Skip to content
opens in a new window
GROWERTALKS - April 2025 Issue (Vol. 88 No. 12)
Acres & Acres
Community
Chris Beytes
How do we, the traditional plant industry, get to know these new plant lovers better?
Cover Story
How Much Does a Greenhouse Project REALLY Cost?
Chris Beytes
Let’s say you’re a young grower ready to go it alone and start your own bedding plant business. You’ve acquired a piece of land and set aside some cash and arranged financing for your very first greenhouse and you’re ready to invest $500,000. You start shopping for structures, thinking that at roughly $10 per sq. ft. (a figure you got from the grower down the street), you can afford as much as an acre (about 44,000 sq. ft.) of greenhouse. Wow! A nice size for starting out!
Culture Notes
Go Straight to the Top
Robin Ruether
A new series of spreading pansy joins the popular Wave brand for cool-season sales.
Features
An Update on Upgrades
Dian Smith
An ornamental grower’s guide to selecting the right greenhouse curtain.
Features
Garden Mum Production: Preventing 5 Problems
Bill Calkins
Some garden mum challenges seem to arise every season. Here’s a look at five—and how to plan ahead to avoid them in 2025.
Features
Secrets for Early Dahlia Cut Flower Harvests
Roberto Lopez & Jessie Brown
Do you ever dream of harvesting dahlia cut flowers in May, June, July or even earlier? Dream no more—it can be a reality when you have a few tricks up your sleeve.
Features
Touching Base on Title 24
Jennifer Zurko
How’s it been going since California implemented mandatory energy requirements for new greenhouse builds?
Features
Wondering About Your Water?
George Grant & Tanner Bailey
Why it’s necessary to have your water tested.
Growers Talk Business
How to Be Uncertain
Art Parkerson
Here are some ways I deal with uncertainty so that it doesn’t morph into anxiety.
Growers Talk Production
A Unified Horticulture Industry
Austin Bryant
Putting on our business industry hats and leaving all personal political ideals set aside let’s go over a few points I believe will be paramount this coming year.
GT in Brief
Ball Acquires Must Have Perennials
Chris Beytes
Continuing its investment in the still-hot perennials market, Ball Horticultural Company has just added Must Have Perennials to the lineup.
GT in Brief
Congrats to TPIE: A Top 50 Trade Show
Chris Beytes
The Tropical Plant International Exposition (TPIE) has been recognized by Trade Show Executive magazine as one of the country’s 50 top growing trade shows.
GT in Brief
Everde Growers Files For Chapter 11
Chris Beytes
TreeSap Farms, LLC, d/b/a Everde Growers (formerly TreeTown USA), has filed Chapter 11 in the Southern District of Texas.
GT in Brief
Happy Retirement, Ann & Mike!
Chris Beytes
Long-time horticultural consultant Ann Chase and her business partner and husband, Mike Zemke, have retired as of December 31, 2024.
GT in Brief
In Memoriam: Jack Bigej
Chris Beytes
Pioneering Oregon garden center own Jack Bigej, owner of Al’s Garden Center (aka Al’s Garden & Home), passed away February 26 after a battle with an aggressive form of leukemia.
GT in Brief
On the Move
Jennifer Zurko
Ball Seed; BioWorks; Stuppy Greenhouse
GT in Brief
PlantCon Orlando Draws Masses of Plant Fans
Chris Beytes
More than 3,000 houseplant enthusiasts descended upon the Doubletree Hilton Orlando in late February for the inaugural PlantCon Orlando plant show.
GT in Brief
Rambo Nursery Closing
Chris Beytes
Georgia big-box grower Rambo Nursery, founded by Sam Rambo, but now owned by Andrew Heaner, will be closing this spring.
GT in Brief
Sakata Announces Executive Leadership Transition
Jennifer Zurko
After more than 15 years of dedicated service as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sakata Seed America, Inc., Dave Armstrong will step into the role of Executive Chairman.
GT in Brief
UF Greenhouse Training Online Program Starts June 2
Jennifer Zurko
University of Florida IFAS Extension (UF/IFAS) has an award-winning program called Greenhouse Training Online, where all courses are taught in English and Spanish.
Guest Column
Signaling With Acanthus
Lowell Halvorson
The appeal of acanthus is the unusual display in both flower and foliage.
Inside Look
Taking Control of Uncertainty
Jennifer Zurko
Uncertainty makes you feel out of control of a situation and most of us do not like that feeling.
JZ on D.C.
Steps on How to Handle ICE Visits
Jennifer Zurko
With the increase of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) visits to businesses and communities around the country, a reader suggested we share some guidelines to help you understand how to handle these situations professionally and lawfully.
Paul's Pointers
When It’s Good to Be Negative
Paul Pilon
I’ve been using negative DIF for many years and just started implementing it with crops again this spring.
Pest Management
Factors That Can Influence Pesticide Resistance & Pesticide Applications
Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd
It’s essential to know the biology and ecology of insect and/or mite pests to mitigate their populations from developing resistance.
Pest Management
We Know What Eradicates Redheaded Flea Beetle
Jeremy Webber
We’ve gained the same level of confidence managing this highly pernicious pest, but the devil’s in the details.
TRENDING NOW
Autumn Kiss Encore Azalea
Plant Development Services Inc.
TRENDING NOW
HortiPeMS
Hortibits LLC
TRENDING NOW
National Wave Day
PanAmerican Seed
TRENDING NOW
SF-11E Steam Generator
Sioux Corporation
TRENDING NOW
Venlo Glass Greenhouses
GrowSpan Greenhouse Structures
TRENDING NOW
Water-Saving Hanging Baskets
Eckert’s Greenhouse