   GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide—2nd Edition: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_0624.pdf   OHP, Inc.: https://www.ohp.com/ OHP Regional Technical Sales Managers: https://www.ohp.com/Company/sales_regions.php OHP Literature & Recipes for Success: https://www.ohp.com/Literature/   OHP Chemical Class Chart: https://www.ohp.com/Literature/pdf/OHP_Chemical_Class_Chart.pdf   OHP Product Guide: https://www.ohp.com/Literature/pdf/OHP_Chemical_Class_Chart.pdf

Host Bill Calkins is joined on this Tech On Demand Rewind episode by Darwin Perennials' General Manager Karl Batschke to take you through some new ways to better produce some of the latest and greatest perennial genetics.   But he didn't talk about the easy ones. Instead, Karl addressed some of the more challenging crops and also newer crops that require different cultural and technical regimes. Let's call  them “Perennial Problem Children”. And like a good guidance counselor, Karl treated each one as an individual and created a custom plan to maximize their potential so you can achieve the results you want—your best crops ever.  But since Bill had Karl on the hook for 40 minutes, he asked him plenty of questions about the market for perennials, what he was seeing and hearing in his travels pre-2020 and thoughts and predictions for the future, which since this conversation is almost 6 years old … could be what we're experiencing today! Darwin Perennials Resources: https://www.darwinperennials.com/

TESTING NURSERY MEDIA FROM THE AUGUST 2024 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY LYNN GRIFFITH NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Don't just grab a containerized plant and call that a sample. We like to think of our potting media and fertilizers being perfectly uniform. The truth is they are not. Take about eight to 10 subsamples for each media sample you wish to collect, whether testing in house or at an outside lab. Insert the soil probe from top to bottom of the soil profile. Give the soil probe a twist with your wrist in order to bite into the soil a little bit, sort of a figure 8. This gives you a nice full profile of soil in the probe. If you just stick the soil into the media and pull it out, you won't get a full tube of soil, especially if the media is dry. Tap each subsample into the bucket.   Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—August 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_24_08/index.aspx

Joining host Bill Calkins live on the show floor at American Hort's Cultivate '24 event, Dr. JC Chong dives deep into a few new products from SePRO, recent research findings and why some chemistries offer more benefits than meets the eye.   JC is the Technical Development Manager at SePRO following an extensive academic career that includes a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona, graduate training at the University of Georgia, post-doctoral training at the University of Florida and a professorship at Clemson University. With almost 20 years in the turf and ornamental industry, he's now leading SePRO's ornamental R&D program, delivering innovative solutions to complex problems. He's also the editor of the popular PestTalks e-newsletter and a frequent contributor to GrowerTalks!   In this fun and informational episode, JC and Bill chat about the 2024 season, Thrips parvispinus and what pests and diseases are impacting fall annuals, perennials and holiday crops now before moving into some new products SePRO has introduced in the past year. Bill learns a new word, “symbiont”, and the science behind why a PGR like Topflor is showing visible plant quality benefits in production.   JC shares some reasons all growers should consider adding the fungicide Obtego to the toolbox and then shares exactly why SePRO's new StriCore herbicide is a true breakthrough. It's not often that we see new active ingredients enter the pre-emergent herbicide market, so it makes sense turf and nursery growers are excited about this one.   Be sure to listen all the way to the end because when a podcast is recorded face-to-face, you never know what to expect.   RESOURCES:   SePRO's Science-Based Solutions: https://www.sepro.com/   SePRO Ornamental Products: https://www.sepro.com/hort   Thrips parvispinus Rotation Guide: https://sepro.com/media/3924/thrips-rotation-guide.pdf   Topflor PGR: https://sepro.com/hort/topflor-liquid   Obtego Fungicide & Plant Symbiont: https://sepro.com/hort/obtego   StriCore Herbicide: www.StriCoreHerbicide.com  

In this comprehensive episode covering a key cut flower, Ball Seed's cut flower business manager Joan Mazat and Sakata Seed America's product technical manager Bob Croft join host Bill Calkins to discuss Lisianthus and share tips and tricks for selecting and producing top-quality crops.   You'll quickly realize that Bob has tremendous knowledge about and experience with Lisianthus, as he walks greenhouse growers and flower farmers through the ins and outs of the crop—from site preparation and proper classification/grouping to managing all factors of plant growth (light, water, nutrition, temperature and gas exchange) and controlling pests and diseases. Bob wraps up with harvesting protocols, post-harvest strategies and storage tips before he and Joan share some of their favorite series and why Lisianthus is a cut flower favorite.   Resources:   Ball Seed Cut Flower Programs: https://www.ballseed.com/cutflowers/   Sakata Cut Flower Technical Sheets: https://sakataornamentals.com/resources/