Lessons from '09 points season

摘要

Growing any crop for a certain shipping date has its own lessons to be learned. Growing poinsettia for a shipping date that spans from early November to Dec. 23 has unique lessons every season. Here are some of the challenges growers have to deal withevery poinsettia season: An ever-increasing number of new varieties. Lack of practical culture information on how to grow the new cultivars. If there was some culture information, it pertains to only certain geographic areas and not to all - which makesit more confusing. The weather is never the same from one year to the next, so trying to follow the same environmental parameters each year could be disastrous. Introduction of a new soil mix without any proper testing. Introduction of a new chemical (pesticide, fertilizer, wetting agent or any other new product) without much (or any!) testing, which results in thousands of dollars in shrinkage. N.B. - The number one shrinkage factor in the horticulture industry, in my opinion, is the introduction of new products without proper testing.