Among growers who cultivate fruit and vegetable crops, tomatoes have been the most popular among our readers for years and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon. This year, 80% of tomato growers reported that they’re anticipating an increase in sales volume this year, building on the success of last year when the majority of growers also anticipated bigger sales.

When it comes to what growers want, quality, flavor, yield and disease resistance are still topping the list of most important qualities, as they have for the past two State of the Tomato Market reports. To see more on what fellow greenhouses are growing and how, read on.
-Kate Spirgen

As we enter the second year of the Covid pandemic, the situation continues to evolve – along with our sense of “normalcy”. Many are still experiencing a sense of uncertainty about what the future holds, albeit with a sense of hope on the horizon, as vaccines are rolled out across the globe. During these unprecedented times, the only certainty is that we will continue to face uncertainty and new challenges over the coming weeks and months.

At times like this, it is important to remember that it is often the toughest times that lead to the greatest opportunities. We truly believe there will be many new opportunities for growers of food crops, as food supply chains are scrutinized in the aftermath of the pandemic. During the pandemic, not only did demand outstrip supply in several areas of the supply chain but, in many cases, there was no contingency “plan B” to fall back on. As such, retailers and distributors will be looking to ensure future security of the entire food supply chain – along with reduced lead-times and seamless access to localized production wherever possible. Hence, we should see increased support for growers of food crops as both governments and consumers demand more secure access to healthy, sustainably produced food.

The pandemic has also exposed how vulnerable growers are to disruptions in their production when relying on foreign vendors and foreign workers for their infrastructure needs. At P.L. Light Systems, our team of in-house experts (including light planners, manufacturing team, customer service and technical support), as well as our locally based regional sales managers, are – as always – fully available to support our customers and quickly resolve any issues across North & South America.  Our own success is, after all, rooted in the success of our customers. We know their challenges, and are here to support them before, during, and long after they have invested in our products.  When you choose a P.L. Light Systems’ product, you are investing in the peace of mind that you are dealing with an established, local North American based company offering local service and support – especially during the times you need it the most.  

This year also marks an exciting milestone for P.L. Light Systems, as the company celebrates 40 years of delivering professional grow light systems to the horticultural industry. Although we won’t be able to host the type of anniversary celebrations we would have liked, we will very much be celebrating our dedicated team of employees and loyal customers. I have always been proud to lead our extraordinary team at PL, but throughout this incredibly unpredictable and challenging year, I have been immeasurably proud of how everyone in the organization stepped up to the challenge. Motivated by what they see as a responsibility to local growers, and the opportunity to make a difference during these challenging times, our employees have all continued to work hard to ensure customers are receiving all the support they need to keep growing – both today and in the future.

We at P.L. Light Systems are proud to be supporting the growers that people are relying on to deliver fresh, nutritious produce in almost every community across Canada and the USA.

Todd Phillips
President, P.L. Light Systems

Visit pllight.com to find out how we can help your business grow.

PHOTO ©new africa| adobe stock

Color me happy

Pure white moth orchids are lovely, albeit a bit somber for the times. An infusion of cheerful color is in order, and I am seeing that reflected on popular plant sites in terms of their orchid offerings. Beyond white Phalaenopsis, pops of orange, yellow and pink are becoming more common. Tropical colors that evoke “vacation” are emerging as décor trends right and orchids certainly stimulate a sense of island escape. Vacations — you remember, those things we used to be able to take from time to time to some place warm, tropical and cheery?

Let’s rebloom!

While Phalaenopsis spp. may already seem ubiquitous to those of us in the industry, most new houseplant parents have yet to even dip their toes into the world of orchids. Most do not yet understand the basic care for even the easiest of orchids, how relatively easy it is to care for and even rebloom moth orchids. The narrative that orchids are hard to care for and too challenging for beginner plant parents keeps many consumers from spending their hard-earned money on them. So, from a marketing perspective, let’s try and reach a bit further to ease their concerns — at least when it comes to moth orchids.

In fact, I think we’re missing out on a big marketing opportunity by not better promoting the how-to guides of reblooming moth orchids. I know that most growers just want customers to pitch their old plant when it is finished blooming and buy a new one. I do not think there will ever be any shortage of the “décor-only” customers who treat moth orchids as disposable; you need not fear those that want to keep and rebloom their plants. Cater to them all. After all, that success in reblooming their moth orchid will most likely prompt them to buy more. It’s like plant propagation: just because plant keepers figure out how to root cuttings, does not mean they stop buying new plants. Often, the opposite is true. It certainly is for me! The more success customers have with easy orchids, the more they are likely to buy.

Perfectly petite

Petite and miniature orchids are trending, and the miniature phalaenopsis are perfect desk companions, not to mention perfect for tucking into already crowded windowsills. Beyond moth orchids, many new plant collectors are also diving into more unusual orchid species and growing on the small side (yes, I will keep pounding my tiny plant drum). If you haven’t noticed, indoor gardeners are converting Ikea glass cabinets — as well as all sorts of other storage units — into DIY Wardian cases for their smaller plants in droves. It is a THING. Now that they have figured out higher humidity is required for many of their pricier plants, they are going the extra mile to customize their growing environments. Micro and miniature orchids are the perfect specimens for these dedicated indoor gardeners.

“When it comes to orchid trends for 2021 and into 2022, I don’t think we need to do any reinventing of the wheel.”

Oldies but goodies

In terms of other genera that could I think could see a rebound or increase in popularity, Oncidium -— with their dramatic abundance of blooms — make an intensely cheerful impression. I think Zygopetalum are particularly seductive, with their striking purple and green flower colors and intense fragrances. Miltoniopsis cultivars rival Phalaenopsis in their flower display and offer up a lovely fragrance. I also consider Paphiopedilum to be some of the easiest orchids to grow as indoor houseplants and do not really get the houseplant marketing they deserve.

Go Goth

On the flipside of the cheery tropical color trend, plant parents are also going Goth with their flower and foliage choices. “Black” foliage and black flowers — the stranger the better — are also in. A strange plant enthusiast myself, flowers and foliage that approach black in their color have always fascinated me, and I frankly find them just as cheery as brightly colored plants. I suspect many new plant enthusiasts feel the same. Luckily, there are some lovely Paphiopedilum, Oncidium, Cymbidium, Vanda and Phalaenopsis hybrids that sport dark or almost black blooms or flower markings. If you have such offerings, I would suggest you get them Instagram ready ASAP.

When it comes to orchid trends for 2021 and into 2022, I do not think we need to do any reinventing of the wheel. We already have what indoor plant collectors want and the market is prime for a big orchid boost. We just need to make a stronger effort to reach out to the new influx of houseplant enthusiasts that have flooded our market over the last year and provide better education. Put your top five easy-to-grow orchids front and center, shake up your color mix, and find your visual voice on social media.

Photos: drazen | adobestock

Preventing pest and disease outbreaks will save time and money. Although the best growers use every opportunity they have in the greenhouse to informally inspect things and take the “pulse” of the greenhouse environment and crops, a more formal and focused approach to scouting is essential. This article will focus on the fundamentals to any successful greenhouse scouting program.

Scouting should begin as early as possible in a growing cycle. For those bringing plant material such as seedling plugs and rooted cutting liners, plant material should be inspected immediately upon receipt; no plant should enter the greenhouse without this check. A small quarantine area, isolated from the main production area, is useful to keep plant material that appears questionable or affected.

In the main production area, effective scouting needs to occur throughout the entire area, and regularly. However, there are some strategies to making scouting effective and manageable. First, the main growing area should be divided into smaller subunits. Dividing the greenhouse into subunits corresponding to different crops is often a useful approach.

Plant scouting 101

Within each subunit, individual plants need to be inspected. Both random and targeted approaches to selecting plants for sampling are useful. A targeted approach should be taken for problematic areas or hot spots, those areas where pest and/or disease infestations are common. By purposefully focusing on well-known problem areas, you will be positioned to catch anything early. For the rest of the sampling area, randomly select plants from throughout each subunit.

Regular scouting is essential to proactive pest and disease management. So, how often should you scout? Well, the more often, the better.

Once plants have been selected to inspect, take a shoot-to-root approach. Thoroughly inspect the leaves, including both the leaf surface and underside. Look at the leaf axils, as this can be a common location for pests. Leaves from a variety of ages, from old to new, should be selected. Once shoots have been inspected, plants should be carefully removed from containers to observe root systems. The color of new and old roots is a simple way to assess relative root health, while specific symptoms such as dark- or off-colored roots and sluffing of older roots can be easy to see.

When scouting plants and trying to identify problematic symptoms of abiotic and biotic problems, it is important to know what “normal” looks like for the plants being scouted. What may appear like a symptom of some problem may be the actual appearance of the plant. For example, think of different variegation patterns on foliage, or consider the kaleidoscope of colors and their patterns on coleus. It certainly isn’t hard for an untrained eye to interpret a desirable ornamental characteristic as a virus symptom- or vice-versa! Perhaps velamin, the white outer-layer of phalaenopsis orchid roots, could be mistaken for a fungal disease?

Scouting tools

In addition to inspecting plants, sticky cards are essential in making scouting for flying insects more successful. There are a few tips that will help make the most of sticky cards. First, make sure you are using enough sticky cards for target pests. For most pests, placing 4 to 5 cards per acre of growing area is sufficient. However, if whiteflies are a particular problem, up to 1 sticky card per 1,000 square feet of growing should be used. Sticky cards are available in both yellow and blue. While yellow is the all-around color choice for general purpose trapping, blue cards are more effective in attracting thrips.

There are a few more tools to make your scouting more effective and efficient. One of the most important tools for any scout is a hand lens or loupe. Utilizing this tool allows a grower to take a close-up look at any symptoms, signs and/or pests on the spot. A clipboard is useful not only for taking notes and keeping records, but for holding white paper to tap plants over for observing pests like thrips. Use a simple cloth tool belt to hold spare sticky cards, plastic bags for samples, plastic gloves for handling potentially infectious materials, and other miscellaneous items. Back in the headhouse or other workspace, a dissecting microscope is useful for identifying those insects that are harder to identify, as well as to observe bacterial streaming or fungal structures. Keeping some enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA kits on-hand can be useful to test symptomatic plant tissue.

Regular scouting is essential to proactive pest and disease management. So, how often should you scout? Well, the more often, the better. Determine what scouting frequency is sustainable and then maintain it with rigor Intervening early can minimize the negative effects of pests and diseases, and scouting provides you this opportunity. Additionally, by taking the information you learn from scouting throughout the year and using diligent record keeping, you will begin to put together larger trends in pests and diseases over time.