GrowON Webinar Jan. 21st @ 1pm – Thriving in Containers: Key Factors Affecting Plant Health in Ornamentals

With the holidays behind us, it’s time to shift gears and focus on spring – the busiest season for most ornamental growers. Success starts with healthy plants and growing media that works for you. Join us for an upcoming webinar where Ryan Munroe of NVK Nurseries will share practical tips for monitoring plant health and explain how media properties can influence irrigation, pH, and rooting. Whether you’re fine-tuning your production practices or planning for spring crops, this session offers insights you won’t want to miss!

Register with the link below and join us from 1:00 – 2:15pm on January 21st for this virtual session.

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Not Familiar with AFE’s Grow Pro Webinar Series? You Really Should Be!

While chatting with various growers and IPM technical reps this year, I realized some in Ontario aren’t familiar with the American Floral Endowment’s (AFE) Grow Pro Webinar Series. This is an excellent series that shares floriculture research funded by AFE, as well as other topics.

Previous webinars have focused on things like thrips and botrytis control, biostimulants, growing in reduced-peat substrates, and more.

A webinar I’ll recommend for January is one on oomycete pathogens, like Pythium and Phytophthora:

Ruh Roh, Root Rot! Managing Oomycete Pathogens in Floriculture Production

Speaker: Dr. Johanna Del Castillo, UC Davis
Tuesday, January 20th at 1PM EST
Oomycete pathogens remain a persistent threat in floriculture production, causing significant losses when conditions tip in their favor. In this webinar, Dr. Del Castillo will dive into the biology of Pythium and Phytophthora, how to diagnose root rot issues, and the most effective management approaches. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to improve root-zone health and reduce disease pressure in their operations. When you’re thinking “ruh roh,” it’s already too late—join us to get ahead of root rot and outsmart oomycete pathogens.

You can find out more about previous webinar recordings, upcoming webinars and registration (it’s free!) using this link: https://endowment.org/growpro

REMINDER: GrowON Webinar TOMORROW on Nematode Application and Efficacy!

On Wednesday, December 17th, please join Greg Bryant , Technical Lead at Beneficial Insectary, for an hour-long exploration of what nematodes can do, if you treat them right.

To attend, please continue reading and click on the registration link in the webinar poster or at the end of the post.

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GrowON Webinar, December 17: Worms at War – Maximizing Nematode Efficacy for Greenhouse and Nursery Crops.

As December winds down, thoughts are now turning to spring crops. This can include spring bedding crops or nursery plants coming out of their winter sleep. Both of these can bring onslaughts of pests like thrips, fungus gnats, shore flies and even weevils. Nematodes are an important natural enemy in fighting these pests, and are often the gateway into using more biocontrol. But are you using them to the best of their abilities?

Please join Greg Bryant , Technical Lead at Beneficial Insectary, for an hour-long exploration of what nematodes can do, if you treat them right.

To attend, please continue reading and click on the registration link in the webinar poster or at the end of the post.

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Missed our Recent Webinars on Cybersecurity and Invasive Thrips? The Videos are Now Online!

Part of running a greenhouse is keeping it safe – whether that be from hackers or from invasive pests! We recently recorded a webinar on cybersecurity for operational tech and smart devices – and why small businesses are a prime target. We also recorded webinars on Thrips parvispinus and Thrips setosus, the two invasive pests that have been affecting floriculture crops the past 4-5 years.

Keep reading to get more details on these webinars, and to view the recordings.

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Missed our Thrips Identification Workshop? “How-to” Videos are Now Available Online!

*Characteristics needed to identify thrips to species.*

Although greenhouse growers’ thoughts in late summer tend to turn to pests of poinsettias, thrips are never fully forgotten (being the #1 pest and all).

Ever since a bunch of new thrips began invading North American greenhouses a few years ago, proper thrips identification has become a necessary evil. If you missed our Vineland/OMAFA Thrips Identification Workshops in 2024, have no fear. Ashley Summerfield from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has compiled much of the workshop content in a series of easy-to-follow videos. Keep reading for what you’ll need and links to the videos.

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Don’t miss these upcoming Agri-food cybersecurity events!

Rogers cybersecure catalyst at the Toronto Metropolitan University is hosting 2 free virtual events to bring you and your business up to speed on the very important issue of cybersecurity.

Don’t miss these 2 events: a panel discussion on September 29th from 10-11 am. And a cybersecurity bootcamp every Thursday from October 2nd – November 5th from 10-12pm.

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GrowON Webinar, September 24th: Thrips parvispinus Control – Where We’re At and Where We’re Headed.

To make sure growers have the latest information on new thrips pests affecting greenhouse crops, GrowON is running a 3 part webinar series on thrips besides western flower thrips. The second installment will be on Thrips parvispinus (also known as pepper thrips) on Wednesday, September 24th with Sarah Jandricic (OMAFA).

To attend, please use the registration link in the post below.

Parvi poster Sept 2025_final Download

Description:

When it comes to Thrips parvispinus control, many growers are asking, are we there yet? Join us to learn where we are in terms of biocontrol and chemical control for this invasive pest. This presentation will summarize research being conducted in Ontario, Florida and Europe, and put it into context in terms of strategies growers can implement now. Future research directions will also be discussed.

Note, this presentation was given live at Greenhouse Canada’s Grower Day in June 2025. This webinar is hoping to reach those that weren’t able to attend in person!

Time: Wednesday, September 24th, 12-1pm

Registration:

Please register for Part 2 of this Webinar series by using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_30N3jt1KRbOyva0s7oh5Dg

NEW DATE: GrowON Webinar on Japanese Flower Thrips now Wednesday August 27th

To make sure growers have the latest information on new thrips pests affecting greenhouse crops, GrowON is running a 3 part webinar series on thrips besides western flower thrips. The first installment will be on Japanese flower thrips on August 27th, with Judy Colley (Plant Products) and Sarah Jandricic (OMAFA).

To attend, please use the registration link in the post below. If you’ve already registered, you’re still good for the new date of the 27th!

Setosus webinar poster July 2025 Download

Description:

Another new thrips on the block? Thrips setosus, also known as the Japanese flower thrips, affects hydrangeas, cyclamen, herbs and more. Judy Colley, technical lead for Plant Products, will share information on greenhouse trials for controlling this pest. She will be joined by Dr. Sarah Jandricic (OMAFA) who will cover biology, hosts plants, damage and current research. She will also go over pesticide options.

Time: Wednesday, August 27th, 12-1pm

Registration:

Please register for Part 1 of this Webinar series by using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_30N3jt1KRbOyva0s7oh5Dg

GrowON Webinar: Cybersecurity for Greenhouses, August 13th @ noon

Do you work in a greenhouse that uses a climate control system, sensors, automation or robotics? If your answer is yes, this webinar is for you. No matter the size of your operation, if you are using digital tools, you are a potential target for a cyber attack. This informative webinar breaks down what threats to watch for, how to protect your systems, and why it matters more than ever. Join us from 12 – 1pm on August 13th to learn more.

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