TECH ON DEMAND brought to you by GrowerTalks

Audio Files: Cultivating a Future in Garden Retail

CULTIVATING A FUTURE IN GARDEN RETAIL

FROM THE APRIL 2024 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY JEFF O’BRIEN

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: Garden retailers are facing a critical challenge as the shift from traditional customers to fresh-thinking Millennials (and younger generations) reshapes the future of how the horticulture industry evolves.

 

As the demographic landscape of our society shifts, so too must the strategies of garden retailers and how they connect with this new wave of customers. 

 

Read the digital edition of Green Profit Magazine—April 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_24_04/index.aspx

Audio Files: Early Spring Jump-Starts the Season

EARLY SPRING JUMP-STARTS THE SEASON

FROM THE JUNE 2024 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY AMY MORRIS

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: As we wait for winter to fade into a distant memory and the first hints of spring color to emerge, we prepare our crops for sales, in hopes of growing our business. An early spring can lead to increased consumer spending, and gardeners feeling optimistic and ready to spend, especially younger consumers and new plant lovers.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—June 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_24_06/index.aspx

Audio Files: Re-Check Your Checklist—A Safety Consultant's Guide to Managing Greenhouse Risks

RE-CHECK YOUR CHECKLIST—A SAFETY CONSULTANT’S GUIDE TO MANAGING GREENHOUSE RISKS

FROM THE JUNE 2024 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY ZACH BRUCE

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: My job is to guide our customers through potential hazards. We discuss risk scenarios, navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape and identify gaps in safety programs. My goal is to help growers of all sizes enhance safety within their business. This article is a reflection of those conversations.

I’ve gathered the most common risks I see on a daily basis and paired them with reminders to help you apply strategies within your own greenhouse.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—June 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_24_06/index.aspx

Audio Files: Making Use of UV-C

MAKING USE OF UV-C

FROM THE MAY 2024 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: However, used correctly, the benefits seem to outweigh the risk: UV-C systems are relatively easy to implement, are cost-effective, require no re-entry period, reduce chemical use, improve the overall health of your crops, and can help you comply with existing and new regulations regarding chemical use and runoff water sanitation.

 

Overall, as UV-C technology becomes more tested, proven and widespread, it will be an excellent tool to consider adding to your IPM arsenal.

 

Read the digital edition of Inside Grower Magazine—May 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/ig_24_02/index.aspx

Audio Files: Pansy Transplant Establishment

PANSY TRANSPLANT ESTABLISHMENT

FROM THE JANUARY 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY JAMIE GIBSON

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: Every pansy grower strives for uniform growth while minimizing plant losses. One major source of pansy crop failure is the improper treatment of plugs upon transplant into the finishing tray.

In order to be successful, you must consider several factors in the establishment of pansies. These include pre-plant plug status, substrate preparation, irrigation, fertilization and nutritional monitoring, and substrate fungicide drenching.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—January 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_01/index.aspx

Talking Tropica Mandevilla & Dipladenia with Maria Bolinger

Ball FloraPlant released the Tropica collection of mandevilla and dipladenia at 2024 California Spring Trials with more than 15 colors carefully sorted into five collections. The flowering tropical plant category is booming with consumer demand and Tropicas seem to be entering the market at the right time. Host Bill Calkins is joined by BallFloraplant’s Southeast and Southwest regional territory manager, Maria Bolinger for a fun discussion about what makes Tropica different and why it’s cutting-edge breeding and carefully curated collections creates opportunities for growers producing tropicals to meet market demand.

 

The Tropica assortment includes a range of colors (solid, as well as unique) with different profiles and habits selected to fit into a variety of container types and landscapes. There are compact, bush types (Tropica Modesto collection); medium-vigor bush profiles (Tropica Medio); medium-vining (Tropica Grande); large vining (Tropica Grandiosa) and a collection of novelty types (Tropica Unico). Maria explains the best uses for each and how to select and grow them for maximum retail appeal and optimal sell through. She also shares some of her favorites and how to use them in jaw-dropping combinations.

 

Maria and Bill have been friends and coworkers for years, so you can expect a fun and dynamic discussion. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this episode for tons of retail ideas and help putting together the best assortment possible.

 

RESOURCES:

 

Ball FloraPlant Website: https://www.ballfloraplant.com/

 

Tropica Collection & Grower Specs: https://www.ballfloraplant.com/pdf/Tropica-Mandevilla-SellSheet-BallFloraPlant-2024.pdf

 

Ball FloraPlant at California Spring Trials 2024 (video): https://youtu.be/7J8tPDV-Aio?si=TPqPZ-e7H0Mgd0wi

Audio Files BONUS DOUBLE EPISODE: Keep Your Points Disease Free & A Quick Review of Poinsettia Downy Mildew

KEEP YOUR POINTS DISEASE-FREE

FROM THE MAY 2024 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY KURT BECKER

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

AND TO CELEBRATE AUDIO FILES #50! WHEN THIS ONE ENDS … JUST KEEP LISTENING FOR …

 

A QUICK REVIEW OF POINSETTIA DOWNY MILDEW

WRITTEN BY NORA CATLIN

ALSO FROM THE MAY 2024 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS

 

EXCERPT 1: Poinsettia Bract Edge Burn is a common occurrence in this Christmas crop. Brown necrotic lesions occur on the bract margin. The primary cause for this is low levels of calcium in the bract. Some poinsettia varieties have difficulty translocating calcium to the bract margin as the bract expands. Once necrosis begins, Botrytis can follow, often leading to more plant damage.

EXCERPT 2: After a long while of not seeing powdery mildew on poinsettias, several cases were seen last season. Perhaps that was a fluke and we won’t see it again—let’s hope that’s the case. But let’s use the mildew seen last year as a reminder and take the opportunity to review this disease.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—MAY 2024: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_24_05/index.aspx

Audio Files: It's Time to Fall for Mums

IT’S TIME TO FALL FOR MUMS

FROM THE AUGUST 2020 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY NANCY RECHCIGL

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: While every greenhouse and nursery operation are different, one consistent factor common to all is that preparation is key to success. Growing mums for fall sales means having to deal with the challenges summer production can bring. By planning ahead with an agronomic program, growers are prepared when the expected and unexpected arise.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—August 2020: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_20_08/index.aspx

The Best Poinsettias For ... (Part 3)

PART 3 OF 3 (discussion starts at 1:35): Best by color; most unusual; what each guest wishes was in their assortment but is not; what’s an old variety you wish would come back; the most challenging poinsettia requests from growers and retailers; BEST POINSETTIA OF ALL TIME.

 

For this 3-part episode of the Tech On Demand Podcast, host Bill Calkins turns the golden TOD mic over to Chris Beytes, editor-in-chief of GrowerTalks magazine. Let’s all welcome “Bossman Beytes” to his first-ever podcast!

 

Chris asked three poinsettia experts—Gary Vollmer of Selecta One, Rebecca Siemonsma of Express Seed and Steve Rinehart of Rinehart Poinsettias—to share what they think are the BEST poinsettias for a wide range of grower and retailer needs.

 

Chris asks about just about every use—early- to late-season, small to large pots, best core and novelty colors, best varieties for regions from Fairbanks to Miami—and he asks them to pick regardless of breeder! He even asks which variety they wish was in their catalog, which variety they wish had never been bred, and which variety is the best poinsettia of all time.

 

Gary, Rebecca and Steve have more than 100 years of poinsettia experience between them and know almost every variety introduced since St. Louis Red!

 

The Best Poinsettias For ... (Part 2)

PART 2 OF 3 (discussion starts at 1:35): Best for poinsettia “trees”; best for large containers; best traditional straight-ups; best poinsettias as cut flowers; best for independent garden centers; best florist type; best for fundraisers; poinsettias for landscape (?); energy-efficient varieties for cool growing; best for natural, compact finishing; varieties less-prone to whitefly (?); variety with longest shelf life, sturdiest varieties.

 

For this 3-part episode of the Tech On Demand Podcast, host Bill Calkins turns the golden TOD mic over to Chris Beytes, editor-in-chief of GrowerTalks magazine. Let’s all welcome “Bossman Beytes” to his first-ever podcast!

 

Chris asked three poinsettia experts—Gary Vollmer of Selecta One, Rebecca Siemonsma of Express Seed and Steve Rinehart of Rinehart Poinsettias—to share what they think are the BEST poinsettias for a wide range of grower and retailer needs.

 

Chris asks about just about every use—early- to late-season, small to large pots, best core and novelty colors, best varieties for regions from Fairbanks to Miami—and he asks them to pick regardless of breeder! He even asks which variety they wish was in their catalog, which variety they wish had never been bred, and which variety is the best poinsettia of all time.

 

Gary, Rebecca and Steve have more than 100 years of poinsettia experience between them and know almost every variety introduced since St. Louis Red!