Update on Flowers On Time, a free greenhouse decision-support tool

From Michigan State University Extension: As a grower of floriculture crops, you already know that air temperature has a tremendous effect on the speed at which a crop develops and flowers. Some recent research at Michigan State University and theUniversity of Minnesota, combined with input from the University of Florida, has led to the development of a decision-support tool called “Flowers On Time.”

According to Michigan State University Extension, this software is a guide only and should be used as a “second opinion” by growers. The tool takes into consideration that plants have a “base temperature,” or a low temperature below which they do not grow, and an “optimum temperature,” or a temperature at which a plant develops as fast as it can.

Plants with a low base temperature (39°F or lower) can tolerate cool temperatures better than plants with a higher base temperature, i.e., pansy versus begonia as an example. Conversely, plants with a high base temperature (46°F  or higher) need to be grown at warm temperatures; growing them cool will significantly delay flowering. Aas examples, celosia, salvia and vinca will be flower delayed if grown cool. Figure 1 shows crops that are either cold-tolerant or cold-sensitive.

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