Category: Uncategorized

It’s day three of the 2025 California Spring Trials, and the energy is buzzing. “We can’t complain about coastal California weather. We have had steady guests and the plants look amazing this year,” says the team at Ball Horticultural. At their PanAmerican Seed research facility in Santa Paula, they are showcasing varieties from top breeders, including PanAmerican Seed, Darwin Perennials, Ball FloraPlant, Selecta One, and Morel. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s on display at Darwin Perennials, Selecta one, Ball FloraPlant and Morel.

Chris Fifo (left) is holding Phlox Candy Cloud Pink, a new series from Darwin Perennials that helps bridge the color gap in spring markets. On the right, Darren Barshaw presents Penstemon barbatus Rock Candy in the new color Coral. This series is sweet as candy, tough as nails.

The Selecta One North America team is in their Dianthus “flower shop” display, showcasing the timing versatility of their complete Dianthus program. From left to right, Lauren Blume is holding new Selecta One Petunia Headliner™ Crystal Pink. Henry Roberts is showing a Dianthus Capitan cut flower in vase. Maria Bolinger’s favorite is the new Dahlia Dalaya™ Purple Lace (there are 4 total new lace dahlias for 2026). Next, Becky Lacy’s flowers give gardeners a cutting garden experience. And Gary Vollmer holds the stunning Dianthus Oscar® Ruby Splash.

At Ball FloraPlant, the biggest introduction from the Interspecific Geranium series Solera™ is new Dark Red – an important color for any geranium program. It’s held (center) by Ball FloraPlant President Mike Klopmeyer. Next to him, Jaden Gimondo shows off one of her favorite Ball FloraPlant launches Calibrachoa Cabaret® Lavender Kiss. Joining her are Sarah Hernandez-Swofford with pollinator magnet Ageratum Monarch Magic, and Canada territory manager Tanya Carvalho who cradles Salvia Mystical™ Blue, the most compact S. farinacea in the breeding company’s lineup.

There are several new cyclamen from Morel at California Spring Trials this year. One is a series named Macaron – the the smallest of the Morel “mini” types bred for 2.5- to 4-in. pots. In his colourful display, area manager André Costa holds another gorgeous new introduction: Cyclamen Dreamscape™ Midi Victoria Salmon.

Stay tuned for more photos from this site and breeders from other sites!

Are you also exhibiting or visiting CAST? Feel free to send in a selfie with a product that’s new, stands out, or catches your attention. Then, we can include them in our photo report that we will publish on Monday March 31.

More and more propagators are opting for the smart Growcoon plug. “Among other things, to reduce failure, increase crop uniformity and improve cultivation results. However, large-scale, advanced horticulture requires more than a high-performing growing plug. Efficient handling of the product and seamless integration into the (trans-)planting process contribute to optimal application of the Growcoon and increase the success rate. We are well aware of this”, the team shares.

Technology for growers with ambition
‘Automation has always been a relevant part of the total concept that we (respectively Maan Biobased Products, Klasmann-Deilmann and Maan Horti Automation) want to offer with Growcoon,’ says Edwin Kruiper, director of Maan Horti Automation. Growers could already rely on two dispenser types, which place the Growcoon in a tray manually, or fully automatically. However, rising ambitions, developments in the market and the expansion of the Growcoon range are creating demand for new automation solutions. And these are currently being developed by Maan Horti Automation. To supplement the existing range.’

‘There is a growing group of nurseries that are aiming for the utmost: maximum capacity; high performance, optimal control and greater ease of operation. And they have something to show for it. For that reason, we will soon be expanding our automation range with a ‘top-line’: the Growcoon Dispenser Advanced Series.’

Performance of the Automatic Growcoon Dispenser Advanced
What sets the Advanced Series apart from the rest? Maan’s ‘pick & place’ mechanism ensures that the Growcoon is positioned in the tray in a highly controlled manner, versus the drop mechanism available to the baseline. This not only increases accuracy but also makes the dispenser compatible with a wider range of Growcoon/tray combinations. The fully automatic version can process more than 55,000 Growcoons per hour, depending on the tray type and configuration. This puts the automatic Dispenser Advanced in a class of its own among high-performance tray-filling systems.

A look at the Growcoon dispenser

Raymond van Ispelen of Klasmann-Deilmann puts it firmly: ‘In an industry where precision, speed and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, automation is not a luxury but a necessity. That is exactly, what we want to meet with the Advanced Series.’

Availability
‘The status? We are progressing,’ Kruiper laughs mysteriously. ‘Right now we are testing the prototype at a grower’s site. More on that later. But the eye wants something too, so we are working on a sleek design that matches the high-tech nature of the machine. What that looks like? We’re keeping that a secret for now. Keep an eye on us!’

The Maan Horti Automation team

California Spring Trials 2025 (CAST) kicked off yesterday, marking the start of five days along the California coast. Nearly 30 companies, including breeders and propagators, are showcasing their new and existing varieties across 10 different locations, stretching from north to south.

From North to South or South to North?
Whether individually, with colleagues or clients, or as part of large organized groups, growers, brokers, retailers, plant buyers, and others travel to California to explore the trials along the coastline. Is it busy? It depends. Typically, the first and last days at the northern and southern stops see the highest traffic, while the mid-event days bring more visitors to the central locations. Most attendees tend to begin their journey at either the northern or southernmost points. At the end of the event, participating companies can assess whether it was busier or quieter compared to previous years.

5-day event
Over the years, we’ve witnessed an increasing number of companies collaborating with other breeders to showcase their varieties. This trend has contributed to a gradual reduction in the number of locations and has paved the way for the event to evolve from its original two-week format (previously known as the Pack Trials) into a more streamlined 5-day event. This year, the event is once again slightly shorter. While it was six days last year, it’s now down to five days. However, many locations, which previously operated for four days last year, are continuing the same practice this year, with several locations being closed on Saturday.

Curious to get a sneak peek? We’ve already received some photos from Beekenkamp and Hem Genetics, who are presenting their varieties at Green Fuse Grove in Somis, alongside Westhoff, Schoneveld, and, of course, Green Fuse Botanicals. Check them out below!

And how was the first day here? According to René Knijn of Hem Genetics, the first day was great. “From 8 o’clock in the morning, it was already filled with visitors here, and that didn’t stop until 6:00 PM in the afternoon.”

Beekenkamp team: Charlie Duft, Sirekit Mol, Kat Wolper, Kathy McKay, Jeroen Steenbergen, and Marc Driessen.

Beekenkamp’s Labella Dahlia Grande Chocolate Amber and Pericallis POP series.

The team of Hem Genetics, who presented their products at the

Visitors checking out Hem Genetic’s varieties

Stay tuned for more photos!

Are you also exhibiting or visiting CAST? Feel free to send in your selfie. Then, we can include them in our photo report that we will publish on Monday March 31.

Floral industry professionals from across the United States and South America gathered in Washington, D.C., on March 17–18 to champion key industry priorities during the Society of American Florists’ (SAF) 44th annual Congressional Action Days (CAD).

The event brought together more than 50 growers, wholesalers, florists, suppliers, and manufacturers who met with 88 congressional offices to address legislative priorities, including tariff relief, agricultural labor reform, port inspection improvements, and floriculture research funding.

Florida Delegation: Edwin Perez, Jet Fresh Flower Distributors; Scott and Kristin Gilliland, Gardens America; Ana Ramirez, Valley Springs; Oscar Fernandez, Equiflor; JD Leucoma, Deliflor; Ricardo Samper, Serrezuela Flowers; Carl Bauer, Armellini Express Lines

“CAD is one of the most important events that SAF organizes,” said SAF Immediate Past President Michelle Castellano Keeler, AAF, of Mellano & Co. “Nobody can tell our story better than we can. It’s essential that members of Congress hear directly from the people who run flower businesses.”

During the training segment of the event—when attendees were briefed on key issues—SAF President Oscar Fernandez of Equiflor gave a special shoutout to the event sponsors: Asocolflores, the Association of Colombian Exporters (Platinum-Level Sponsor); FTD (Premier-Level Sponsor); and The California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers (CalFlowers) and Hortica – a Sentry Brand Company (Elite-Level Sponsors).

“This small but might group of sponsors is what makes this event and SAF’s year-round advocacy more effective,” Fernandez said.

Key advocacy priorities
One of the top priorities was the reauthorization of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which would restore duty-free status for Ecuadorian roses—an action that could save the floral industry an estimated $40 million annually. Attendees also raised concerns about additional tariffs on floral products and agricultural inputs from countries like Mexico, Canada, and Colombia. These tariffs—on cut flowers and essential materials like potassium used in fertilizer—pose a serious threat to the survival of tens of thousands of small, family-owned floral businesses across the U.S.

Illinois delegation, Marvin Miller, AAF, Ball Horticultural; Ed Cronin, Teleflora; Traci Dooley, AAF, Hortica – a Sentry brand company; Janet Justus, FTD

In addition to trade-related concerns, attendees also called for improvements to the
H-2A guest worker program, which many growers rely on for labor, but which remains costly and difficult to navigate.

Port inspection delays were also a pressing issue, as anticipated staffing reductions within USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as a result of the Administration’s planned Reductions in Force (RIF), threaten the timely processing of floral shipments. SAF urged lawmakers to ensure proper staffing at major ports of entry.

Support for ongoing investment in the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI) rounded out the advocacy agenda, with participants emphasizing the importance of continued research in pest management, climate adaptation, and labor-saving mechanization.

Connecting with lawmakers
SAF members reported engaging and productive conversations with legislative staff—including a meeting with Senator Cory Booker’s office, where agricultural labor and research funding were key topics.

Chris Drummond, AAF, PFCI, of Penny’s by Plaza Flowers in Philadelphia and a past SAF president, along with Colleen Fagundus, director of floral for the International Fresh Produce Association, found a receptive and knowledgeable audience in the senator’s lead counsel.

“He was very well-versed on specialty crops,” Drummond noted. Their conversation focused on critical issues facing the floral industry, especially the challenges of the H-2A guest worker program and the urgent need for secure, reliable labor.

A shared voice for a stronger impact
For many attendees, CAD was a powerful reminder of the strength of collective advocacy.

“Going into these offices, you realize everyone here is fighting for flowers,” said Ana Ramirez of Valley Springs, a first-time attendee. “They know what you’re looking for, and that’s empowering.”

Lori Wheat, AAF, of Lafayette Florist, SAF’s president-elect, emphasized the importance of personal connections. “We want our legislators to know who we are. We’re a small family business, and we’re looking for a partnership—just as we support our communities every day, we hope our lawmakers support us.”

A consumer sector that sells nature has a woeful environmental track record. Now a new study has identified how to make flora far greener.

Led by Dr Jill Timms at the University of Surrey and Professor David Bek of Coventry University, who worked in collaboration with flower farmers Zanna Hoskins of Spindle Flowers and Debbie Scott at East Lothian Flower Farm, the report proposes a ‘radical shift’ in favor of localism, alongside a push to help suppliers understand more sustainable processes and options.

‘Our study highlights a critical moment for the British floral industry,’ said Dr Jill Timms, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Surrey. ‘Not only do consumers want flowers that are fresher and more vibrant, but they are also increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their purchases. By fostering local production, we can provide a solution that benefits both growers, consumers and the planet.’

The Flower Grower Collective [FCG] will create a ‘robust online platform connective British flower growers directly with florists, streamlining supply chains’ by opening regional hubs, and eliminating inefficiencies. Inspired by the Open Food Network, a user-friendly sales platform will allow shops to buy from farmers without a third party, with multiple orders made to multiple suppliers in a single transaction. A unique training program will also be developed, helping growers understand quality standards and effective approaches to more sustainable cultivation.

Read more at Environmental Journal

Even from afar, it’s easy to spot Florence Malemba. She’s wearing a white lab coat labeled “Plant Doctor”, and a banner hangs behind where she’s organizing her equipment, ready to assist her farmer-patients of the day. Florence is setting up her plant clinic in Njoro, an agricultural town southwest of Nakuru City, Kenya.

Florence is a trained plant doctor with ten years of experience diagnosing plant health issues in Nakuru County. An extension officer by training, her passion for helping farmers motivates her.

Florence started a YouTube channel, Plant Health Clinic, and has since uploaded eight videos. The relationship with her farmers is evident, and she uses Kiswahili, the most common language in the area. She invites farmers to her plant clinic via SMS, and since October 2024, Florence has served about 100 people at her plant clinics.

“I have printed my own banner, branded a white dust coat and a lens to facilitate my plant clinic. This makes my farmers trust me and recommend others who are struggling with plant health matters.”

How plant clinic works
Plant clinics work the same as clinics for human health, but instead of explaining to the doctor how one feels and getting the tests done, a farmer presents sick/infected sample crop parts. The plant doctor then uses the knowledge gained from their training, experience, and digital support tools, such as the PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank, to diagnose the problem and make recommendations on managing it in the safest, most effective, and cost-friendly way.

CABI’s suite of digital tools enables Florence and other plant doctors to access diverse resources online to support accurate diagnosis of crop pests and diseases. “I can always access accurate information from anywhere, in a few clicks, thanks to the PlantwisePlus Factsheet Library, which, once downloaded, works offline.

Using online resources for skills development
Florence is also taking advantage of the free CABI Academy courses, which are helping strengthen her plant doctor skills. “The courses are very practical, and I have gained a lot of knowledge about pests and diseases. I want to keep improving, and the learning modules on the academy offers me that luxury, for free. I will also encourage the farmers with smartphones to start taking some of the courses that are of interest to them.”

Plant doctor refresher training reignited her passion
“In October 2024, CABI visited and re-trained a group of plant doctors in Nakuru. I felt it was time to act and hold a plant clinic every week to support farmer needs. I used my personal savings to acquire a lens and print my banner. Considering the climate change issue that is affecting Nakuru county, there are a lot of pests and diseases on major crops grown within the county.”

Florence holds a plant clinic every Wednesday. “I have since been in different schools and churches and at our office compound in Njoro town. The plant clinic is free to the farmers, and these places are public, close and accessible to them,” She adds.

Recognition and support from the county government.
Florence’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. She has received support from the Department of Agriculture in Nakuru County. Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika posted on Facebook that Florence is playing a part in ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and strengthening the local food market.

Nakuru’s Crop Protection Officer, Ms Hannah Oduor, speaks highly of Florence. “She carries out her plant clinic with a lot of professionalism, and her passion and love for farmers’ welfare is unmatched. Through her vlog, she is taking the plant clinic in her ward to the next level by making it accessible to younger farmers. We are so glad that Florence is embracing technology and innovation in agriculture.”

Plant doctor YouTube channel
One of the biggest challenges cited by plant doctors during the refresher training is travel and transportation of materials. Seeing this as an opportunity, Florence decided to film the clinic and share her plant doctor experience online, bringing the knowledge directly to those who need it. “I have always seen myself as a content creator. I decided to showcase the plant clinic experience online to reach more farmers who may be seeking plant doctor services outside my locality.”

“The farmers who come to the clinic are mainly adults, but I know I will reach younger people through my vlog. I hope trained plant doctors from different regions will get the motivation to revamp their plant clinics, too. I will use this platform to create a community where people can share and solve plant health issues online.”

What does 2025 hold for this plant doctor?
“I plan to attend to more farmers in 2025. My target is to attend at least five hundred farmers on the physical plant clinics, document the experience and get over ten thousand views on my YouTube channel. If I achieve this, I will be an expert plant doctor and can now help the newly trained plant doctors hone their skills. I hope to be able to document my plant clinics, create a community and inspire other female plant doctors to step up and serve farmers around them.”, Florence says.

Entries are open for the International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2026, organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).

Established in 2009 with the support of Founding Partner FloraCulture International (FCI), the awards celebrate best practices and recognize the ‘best of the best’ in the industry. Winners are ornamentals producers from around the world who demonstrate innovation and expertise.

The awards comprise four categories: Finished Plants & Trees, Young Plants, Cut Flowers & Bulbs and Sustainability. From among these categories, only one winner will be crowned the ‘AIPH International Grower of the Year 2026’ and receive the ‘Gold Rose’ – the industry’s most coveted prize.

In January 2025, La Gaitana Farms, Colombia, was announced as International Grower of the Year 2025 and presented the coveted Gold Rose by Daan de Vries, CEO of Headline Sponsor MPS. La Gaitana Farms cultivates a wide variety of blooms with the utmost respect for the environment and communities. The family-owned, independent company grows carnations and produces bouquets from its 43 hectares of cropping area. Their commitment to sustainable practices, technological innovation, and social responsibility has positioned them as a trusted supplier in international markets.

Camilo Bleier, General Manager for La Gaitana Farms commented: “It’s a big challenge to step into these shoes and keep improving every day, but we’ve done our homework. It’s a pleasure to be in this industry, it’s fun every day, and you can never grow tired of nature.”

Candidates can enter the IGOTY Awards 2026 online and entry closes on Sunday 6th July 2025. Judging will then take place by a panel of industry experts who will assess the entrants on five key criteria; economic performance, innovation, market insight, sustainability and human resources policy.

To find out more about the IGOTY Awards and to enter, visit the AIPH Website.

Thailand exported 5.43-billion-baht worth of orchids in the past two years, cementing its position as the world’s top exporter, the Department of Business Development (DBD) reported on Wednesday. Thai exports of decorative plants from 2023 to 2024 grew to 9.32 billion baht, more than half coming from orchids, Oramon Sapthaweetham, DBD director-general, said.

Major markets for Thai decorative plants include the United States, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia. A total of 2,993 flower, decorative, and perennial plants businesses are registered with the department, with a combined registered capital of 17.6 billion baht.

These businesses reported a total revenue of 91.51 billion baht in 2023 and a profit of 2.47 billion baht, up from 1.84 billion baht in 2021.

“Technology and innovation are key growth drivers in this industry,” said Oramon, adding that modern technology such as smart farming is reducing costs and increasing efficiency, empowering Thai farmers to compete on the global stage. She called for further development of the workforce and farming technology to maintain Thailand’s edge over competitors.

Read more at The Nation

Royal FloraHolland (RFH), Plantion, and Veiling Rhein-Maas (VRM) have jointly decided to phase out the Electronic Delivery Note (EAB) in 2025 and to process all deliveries for clock and direct trade through Floriday. This will enhance trading opportunities for growers and buyers, making them greater and more flexible, and will help develop a future-proof floriculture sector.

RFH, Plantion, and VRM intend to make deliveries for clock and direct trade via Floriday and associated software packages. Currently, 50% of direct and clock deliveries from VRM and Plantion, as well as auction deliveries from RFH, are already processed through Floriday. Royal FloraHolland has stopped using Connect-EAB, and almost all direct deliveries are handled through Floriday. The next step is to have all clock deliveries take place through Floriday.

New trading opportunities for growers and buyers
If all deliveries go through Floriday instead of the EAB, new trading opportunities become possible for growers and buyers. This includes accessing the digital clock through Floriday, the ability to submit transport orders, and gaining insight into Track & Trace information and packaging notifications within Europe. Additionally, the marketplaces aim to eliminate duplicate infrastructure costs.

Splitting the commercial and logistics process
The current clock EAB activates two processes simultaneously: a commercial process for supply to the clock and the logistical registration of delivery vehicles to the hubs. Because both steps are included in one delivery message, the information can only be sent after the delivery has been prepared by the grower. This means that the sector is tied to an inflexible process, and, for example, auction pre-sales cannot start until the delivery has been processed by the grower.

Putting supply on the market early
Through Floriday, these processes are set up separately from each other, which offers more flexibility and opportunities for other forms of trading. RFH is developing a new way of day trading (Floriday Daytrade), where growers can put their supply on the market early in the day, and RFH’s logistics can handle the smaller orders.

What does this mean in practice?
Growers who already send their clock and direct delivery through Floriday create the delivery correctly. Growers using a software package will continue to create clock and direct delivery via their software package, but this will soon be done via the Floriday API link (instead of through the EAB). Depending on the software package used by growers, a new update will be made available. Some software vendors have yet to develop this; please check this status overview. Growers will be informed by the software supplier about the necessary steps and planned updates.

On Saturday, March 22, San Francisco’s sixth annual Tulip Day returns, turning Union Square into a massive, flower-filled garden where visitors can pick their own bouquet free of charge. But be warned — it’s an influencer magnet, and if previous years’ massive crowds are any indication, you’ll want to get there early.

Officially, the tulip-picking starts at 1 p.m. and runs until 4 p.m., but people typically start lining up hours beforehand. In 2023, over 35,000 people showed up, and lines stretched around the square well before the first tulip was plucked. Last year, the number grew to about 40,000, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Organizers recommend arriving as early as 9 a.m. to secure a good spot. Once in the plaza, each visitor can gather up to eight tulips to take home.

The event, inspired by Amsterdam’s National Tulip Day, is made possible through a partnership between the Union Square Alliance and the Consulate General of the Netherlands, which supplies the bulbs. The Netherlands exports over $120 million worth of tulip bulbs to the U.S. each year, per a press release from the Union Square Alliance.

Beyond the flowers, the day is a part of a larger push to bring more foot traffic back to Union Square. In a press release, Mayor Daniel Lurie said he is excited to show through Tulip Day and other events “what makes San Francisco so special.”

Read more at SF Gate