DLI Data – January, 2026

Welcome to the Vineland DLI report for January, 2026!

In January, 2026, Vineland received 50% more light than in December, 2025.

Read on for the detailed data report and more information about our DLI data collection project.

Continue reading “DLI Data – January, 2026”

DLI Data – December, 2025

Welcome to the Vineland DLI report for December, 2025!

In December, Vineland received 33% less light than in November, 2025.

Read on for the detailed data report and more information about our DLI data collection project.

Continue reading “DLI Data – December, 2025”

DLI Data – October, 2025

We’ve recently mounted at daily light integral (DLI) meter at the Vineland Research and Innovation Center! As a result, the OnFloriculture blog will be making regular monthly posts detailing monthly DLI data for Vineland, Ontario.

This meter acts as a reliable record of light levels for Vineland and surrounding areas, giving growers and researchers easy access to data that may help explain crop outcomes. The information is neatly organized, allowing for quick month-to-month comparisons and a clearer understanding of light conditions throughout the growing seasons.

Continue reading “DLI Data – October, 2025”

DLI Data – August & September, 2025

We’ve recently mounted at daily light integral (DLI) meter at the Vineland Research and Innovation Center! As a result, the OnFloriculture blog will be making regular monthly posts detailing monthly DLI data for Vineland, Ontario.

This meter acts as a reliable record of light levels for Vineland and surrounding areas, giving growers and researchers easy access to data that may help explain crop outcomes. The information is neatly organized, allowing for quick month-to-month comparisons and a clearer understanding of light conditions throughout the growing seasons.

Continue reading “DLI Data – August & September, 2025”

Is Beleaf Still Working for Aphid Control? What We Know So Far and Alternative Chemicals for Spring 2025.

For those of you relying on chemical control for aphids in spring crops, some of you might have observed that Beleaf (Aria in the U.S.) has not been working as well recently, especially in green peach aphid (Myzus persicae).

This post will fill you in on what we know about potential resistance to flonicamid in aphids, and which chemicals are working.

Continue reading “Is Beleaf Still Working for Aphid Control? What We Know So Far and Alternative Chemicals for Spring 2025.”

Leafminer control in Ontario’s greenhouse crops -what’s working?

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Fig. 1. Leaf mines on gerbera leaves.

As much as we all hate thrips, there are, frankly, worse problems to have.  And it’s name is Leafminer.  These flies cause just about the ugliest damage we see in floriculture (Fig. 1), and they have incredible pesticide-resistance capabilities. Outbreaks seem to go in cycles, and I’ve had quite a few gerbera and mum crops come across my desk with leafminer this past 2 weeks.

This post covers chemical options (BawHawHawHa!!! Oh… Sorry… I’ll get myself under control now) and non-chemical options for leafminer, as well as how their control fits into the big picture in greenhouse IPM programs.  

Continue reading “Leafminer control in Ontario’s greenhouse crops -what’s working?”

Supplemental Lighting Options for Bedding Plant Seedling Production

Happy spring!  With the season in full swing, we know that growers are busy this month.  I read an interesting article on the effects of supplemental LED lighting in bedding plants this week, and I’ve summarized it here with the key messages at the bottom of this post.  It seems like an appropriate article for the season, especially if you are starting to think ahead to how you might improve production for the 2017 spring season.

Much of the LED lighting research done in ornamental plants has focused on finding the best wavelengths for plant production.  This can vary based on the plant being grown, and the qualities desired.  Before we dive into the study, let’s review some of the reasons why you might consider LED lights from a plant production standpoint. Continue reading “Supplemental Lighting Options for Bedding Plant Seedling Production”

A Burning Question: Ethylene and Sulfur Dioxide Damage in the Greenhouse

I’ve had a handful of calls in the past few weeks asking me to identify poor air quality damage on spring bedding crops.  Even if you have never had problems, the following is a good refresher on why proper maintenance of greenhouse heating systems is important.

 Natural gas and propane are popular choices when it comes to heating a greenhouse.  The products of burning fuel are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H20); both compounds we know are good for your plants.  However, combustion is often (if not always) incomplete, and impurities such as carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ethylene (C2H4) are also released leading to poor air quality if your heater is not properly vented.

These impurities can leave your crop looking a bit down (Literally! It’s called epinasty, see more below), and it can happen in as little as 24 hoursContinue reading “A Burning Question: Ethylene and Sulfur Dioxide Damage in the Greenhouse”

Recognizing Cold Injury

The ice storm that passed through Ontario late last week may have disrupted more than just your travel plans.  If your power went out, and your generator didn’t kick on right away your greenhouse might have dipped in temperature overnight, leading to possible cold or chilling injury. Continue reading “Recognizing Cold Injury”