Acres & Acres

A Spring of Four-Letter Words

Chris Beytes

Spring 2026 was the usual rollercoaster ride, up one week and down the next, up in one region and down in another.

Cover Story

A Shot in the Dark

Jennifer Zurko

Five years ago, the thought of having something as unique as a bioluminescent plant was an unrealistic concept. Then a group of ambitious industry professionals took a chance and collaborated to make one scientist’s innovation a reality.

Culture Notes

Mega Blooms, Minimal Fuss

Becky Lacy

Mandevilla Divina from Selecta One offers super-sized, vibrant blooms on a manageable habit.

Features

A Balanced Cycle

Jeb S. Fields & Kristopher S. Criscione

Refining cyclic irrigation strategies for container nurserie

Features

A Resilient Industry Requires More Than Basic Inputs

Laura Barth

How AFE cultivates the future of floriculture.

Features

From Forecasting to Commitment

Rayne Gibson

Building a booking program.

Features

Maximize Your Lisianthus

Kate Cassity-Duffey & Jessica Cudnik

Finding the “sweet spot” for field-grown stems.

Features

Shining the Spotlight on Muhly Grass

Kerstin Poehlmann

While the name comes from a Pennsylvania botanist of German heritage, muhlenbergia is a tried-and-true North American native plant, making it very versatile for landscapes and gardens.

Features

The Pioneers Who Helped Shape Today’s Growing Media Industry

Dr. Brian E. Jackson

This is the final article of a five-part series highlighting key advancements in growing media and container production of horticultural crops in the U.S.

Features

Unpacking New Crops, Colors & Trends

Chris Beytes, Bill Calkins & Jennifer Zurko

Based on our five fast-paced days on the Spring Trials tour—28 companies, nine locations and almost 650 miles—the Ball Publishing Bobbleheads present standout new varieties, plus our key “ups and downs” so you can spot what makes sense for your greenhouse to stay on the cutting edge of your market.

Growers Talk Business

When Better Isn’t Enough

Susie Raker

Somewhere along the way, the industry started confusing what we value with what consumers actually value.

Growers Talk Production

The Land of Fire, Ice & Fresh Tomatoes

Tabitha Samuels

While Iceland looked a bit like outer space to me at first glance, the longer I was in the country the more I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the future.

GT in Brief

2026 Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family Scholarship Recipients Announced

Jennifer Zurko

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) announced the 2026 recipients of the Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family scholarships.

GT in Brief

2026 Paul Thomas Intern of the Year Announced

Jennifer Zurko

The 2026 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year recipient is Alana Wood, a student at Kansas State University, where she’s majoring in horticulture production.

GT in Brief

Ball Announces Organizational Changes

Chris Beytes

Ball Horticultural Company announced that Al Davidson, Alan Rouse and Jim Kennedy will be making significant career moves.

GT in Brief

Come Rain, But the Perennials Still Shine

Jennifer Zurko

A crowd of dedicated souls braved the soggy conditions during Darwin’s annual Perennials Day event on June 17.

GT in Brief

In Memoriam: Bill Van Houten

Chris Beytes

William “Bill” van Houten, co-founder of bulb and plant supplier Abbott-IPCO in Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 24.

GT in Brief

In Memoriam: Evelyn Weidner

Chris Beytes

The industry has lost a pioneering woman who probably never saw herself as one: Evelyn Weidner of Weidner’s Gardens in Encinitas, California, passed away May 15 at the venerable age of 96.

GT in Brief

New NGMA Board of Directors Announced

Jennifer Zurko

The NGMA Board of Directors was elected during the membership meeting held at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Clearwater Beach, Florida, in April.

GT in Brief

On the Move

Jennifer Zurko

American Farms; Ball Seed; McHutchison; Oregon Association of Nurseries

GT in Brief

Plant Breeders Conference in Miami This Fall

Chris Beytes

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Miami (Coral Gables, actually) will be the venue of the 11th Independent Plant Breeders Conference November 16-18.

GT in Brief

Research Proposal Applications Now Open for 2027-2028 Funding

Jennifer Zurko

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is now accepting new research proposal applications for the 2027-2028 funding cycle.

Guest Column

Planting With Purpose

Alex Correia & Anton Ginella

Diversifying crops for flavor and function

Guest Column

The Lowdown on Lofos

Lowell Halvorson

Known as creeping gloxinia, lophospermum isn’t something you’ll likely find in the mainstream. Dig around the independents, however, and you’ll be surprised how often you see it.

Inside Look

What Will Be Your Legacy?

Jennifer Zurko

Have you ever thought about your legacy?

JZ on D.C.

Jennifer Zurko

In early May, House Republicans passed a long-delayed bipartisan farm bill (H.R. 7567) by a 224–200 vote, advancing comprehensive legislation for the first time since 2018.

Pest Management

Managing Crape Myrtle Bark Scale in the Mid-Atlantic

Laura Nixon, Sheena O’Donnell, Suzanne Klick, Tracy Wootten & Brian Kunkel

Crape myrtle bark scale is an invasive felt scale, which was first detected in the U.S. in Texas in 2004 and was confirmed to be present in Maryland and Delaware in 2020.

Pest Management

Managing Powdery Mildew on Succulents

Dr. Charles Krasnow

There are a number of diseases that affect succulents during greenhouse production.

Pest Management

What Influences the Effectiveness of Systemic Insecticides?

Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd

The ability of systemic insecticides to protect plants from insect pests throughout the growing season depends on the method of application.

TRENDING NOW

ACRYLITE

Polyvantis

TRENDING NOW

Ball Seed

TRENDING NOW

Ceres SunChamber

Ceres Greenhouse Solutions

TRENDING NOW

Lambert Professional LM-191

Lambert Peat Moss

TRENDING NOW

Pod Farms Vertical Channel System

Pod Farms Inc.

TRENDING NOW

Sun Parasol Giant Powder Pink

Suntory Flowers Ltd.