TECH ON DEMAND brought to you by GrowerTalks

Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by one of his mentors, Sid Raisch—the Swiss Army knife of horticulture consultants! Sid is one of the most thoughtful and wise people in or industry and throughout the episode, the depth of his passion for coaching green industry businesses becomes more and more evident, as does his principled approach to continuous improvement. One theme that weaves through this episode is the importance of letting people grow—and how this approach by owners and managers not only sets their operation up for success but also helps them avoid burnout and get the most from their team. Be sure to stick around all the way to the end because the wisdom just keep coming! And keep an eye out for a future Part 2 to this episode. Bill and Sid definitely have more to discuss. Here are the four questions Sid selected: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond?   Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?   Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”?   This episode is sponsored by NurseryGuide.com. Whether you’re sourcing for a garden center, landscape project, nursery or growing operation, NurseryGuide.com puts one of the industry’s most trusted sourcing resources right at your fingertips. NurseryGuide.com—powered by the Oregon Association of Nurseries.

For episode 273, host Bill Calkins talks with IM Digital’s Justin Ragsdale about how greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries can use AI and other emerging technologies without getting lost in hype. The conversation focuses on practical use cases, from automating repetitive work to improving year-round customer engagement and building stronger digital systems. Justin explains how to think about AI as a tool, not a magic wand, and why the best results come from adding context, data and clear business goals. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 5 STEP AI PLAYBOOK FROM IM DIGITAL HERE: https://www.imdigital.com/insights/five-pillars-enterprise-ai-strategy    There’s a lot covered in this episode. Here are a few of the topics Bill and Justin discussed: Perhaps the best way to approach AI is as another tool in the toolbox, not as a replacement for business judgment, staff or customer relationships. A major theme is the importance of context: AI works better when businesses give it clear instructions, business processes, goals, customer information and system access, instead of just asking it to “do stuff.” The episode walks through simple starting points for AI adoption, including using tools like Claude or Gemini Enterprise for everyday tasks such as email triage, social media responses and creating basic marketing agents. How your best early wins will come from solving known problems, not trying to make AI predict the future or solve unclear business challenges. Why customer engagement is a major focus, especially how garden centers can use POS data, marketing platforms, and AI to personalize follow-up based on purchase history, location, and seasonal needs. For businesses, an early step should be to identify their “source of truth” for customer data, then connect other systems to it so AI can build useful profiles and campaigns. Labor efficiency comes up as another key opportunity: AI can help train staff, document tribal knowledge, and reduce repetitive admin work so employees can spend more time on the sales floor with customers. The conversation closes with a look at the future, where the most advanced garden centers will be available across digital channels, in customers’ pockets and responsive 24/7, while still protecting the human expertise that makes garden centers valuable. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 5 STEP AI PLAYBOOK FROM IM DIGITAL HERE: https://www.imdigital.com/insights/five-pillars-enterprise-ai-strategy

WHAT PLANTS ARE CUSTOMERS SEARCHING FOR & WHERE IS BREEDING STILL OPEN? FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHI NGUYEN, SETH WANNEMUEHLER AND MIKE SCHNELLE NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Every breeding program eventually faces the same difficult question: Where should the next five to 10 years of effort go? Grower experience, customer requests and historical sales remain essential, but they mostly describe what’s already known. They may not reveal where consumer attention is building or where the competitive space is already crowded. A recent HortScience study developed a Breeding Opportunity Index (BOI) to add that missing layer by combining U.S. Google Trends data with U.S. plant patent records. USDA production data provided the geographic context. The goal was to screen genera and traits before committing years of breeding, trial space or licensing resources.   Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_09/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATIONPests and diseases can wipe out a cut flower crop fast—but the biggest mistake growers make is waiting too long to notice them. Ball's cut flower specialist Dave Dowling breaks down the pests and diseases that hit cut flower farms hardest, and the scouting habits that can save an entire season before damage becomes irreversible. Dave spent more than two decades growing cut flowers before moving to the supply side, and he brings that field-tested perspective to everything from low-cost startup advice to the realities of selling top-quality stems. If you're thinking about adding cuts to your operation, or you've already planted them and want to protect your investment, this conversation gives you the practical playbook. Some of what Dave covers in this 30-minute discussion includes: How to spot aphids, thrips, Japanese beetles, lily leaf beetles, tarnished plant bugs, spider mites and cabbage moths before they take over Why certain crops like gladiolas, dahlias, zinnias, lilies, peonies, ranunculus and chrysanthemums are especially vulnerable What actually works for control, from neem and horticultural oils to beneficial insects, Bt and labeled chemical options The difference between prevention and rescue, especially when dealing with powdery mildew, Botrytis, root rots and viruses Why crop rotation, airflow, drainage and relentless scouting matter more than most growers realize Dave also breaks down the hidden traps that catch new growers off guard, like introducing beneficial insects too late, using Japanese beetle traps in the wrong place or overlooking early damage that won't show up until weeks later—when blooms are ruined and the crop is lost. Dave explains how small decisions at the start of the season can determine whether you harvest a clean, salable crop or lose your crop and your profits. This is essential listening for greenhouse growers, cut flower farmers and anyone expanding into a new product line without wanting to learn the hard way. If you grow cut flowers for profit, the advice in this episode can help you protect your crop, your customers and your bottom line. WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATION   Resources Ball Seed Cut Flowers Greenhouse Tech Team Facebook Group

Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Coy Butner, a Sales Representative with Ball Seed Company in the Midwest. It’s a fun episode because Coy is not only a fantastic partner to his customers (greenhouses of every size and shape) but also a great storyteller with a long history in horticulture that spans more than three decades and includes owing a retail greenhouse and then as a sales rep for more than 20 years. But Coy didn’t start off in hort, which is where the episode begins. Coy shares the importance of listening, working with customers to identify challenges and bring solutions, what he looks for in new varieties (and some of his favorite plants like gomphrena, zinnia and echinacea) and how to stay engaged and enthused. He also makes an analogy comparing growing vegetative annuals to raising hogs. You’ve got to hear this! Here are the four questions Coy chose to answer: Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family? Q: What are your top 3 favorite annuals? And perennials? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with burnout? Q: What do you love most about your job?   This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

Host Bill Calkins was joined for this episode by Steve Larson from Envu. Steve and Bill sat down to chat about something that just about every greenhouse owner and manager deals with each year—but a topic that probably doesn’t get the press it deserves (probably because it doesn’t generate the same level of excitement as new plant varieties ...) But when it comes to saving money and securing the crop protection products needed for a successful season—Early Order Programs (EOPs) are definitely one of the most critical topics. Steve and Bill talked about the history of EOPs, why growers should be motivated to buy from an EOP, tips for making smart purchase decisions (not over-buying or under-buying) and the importance of leveraging the terms that often come from early order programs. Steve also discussed Envu’s EOP program, which kicks off on September 1, 2026. Everything you need to know about this program can be found at https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/programs - including the EOP calculator Steve mentioned in the podcast.   Resources Envu Early Order Program for 2026: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/programs Envu Ornamentals: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals Envu Ornamentals Team: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/find-your-envu-rep

ADAPT OR DIE: RECONNECT YOUR WEBSITE ADAPT OR DIE: CONNECT ONLINE SHOPPING TO YOUR STORE FROM THE JULY AND AUGUST 2026 ISSUES OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JOHN STANLEY, SID RAISCH & DRIES JANSEN NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPTS: Your website isn’t a brochure; it’s your store open 24 hours a day and now it’s also your application for AI recommendation. Most importantly, begin with connecting your email, text and every other marketing effort to the customer with the invitation to learn, be inspired and buy. If your customers are arriving at dead ends on your website right now, fix them and make it easy to click to send you money.    Before you sell a single plant online, your shop is already talking. A site with stale photos from two springs ago, no way to buy anything and an “Under Construction” page tells customers loud and clear: “We are not ready for you.” A clean, current online shop with real products, real prices and a “Buy Online, Pick Up In Store” button tells them the opposite: “We’re open for business, we respect your time and we’re ready to serve you right now.”   Read the Digital Editions:July— https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_07/index.aspx August— https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_08/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

FROM HOME GARDENS TO MARKET INSIGHTS FROM THE AUGUST 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CELINA GOMEZ NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: One of the most exciting takeaways from our latest study is the ability to quantify the benefits of gardening on human wellbeing. We often say that plants make people feel better. Now we’re starting to build the data to support that claim. Our findings show measurable improvements in mood, confidence and engagement, all tied to a relatively simple gardening experience. This opens the door for growers and retailers to incorporate wellbeing-focused messaging into their marketing and outreach. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_08/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Mycorrhizal Applications—master distributor of biological and botanical plant support solutions and the world’s leading supplier of mycorrhizal soil inoculants. Learn more and connect with the expert team at mycorrhizae.com.

GrowerTalks Senior Editor Bill Calkins sits down with JC Chong and Dennis Bunkley from SePRO Land to talk about two of the company’s newest crop protection products. BattleLine is a new fungicide effective on a wide range of pathogens and offers long residual activity and flexible application options. Barracuda is a new insecticide with fast knockdown and 21- to 28-day residual activity and is effective on mites at all life stages. In this recording from Cultivate ’26, JC and Dennis share all the details you need to know and talk through trial results and benefits growers should expect with these new products.   Resources: SePRO Land BattleLine Fungicide Barracuda Insecticide/Miticide SePRO Technical Specialist Contact

A RESILIENT INDUSTRY REQUIRES MORE THAN BASIC INPUTS FROM THE JULY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY LAURA BARTH NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Like any living system, floriculture requires continuous investment to remain healthy, productive and resilient. Research, workforce development, sustainability initiatives and industry collaboration all play important roles in supporting the long-term strength of floriculture, even if their impact isn’t always immediately visible from the greenhouse floor. For 65 years, the American Floral Endowment (AFE) has helped cultivate the floriculture industry through research funding, scholarships, internships and educational resources designed to strengthen the floriculture industry as it continues to grow and evolve—because healthy industries, like healthy crops, don’t happen by accident. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_07/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

This episode was recorded live during the Ball Seed Customer Days event in West Chicago, Illinois. Technical specialists Nathan Jahnke and Nick Flax shared best practices and tips for avoiding common pitfalls with key Fall crops—Mums, Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Celosia, Cabbage, Kale, Pansy and Viola. Nathan and Nick concisely broke down some of the Fall crop problems they hear about most from growers, including: Garden Mums—rootzone and canopy diseases, mineral nutrition deficiencies and crown budding. Echinacea & Rudbeckia—Aster Yellows, foliage purpling and creating the right plan for each species. Celosia—minimizing stress, EC recommendations, avoiding phyto and knowing what varieties to pinch and which ones not to pinch. Cabbage & Kale—managing height, knowing vigor by variety, dealing with caterpillars/worms and managing color/color development. Pansy & Viola—Berkeleyomyces (Thielaviopsis), substrate pH management, nutrition, minimizing DIF and how to best use PGRs. Ball Seed Technical Services: https://www.ballseed.com/Services/TechnicalServices

For this episode, host Bill Calkins is joined by Jeremy Webber, an ornamentals crop team member at Koppert. Jeremy has experience in propagation and finished plant production, as well as more than a decade of leading a team that works with growers across North America to develop holistic IPM approaches customized for each greenhouse and growing situation. At his core, Jeremy is a plant guy through and through and wrote an excellent article for the 2026 GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide. For the guide, Bill challenged him to put a unique spin on how bio-IPM strategies lead to plant health, which in turn means fewer crop losses and a reduced need for rescue missions to save plants from pest and disease. Jeremy titled his article “The End of Rotation Anxiety (Stop Playing the MOA Game with EPF)” and explored an angle he’s truly passionate about—that although rotating crop protection products is definitely a key part of IPM and resistance management, it’s sort of an old school way of thinking. If this sounds bold and raises questions in your mind, we’re with you. Which is why Bill sat down with Jeremy at the July 2026 Cultivate event in Columbus, Ohio … to dig deeper into the article to better understand what Jeremy is advocating for. Resources 2026 Biosolutions Guide Reach out to the Koppert Team Isarid Nematodes

This week, let’s talk about two of the most common and costly disease issues we encounter in garden mum production: Pythium and Fusarium. Both can cause stunting, chlorosis, wilting and lead to major crop losses, but they are not the same organism. Knowing which one you’re dealing with makes a big difference—particularly when selecting proper tools to prevent disease and respond to symptoms when they appear. If there’s one takeaway from today’s tech tip, it’s this: rootzone disease outbreaks in mums don’t begin when symptoms appear—they begin days or weeks prior when plants become stressed or protection lapses. Whether you’re dealing with Pythium or Fusarium, the growers who consistently prevail against these pathogens are the ones who focus on sanitation, prevention, root health and stress management.   This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.   Subscribe to the weekly Tech On Demand e-newsletter: https://www.growertalks.com/Newsletters/Signup/?newsletter=techondemand

Host Bill Calkins caught up with Mike Gooder to discuss the evolution of vegetative crops from breeding and supply to production and demand. Then the conversation turned to the amazing story our industry has to tell and why this is critical for our future. When Bill planned the episode, he had a goal in mind—to learn about how the vegetative side of our industry evolved through the eyes of someone who was in the game early and in a big way. His guest for this episode is Mike Gooder, the owner of Plantpeddler in Cresco, Iowa and the business was a rooting station before such a thing was cool. Bill was hoping to learn how and why the Gooders took such a big risk early on—building greenhouses and infrastructure to support production of vegetative young plants before the market was as proven as it is today. They definitely got into that story but then the conversation veered off the young plant path and down a different road. About half the episode was Mike and Bill talking about how amazing floriculture is and how we need to develop messaging and tell this story far and wide to attract fresh, new talent to the industry. They discussed the importance of connection, networking, partnerships, relationships and how Mike’s industry involvement and leadership over more than 40 years opened doors for his business that he never imagined when he and Rachel bought the greenhouse back in 1980. You have to listen all the way to the end of this episode because there’s so much good information shared. It’s really an inspiring conversation. As mentioned in the episode, mark your calendar for the Plantpeddler new variety open house in August or make plans to attend in the future. Here’s a link for more information: https://www.plantpeddler.com/trials/gardens-variety-day Learn more about Plantpeddler: https://www.plantpeddler.com/ Read “Solid Strategies for Expanding” by Jennifer Zurko—GrowerTalks March 2026— https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?srch=1&articleID=27906

Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Kate Terrell, owner/president/GM of Wallace’s Garden Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. Kate is pretty much an industry icon at this point. She heads up her family’s business growing and selling plants and a whole lot more than that. She’s active in tons of industry leadership roles, writes articles for industry magazines, serves on committees and boards and is also a leader in her local community. It’s amazing she finds enough hours in her days to do everything. Plus, she’s a mom, Cubs and Cyclones fan and top-notch businesswoman. She has a lot to share this episode so be sure to stick around all the way to the end!   Here are the four questions Kate selected: Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it? Q: What are your top 3 favorite annuals? And perennials?   Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”?   This episode is sponsored by Mycorrhizal Applications—master distributor of biological and botanical plant support solutions and the world’s leading supplier of mycorrhizal soil inoculants. Learn more and connect with the expert team at mycorrhizae.com.

Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Jeremy Webber, the Crop Team Manager at Koppert and an IPM expert with plenty of greenhouse and nursery experience and a true passion for plants and how to produce them efficiently and effectively. Jeremy is a great storyteller and that skill shines over the course of this episode. It’s funny, informational and a fantastic look into the mind of someone who thinks deeply about our industry every day. Here are the four questions Jeremy chose to answer: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond? Q: If you had a free hour, what would we find you doing? Q: What are your top 3 favorite annuals? And perennials? Q: What do you love most about your job? This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

In this episode, the goal is to explore and unpack the upcoming AmericanHort Plug and Cutting Conference, a must-attend event focused on young plant production. Host Bill Calkins is joined by AmericanHort’s Education Program Manager Rachel Rawls to discuss some of this year’s conference components, tour experiences, educational insights and and networking opportunities designed to help level up your young plant production. Plug & Cutting ConferencePhiladelphia, PA September 14-16, 2026 LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE: https://americanhort.org/upcoming-events/plug-and-cutting-conference/ Here’s what you can expect to learn about in the next 30 minutes: The unique focus of the Plug and Cutting Conference on young plant propagation and why it stands out from broader industry events Practical education tracks covering crop timing, plant health, automation, sustainability and business management How peer-to-peer discussions and expert panels foster real-world learning and collaboration The integration of skill stations during production tours for hands-on experience in topics like dip-and-cutting and scouting The importance of addressing industry challenges like labor, input costs and crop quality early in the plant growth cycle Innovations in automation tailored for young plant production and how to incorporate practical, cost-effective tools Highlights of the extensive production tour lineup: Lucas Greenhouses, North Creek Nurseries, Star Roses & Plants, and Longwood Gardens The role of Spanish-language sessions in broadening industry access and workforce development Tips on translating conference learning into actionable improvements at your greenhouse, including leveraging on-demand session recordings Strategies for effective networking, building peer relationships and maintaining connections post-conference

THE GEAR GUIDE FROM THE JUNE 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER J. CURREY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Investing in the relatively modest selection of tools and equipment won’t just help you identify and conquer problems in the greenhouse—it should help you avoid them. A systematic regular approach to monitoring plant growth, the growing environment, pests and diseases, and the rootzone will produce high-quality crops … but, unfortunately, won’t help you with the zombies. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_06/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

This episode of the Tech On Demand podcast, brought to you by GrowerTalks is a special presentation from the 2026 Darwin Perennials Day event in The Gardens at Ball in West Chicago, Illinois. Darwin Perennials Day is an annual event held each summer to showcase perennial plants, breeding innovations, a huge range of suppliers and of course the growers who produce and sell perennial crops. For many years, the event has included educational sessions, panel discussions and talks by perennial experts. This year, one of the panels was moderated by GrowerTalks editor Jen Zurko with three expert panelists focused on echinacea production. Echinacea Best Practices for Spring, Summer and Fall featured Ball Seed Culture Research Manager Nathan Jahnke, Darwin Perennials Product Representative Chris Fifo and Hans Stokes, the Seedling Business Manager at Swift Greenhouses in Iowa. You’ll find this discussion interesting and packed with information to help you and your team level up your echinacea production. Darwin Perennials Day: https://www.darwinperennialsday.com/ Darwin Perennials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@darwinperennials/videos

As temperatures rise and the heat of summer starts to set in, it’s important to periodically take a moment to pause… cool down… and think ahead.  Right now it’s time to do this for poinsettias.  I’ve already started to get proactive questions on poinsettias—not just about propagation, but about finished production. And while there are great resources available that cover poinsettias from start to finish, today we’re going to focus on a few key considerations that can make a big difference early in the process.  Subscribe to the weekly Tech On Demand e-newsletter: https://www.growertalks.com/Newsletters/Signup/?newsletter=techondemand  This episode is sponsored by Mycorrhizal Applications—master distributor of biological and botanical plant support solutions and the world’s leading supplier of mycorrhizal soil inoculants. Learn more and connect with the expert team at mycorrhizae.com.

In this episode, we celebrate 10 years of Suntory's popular Catharanthus series, Soiree Kawaii with the company’s North American sales and product manager Lorentina Fielding. Lorentina is the perfect person to discuss this crop because she can cover crop production based on her work with growers across the continent (and her own production experience), as well as explaining how the product fits into retail programs and home and professional gardens and landscapes. And Soiree Kawaii has a place in all of these areas as you’ll hear throughout the episode. Lorentina also shares behind-the-scenes perspectives on product development, marketing strategies and the innovative promotional campaigns developed for Soiree Kawaii as it celebrates 10 years—including social media influencer campaigns, an ongoing cause-marketing partnership with Girls Inc. and a teaser of what you can expect from Suntory at this year’s Cultivate event in July.   Resources: 2027 Suntory Catalog: https://suntoryflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2027-Suntory-Catalog-web.pdf Soiree Kawaii Series: https://suntoryflowers.com/series/soiree-kawaii-catharanthus/ Happy 10th Birthday Soiree Kawaii: https://mailchi.mp/suntoryflowers/variety-view-soiree-kawaii-turns-10?e=b4b9e987f6 Suntory Flowers E-Blast (you REALLY should sign up to receive this …): https://suntoryflowers.com/marketing/newsletters/ Girls, Inc.: https://www.girlsinc.org/

Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Jose Sanchez, a Sales and Business Manager with Ball Seed Company in the Pacific region. It’s a fun episode that starts with major league baseball (Jose is a die-hard Dodgers fan) and then gets into a really cool career in horticulture that captures some industry history and evolution and really shows how someone’s trajectory can change as it’s influenced by mentors, curiosity and good old fashioned hard work and dedication. Jose shares a lot of wisdom in this one and you’ll want to listen all the way to the end, because it wraps up with ways to avoid burnout.   Here are the four questions Jose chose to answer: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond? Q: If you had a free hour, what would we find you doing? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”? This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

Sakata Seed America's product and technical services manager Michael Wiebe joins host Bill Calkins to help growers produce high quality SuperCal vegetative petchoa crops in Summer for Fall sales. This can open up new seasonal opportunities for one of our industry's leading series. Resources: Sakata’s SuperCal Info  SuperCal Fall Production Guide SuperCal Quart Production Guidelines SuperCal Variety Specs Chart (page 6) Sakata Playlist Collection (including summer/fall combinations)

Dr. Janna Beckerman from Envu joins host Bill Calkins for this episode of the Tech On Demand podcast, brought to you by GrowerTalks magazine. Janna is here to discuss a topic that she’s very passionate about and for good reason—resistance management could be the most critical component to greenhouse production IF we want to grow healthy crops in the future and maintain a toolbox of effective chemical and biological solutions. That’s tremendously oversimplifying things but throughout this episode, Dr. Beckerman will help make sense of it all and leave you with an excellent rotation to use against multiple, common greenhouse pests. Janna Beckerman is an ornamentals technical specialist at Envu, and part of their Green Services Team. Prior to Envu, she worked at Purdue University and the University of Minnesota as a professor of plant pathology for almost 25 years. Janna continues to focus on developing environmentally sound pest management strategies that are economically feasible for growers and pest managers of specialty crops and is now excited to also focus on insect and weed management.   Resources Envu Ornamentals Envu Ornamentals Team Altus insecticide Aria insecticide Kontos insecticide Podcast: The ABCs of Foliar Disease in Greenhouse & Nursery Crops Podcast: Preemergence Weed Control for Greenhouses & Nurseries

Hey everyone—Nick Flax with the Ball Seed Tech Team here! Every mum season, I tend to get the same core questions from growers—especially as material starts arriving and hitting the transplant line and moving into production—so today I want to try to head some of those questions off before they turn into headaches. This week, I’ll walk through a few topics that I get questions on most often: propagation, premature budding, and disease pressure. I’ll also point you toward some additional resources if you want to go a little further down the rabbit-hole on any of these topics.Subscribe to the weekly Tech On Demand e-newsletter: https://www.growertalks.com/Newsletters/Signup/?newsletter=techondemand

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Dr. James Gibson, a technical lead at Syngenta Flowers in North America. Jamie has positively impacted countless greenhouses, crops and peers and it’s great to hear more about his horticultural story. Did you know his great grandfather was a horticulturist? Here are the four questions Jamie selected: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond? Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What do you love most about your job?   This episode is sponsored by Mycorrhizal Applications—master distributor of biological and botanical plant support solutions and the world’s leading supplier of mycorrhizal soil inoculants. Learn more and connect with the expert team at mycorrhizae.com.

Host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by Samuel Di Rito, a grower and social media manager at Collier’s Greenhouse & Garden Center, a third-generation family-owned business in Jackson, Georgia. Follow Collier’s on Instagram @colliersgreenhouse Here are the four questions Samuel selected: Q: What was your first exposure to horticulture and how did you feel, react, respond?  Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What do you love most about your job? This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Susie Raker, vice-president at Raker-Roberta’s Young plants in Litchfield, Michigan. Susie is an innovator in many ways and although some of this comes from growing up in a cutting-edge family business, she is definitely her own person and has forged an amazing path in the industry. This discussion goes in many directions, and you’ll have to listen all the way to the end, so you don’t miss anything! Here are the four questions Susie selected: Q: If you had a free hour, what would we find you doing? Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What does the future of horticulture look like?    This episode is sponsored by Mycorrhizal Applications—master distributor of biological and botanical plant support solutions and the world’s leading supplier of mycorrhizal soil inoculants. Learn more and connect with the expert team at mycorrhizae.com.

Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. Well, almost everyone … This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Leslie Halleck, a consultant, author, educator, certified horticulturist and nonconformist who opted NOT to pick four questions and answer whatever Bill asked. It’s a fun episode that goes in many different directions and touches on tons of different subjects but always circles back to a passion for the industry and all businesses and people involved. You absolutely have to listen all the way to the end of this one because although there are four questions asked and answered, there’s much more going on here. Here are the four questions Bill selected for Leslie: Q: Do you have a morning or evening routine you’d like to share with the listeners? Why do you do this? Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it? Q: What are three tools you couldn’t live without or couldn’t do your job without. (This can be hand tools, technology, etc.) Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?   This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Kelly Nicholas, Dümmen Orange’s head of technical services for North America. Kelly has a ton of experience across many segments of our industry—technical, production, greenhouse management and more. Plus, she’s a fantastic leader and has great advice that’s shared throughout the episode. If you’re considering exploring a career in horticulture or need some inspiration to battle burnout—Kelly suggests you hit her up on LinkedIn because she’s always happy to network. Here are the four questions Kelly selected: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond? Q: What are three tools you couldn’t live without or couldn’t do your job without. (This can be hand tools, technology, etc.) Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”?   This episode is sponsored by Mycorrhizal Applications—master distributor of biological and botanical plant support solutions and the world’s leading supplier of mycorrhizal soil inoculants. Learn more and connect with the expert team at mycorrhizae.com.

Host Bill Calkins welcomes GrowerTalks’ editor in chief Chris Beytes and editor Jennifer Zurko to the podcast to share thoughts on California Spring Trials—the plants, the trends, the overall vibe—and the impact spring trials STILL has on the professional horticulture industry. When Chris, Jen and Bill return from spring trials each year, folks in the industry always ask for overall thoughts, hot new varieties expected to be big sellers and what they consider to be industry breakthroughs. It was Bill’s bright idea to once again record a podcast answering some of these questions and of course his partners in crime for the annual trek had so much fin recording last year’s debrief that they agreed to humor him again. Here are the questions the three tackled in this episode: If the 2026 California Spring Trials was a new employee, how would he/she introduce themselves? Name a few new introductions from CAST 2026 that stand out in our minds—and why. Why do we keep going back every year (besides to make sponsored content)—how do we stay amped up about spring trials? If we could have ONE OR TWO new introductions shipped to our houses for free, what would they be? What are some new intros that we feel are perfect for social media click generation? Are any of the new intros seen at CAST “more than just pretty”? Some 2026 CAST varieties that got major promotion at the event (big displays) that we think will live up to the hype? Were there any new intros that made us think, “what the heck is that” OR that surprised us? What are some reasons folks in the industry should take the time and make the investment to attend California Spring Trials?   CHECK OUT BALL PUBLISHING’S INDUSTRY-LEADING COVERAGE OF THE 2026 CALIFORNIA SPRING TRIALS: Daily Newsletters YouTube Playlist (25+ Videos) Facebook Instagram (@growertalksgreenprofit) LinkedIn

Host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by Mason Day, the Vice President of Business Development at JR Peters Company/Jack’s Fertilizers. Here are the four questions Mason selected: Q: What do you love most about your job? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”? Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family? Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by Lorentina McKoy, the North American Sales & Product Representative for Suntory. Lorentina wears many hats with Suntory from supply management and technical support to product selection and working as a liaison with off-shore stock farms. She brings it all together with unique skill sets and plenty of past greenhouse experience. Her perspective is thoughtful and rooted in a passion for the green industry. Here are the four questions Lorentina selected: Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family? Q: If you had a free hour, what would we find you doing? Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com. Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is going to catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by Tanya Carvalho, territory manager for all of Canada at Ball FloraPlant and Selecta One. Tanya is also a social media influencer for the commercial side of our industry and you should follow her on Instagram! @tanyacbloomdiva Here are the four questions Tanya selected: Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family? Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like? Q: What are your top 3 favorite annuals? And perennials? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?

In this episode, host Bill Calkins and BioTherm president Jim Rearden talk about a new partnership for BioTherm that brings some cutting-edge product lines into the company’s portfolio—including low-mass boilers and new, modern unit heaters. But that’s not all you can expect this episode! Bill also asked Jim about the evolution of greenhouse environmental management, how grower needs continue to change (based on many factors), the importance of planning ahead when making equipment decisions and what the future may hold in terms of regulation and legislation that’s bound to impact our industry. It’s a great conversation so be sure to stick around all the way to the end, because the good information keeps coming. Resources: BioTherm Website: https://biothermsolutions.com/ Climate Systems for Indoor Environments (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/1EImJy5UEe4| How to Heat Your Greenhouse (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/H46OQwxJdx4 The Ultimate Grower Climate Control System (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/PSMxCyOhbj4 Low-mass Boiler Solutions: https://biothermsolutions.com/high-efficiency-boiler-system/ Sterling Unit Heaters: https://biothermsolutions.com/product/sterling-high-efficiency-unit-heaters/

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, he’s joined by Diane Blazek, Executive Director at All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau. Here are the four questions Diane selected: Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family? Q: Do you have a morning or evening routine you’d like to share with the listeners? Why do you do this? Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it? Q: What are three tools you couldn’t live without or couldn’t do your job without. (This can be hand tools, technology, etc.)

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION! https://youtu.be/qrcLV3tyCLo For this video podcast, host Bill Calkins is joined by three representatives from PanAmerican Seed who each bring specific expertise to the table, having worked with new crops for years to help bring them to market with solid foundations and supported by all the information you, as growers, need to be successful. Lisa Lacy is Director of Product Management for PanAmerican, Robin Ruether is Senior Product Manager and Sonali Padhye is PanAm’s Senior Global Technical Manager and together they will cover five key 2027 introductions from the global seed breeding company. Here’s the list of crops and you’ll see that they cover a range of genera, uses and market positions. There are landscape performers, combo components, Fleuroselect Gold Medal and All-America Selections winners and seed forms of traditionally vegetative varieties—truly something for everyone. Find all product information at https://www.panamseed.com/ . African Marigold Lanna Lace Bacopa Galactic Mist White Sunflower Always Sunny Gold Heuchera Heucherette Pink & Red Sedum Spectacular

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, he’s joined by Broch Martindale, National Nursery and Greenhouse Strategic Account Manager with Corteva Agriscience. Here are the four questions Broch selected: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond? Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What do you love most about your job? Q: What does the future of horticulture look like?

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, he’s joined by Shannon Carmody, director of plant pathology at Ball Horticultural Company. Here are the four questions Shannon selected: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond? Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like? Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it? Q: What do you love most about your job?

LESSONS NOT YET LEARNED FROM THE FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL McCURRY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: When selling or attempting to retire, owners without a strong leadership team find they don’t have a business to sell. They have inventory that’s worth half what the owner thinks it is. The fixtures and equipment are usually worth a quarter or less of the owner’s estimate. They may have real estate, but if the operations can’t be run without the current owner, they don’t have a business. All they have to sell is a job and the physical assets. It’s a sad, but consistent story. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_02/index.aspx

WATERING MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JOSH HENRY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Assessing irrigation needs: Good, better, best—Think of irrigation decisions as a hierarchy: Bad: Watering by timer Good: Checking surface color Better: Picking up pots to gauge weight Even better: Inspecting roots and using the 1-to-5 scale Best: Water by weight—real data drives decisions Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

BRIDGING RESEARCH & PRACTICE FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY ALICAIN CARLSON NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: The relationship between industry and academic research has never been more crucial. As our industry faces complex challenges—from climate change to evolving consumer preferences—the synthesis of academic rigor and practical application becomes increasingly vital. These collaborations create a powerful synergy: academic institutions provide deep scientific expertise and research infrastructure, while industry partners offer real-world insights, commercial perspective and the ability to scale solutions rapidly. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

CELEBRATE—WITH PLANTS! FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY MARIA ZAMPINI NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Fortunately, with a little planning and creative POP displays, you can benefit from a slew of lesser-known holidays and life celebrations to promote plant sales. I’m not talking about the biggies, like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Easter; I know you’ve got those covered. Instead, look for opportunities to celebrate lesser-known holidays, as well as major life milestones, where plants make the perfect gift. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_01/index.aspx

SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS FROM THE JANUARY ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY NATHAN WALLACE-SPRINGER NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: By carefully checking your greenhouse systems and materials now, you can ensure a smoother start to the new season and protect the health of your crops. This article will provide a preseason checklist to help growers get organized and ready for a successful spring growing season.   READ THE JANUARY 2026 DIGITAL ISSUE: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

RENT, RETURN, REPEAT FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY NEIL ANDERSON NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: How many times do you think Blockbuster rented out “The Little Mermaid” or “Ghostbusters” before those VHS tapes finally gave out? Probably hundreds. At roughly $4 a rental, that’s about $1,200 of revenue from a $20 tape. Pretty good margin, right? Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_01/index.aspx

SUCCESS BY DESIGN: THE SECRET STRATEGY FOR QUALITY VEGETATIVELY PROPAGATED SPRING CROPS FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER J. CURREY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: The secret strategy for quality vegetatively propagated spring crops isn’t too complicated: healthy cuttings, healthy rooted liners, healthy finished crops. While much is written and discussed about managing fertilizer when finishing containerized spring crops, managing nutrients during cutting propagation receives less attention. But to produce healthy rooted cuttings, cutting fertilization needs to be managed across all five stages of liner production: Stage 0—Prior to harvest or arrival of cuttings; Stage 1— Cutting arrival and sticking; Stage 2—Callusing; Stage 3—Root development; and Stage 4—Toning. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx

Conversation with Stephanie Vincenti starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with April Herring-Murray and Sarita Cantu starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Anik Graves and Paula Scott  starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Scott Mozingo starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Jim Devereux starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Mike Annes starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Jessica Cudnik starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Joe Messer starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Alicain Carlson starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Kathy McKay starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Dwight Deppen starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Stephanie Vincenti starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Sjaak Sijm starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Kris Carlsson starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Robert Bett starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Sarah Makiejus starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Conversation with Bart Hayes starts at 2:20. California Spring Trials 2026: March 24-27 (Days and time may vary by location.)https://caspringtrials.us/ Tech On Demand host (and 20-year trials veteran) Bill Calkins collaborated with California Spring Trials registration managers at National Garden Bureau to produce a series of podcasts featuring representatives from just about every exhibiting company in an effort to get you excited about the iconic industry event and some of the new plant introductions you’ll see on display in spring of 2026. California Spring Trials is the horticulture industry’s “fashion week” and with more than two dozen participating companies bringing hundreds of new plants to market for 2027 and beyond, opportunities to get inspired and plan new additions to your crop mix abound! Registration for this annual even is essential to help hosts create an amazing, customized experience for all attendees. REGISTER FOR CAST 2026 NOW AT https://caspringtrials.us/. You’ll also find a trip planner, location information and more. Be sure to schedule plenty of time at each stop and with each exhibiting company!

Host Bill Calkins took advantage of this opportunity to chat with Joe Brenton from Koppert US and covered a wide range of topics related to biolosolutions—including biological pest and disease management, biostimulants, biocontrol application methods, mass trapping and much more. Joe and Bill spent time recapping 2025 from early spring propagation and production through poinsettia finishing and everything in between from a biological and hybrid IPM perspective. Joe’s experience as a large-scale production grower, coupled with his ability to break down the realities of pest and disease control and prevention for greenhouse professionals will leave listeners with many new ideas to explore and a better understanding of why it’s critical to work with dedicated experts when implementing biosolutions strategies. Some Resources & Products Mentioned: Airobreez—distribute natural enemies Isarid—biological pesticide Horiver—trap and monitor flying insects Koppert: Find an Expert

This episode, host Bill Calkins is joined by two guests representing a company called Brands in Blooms and a solution they’re bringing to garden center retailers—BloomSuite. It’s a click-to-edit website platform built specifically for garden centers, but that’s far from the full story as you’ll hear. BloomSuite also offers an e-commerce component connecting your store to nursery fulfillment partners that ship plants directly to your customers. And if your marketing messages, social media and CRM are disconnected and operating in isolation, BloomSuite ALSO offers a CRM + marketing dashboard to tie it all together with pre-built customer personas, automated content generators, calendars for planning, the ability to send targeted emails and texts, as well as full Meta connectivity to upload your social media to Instagram and Facebook. Brands in Blooms co-founders Jeff O’Brien and Jon Morrison explain what BloomSuite is all about and why the company is laser-focused on solutions for garden centers. Bill, Jeff and Jon also discuss the importance of having a website you’re proud of, why collecting data is only as good as your plan to use it, the high cost (and confusion) of stacking multiple platforms, how e-commerce opens you up to a new customer base and how advanced tech could possibly allow us to be more human in the near future. As a listener of this podcast, you’re encouraged schedule a free website audit with the BloomSuite team as a way to learn how these cutting-edge but simple-to-use tools can take your business to the next level. Here’s how: https://brandsinblooms.com/pages/schedule   More Resources: Brands In Blooms: https://brandsinblooms.com/ BloomSuite: https://brandsinblooms.com/pages/bloomsuite Next-Gen Consumer Insights Masterclass: https://brandsinblooms.com/pages/course

In this episode of Tech On Demand, host Bill Calkins is joined by two experts from Epicor—a software company delivering comprehensive ERP solutions, as well as CRM tools and a range of supply chain management systems. Epicor truly understands the green industry and partners with garden centers and nurseries to customize business tools. Kerrie Jordan, Epicor’s chief marketing officer and Sam Kirkland, a national business development strategist are on the podcast to talk A.I. and ways to take the data you have, digitize it and apply A.I. to use it even more effectively. A.I. has the capability to assist in all fundamental business processes—from product procurement and cash flow management to employee productivity and customer engagement. That’s just a snapshot of what Kerrie and Sam share in this episode. Bill and his guests spend time discussing what exactly A.I. means for green industry businesses and applications from other industries can be transformational, as well as ways A.I. can help personalize businesses to level up the customer experience. They close looking to the future and what might be possible as this technology continues to evolve. PODCAST: Artificial Intelligence in the Green Industry (Part 1): https://techondemand.podbean.com/e/artificial-intelligence-in-the-green-industry-part-1-ft-clint-albin/   MORE RESOURCES: Epicor—Artificial Intelligence: https://www.epicor.com/en-us/solutions/technology/people-centric-ai/ ARTICLE: AI—Gaining Back Time: https://www.greenprofit.com/Article/?srch=1&articleID=27602 ARTICLE: Why You Need AI, No Matter Your Size: https://www.greenprofit.com/Article/?srch=1&articleID=27544 ARTICLE: Using AI to Shorten the Customer Journey: https://www.greenprofit.com/Article/?articleid=27702 PODCAST: Next-Level Engagement, Growth & Brand Building with Sam Kirkland: https://youtu.be/P_VMRu0wTHU?si=fBJr9uzxOT4UZu3C

This episode’s guest should be quite familiar by now as he’s joined host Bill Calkins multiple times to cover a range of topics related to IPM from a pest- and disease-specific angle, as well as seasonal controls and prevention strategies and even weed management. Broch Martindale is the National Nursery & Greenhouse Strategic Account Manager at Corteva and downloads of his episodes are always strong proving that loyal listeners and many others across the industry are well aware of his ability to share detailed research-based cultural information blended with real-world greenhouse and nursery production experience. Check out the show notes for links to all of Broch’s 2025 episodes covering a range of topics. This time, Bill and Broch look back on 2025—spring, summer and fall production—to highlight pests and disease that were particularly troublesome over the past 12 months, as well as products and approaches growers used to effectively go to battle before and after symptoms emerged. They talk spring pests like aphids and thrips that were prevalent coast to coast, mum diseases and issues due to warmer-than-average weather and poinsettia growers facing pathogens and insect/mite pests. Broch also went into detail about how investments in research and development by companies like Corteva drive product effectiveness, even when active ingredients might look alike on labels. Did you know that particle size can dictate the amount of active ingredient actually getting to where it needs to be for full mortality—which, in turn, reduces the risk of resistance? As you wrap up your year, take a listen to this episode to hear about things you might have faced OR challenges you might encounter in future years. And check out the resources below for trialed, tested and proven products to add to the proverbial toolbox.   Past 2025 Episodes with Broch: Integrated Pest Management & Resistance Management Safely Managing Whitefly (and more) Pre-emergence Herbicide Tips & Tricks for Perennial Production   Resources & Products Mentioned: CORTEVA NURSERY & GREENHOUSE XXPIRE Insecticide CONSERVE SC Spinosad Insecticide FLOXCOR Fungicide FLOXCOR + EAGLE Fungicides GALLERY Herbicide DIMENSION Herbicide SNAPSHOT Herbicide

In this episode, host Bill Calkins is joined by Tom Van Wingerden from Van Wingerden Greenhouses in Blaine, Washington, to discuss a business angle that isn’t new but like many things these days, rapidly-evolving tools and technology are increasingly available to take it to the next level. Tom is Sales Director at Van Wingerden Greenhouses in Blaine, Washington one of the 100 largest greenhouses in North America and a gold supplier for Ball Seed. He has a degree in business management, is a proud father of four and was a blueberry farmer in the past. Tom is an outside-the-box thinker who’s always looking for ways to do bigger things with fewer resources. That comes across loud and clear in this podcast. The topic is fundraisers—which can be a love-hate topic for many and although some greenhouses businesses have found success with fundraisers over the years, many have not and thus given up the opportunity to create a profit center working with local organizations who are hungry for plants and ways to leverage plant sales to fund projects. Of course, greenhouses need to make money from these efforts because they require plenty of work but what Tom’s team has developed has more than tripled the company’s fundraiser sales while requiring fewer people to manage the segment. This isn’t just an episode about how Tom and the Van Wingerden team have grown sales. They actually developed a software system called PlantBuy.com that’s now available for other greenhouses who want to streamline the fundraiser process. It’s a system developed specifically for the commercial horticulture industry that could (in the future) result in a network of greenhouses across the country fulfilling orders from organizations who want to raise money through plant sales. In the episode, Tom and Bill discuss the overall opportunity for fundraiser business, what is required by greenhouses and the organizations they partner with, how plantbuy.com simplifies marketing, ordering and fulfillment, as well as best practices Van Wingerden Greenhouses has picked up over the past 20+ years supplying fundraisers of all shapes and sizes. If you also have a garden center operation (like they do), the marketing potential alone might be worth the effort! Resources: Learn more about PlantBuy: www.plantbuy.com Book a demo: https://www.plantbuy.com/schedule-a-demo/

In this episode of Tech On Demand, host Bill Calkins sits down with Susannah Ball, fourth-generation owner of Ball Horticultural Company, and Seth Reed, Ball’s Global Sustainability Manager, for an inspiring conversation about what it really means to “do better” when it comes to sustainability in horticulture. They break down how a 120-year-old global company focuses on people, community and the planet—from aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to empowering the launch of impactful initiatives at Ball companies around the world. You’ll hear how teamwork drives innovation, how smart sustainability can lead to resilience and why Ball chose this moment to release its 2025 sustainability report titled “Sowing Sustainability.” Whether you manage a greenhouse or garden center, lead a team or just want to make your business more future-focused, this episode offers practical insights and plenty of inspiration to grow greener and stronger—together. WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION! Read the 2025 Ball Sustainability Report (English & Spanish)

In exactly 30 minutes, Ball Seed Technical Services specialist Dr. Josh Henry covers garden mum production best practices, tips and tricks to help you avoid common issues experienced by growers. He basically offers concise “checklists” for you and your team to use during mum production—from propagation to finish. From managing all stages of prop to crop nutrition and environmental management to disease/insect control, this is an excellent overview that offers tactical solutions to help you produce your best mums ever.WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/nNlrEREN7lo Josh mentions many Tech On Demand resources, linked below. Many of these and more can be found at https://www.ballseed.com/Products/Mums. Scroll to the bottom of the page for an Excel-based Growth Tracking Tool! RESOURCES: Mum Video Playlist Properly Conducting a Pour-Thru Test for pH and EC (Video) Why Mum Foliage Turns Purple (Video Short) Fast-cropping Fall Mums (Video) Garden Mum Podcast Miniseries PART ONE Garden Mum Podcast Miniseries PART TWO Garden Mum Podcast Miniseries PART THREE At Risk Crops—Garden Mums (Chrysanthemum White Rust)

Ball Technical Services specialist Dr. Josh Henry joins host Bill Calkins to share best practices for producing ornamental peppers as part of the Tech On Demand series covering crop culture for key annuals and perennials. From the importance of sanitation and purchasing tested seed to keeping temperature, light and nutrition up, Josh takes ornamental peppers from propagation through to finish to help you achieve success. He spends time on protocols for preventing INSV and TSWV as key diseases to watch out for, as well as bacterial leaf spot. WATCH THE VIDEO!  Resources: At Risk Crops—Peppers (Bacterial Leaf Spot) TSWV & INSV Management Properly Conducting a Pour-Thru Test for pH & EC (VIDEO)

Ball Seed Technical Services Specialist Chris Ferguson joined host Bill Calkins to share 5 tips to help you take calibrachoa production to the next level—and avoid some common pitfalls. Irrigation—water by weight Pinching—chemical vs. mechanical pH Management—not above 6.2! Thielaviopsis—know your spores Tobacco Budworm—scout and treat ASAP WATCH THE VIDEO! Resources: AlkCalc from e-GRO: https://e-gro.org/alkcalc/dist/index.html Understanding Water Levels 1-5 (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/LBhc8_KlEBE?si=SimY3iTv72Izp9Rw

In this episode, host Bill Calkins is joined by industry strategist and co-founder of A24 Consulting, Clint Albin, to discuss the artificial intelligence (AI) in the greenhouse and garden center industry. Bill and Clint explore the challenges faced by green industry businesses, including seasonal fluctuations and changing consumer behaviors and how AI can provide solutions to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations—what Clint refers to as “the front door and the overhead door”. The conversation emphasizes the importance of integrating AI thoughtfully and creatively into existing processes, the need for immediate customer feedback and some potential risks associated with AI implementation. Clint shares insights on future Green Profit article and podcast topics related to procurement and local marketing strategies, highlighting the significance of innovation in the horticulture sector. Some key takeaways from this episode: AI can empower businesses of all shapes and sizes. Our industry faces challenges due to seasonal business cycles. Customer visits to garden centers need to be increased. Immediate customer feedback is crucial for improvement. AI should not be applied to broken systems. The essence of abundance in AI can save time or make money. A policy on AI usage is necessary for each business. Understanding customer needs is always a key to success. This podcast supplements an article series in Green Profit magazine. Why You Need AI, No Matter Your Size (September 2025)

Syngenta Flowers’ Dr. Brian Krug and Dr. Jamie Gibson join Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins to discuss the exciting world of begonias, focusing on both vegetative and seed varieties. They explore the latest introductions, production best practices and the importance of lighting and PGRs in growing high-quality begonias. The discussion highlights the growing popularity of begonias in gardening and their versatility in various applications. One of the top new introductions at California Spring Trials in 2025 was iCandy, a vegetative series of hybrid begonias for quarts and up—with double flowers and dark foliage—and Brian spends time detailing production best practices before moving on to other vegetative series including Adora (perfect for baskets), Birthday Bash (more traditional, waxy foliage and double flowers) and Florencio (a boliviensis hybrid). Then Jamie goes through tips and tricks for producing a few newer seed-raised series from Syngenta including Bossa Nova (boliviensis types), Bionic (large, interspecific landscape type) Tophat (early-to-flower interspecifics with huge flowers) and Limitless (tuberous). For each series, Brian and Jamie discuss production recommendations from propagation through finish—including lighting protocols, PGR regimes, temperature requirements and much more. Strategies to reduce the risk of blind cuttings are also shared. WATCH THE VIDEO! Resources: Syngenta Flowers Website Syngenta Flowers Technical Library (Search “Begonias” for culture on all varieties!) Vegetative Begonia Photoperiod Effects

Syngenta Flowers’ Dr. Jamie Gibson joins Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins to discuss best practices for growing high quality pentas—both seed and vegetative varieties. As Jamie said multiple times, one of the biggest keys to getting the most out of pentas is keeping them warm. But there’s a lot more to maximizing production and there are nuances to understand with vegetative types, like Syngenta’s Starcluster and Starcluster Cascades, as well as the seed range, which includes Beehive, BeeBright and HoneyCluster. Jamie and Bill kick off the discussion with vegetative pentas in the Syngenta range—Starcluster and Starcluster Cascade. Jamie calls out some key attributes like huge umbels, thick foliage and major pollinator attraction before digging into propagation from URCs or callused cuttings. If you’re concerned about propagating pentas from cuttings, a good idea might be to bring in liners and just finish them in about 8 weeks or even start from enhanced, larger liners to cut off a few more weeks in production. Another tip is for growers in Northern climates to bring in cuttings after week 6 to reduce the risk of cold-chain damage. Remember, it’s a heat loving crop and receiving vegetative pentas after week 6 still gives plenty of time to finish the crop for Mother’s Day. Jamie follows production through finish and even teaches Bill a new term, “Xanthophyll,” the yellow pigmentation that sometimes makes pentas roots look like they’re struggling even though they’re completely healthy. Then Jamie and Bill turn the page and start on the seed-raised types. Jamie suggests buying in plugs from experienced pentas propagators because nailing pentas plug production can be quite tricky. Transplanted plugs still need to be grown warm (66-75F), and it’s recommended to consistently test pH and make sure it stays above 6.2 and also consider adding calcium nitrate to keep the pH up and tone the crop. In terms of positioning the seed-raised series from Syngenta, Jamie suggests BeeBright for packs and smaller pots, HoneyCluster for quarts and Beehive for baskets. WATCH THE VIDEO!   Resources: Syngenta Flowers Website Syngenta Flowers Technical Library (Search “Pentas” for culture on all varieties!) Patio Playbook Guide

This Tech On Demand podcast episode is all about propagation, biosolutions and starting your crops strong from the earliest stages. Host Bill Calkins is joined by Kristen Fowler, a technical sales consultant with Koppert who not only works with propagators but spent many years in leading propagation greenhouses as a grower—so she’s no stranger to the importance of optimizing plants at the most critical times during production.   In this episode Bill and Kristen discuss the importance of cleanliness before and after young plants are received, tips for assessing cuttings when they arrive at your greenhouse (you don’t want to push poor product onto your benches), consistent scouting and working with suppliers to understand what’s been applied to young plants before they come through your door. They also dig deep into what biological products can be used during each propagation stage (some products work well under mist, and some do not) and a roadmap to follow for protection when roots emerge, mitigating insect and mite pest pressure early on and biosolutions to apply at the time of transplant. With such a strong understanding of the propagation environment, Kristen is keenly aware that the best way to introduce many biological strategies and hybrid approaches is to work within existing propagation processes and not change too many protocols—think tank mixes, boom applications and different options for different systems.   RESOURCES: Koppert U.S. Koppert Consultants & Locations Koppert Contact Koppert Crop Protection Products Koppert’s Side Effects Guide App2025 GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide 2026 GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide (English) 2026 GrowerTalks Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide (Spanish)

Sustainability and environmental responsibility are high on the priority list for the Proven Winners team and their partners. Their new Eco+ plastic-free and industrial compostable pots are a key part of this plant powered package. Host Bill Calkins caught up with Proven Winners’ director of sales, Dave Konsoer and Danny Mishek, president of VistaTek—the award-winning manufacturing company behind the new pots and other plant-based, compostable products making their way into many industries. Danny, Dave and Bill discussed all aspects of the new packaging from manufacturing and trialing to ensure integrity in greenhouse environments to seamless integration into crop production systems and the strong, branded retail presence for which Proven Winners is known. Dave clearly explains the reasons Proven Winners invested in the move to sustainable packaging and Danny articulated why a zero-plastic approach is not only responsible but becoming necessary due to new regulations being implemented in many states very soon. Of course, the pots went through many iterations in development and functionality in greenhouse production and retail settings was non-negotiable and Dave stated there are no changes to how crops are grown in Eco+ pots and the brand messaging remains crisp and clear on the plastic-free material. Danny explained regulatory changes coming quickly in many states and why bio-based materials and plastic-free pots like Proven Winners’ Eco+ will help growers stay ahead of “extended producer responsibility” laws. Plus, as Dave explained, consumers clearly want responsible packaging and look to Proven Winners as a leader in the gardening space. The company’s social media pages for gardeners are filled with positive comments about the new plastic-free packaging. There’s so much fantastic information in this podcast and excellent discussion around the topic of sustainability. It’s steeped in real-world horticultural knowledge of supply chains, price sensitivity, production situations, tolerance for change and future plans. You really have to listen all the way to the end because the ideas and info just keep coming. Resources: What Environmental Sustainability Looks Like for Proven Winners Proven Winners Eco+ Containers FAQ Eco+ Grande Pot Manufacturing (Video) Eco+ Grande Pot Manufacturing (Video 2) VistaTek Sustainable Manufacturing

Cost accounting is the process of calculating your fixed and variable costs of production and identifying on what products and activities you are spending your resources. It may not be glamorous, but taking the time for cost accounting can dramatically improve your business’s profitability. Ball Seed’s senior business analyst Stephen Steiner joins host Bill Calkins for a quick crash course in “grower math.” Stephen discusses simple ways to calculate costs (fixed and variable) by sharing greenhouse production-based examples. Knowing the true cost to produce various inputs will help you and your team make the smartest—and most profitable—decisions. WATCH THE VIDEO! This discussion is a condensed version of a much more in-depth presentation you can find HERE. Stephen also recommends a series of GrowerTalks’ articles digging deeper into greenhouse cost accounting from many angles. You can find all of these resources and more HERE.

Warning: You’re going to hear the word SEED a lot in the next half hour or so, because our guest this episode is Josh Kirschenbaum, the seed supply manager at Ball Seed Company. He’s a seed guy all the way. In previous roles, Josh was PanAmerican Seed’s business and portfolio manager for the company’s vegetable lineup and before that was product development director at Territorial Seed Company in Oregon.   Here’s what you can expect from host Bill Calkins and Josh this episode:   Their shared fascination with the new OPEX Perfect Pick machine Ball introduced earlier this year. Josh describes it as a climate-controlled vending machine for seed packets that can pull 20 orders at a time, resulting in speedy service and increased accuracy in order fulfillment. (Check out the video and article link in the resources below to see the machine in action.)   Bill challenged Josh to come up with three reasons why seed solves problems and why it’s still a preferred way to produce crops. Josh explains the economic benefits, why flexibility and efficiency are optimized when starting from seeds or plugs and finally the amazing innovation and quality of genetics available from seed.   Throughout the conversation, Bill and Josh touch on many more aspects of seed crops that have been at the core of Ball’s business for more than a century. Josh discusses the global nature of our industry, how innovative breeding drives our future, the importance of quality seed in large-scale plug production and the legacy seed has in horticulture.   Resources:   Ball Seed Company Website: https://ballseed.com/   Ball Seed Product Forms & Premier Line Seed List: https://ballseed.com/Products/Seed   OPEX Perfect Pick—From Grocery Store to Vending Machine (Article): https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=27411   OPEX Perfect Pick (Facebook Video): https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19SiAULR35/

This episode includes critical information for both nursery and greenhouse producers!   To discuss this episode’s topic, host Bill Calkins was joined by a fantastic guest from Envu—Dr. Janna Beckerman—who’s an experienced plant pathologist at heart and wanted to discuss three key diseases commonly encountered in greenhouse and nursery crop production. Conveniently for the podcast title, these diseases begin with the letters A, B and C—anthracnose, Botrytis and cercospora.   In this episode, the conversation starts with a brief recap of some diseases Dr. Beckerman saw a lot of in the spring, like rusts and Pythium and then the conversation moved quickly to the topic at hand—foliar diseases. Bill and Janna took the three ABCs in order talking through the main crops impacted by each one, symptoms to watch for and control methods. Although Dr. Beckerman mentioned one of Envu’s flagship fungicides, Broadform (a unique chemical class with two modes of action to control more than 50 pathogens), her rotation recommendations and application best practices were extremely in-depth and user-friendly. She also went through strategies to mitigate the risk from these three diseases using good sanitation practices and greenhouse and nursery environmental management.   Bill and Janna closed out the conversation with the importance of resistance management—a topic that cannot be overstated. Keeping our toolboxes full and giving all growers the best chance for controlling diseases (and insect/mite pests) requires diligence and intelligent approaches to chemical rotation and application.   You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode, because Dr. Beckerman is a true expert and offers countless tips and tricks to help you and your production team up the game season after season.   Resources:   Envu’s Ornamentals Segment Website: https://www.envu.com/segments/ornamentals   Envu’s Products for the US Market: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals   Envu’s Products for the Canadian Market: https://www.ca.envu.com/greenhouse-and-nursery   Broadform Fungicide Product Information: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/po/products/broadform

Corteva’s technical guru, flower grower and greenhouse and nursery “coach” Broch Martindale is back on the podcast to share strategies for controlling weeds in perennial production using products like Gallery, Dimension and Snapshot. Bill and Broch recorded this episode live in The Gardens at Ball. Over the course of this episode, Broch and host Bill Calkins discuss selecting the best products to control specific weeds impacting crops each season. They dive deep into weeds that can take over when temps drop and why fall applications of pre-emergence herbicides can be critical. General “best practices” are shared that will not only keep weeds at bay but also reduce costs associated with labor and product purchase. RESOURCES: Learn more about Gallery® specialty herbicide. Learn more about Dimension® specialty herbicide. Learn more about Snapshot® specialty herbicide.

Host Bill Calkins asked Jaime Kedrowski (Marketing Manager at Ball Seed Company) to join him for a discussion about the short-term future of our industry. This conversation was recorded live at the 2025 Ball Seed Customer Days open house event in West Chicago, IL. For this episode, Bill had three “big ideas” that he introduced to Jaime one at a time to find out what she had to say about them (and if she had any even bigger ideas or approaches). There are no right answers and neither Jaime or Bill own a functional crystal ball. But the goal of this discussion was to share ideas to ponder and potential directions to steer as our industry enters a new era. Topics discussed: Horticulture vs. culture New plants vs. new solutions Lifestyle vs. hobby

Host Bill Calkins asked Seth Reed (Global Sustainability Manager at Ball Horticultural Company) to join him for a discussion about the short-term future of our industry. This conversation was recorded live at the 2025 Ball Seed Customer Days open house event in West Chicago, IL. For this episode, Bill had three “big ideas” that he introduced to Seth one at a time to find out what he had to say about them (and if he had any even bigger ideas or approaches). There are no right answers and neither Seth or Bill own a functional crystal ball. But the goal of this discussion was to share ideas to ponder and potential directions to steer as our industry enters a new era. Topics discussed: Post-pandemic growth vs. new realities Labor vs. labor retention Production vs. automation

In this episode of the Tech On Demand podcast, brought to you by GrowerTalks, host Bill Calkins sat down with SePRO’s Technical Development Manager (and PestTalks e-newsletter editor) JC Chong to discuss plant growth regulators. PGRs are critical for greenhouse professionals but really haven’t been covered much on the podcast. Now’s the time! JC and Bill start off with a conversation about what PGRs are and what they do before jumping into a few specific products, including SePRO’s Topflor and A-Rest. Topflor is a gibberellic acid biosynthesis inhibitor (Class B)—active ingredient Flurprimidol. It offers some unique benefits in production, which JC covers in an informational way. JC outlines crops that respond particularly well (and some that don’t) and what you can expect from crops treated with the product. JC also explains some of the more common rates and application methods and a handy tool from SePRO to take a lot of the guesswork out of PGR application. JC is a researcher and has worked with the SePRO team and growers across North America to better use PGRs to achieve a variety of goals and has a lot of practical information to share. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode because when Bill and JC chat, you never know what to expect! WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION! Subscribe to JC’s PestTalks e-newsletter Resources: Topflor Product Overview A-Rest Product Overview SePRO PGR Selection Guide SePRO Horticultural Resources & Technical Contact

PAYING FOR THAT EFFICIENCY UPGRADE FROM THE SUMMER 2025 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY DAVID KUACK NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: When it comes to lowering operating costs for controlled environment growers, energy and labor are top of mind. The cost of labor is expected to continue to increase as the availability, hiring and retention of reliable workers becomes more challenging. The cost of energy—regardless of whether it’s electricity, natural gas, fuel oil or propane—will also likely continue to increase. Growers, regardless of where they’re located, are expected to have to deal with increasing weather unpredictability. For these reasons, more growers are looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/ig_25_05/index.aspx

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF TRIALS FROM THE JUNE 2025 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY DYLAN SEDMAK NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Modern day variety trials—side-by-side comparisons of primarily annuals (along with some perennials, vegetables and even woodies)—take place across an array of institutions in North America. Beyond universities, companies have begun opening the doors to their own personal trial grounds. Many organize annual events centered around visiting the trials, such as the Michigan Garden Tour or Southern Garden Tour (scan QR codes for links). Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_25_07/index.aspx

EXPAND YOUR CANDIDATE POOL FROM THE JUNE 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY TODD DOWNING NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Our industry is one of the most affected by the massive exit of so many retiring Baby Boomers who make up the green industry. Couple this with lower numbers of incoming talent and the demand for talent continues to far exceed the supply of candidates. While there are currently no magic answers, there are innovative and different ways of looking at the hiring process that will improve a company’s ability to attract and retain employees. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_07/index.aspx

This episode is a bit different—because it’s a live recording from a panel moderated by host Bill Calkins at the Darwin Perennials Day event in The Gardens at Ball on June 18, 2025. The audio quality is not as good as you’re used to hearing from this podcast, because it’s pulling from microphones in a tent with lunch being served and hundreds of growers in the background chatting about the plants they saw that morning and meetings with more than 30 leading perennial suppliers in the Ball Seed network. That said, the panelists were excellent, and the content is fantastic. The topic was error correction—common challenges in perennial production that can be easily fixed to avoid running into the same issues year after year. The panel included Chris Fifo from Darwin and PanAmerican Perennials, Drew Koschmann from Walters Gardens and Nathan Jahnke from Ball Seed Technical Services. Some of the frequent pitfalls discussed included best practices for overwintering and bulking perennials, why input selection is critical, evaluating perennial plug and liner quality, managing tough environmental conditions and new research into no-pinch production strategies. We also solicited questions from the crowd and covered about 10 of them before closing. If you missed this year’s event, that’s OK. Darwin hosts it every year! Mark Wednesday June 17, 2026, on your calendar and come check out the Gardens at Ball with thousands of perennial plants in bloom. As it get closer to the event, you’ll find all the details at https://www.darwinperennialsday.com/.

This episode includes critical information for both nursery and greenhouse producers! You may or may not know exactly how much time, labor and ultimately money you spend each year managing weeds in outdoor and indoor production, but chances are it’s a lot. If you don’t have protocols and strategies in place for weed control, that can lead to even bigger issues.   To discuss this topic, host Bill Calkins is joined by two guests from Envu—Dr. Janna Beckerman and Steve Larson—to talk through best management practices related to weed control and specifically the use of Marengo, a preemergence herbicide that not only controls more than 90 weeds (including broadleaf weeds, grasses and sedge) but also clocks in with residual activity for up to 8 months. It’s labeled for use inside greenhouses and can be a key player in your greenhouse sanitation lineup.   Envu’s Janna and Steve have decades of experience in our industry and bring a lot to the table when it comes to the science behind greenhouse and nursery production, as well as the real-world application of products and strategies. When it comes to weed control in production settings, Janna said it best—the greatest cost is the cost of neglect.   In this episode, the conversation starts with an overview of Envu’s history and innovative product range before quickly moving into weed control in nursery and greenhouse production. From regionality and seasonality of weeds and their impact to application strategies for preemergence herbicides and keys to safe use, there’s a lot to discuss. And with its residual staying power, wide range of weeds controlled and labeled indoor applications, Marengo (granular and liquid) is a product with benefits for just about every type of greenhouse and nursery operation.   You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode to hear all the tips, tricks, research and anecdotal success stories the Envu team had to share!   Resources:   Envu’s Ornamentals Segment Website: https://www.envu.com/segments/ornamentals   Envu’s Products for the US Market: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals   Envu’s Products for the Canadian Market: https://www.ca.envu.com/greenhouse-and-nursery   Marengo Herbicide: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/po/products/marengo   VIDEO (English)— Marengo Application/Calibration: https://youtu.be/7ZbCBCfHnb8   VIDEO (Spanish)—Marengo Application/Calibration: https://youtu.be/DhiSEXDGAPk   Envu Brochure—Nursery Weed Control: https://bynder.envu.com/m/5a01a4fcb5ddb3e7/original/Digital_TO_Nursey-Weed-Management_product-guide_NA_US_EN.pdf

Corteva’s technical guru, flower grower and greenhouse and nursery “coach” Broch Martindale is back on the podcast to share strategies for controlling and preventing some of the more common pest and disease challenges you might face in poinsettia production—like whiteflies and powdery mildew—using chemistries like XXpire, Floxcor and Eagle. Over the course of this episode, Broch and host Bill Calkins discuss safely using chemistries in rotation and what chemistries are appropriate for poinsettias late in production (when bracts are in color), as well as specific active ingredients that have been successfully trialed and tested to tackle common but challenging greenhouse pests. Throughout the podcast, Broch offers tips and tricks he’s turned to over the years producing crops and working with growers to manage and prevent pests when producing everyone’s favorite holiday crop. Be sure to read Broch’s article KEEPING POINSETTIAS MERRY AND BRIGHT in the May 2025 issue of GrowerTalks magazine for even more on this topic.   WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION!   RESOURCES: Floxcor fungicide offers ornamental growers fast uptake and broad-spectrum disease control, and is rainfast in just 15 minutes. Floxcor Fungicide Ornamental Fact Sheet Prevent and control virtually every major soil and foliar disease with the winning combination of Floxcor fungicide and Eagle 20EW specialty fungicide. Floxcor + Eagle Fungicide Ornamental Fact Sheet The two active ingredients in XXpire combine to control more than 39 insects, including 7 of the top 10 chewing or sap-feeding pests. XXpire Insecticide Fact Sheet Learn how XXpire insecticide can help poinsettia growers control damaging insects, without residue or phytotoxicity. XXpire Insecticide for Poinsettias Fact Sheet More information on XXpire insecticide

This Tech On Demand podcast episode is all about fall control, integrated pest management and implementing biocontrol strategies that work. Host Bill Calkins is joined by Phil Gerry, a Technical Sales Consultant for the Northeast Region covering six states for Koppert. Koppert is a global market leader specializing in biological crop protection and team members have joined the podcast before covering biological IPM for spring crops and strategies for hybrid and truly integrated strategies. Phil was lead grower for large nurseries and greenhouses in the Northeast and Northwest before joining Koppert in 2021 and brings an incredible amount of practical knowledge and creative strategies to the topic of managing key pests in garden mum and poinsettia production.   In this episode Bill and Phil discuss the spring production season before jumping into the main topic—IPM for crops produced in summer for fall and holiday sales. Phil explains the importance of understanding the compatibility of biological controls and traditional chemistries, as well as why it’s critical to define what success looks like for your greenhouse or nursery before integrating biocontrols. As he reiterated, when making a move to bio-based approaches, it’s best to start slowly—choose one crop or one pest and hone skills before moving on to a more comprehensive plan.   When it comes to biological controls for garden mums, indoor versus outdoor production must be considered and beginning applications in propagation is the best approach for various reasons Phill addressed. Key pests discussed include aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, whiteflies and spider mites. Moving on to poinsettias, of course the main pests (whiteflies and spider mites) require diligence, scouting and early preventative controls and Phil explained some of his go-to tactics. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this discussion because these notes barely scratch the surface!   RESOURCES & PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:   Koppert U.S.: https://bit.ly/4kR5r13 Koppert Consultants & Locations: https://bit.ly/455PYpp Side Effects Guide: https://bit.ly/4kOoZmP Isarid: https://bit.ly/4mASHxc Spidex: https://bit.ly/4dHyf9S Enermix: https://bit.ly/3SAoy3p Swirski-Mite: https://bit.ly/3HEZOEI Airobreez: https://bit.ly/3SAp815   2025 GrowerTalks Biosolutions Guide: https://www.growertalks.com/pdf/BioSolutions_Guide_2025.pdf

Syngenta Flowers’ Lauren Kilpatrick joins Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins to talk combos—specifically Kwik Kombos multi-liners and the new Patio Playbook program. Lauren explains just about everything you need to know to select the combination that will work in your greenhouse and deliver results for your retail customers, as well as tips and tricks for producing them at the highest quality. Lauren and Bill kick off the discussion with a quick chat about California Spring Trials 2025—specifically Syngenta’s “Rooted In Teamwork” theme—and some of their favorites from the trial in Gilroy, CA. Kwik Kombos is not a new program from Syngenta but they add new mixes every year and have their rigorous trialing dialed in so you can be assured that the mixes will work in production and perform beautifully at retail. Lauren explains the benefits of this early-, mid- and late-season spring program. Patio Playbook is new (just released at 2025 California Spring Trials) and offers inspirational recipes for ALL seasons—using a wide range of inputs from foliage varieties including coleus to heat-loving annuals, perennials, tons of Syngenta’s geraniums and even garden mums. Recipes allow growers to deliver color-blocked combos to retail throughout the year, extending seasons and helping bring shoppers in to fill their carts with high-value impulse combos. It’s a win-win for everyone! Of course, Lauren shares plenty of tips and tricks for combo culture, as well as some of her favorite mixes in both programs. Be sure to stay tuned all the way to the end of the conversation so you don’t miss any words of horticultural wisdom! Watch the video version! https://youtu.be/3zRssbYo3kM   Resources: Syngenta Flowers Website: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/ Kwik Kombos Catalog: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/636494595/92/ Kwik Kombos Culture Guide: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/sites/g/files/kgtney846/files/media/document/2025/02/26/culture_vegetative_kwik_kombos.pdf Patio Playbook Guide: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/208275210/

POINSETTIA PRODUCTION: WHEN NEGATIVES CAN BE A POSITIVE FROM THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JAMES DOUKAS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: A mastery, or at least a proficiency, in many growth strategies allow for a grower to select the correct “tool” from their “toolbox” no matter the situation that arises in the fall to achieve their desired goal for their poinsettia crop. Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_05/index.aspx

HOW MUCH DOES A GREENHOUSE PROJECT REALLY COST? FROM THE APRIL 2025 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Anyone who’s completed a greenhouse project knows that a lot more goes into it than you might think. But how much, exactly, as a percentage of the total cost? We asked three experts—Paul Golden with Prospiant, Matt Stuppy with Stuppy Greenhouses and Jeff Warschauer with Rovero North America—to help us with the math. It was a challenge because every site and every project is unique, and their usual answer is, “It depends,” but we forced them to break it down into key components and what percent of the project each might be. The figures below are minimums you’ll need for each category; in some cases (like site work), it could be much higher.   Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_25_04/index.aspx

Forcing perennials out of winter dormancy and into bloom for spring and summer sales isn’t a new concept for most growers, but growth in the perennial market has inspired a lot of folks to add perennials to their mix and there’s been plenty of research done to update protocols for breaking dormancy. Because of this, Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins wanted to have a quick discussion with perennial plant guru Chris Fifo (from Darwin Perennials) to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to waking perennials up this spring.   In this concise tech tip-style conversation Bill and Chris discuss the “traditional method” of forcing perennials and the “new-school way,” which results in better uniformity and reduced losses. Then Chris explains tactics any grower can use to force long-day perennials using an extension cord and a string of lightbulbs, as well as offering suggestions for reducing the risk of disease when perennials are being forced to wake up in early spring. The bottom line: It’s not as difficult as it sounds—warming them up and basic night interruption will work wonders on your perennial crop this spring.   WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rsq3hRTX0l0   Resources: GROWERTALKS WEBINAR: 3 1/2 Steps to Overwintering Perennials  MICHIGAN STATE GUIDE: Long-Day Perennials

For this installment, Lorentina McKoy, the North American sales and product rep for Suntory Flowers, joins host Bill Calkins to talk about Princettia—the unique poinsettia assortment from Suntory that looks different than traditional holiday poinsettias because it’s bred to be different. This opens up some unique uses and retail specs and also requires some production nuances. Because breeding on Princettia is quite active, a whole new range of colors and patterns has come to market in the past couple years, as well as a new sub-series with a more vigorous habit. In this episode, Lorentina offers tips and trick to produce Princettias to their full potential, some ways she’s seen them marketed and sold around the world, why the fact they’re a true “family” of genetics is important and much more. Although this episode is focused on one crop, Lorentina and Bill actually get into many different topics—from an early-Spring outlook and consumer trends to retail garden center tips and strategies to sell premium products. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end because this episode closes with some other top picks in the Suntory range of new varieties for 2026.   RESOURCES: 12-page Princettia Brochure—with culture notes: suntoryflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Princettia-Brochure-2023-digital-1.pdf The 2026 Suntory Flowers Catalog - Suntory Flowers Princettia Section—direct link: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/232823221/40/ “Just for Retailers” Page: Princettia Poinsettia - Suntory Flowers Princettia Consumer Information: New Ways to Display Princettia Poinsettias this Holiday Season - Suntory Flowers

One of the greenhouse pests growers have been dealing with more and more recently is broad mite. This specific mite pest is extremely challenging to diagnose and treat and can wreak havoc on a very wide range of crops across multiple seasons. Host Bill Calkins is joined by well-respected professor and extension specialist in horticultural entomology at Kansas State University, Dr. Raymond Cloyd, to discuss this pest—from susceptible crops and theories why broad mites are on the rise to symptoms and identification. Dr. Cloyd then shared a bit about the pest itself and strategies to minimize the risk of losing crops due to broad mites and methods for control. Once broad mites were covered, Bill asked Dr. Cloyd about Lewis mites (based on challenges with this pest on poinsettia crops in 2024), and the episode closed with the importance of sanitation, diligent scouting and IPM protocols during spring production. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode and share it with your entire production staff.   RESOURCES: Broad Mite and Cyclamen Mite Management in Greenhouses and Nurseries:  https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2938.pdf Dr. Raymond Cloyd Contact Information: https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/Cloyd-Raymond-A.html Extension & Research Program (Publications, Articles, Reports, Etc.): https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/extension/Cloyd-Ext-Research/    A bit about Dr. Raymond Cloyd: Raymond has an extension (70%) and research (30%) appointment in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS). Raymond received his MS and PhD from the Department of Entomology at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), and was employed as a professor at the University of Illinois (Urbana, IL) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences for six years prior to his employment at Kansas State University. His research and extension program involves plant protection/pest management in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turfgrass, conservatories, interiorscapes, Christmas trees, vegetables, fruits, cannabis, hemp and pollinators. Raymond is the extension specialist in horticultural entomology for the state of Kansas with a major clientele that includes homeowners, master gardeners, and professional and commercial operators. Raymond has published over 100 scientific refereed publications, over 900 trade journals, and over 60 extension publications on topics related to pest management/plant protection. In addition, he has authored or co-authored numerous books including Greenhouse Pest Management, Pests and Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials, IPM for Gardeners, Plant Protection: Managing Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests, Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests, Compendium of Bedding Plant Diseases and Pests, and Western Flower Thrips: Insect Pest of Greenhouse Production Systems. Raymond has also written book chapters, manuals, PICT or picture-pocket guides, and extension-related publications. Raymond is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences and seminars; and has received numerous awards and honors during his over 25-year academic career. Raymond’s professional specialty areas are plant protection, biological control, plant-insect interactions, insect ecology, pesticides, integrating pesticides with biological control agents and sanitation.

Host Bill Calkins welcomed GrowerTalks’ editor in chief Chris Beytes and editor Jennifer Zurko to the podcast to share thoughts on the event—the plants, the trends, the fish tacos—and the overall impact spring trials has on the professional horticulture industry. When Chris, Jen and Bill return from Spring Trials each year, folks in the industry always ask for overall thoughts, hot new varieties expected to be big sellers and what they consider to be industry breakthroughs. It was Bill’s bright idea to record a podcast answering some of these questions and of course, his partners in crime for the annual trek westward agreed to it. Here are the questions the three tackled in this episode: If the 2025 California Spring Trials were a person, how would you describe their 2025 vibe? Name a few new introductions from CAST 2025 that stand out in your mind—and why. Do you go to CAST looking for something specific or just to see what’s new and report back via the magazine, videos and social media? If you could have ONE new introduction shipped to your house for free, what would it be? What are some new intros that you feel are Instagram-ready? What new variety should launch on Shark Tank? Name some 2025 CAST varieties that got major promotion at the event that you think will live up to the hype? Were there any new intros that made you think, “what the heck is that” OR that surprised you? What’s a new product you haven’t seen yet that you WISH would be introduced (i.e. if you were launching your own product, what would it be?) What’s ONE reason why a grower who’s never been to Spring Trials should go at least once?   CHECK OUT BALL PUBLISHING’S INDUSTRY-LEADING COVERAGE OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA SPRING TRIALS: Daily Newsletters YouTube Playlist (26 Videos) Facebook Instagram (@growertalksgreenprofit) LinkedIn

Just in time for warmer, spring temps and the insect pests that seem to come along, Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins caught up with Broch Martindale, the national nursery and strategic account manager at Corteva. The discussion centers on pest management in greenhouses and nurseries but because Broch is a phenomenal educator and “coach” there are plenty of best management practices and training strategies mixed in. Broch and Bill start with a conversation about XXpire, an insecticide with two active ingredients that provides control for 39 pests—while minimizing phytotoxicity risk and risk to beneficials and pollinators.  Then the topic shifts to IPM and the steps greenhouse teams can take to create a holistic plan that leads to results. Broch then dives into the importance of resistance management, a topic that is becoming more critical each year and one that he has plenty of expertise in and experience to share. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode and share it with your entire production staff.   WATCH THE VIDEO! https://youtu.be/1qwbpAyXe5k    RESOURCES: XXpire Insecticide Insecticide Resistance Action Committee IRAC Mode of Action Structures Poster (English) IRAC Mode of Action Structures Poster (Spanish)