Hints and Tips

Equipment Validation by Brian Cantin, Senior Grower Advisor Whether it is pH and salts meters, environment control equipment, new fertilizer injectors and/or equipment for disease and insect management, these tools need to be understood and validated if we are to optimize their handling and get the most bang for your buck. Trade magazines, trade shows, conferences and extension personnel can provide us with valuable information encompassing all facets of the greenhouse industry. However, as growers, it is our responsibility to understand and maintain the equipment we use for our operation. Validation no1 E.C. and pH Meters In crop production, understanding and managing substrate pH and electrical conductivity (E.C.) requirements should be a top priority. There is quite a selection of bench top and portable pH and E.C. meters that are available on the market. The operational information can help you […]

Making PGRs Work for You Many factors contribute to the success or failure of PGR applications. Regardless of what chemical is chosen, it is important to realize that improper application, excessive rates; stressed plants and weak root systems have an impact on the efficacy of a PGR. Recommendation no1 A well-planned program Success with plant growth regulators is based on a well-planned out program that incorporates PGRs into your production practises rather than a hit and miss approach. Growth regulators should be used as part of a preventative program where early applications coincide with the start of stretch. I prefer to shape a plant rather than holding a plant that got away from me. To shape a plant, low rates of PGR are applied more frequently at early stages. This approach is most effective if you have reliable records with […]

Disease Management: Be Proactive, Not Reactive by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Supervisor Technical Services New plant introductions are launched annually and some can grow and finish differently from what the grower is accustomed to pertaining to previous releases of the same species or plant group. If problems are suspected when growing a new crop, don’t wait to ask questions or allow the problem to go unchecked. Utilizing horticultural and company internet resources and/or consulting with a technical advisor that supports the crop line should be done immediately. If available, obtain a picture of the plant showing normal growth and review crop cultural data information to ensure that proper growth parameters are being met, and then compare to what is being observed. Recommendation no1 Diagnosing the Problem Once it is determined that the crop has a problem, diagnosing the problem is the […]

Berger puts a lot of emphasis on the quality of its products; at each production stage, rigorous quality control is performed in the lab.

Hidden Costs of Making Your Own Growing Mix by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Director – Technical Services Because most ingredients are sourced naturally, uniformity can be hard to obtain in a mix. The selling price of crops has not drastically risen over the past decades, but the cost of everything else has increased at a much faster pace. Growers have been very good at optimizing their production in order to maintain decent margins in spite of the increasing expenses for transportation, labour, equipment, chemicals and much more, including growing media. When you are looking at ways to cut down on your production costs, producing your own growing mix may seem like an attractive way to save some money, especially for large-scale growers. It certainly appears to have fewer implications than molding your own containers or manufacturing your own water-soluble fertilizers. Although […]

Substrate Selection Criteria Criteria no1 Type of Production The first criteria to take into consideration when selecting the ideal substrate for your production needs is the sector of activity. The characteristics of a growing media used to produce a Holly tree (Ilex) in a nursery will greatly differ to those required to produce an Orchid (Orchidaceae) in a greenhouse. Interior productions give a lot of control to growers, allowing them to steer productions towards specific results. Exterior productions are cheaper, but the grower loses some control as the crops are at the mercy of the weather, therefore substrates must be more forgiving to compensate for bad meteorological conditions. It is important to determine the type of production in order to narrow the types of substrates that could be used adequately. Criteria no6 Consistency and After Sales Services Quality Control, Analytical […]

31 Tips & Gardening Techniques One growing tip per day. by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Supervisor Technical Services

Key Practices That Can Contribute to Growing Success Over the years, we have come across many practices that are utilized by veteran growers, that consistently contribute to their growing successes. We have listed some of these practices below in the hope that any of these hints can contribute to your growing success as well.

Keys to a Successful Transition With the ever-increasing consumer demand and expanding market for organic products, many growers are contemplating a switch to organic production. This presentation covers some of the most important elements to consider for a successful transition, including fertilizers. Made with components listed by OMRI, the OM product series is ideal for growers who want to break into this dynamic and rapidly growing sector of the industry. _ _ Find the right organic mix to suit your needs

Presence of Mold on Peat in Bales by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Ing. Jr./Jr. Eng Mold on peat moss is usually created by the growth of filamentous fungi. If the water content is high, these organisms will grow on almost any type of organic matter. While the sight of mold growing on a freshly opened substrate bale may seem worrisome, they are not pathogenic to plants. There are numerous species of fungi, and those found in peat moss are mostly saprophytes, meaning that they only feed on decomposing organic matter. Some of these microorganisms can even have beneficial effects on plant growth. The Benefits of Microorganisms in Sphagnum Peat Moss Sphagnum peat moss contains numerous microorganisms that occur naturally in peat bogs, including the bacteria Bacillus, the actinobacteria Streptomyces, the fungi Penicillium, Trichoderma and Mucor, to name a few. The presence […]