If you want to know what Walters Gardens has up their sleeves in new Proven Winners perennials for 2026 and beyond, then you’ll want to tune in to the livestream (aka webinar) I’ll be hosting with guest expert Laura Robles on Thursday, March 12.

Aptly titled “The Hottest New Perennials of 2026 (and a Sneak Peek at 2027 Standouts!)," this live online session will cover some 30 new perennial varieties. Plus, Laura will share all sorts of insights, best practices and growing tips to help you succeed with them, so be sure to bring your perennial questions!

The session will be Thursday, March 12, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern/Noon Central.

Sign up HERE!

See you there!

A challenging question to answer, for sure, because: 1) it’s a broad category of fresh cuts and potted plants; 2) sold at a multitude of outlet types; and 3) way down south Valentine’s Day is the unofficial kickoff to the gardening season, meaning folks down here can also buy mom a flat of annuals or a big tub of geraniums, skewing the data. So I'll turn it around and ask you—tell me how YOUR Valentine's Day was.

But sticking within the traditional retail florist industry, I found some survey details from an outfit called Florabundance, a wholesale florist in Carpentaria, California, which conducted a Valentine's Day 2026 Floral Industry Pulse Survey of about 15 floral leaders in the U.S. in various segments—growers, importers, wholesalers, multi-location retailers and independent florists. The findings were published in the most recent FloralDaily newsletter. The findings?

Steady and good, though not record-setting, they say.

A majority of respondents reported higher overall sales compared to Valentine’s Day 2025. Approximately two-thirds indicated sales were either slightly or significantly stronger than the prior year. A smaller portion described results as similar, while a limited group experienced declines.

When it comes to prices, any adjustments were generally measured. The majority implemented low single-digit increases, with fewer reporting mid single-digit adjustments. Only a limited number noted double-digit price increases. While cost pressures were present, most businesses avoided aggressive pricing strategies.

But that didn’t equate to increased profits. Many businesses reported profitability similar to 2025, while a “notable portion” described tighter margins driven by freight, labor, packaging and production cost increases. A smaller group reported improved profitability and a limited number indicated break-even or margin pressure. Overall, sales stability was more common than margin expansion in 2026.

Then there’s the age-old question of weekend vs. weekday Valentine’s Days. Many say (and have data to support it) that a weekend Valentine’s Day can be 20% down from a weekday holiday because of competition from dinners out, no sending of flowers to the lady’s workplace, no frantic stop at the grocery or florist on the way home from work, etc.

But, in this case, although Valentine’s Day fell on Saturday, most respondents indicated that the calendar shift had minimal impact on overall demand. Sales patterns were described as balanced throughout the week, with steady retail traffic and consistent wholesale movement. While weather-related transportation challenges were reported in certain regions, there was no clear indication that the Saturday placement materially altered total performance.

Lastly, one multi-location retail florist noted, “Valentines has been good every year since the pandemic.” This reflects a broader sentiment echoed by several participants: Flowers remain a priority purchase for consumers, even amid economic uncertainty.

From Royal FloraHolland (the big Dutch flower and plant auction) comes a pair of statistics regarding Valentine’s Day sales: In the sales period leading up to the holiday, a total of 464 million flowers were traded via the auction clock and direct sales by auction members. That's up from the 452 million traded in 2025. (On a typical non-holiday day, about 20 million flowers pass through the auction.)

Of these, 150 million were roses, which is up from 144 million in 2025. And while the rose is traditionally seen as the flower of love, Royal FloraHolland has noticed that tulips and chrysanthemums are also strongly represented in sales leading up to this holiday.

If you’re not familiar with the “clock,” here’s a recent piece by National Geographic about it.

Lest you think the days of drugs hidden in boxes of cut flowers is a thing of the past, think again, because U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found more than a quarter of a ton of cocaine—worth $6.9 million—in a shipment of Valentine's roses trying to pass through the Laredo, Texas, port of entry. No word on where they came from or where they were headed.

The seizure occurred Tuesday, February 10 at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a tractor/trailer with a shipment of “roses/fresh flowers” for secondary inspection. Following a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 211 packages containing 516.76 pounds of cocaine.

CBP seized the narcotics and Homeland Security special agents are investigating the seizure.

We just completed our first flower holiday of the year and already I’m thinking about summer? What’s wrong with me?

I blame the press release from Garden Media Group announcing that the gladiolus has been named the 2026 Summer Bulb of the Year by Flowerbulb.eu, recognized for its bold color, pollinator power and high-impact performance in gardens, containers and cut flower arrangements.

I might have ignored this bit of news, but I have a personal strong emotional attachment to gladiolus. I’m not sure where that originated—possibly flower beds at my childhood home in New Hampshire. Regardless, they’re one of my favorite flowers, so I write about them whenever there’s an excuse.

Gladiolus—They make some people think of funerals, but I have a soft spot for them.

Despite that, as I said, I was going to ignore this bit of news because it seemed to pertain to Flowerbulb.eu (originally flowerbulbs.com), but Bridget from Garden Media Group explained that they’re working with a grant from the EU to promote the use of flower bulbs from Europe in the U.S. She said their goal is to help U.S. consumers understand which bulbs to plant and when to plant them so they can garden with greater confidence and success. Garden Media Group’s promotional efforts will be focused on regional planting timing, how-to guidance and practical solutions that fit American gardens.

Of course, that’s fine with me since many of those American gardeners will be buying their gladiolus bulbs (corms, actually) from their local garden center.

What about gladiolus bulbs from America? Are there any American growers? Perhaps you know and can TELL ME.

I reached out to one of America’s largest growers of cut gladiolus, Great Lakes Glads in Michigan, which produces more than 1,200 acres of cuts, including 100 varieties of glads, and Karissa Lasky, co-owner (with her two siblings), replied back thusly:

“Since 2020, I’m not aware of any major gladiola bulb growers left in the U.S. I’m sure there are still some smaller farmers around, but most of the gladiola bulbs sold here are grown in the Netherlands. The bulb-packaging companies left here in the U.S. are mainly owned and operated by the Dutch or have strong ties back to Dutch growers. All our bulb stock comes from the Netherlands.”

Doing a bit more digging, I learned of Nagel Glads in Milwaukee, but I can’t figure out if they’re growing bulbs or not. And they share an address with Holland Bulb Farm, so that makes me think maybe they’re importers, not growers.

Since I’m on this oddball crop theme, it’s appropriate to share this press release with you: Jackson & Perkins has “officially” expanded into the Canadian market to inspiring Canadian gardeners “with classic favorites and extraordinary new roses.”

Beginning February 2026, J&P said, Canadian gardeners will be able to shop a curated collection of Jackson & Perkins roses directly through the company’s new Canadian online store.

This launch is made possible through a partnership with J.C. Bakker & Sons Nurseries, who will grow, pack and ship all the J&P orders.

“The result is fresher plants, improved availability, reduced delivery windows and a seamless customer experience,” said the press release.

“Expanding into Canada marks an exciting new chapter for Jackson & Perkins,” said Kelly Funk, president and CEO of the company. “This is more than making our roses available in a new market; it’s about sharing our heritage, innovation and dedication with Canadian gardeners. We invite enthusiasts to explore a curated selection of award-winning and new varieties, and to experience the joy of growing roses while contributing to our ongoing tradition of rose excellence.”

The initial launch includes more than fifty J&P varieties, including hybrid teas such as April Moon, Canada Blooms and Royal Welcome; floribunda favorites including Champagne Dreams, Flash Gordon and Never Been Redder; plus an array of grandifloras, vigorous climbers, hardy shrubs and groundcover roses.

The full collection of launch varieties is available exclusively through the J & P Canadian online store HERE. (If it defaults to the U.S. website, click the little flag in the corner to select Canada.)

Jackson & Perkins is part of J&P Park, Inc., a portfolio of hobbyist brands that also includes Wayside Gardens, Van Dyke’s Restorers and Northern Brewer.

I just learned of a massive greenhouse project set to break ground in May in my home state of Florida. The greenhouse builder? Dalsem, out of the Netherlands. Their client? Harvest Singularity, based in Tampa, a CEA outfit I'd never heard of before now.

Harvest Singularity’s WEBSITE says, “We build and operate modern industrial 100% CEA hydroponic greenhouses positioned to meet the demand for premium leafy greens and fruits in Florida. Our aim is to bring high-tech farming to Florida and to make Florida the national leader in industrial 100% CEA hydroponic greenhouse farming.”

Wonderful! Only … best as I can tell, Harvest Singularity doesn’t yet have a single greenhouse and so hasn’t grown a single head of lettuce. Yet they eventually plan 10 CEA greenhouses in Florida. I have to say, they are ambitious!

And they’ve raised capital, too—at least $66 million, which is what this 323,000. sq. ft. fully equipped Dutch greenhouse and packing facility will cost, according to newspaper reports touting the project. They claim they'll harvest 6,000 lbs. of lettuce a day, from 20 to 26 turns per year. Oh, and they’ll employ 50 full-time employees at an average salary of $91,000.

The Dutch glass greenhouse will be built in Newberry, Florida, just west of Gainesville (home of the University of Florida), in a place called F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park. The Alachua County IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Science) offices are there already. And the state just gave the city $5.6 million for road and water infrastructure improvements for the Park.

All well and good … but what I want to know is, can you grow year-round lettuce in a greenhouse in Florida? I used to own a greenhouse down here and it gets hot—real hot. Like burn your hand on the columns hot. And lettuce bolts at temps above 80F. Yes, you can cool and dehumidify a greenhouse, but that costs tons of money and they’ll be selling low-dollar lettuce, not high-dollar orchids.

I suspect AI was involved in this image ...

I tried to get a few well-versed Florida professors to weigh in, but one declined to comment, not being familiar with the project and how Harvest Singularity’s growing facilities would be equipped. Another told me, “If you are able to control temperature, light and humidity, and keep these stable, you could grow lettuce year round.” But that would take a chilled hydroponic solution, plus varieties bred for heat tolerance and disease resistance—which at least one Florida prof, Dr. Germán Sandoya, has been working on in South Florida.

On the positive side, there are a couple of existing lettuce operations in the state, including Sunswell Greens with three locations, Naples Fresh in Naples and The Little Garden in LaBelle. So I reckon it’s being done, but I haven’t visited these operations (yet).

And I just learned that Lorena, Texas, averages between 92F and 98F in June, July and August. What’s Lorena, Texas, got to do with anything?

BrightFarms has a lettuce greenhouse there. And we just named them our Operation Excellence winner in the Cultivating Excellence Awards.

So maybe you can grow year-round lettuce in a greenhouse … if you know what you’re doing. Harvest Singularity has yet to prove they do. And we’ve heard big promises of amazing results from neophyte CEA operations before. Anyone remember AppHarvest?

Still, I'm dubious ... but for now, I’ll give Harvest Singularity the benefit of the doubt … and pay them a visit once they get rolling.

The controlled-environment agriculture joined together in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago for Indoor Ag-Con 2026. It’s not a big event, but it’s thorough, with representation from all 50 states and 30 countries, with 263 booths on the trade show floor.

“What we saw this year was an industry focused on doing the work,” said Brian Sullivan, CEO of Indoor Ag-Con. “The conversations were practical and honest, and there’s a real commitment to building strong businesses. We’re proud that Indoor Ag-Con continues to be the place where the industry comes together to move things forward.”

I wasn’t there, but our CEA specialist Jen Polanz was. As managing editor of Inside Grower, this has been her beat for a number of years. I asked her for her thoughts on the show.

“There’s been a definite shift in attendees and focus since I first attended Indoor Ag-Con in 2017,” she told me. “Then it was mostly cannabis- and vertical farm-focused, and heavily attended by investors and people from the tech side. Since then, it has evolved to focus more on indoor (greenhouse and vertical farm) vegetable, leafy greens, herbs and fruit crops with more growers and allied trade attending. Because of that, I think the mood has shifted to ‘farmer’ mode, with all of the cost-savings related to that mindset. It’s less ‘Let’s build the Taj Mahal’ and more, ‘How can we grow efficiently and cost-effectively,’ a positive shift, in my opinion.”

Jen added that the shift in focus seems to have prompted more sharing and open communications about how to grow better crops. And she said that while funding remains a challenge in the CEA space, there’s shelf space available at retailers for those who consistently grow great crops.

That observation was supported by the keynote discussion featuring Dave Chen, Co-Founder & CEO of Equilibrium, and David Verbitsky, President & Managing Director of Verbitsky Capital. The gentlemen addressed the current investment climate and the growing emphasis on strong fundamentals. While funding is more selective than in previous years, both noted that well-run operations with clear paths to profitability continue to attract interest.

Indoor Ag-Con will return to the Westgate Las Vegas on March 24–25, 2027.

We at Inside Grower magazine were thrilled to be able to honor a greenhouse operation, an innovative supplier and an industry trailblazer at this year’s CEAs—Cultivating Excellence Awards at the Gala Luncheon at Indoor Ag-Con.

It was our second year hosting the awards program in conjunction with Indoor Ag-Con and emcee Jen Polanz highlighted finalists in the categories of Operational Excellence and Product Innovation. Plus, we introduced the new Trailblazer Award to recognize someone in the industry who's made an impact through advocacy and education. (A warm thank you to our program sponsor Premier Tech!)

And the winners are …

Operational Excellence: BrightFarms

Founded in 2010, BrightFarms has a long and proven track record in producing CEA leafy greens that makes them a standout among flash-in-the-pan operations. Now a member of the Cox Farms family along with sister company Mucci Farms, they have greenhouses in five states and serve more than 6,400 retail stores. (I'm working on arranging a visit to their newest location in Georgia.)

Product Innovation: Jiffy Gel from Jiffy Group

Jiffy Gel is a high-performance growing media designed to enhance water retention, root development and crop uniformity. Jiffy Gel is delivered as a concentrated gel powder that's activated and produced directly at your facility. This on-site production approach gives growers full visibility and control over their growing media, while reducing reliance on complex supply chains.

Trailblazer Award: Dr. Gene Giacomelli, professor emeritus, University of Arizona

Our good friend and Inside Grower columnist Gene was chosen for his decades of dedication to furthering CEA through research at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) at University of Arizona and elsewhere, as well as his commitment to providing hands-on education through short courses and workshops for commercial growers. Well deserved, Gene!

This time, my Young Grower Award podcast features the winner of our 2020 Young Grower Award, Stephanie Saccomano of Qualitree in British Columbia, Canada. Stephanie may be the funniest and most upbeat of all our winners—a high bar because they’re all amazing personalities, any of which you’d love to hire, work with or work for.

In our fun conversation, Stephanie shares her journey in horticulture, from her early experiences in dairy to her current role at Qualitree. She discusses the importance of positivity and teamwork, and her passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of horticulturists. Stephanie reflects on her successes and mistakes, emphasizing the value of continuous learning and collaboration in the industry. It was a "most egg salad" interview! (You have to listen for the inside scoop on that.)

Tune in HERE.

Sports and plants are coming together this week, as within 30 minutes I received two fun online mentions of sports stars and plants.

The first is from the Chicago Cubs' Instagram page, where they posted a plant competition between pitchers Ben Brown vs. Justin Steele. The team gave each player a 6-in. monstera plant with challenge of seeing who could keep the plant the healthiest during spring training.

Said Justin, “I’ve never grown plants competitively, but I think I’m up for the challenge.”

Replied Ben, “I have a little bit of an advantage—I have a plant lover back at home [his wife]. As long as the dogs don’t get to it, we’re gonna be in really good shape.”

Meanwhile, over in Italy and the Winter Olympics, figure skater Madison Chock shared on Instagram how much she loves the Olympic Village’s plant shop, where athletes can adopt a plant for their room for the duration of the competition. When they leave, the plants get donated to someone in town. The story got picked up by NBC.

 
Figure skater Isabeau Levito with her foster plant, which she posted about on TikTok.

“I was pleasantly surprised that we could foster plants in the village while we were here,” Madison said. “It really brightens up our room, it freshens up the air … And then at the end of your stay, you return the plant and they give it to a local from Milan and the plant gets a new home. So I thought that was really beautiful and just a nice little touch in the village.”