Impact of Irrigation and Fertilization Practices on Herbaceous Perennial Growth and Flowering

The visual appearance of plant materials is an important purchasing factor for consumers. Uneven growth, poor branching, wilting, and nutrient deficiencies can reduce the salability of plants. Insufficient irrigation and fertilization can impact various aspects of growth including height, internode length, and leaf area. Over-irrigation and over-fertilization can also result in unfavorable growth responses. Excessive growth often results in leggy, floppy plants with uneven growth; these plants have a greater potential for damage during shipping or in the retail setting. Reduced irrigation and fertilizer inputs can lessen the environmental impact of production by reducing the nutrient-laden coming from the production area. Reduced irrigation also has the potential to be used as a method of plant growth control in place of…

Introducing Research and Outreach Project LAMP: Lighting Approaches to Maximize Profit

Figure 1. Black-eyed Susan seedlings exposed to the same DLI as photoperiod increased from 12 to 21 hours. Plants receiving 21 hr of lighting had a 30% higher shoot dry weight than 12 hr plants.IntroductionSupplemental lighting provides quicker crop turns, higher yields, and increased quality for the $6.5 billion a year greenhouse floriculture and vegetable industry. But it comes at a steep cost, especially when growers adopt LED technology. Electricity for lighting can account for 20-30% of operating costs and lighting has been estimated to cost the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry $600 million annually. Enter Project LAMP. They are a research and outreach team funded by a grant from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative. The study’s mission is to…

‘BCAs are your little employees, treat them like that’

Dr. Mette Nielsen on how different aspects of greenhouse climates affect BCAs and the efficacy of IPM “Biological control agents can be seen as the grower’s little employees and just like people, there are things they need to enable them to work effectively.” This was the opening line from a recent IPM webinar hosted by Autogrow and featuring guest expert Dr. Mette Nielsen, Ph. D. MSc Plant Protection from the Plant and Food Research Institute of New Zealand. In Combating Harmful Pests Without Spraying More Chemicals, Dr. Nielsen discusses how different aspects of greenhouse climates affect biological control agents (BCAs) and the efficacy of Integrated Pest Management. IPM is Primarily About PreventionWe’ve all heard the adage, “prevention is better than…

Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving

Consider a year-end gift to the floral industry this holiday season. By making a donation to AFE, you are supporting the continued success of our industry through programs and resources aimed at solving challenges and promoting opportunities in floriculture.  Donate Here

AFE’s Research Accomplishments – Past, Present, and Future

In 1843, Charles Dickens introduced the world to the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The visits by these spirits transformed Scrooge from being a miser to someone who treated everyone with kindness, generosity, and compassion. This same type of generosity has allowed AFE to help the industry through the years. The support given to AFE goes directly towards helping our floral community overcome challenges and further grow.As the Ghost of Christmas Past would note, the floral industry has been providing funds to the American Floral Endowment for nearly 60 years. AFE-funded research has led to successful advancements in flower production, care and handling, shipping, marketing, and pest/disease challenges.Present AFE research focuses on eliminating thrips and botrytis, lighting advances,…

Consumer Valuation of Plants Project: Intercept Interview Results Preview

A small introductory qualitative study was completed to set the stage for the plant valuation research project and inform upcoming quantitative studies. Intercept interviews (n=44) were conducted at three garden center locations in Southern Ontario as well as one location in British Columbia and one in Saskatchewan in September 2020. Shoppers were intercepted on their way to the cash register and interviewed regarding their purchase decision-making process and the role of pricing in their decision. It was found the majority of shoppers mainly focus on plant attributes when making a choice and only look at price as an afterthought. Although most stated they noticed the price and made a qualitative judgment that it was “fair”, only around 30 percent made…

Preparing for Valentine’s Week 2021

How Do I Love Thee? Let’s Me Count the Dollars!Indeed, we’re all reciting love sonnets to the success of Valentine’s Week 2021, as 2020 has dulled so many financial arrows! In 2020, Valentine’s Day fell on a Friday, and in 2021, Valentine’s Day will move to the end of a weekend – SUNDAY! Yikes!  In the retail floral business, this is equal to kissing a frog!But Cupid’s not the only one with arrows in his quiver! How do we hit our financial bull’s eye and convert the pigeons of discontent into the bluebirds of happiness? With the Valentine’s holiday holding court as the first- or second-largest sales week of the year, and generating 30 percent to 40 percent of the…

Why Support AFE – A History of Giving

Read About Lee Phillip Bell and Be InspiredWhen William and Lee Phillip Bell created their popular daytime drama, “The Bold and the Beautiful,” presumably they sought a name that would lure potential viewers. Unintentionally they selected one that perfectly describes Ms. Bell. A woman of striking beauty, she and her husband took a bold step and created, co-produced and launched their first daytime drama, “The Young and the Restless” in 1973. “The Bold and the Beautiful” followed 14 years later. The Bell’s two successful dramas earned them 18 Emmy Awards and it also enabled them to reside in a mansion whose prior owners included Cary Grant and Howard Hughes. (Since her death this February, the home has been purchased by LeBron…

Memorial Tribute Established in Memory of Arthur Brentwood Humphrey

Art had many skills that he acquired in his always continuing quest for knowledge and learning how things work. One of those was becoming an expert welder and he spent many hours in his shop often repairing or building things for others. For example, as retail florists transitioned from large vans to smaller ones, he developed a removable shelf deck for the NV200 and Transit vans that increased the amount of product the trucks could hold. Checks can be sent to:American Floral Endowmentc/o Arthur Brentwood Humphrey Memorial Tribute610 Madison Street, Ste. 101, PMB 803Alexandria, VA 22314 The family is always notified of donations and contributions can be made in any amount.

Memorial Tribute Established in Memory of Arthur Brentwood Humphrey

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) announces a new memorial tribute in memory of Arthur Brentwood Humphrey, a longtime friend of the floral industry who died on October 6, 2020, at the age of 74. The $1,000 fund was established by the Mayme Leong Family of Ah Sam Florist and Ken & Lynn Young of Phoenix Flower Shops. Arthur was the owner of FM3 Systems and provided computer consulting services and business solutions to florists across the country to help increase their productivity and profitability. Arthur had a special way of coming into your world and turning it upside down to point you in the right direction. His unique process and style affectionately earned him the nickname of “Awful Arthur” and…

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