From the Field: Fresh Growth, Fresh Insights

Spring is officially here—finally! After a long winter, there's nothing quite like the promise of fresh growth, longer days, and, of course, spring flowers in the landscape and garden centers. At AFE, it also marks the start of a new season of travel, grower visits, and industry events, which I love because it brings me back to my roots. (Another thing I love - plant puns!) Before joining AFE, I spent years in university extension, helping translate research and scientific information into practical resources. In many ways, I still do the same thing at AFE —just on a broader, national scale. With our funded research, monthly Grow Pro Webinar series, Sustainabloom, and more, I often think of AFE as Cooperative…

The Node Knows: Cracking the Code on Faster Growth

For greenhouse growers, the speed at which plants develop new nodes (where the leaves, branches, buds, and new growth emerge) plays a crucial role in efficiency and profitability. Faster-growing plants mean quicker turnaround, higher cutting yields, and better adaptability to different growing conditions. Recent research from Michigan State University, supported by the American Floral Endowment, has uncovered new insights into the genetic regulation of growth rate in petunias. These discoveries could have far-reaching implications for breeding faster-growing, more energy-efficient ornamental plants across the industry. Faster Growth Means More Profits The speed at which a plant grows—specifically, how quickly it produces new leaves and branches—has a big impact on greenhouse production. A faster-growing plant can mean: Shorter production times, allowing for…

On the Road to Educate: Bringing Our Programs to the Industry

Spring is kicking off as a busy season for the AFE team! From Board Meetings, to industry events, our team has been hard at work spreading the message about AFE and our latest programs, like Sustainabloom, with the industry. Meeting with professionals from across the nation also helps us to hear about current challenges, needs, and areas where AFE programs can help. Pre-Valentine’s Day Miami Experience First up, Michelle Van Norden, Manager of Development and Donor Engagement, took a trip to Miami with Rob Shibata, President of Mt. Eden Floral, ahead of Valentine's Day to see the flower operations during the busy holiday rush. Rob, with his many years of experience in the industry, invited Michelle, who is relatively new…

Cultivating Future Leaders: Graduate Students Shine at 2025 NFF

AFE programs strive to continuously empower young professionals in our industry, and provide them with educational and networking opportunities to grow their experiences and careers in floral. Recently, 10 floriculture graduate students from across the nation were provided the opportunity to attend the 2025 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) with grants from the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund! The NFF is an annual event that brings together researchers, industry leaders, scientists, and faculty to promote communication, advancement and unity in the floriculture community. AFE sponsors this event each year with an educational grant. The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund, which supported the students’ attendance this year, awards grants for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields at…

Marigold Magic: A Natural Solution for Thrips Management

Managing thrips populations can be a persistent challenge for greenhouse growers, but an innovative guardian plant strategy using marigolds offers a simple, cost-effective solution. AFE-funded research from our Thrips and Botrytis Campaign has shown that yellow marigolds are highly attractive to western flower thrips, often drawing them out of crops two weeks earlier than traditional monitoring methods like sticky cards. By integrating marigolds into pest management programs, growers can lure thrips away from their crops and even further target them with other biocontrols before they become a serious problem.  A slow-release sachet containing predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris) is attached to the marigold to attack thrips adults and immatures on the foliage. All of this information and more is available online…

Call for Research Proposals: Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund 

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund (FCGFRF) of the American Floral Endowment (AFE) is now accepting grant proposals for research and educational projects in floriculture. The submission deadline is April 1, 2025.Eligible proposals include those addressing critical topics in floriculture related to plant pathology, plant breeding, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, entomology, and plant physiology. Applications are open to universities, colleges, and federal research institutions across the United States.Since its inception in 1960, the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation has awarded $7.5 million to support innovative floriculture research. In 2024, the FCGFRF awarded over $134,000 in grants focused on disease resistance, sustainable growing practices, and technological advancements for the industry.Applications must be submitted electronically as a PDF document to AFE Research Coordinator Laura Barth (lbarth@afeendowment.org) by April 1,…

Looking Ahead: Resources, Opportunities, and Innovations from AFE

Happy 2025, floral industry! We hope your year is off to a great start. AFE’s team is excited to kick off another incredible year filled with free educational programming, expanded funding opportunities, and new resources tailored for every segment of the floral industry. Here’s a glimpse of what you can be looking ahead to in 2025: Tailored Resources for Every Segment of the Industry We recognize that the range of jobs in the floral industry is diverse, with unique challenges and opportunities across different segments. That’s why we’ve developed landing pages specifically tailored to your needs - on our homepage, you can access a customized library of programs, research results, and latest news for your profession! Check it out here.…

TAMU Professor Recounts AFE’s Impact on Her Career

While pursuing her Master of Science in Horticulture at Texas A&M University (TAMU), Dr. Xuan (Jade) Wu, AIFD, CFD, EMC, CEJ, had the opportunity to serve as a lab instructor for a floral design course. This experience sparked her passion for the field and introduced her to the American Floral Endowment (AFE). It was a moment in her educational path that fused her future ambitions with an organization that was well-equipped to help her achieve them.  “AFE significantly impacted my whole professional development journey,” she said. After completing her undergraduate studies at Beijing Forestry University in China, Wu traveled to the United States to work toward her master’s degree with a concentration in rose breeding and genetics. She set her…

Registration Now Open for 2025 National Floriculture Forum

Floriculture stakeholders from academic institutions, governmental agencies, and the floriculture/greenhouse industry are cordially invited to attend the 2025 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) taking place on February 21-22, 2025 at the University of Florida UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center. For over two decades, dedicated faculty and educators have collaborated to organize these annual events that promote unity, communication, and advancement within the floriculture community.  Register by Jan. 31, 2025 1. Register online here. The registration form includes information for travel grant applications, title submissions, roommate matching, dietary restrictions, and more. The full agenda can be viewed in the 2025 NFF Flyer here. 2. Pay the registration fee of $110 here. This fee includes all tours, park fees, and most meals. Registration is kept inexpensive thanks to support from the American Floral Endowment. Travel grants are available…

Optimizing Nighttime LED Lighting to Accelerate Flowering of Long-Day Plants

Growers often face the challenge of promoting early flowering in long-day plants during seasons with short natural daylight hours. A recent study by Dr. Qingwu Meng and Thomas J. Kramer from the University of Delaware, supported by AFE, offers practical insights into how different types and durations of nighttime LED lighting can enhance flowering in crops like snapdragons and petunias. By adjusting lighting strategies, growers can reduce production cycles, save costs, and improve plant quality. Key Findings The study revealed that the spectrum of light plays a significant role in influencing flowering in long-day plants. Snapdragons and petunias showed distinct responses to warm-white (WW) and red + far-red (R+FR) LEDs. Snapdragons flowered up to 28% earlier under R+FR LEDs due…

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