Keeping qualityof bedding plants

by A.M. Armitage

How many times have you seenbedding plants for sale that were ofsuch poor quality you can't imagineanyone buying them? To walk intoan area of dead or dying plantsmakes one want to cry. On the otherhand, there exist many retail outletsthat obviously take pride in maintaining plants of top quality. Walkways are spotless, plants are ppo-tected from the hot sun and are readyto be transplanted and will rapidlygrow in the garden.

Although there is a great amountof information about the productionof bedding plants, little is documented on the retail conditions whichexist when the plants leave the greenhouse. In order to determine how theenvironment affects the keepingquality of the plants, a detailedstudyof the conditions under which theplants are kept was undertaken.

Temperature, light and ethyleneas well as type of structure, selection,labeling, overall sanitation, groomingof plants and personnel werestudied.Photos at each establishment andoverall qualityof plant material wereevaluated.

Sixteen retail outlets were sur-"***-—— veyed. Ten locations were gardenia center-type outlets (i.e., primaryJ Aimitagg fa assistant professor function was the sale of plants andfj*r**culture at the University of plant-related goods) and six were

^"> Athens, Ga. 30602. mass merchandisers (chain stores,7983

department stores.) The study wasconducted from April 4 to May 4, theheight of the bedding plant season.

The variability among outlets wasvery large. Although garden-centerestablishments in general maintainedplants far better than the mass merchandisers, there was very little difference in initial quality of plantsarriving at the retail location. In fact,only one instance of poor plants beingreceived by a chain store was seen,and the keeping quality of theseplants declined within hours.

Some Observations

One of the most important factorsin maintaining high-quality plants isthe use of some sort of shade for thebedding plants. Bedding plants soldin cell packs have little soil volumeand no water reservoir. Water is rapidlylost from leavesunder high-light,high-temperature areas and theplants rapidly wilt. Although theplants may recover when watered,wilting results in irreversible damagewhich shows up as "poor quality."

The use of shade reduces lightintensity and significantly reducestemperature. For example, when theday was sunny and temperature was90*F, plants placed on sidewalks orparking lots were being subjected to92-97*F while the temperature in theshade (under lath or shade material)

63

was 75-82'F. Approximately 80 percent sun reduction was optimum.This kept light intensity and temperatures down toreasonable levels during clear, warm days, and did notdiminish light or temperature drastically on cloudy days. In the survey,80 percent of the garden centers hadall the bedding plants under somekind of shade. Normally, lath construction was drapedwith rigid plastic, shade cloth, or saran cloth. Oneoutlet used heavy shade from pinetrees with the same effect. Some garden centers had up to 90 percentreduction, while many only had 50percent light reduction. Of the massmerchar disers. only 33 percent hadshade areas for all their plants. Mosthad the plants on sidewalks, parkinglots or movable tiered trays. Theplants suffered badly.

Reduction of temperature is alsoaccomplished through good ventilation. Good ventilation can be attained by simply allowing enoughroom for air movement around theplants and keeping plants clear ofobstructions that reduce air movement. It was judged that 40 percentof the garden-center operations hadinadequate air movement. One simply did not have enough fan capacityin one of the greenhouses used forretail sales, and others had plants tooclose together or under the benchesor on the ground. Only one massmerchandiser had enough ventilation. When plants were placed directly in front ofthe building, ventilationwas minimal. Having plants onraised benches reduces drainageproblems and increases air circulation. Most garden centers had goodson benches, but only 33 percent ofthe mass merchandisers had all theirplants on raised benches, and fewerthan 50 percent had any plants offthe ground.

The environment under which theplants were held also showed markedincreases in levels of ethylene. Whereventilation was poor and damaged ordying tissue was abundant, ethylenelevels rose (up to 0.5 ppm). The longer the plants were subjected to highlevels of ethylene, the more damageoccurred.

The sales environment as studiedresults in plant stress. Cleanliness ofplant material and sales area is an64

"Cleanliness of plant materialand sales area is anabsolute must."

absolute must to reducedamage. Thebiggest differences between massmerchandiser and garden-center operator is the quality and quantity ofpersonnel. Jobs of removing deadflowers and leaves, culling brokenplants and cleaning debris cannot bedone bya single employee who isalsoin charge of the cash register. Often,theonly concern ofthe employee is todrown the plants before heleaves at 6o'clock, which brings on botrytis andother water-related problems. Establishments that watered their plants inthe morning and allowed them to dryduring the day had far better plantsthan those who consistently wateredin the evening.

The results of this work are veryclear, and anyone in retail sales ofbedding plants should be well awareof them.

Fast turnover is no excuse for sloppy management. Not all materialsells at the same rate, nor are alltimes equally busy. It only takes afew poor-looking plants to make thewhole area appear shoddy.

Shade all bedding plants fromjsun. Bothsun-tolerant plantssi *geraniums or petunias, and shatolerant plants such as begonias'impatiens must be shaded to-*deterioration. Approximately tpercent shade is best for most plaiwith 50 percent being miningShade may be the result of 4*cloth over lath, polyethylene,trees, etc.

Ventilation is very important,-!reduce temperature and buildup^pollutants. If displaying OUtdjpkeep plants from "hugging f*obstructions such asbuildings. wJ*gjbuilding shade facilities, besur*adequate ventilation is provides-]displaying in a greenhouse, tufj^fans for plant and people care. ^ Alation or air is nil when planis ,packed in tiers or crushed {0%e^}This may save space, but the pwill look terrible. vj.

Raise plants off the ground * -,ever possible. All too often, P ^Jwere observed on the pavement^jwalk or in thegreenhouse sit*"1

FLORISTS' l

GREENHOUSEBOOKS

Greenhouse Grow How, by John HPierce. This well-illustrated reference bookis primarily for the amateur grower whomay have a greenhouse, or is thinkingabout having one. It is also a textbook forteaching horticulture. Included are construction plans for greenhouses from window sills to balcony to freestanding. Alsocovered are greenhouse heating, includingsolar, cooling and ventilating, plant diseases, insects and pests, propagationmethods, including tissue culture, plus hy-droponic plans and formulas 400 colorand black and white illustrations. $19.95

The Greenhouse Grower—A Career in

Floriculture, by Kennard S Nelson. Covering the fundamentals of floriculture, tnisbook is especially valuable to ihe individualwho has little or no work experience in floriculture; it is also a textbook fo' vocationalcourses in flower and plant production ll

covers the various tasks involving tnegreenhouse grower from the preparation ofthe soil to grading and packing tne crop lormarketing. Fully illustrated . 515.35

Carnation Production, by W D Holleyand Ralph Baker Discusses carnation history, propagation of young plants, breeding, control of flowering time nutrient andwater relations, temperature and light, disease and pest control, handling and marketing of cut flowers Includes graphs andcharts SI 5.00

Greenhouse Management for Flowerand Plant Production, by Kennard SNelson Second edition, revised A practical up-to-date operating manual for present and prospective managers ol greenhouse operations. It covers all phases ofthe business, including business procedures, management organization, engineering, crop rotation and scheduling, regulation of plant environment and marketingof the product, illustrated. . 516.50

Greenhouse Management, by RobertW. Langhans. Guide to structures, environmental control, materials handling, cropprogramming and business analysis. Includes calculation formulae, charts, tables,

line illustrations $19.50

Flower and Plant Production in the

Greenhouse, by Kennard S. Nelson. Apractical handbook on greenhouse work.Contains detailed description of manyphases ol floriculture such as productionand marketing. Discusses structures forgrowing flowers, how surroundings affectplant growth, soils, fertilizers, irrigation,reproduction of plants, cut flower crops,pot plant crops, pests and disease.

$16.50

Commercial Flower Forcing, by Laurie.Kiplinger and Nelson, New Edition. Therehas been considerable reorganization ofthe previous edition. Wherever possible,metric units are used, compared with customary units The chapters on greenhouseconstruction, heating and cooling havebeen combined and enlarged. Other chapters cover Plant Growth and Development;Ea'ironmental Effects on Plants. Cut Flower and Pol Plant Production. Marketing an3Costs of Production, 8th edition $32.50

The Greenhouse Environment, by DrJohn W Mastalerz. An excellent relerencebook for the experienced grower and students planning careers as growers Coversthe principles and practices ol greenhouseflower crop production, empnasizmg meresponse of flower crops to greenhouseenvironment factors Also contains revisedstandards lor ventilating and coolinggreenhouses, a metnod tor calculatingheat losses and tables for determiningdesired light-flux densities tor nomculturecrops Prolusely illustrated 530.95

Greenhouse Operation & Management, by Paul V. Nelson Second editionof an excellent relerence book for bothprofessionals and students ol floriculture.With emphasis on energy conservation,the book also includes such important top

ics as construction, post-harvest handling,marketing and business managementComprehensive charts provide essentialinformation on pesticide application. Wellillustrated 520.95

POSTAGE CHART

$ 5.01 to $20.00 SI.25$20.01 to $40.00 SI.50$40.01 to S60.00 S2.00

$60.01 or more S2.50

FLORISTS' REVIEW310 S. MICHIGAN, CHICAGO IL 60604

66

small puddle of water. If the day washot, the plants were baked. Air andwater movement are greatly in.creased when plants are displayed ona raised bench.

Grooming of the plants (removingdead flowers, dead or dying leavesetc.) is essential if ethylene gas is notto be produced in excessive amounts.This also adds to the overall cleanliness of the area. Sales areas shouldand must beclean and free of weeds,disease and insects. Allowing trashand half-dead plants to accumulate usimply asking for a disaster.

People are the most important aspect of a retail sales area. The jobs ofgrooming, watering, labeling, etc.,must be delegated to responsible people. Plants are not furniture and cannot be ignored. If the survey is anyindication, plants aren't the problem;people are.

The survey gave a true, realisticindication of some of the problems inthe retail aspect of bedding plants.As there arc pood and bad growerseverywhere, so it is with retailers.There are people who do all incycanto minimize decline in plant qualitywhether they keep them for threehours or three days. On the otherhand, there arc those who believethat the plants will sell before anydamage is seen, and nonvisible damage or stress does not concern them.

The future

Where do retailers go fro:n here?"|Will they always market bedding:plants insucha way that most plantJ-start to deteriorate when they leave,the production area? As long *»plants arc marketed in flower, theenvironment under which the pWjare sold will be of paramount imp^Mtance. Many retailers are doing l*jexcellent job, but many still have?long way to go. .

Do plants have to be marketed tW*way? The day may soon come wWjall plants are sold in a manner Sj§|lar to the food industry. Not in aWjstore, but in a controlled-envir^Jment plant store where plants *j".Jdisplayed under lights, and t^PfJlijtures are controlled. Astore JJJ9the warehouse facilities keep p*** •]in optimum condition, and P'ant? .jjreplenished on demand. A cl .,well-maintained, airy building * Iplants leave in at least as good a jdition as they arrived. Ah, ^r]some year.

FLORISTS

ra Crigreei

III

123456

i%" o

6 col

truss I

collar

deadm

certifie

Allied;

« A21' gui.S' corfcloorspace. LessTJt».

^"ButtheCriteria' ijineered-m sir

§HJCh longer serIjtada design tha&*an erect Tne hogfcose hidden cos--Jofcourseit s

L«ejigcr:.>ecDo'|Wapatented feptarne simole c

^before you Duy"f just "more roc

andn

sellengini

manulai

Hi would likt21'gutter i

1have a r.Se send lite

1983