MS. GUIDO ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE Specialty Growers

Vocabulary Specialty Grower: grower that raises a unique group of plants within the bedding plant industry (ex. vegetable, color, hanging baskets) Bedding Plant Breeder: a person who develops unique bedding plant characteristics. (ex. fragrance, color, long bloom period, disease and pest resistance) Bedding Plant Grower: a nurseryman who raises bedding plants in pony packs, 4” pots, and #1 nursery containers

Vocabulary Bedding Plant: An annual flowering or edible plant grown in small containers for outdoor use. Annual: Plants that perform their entire life cycle from seed to flower to death within one growing season. Transplanting: When a plant is shifted from one container to another container, typically of larger size

Vocabulary Propagation: to reproduce a plant sexually or asexually Plugs: seedlings grown in a plug tray, in a controlled environment Cuttings: asexually propagated plant

Introduction: What is a bedding plant? An annual flowering or edible plant grown in small containers for outdoor use.

Bedding Plants Fastest growing segment of the horticulture industry Best Sellers (% of US Market)  Impatiens (44%)  Geraniums (20%)  Petunias (14%)  Begonias  Marigolds  Pansies

Specialty Growers Specialty Grower: grower that raises a unique group of plants within the bedding plant industry Examples: Vegetables, Hanging Baskets, Colors Bowls

Bedding Plant Breeder a person who develops unique bedding plant characteristics. Fragrance Color Long bloom period Disease and pest resistance

QUESTION: Identify at least 3 different kinds of specialty growers

Plant Breeders: Genetically cross species to create new plants Come up with unique plant names  Aloe ‘Guido Increase consumer interest with new colors

Bedding Plant Grower: a nurseryman who raises bedding plants in 6-packs, 4” pots, and #1 nursery containers

Bedding Plant Growers Grow plants from seed  plug  cell pack Specialize in one specific genre or mix several together  ( ie. Vegetables, or color bowls and hanging baskets) Choose which new and improved varieties you would like to grow Ultimately decide what kind of product the consumers are getting

Think-Pair-Share What is a specialty grower? What is the difference between a bedding plant breeder and a bedding plant grower? Why is the horticulture industry reliant on both the breeders and the growers?

Exit Slip: Choose one of the following menu items to complete before the end of class! 1. Bedding Plant Grower: Decide what kind of bedding plants you are going to specialize in and explain why you chose that crop.  How are you going to market it? What will make you different than your competitors? 2. Bedding plant breeder: Create your very own bedding plant for next season.  It must be different than anything already on the market  Be sure to specify your plant’s name, color, size, flower shape, and other distinguishing characteristics