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Growing beautiful plants, trees, and flowers is a challenge. Growing them profitably as a business is even more difficult. That’s why this section is so important. It outlines factors necessary for promoting vigorous plant growth. These points are then related to critical profit making suggestions. Hopefully, this combined approach will quickly show you how to become a successful commercial horticulturist—without spending years using costly “hit or miss” methods that often end in failure. You will discover many of the professional secrets it took me years of hard work to learn. Follow these proven methods, and I guarantee you will avoid endless hours of unnecessary toil and heartache—your chances for success will be greatly increased. These recommendations for growing ornamentals apply most directly to small and medium size commercial operations, but the majority of these points could just as well be utilized for larger businesses. The purely horticultural facts which are included could also apply to hobby or amateur situations where plants, trees, and flowers are grown under controlled circumstances. This section provides a detailed outline of how to organize and operate a profitable plant growing business— but the individual technical details for each crop are not discussed. You can find this information by Googling “Greenhouse and Nursery”. Details concerning it and other helpful information are located at the end of this book. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF GROWING Growing beautiful plants, trees, and flowers involves a large number of individual steps— all of which must be completed at the appropriate time and in a suitable manner. Fortunately the specific details concerning each crop can be located in a reference manual such as Greenhouse Gardening (Time-Life Books). Only a few basic guidelines need to be consistently kept in mind. Anticipate difficulties Commercial horticulture is a challenging career because the interaction between plants and their environment is extremely complex. The exact mechanisms of plant growth and development are unknown in many cases. And, although plants seem to flourish almost everywhere, the delicate balance between life and oblivion is fragile—it can be upset at any time by numerous factors. Therefore, successful horticulturists must be trained to foresee future problems. And to plan corrective action before the actual need arises. We have already discussed how advance planning is critical to any business endeavor, but it must be stressed that this type of preparation is more essential in the horticultural field than almost any other. I don’t mean to discourage potential horticulturists by picturing this field as extraordinarily more difficult than others—but you must possess the ability to look ahead and keep an eye out for trouble. Other businesses probably have their own key requirements; in plant growing operations it’s advanced planning. Every business person must be versatile. By this I mean they should possess broad abilities and a capability to change quickly as conditions dictate. These traits are especially important to commercial horticulturists because they frequently face new situations. Living plants, trees, and flowers exist in a dynamic equilibrium with the environment. Constant change is inherent in the plant business— you must be ready to deal with it on a regular basis. The weather, For example, can switch from sunny and warm to blizzard conditions in a matter of hours. Formalize and record crop schedules: The requirement for advanced planning is discussed above. But I like to emphasize crop scheduling as a separate activity since it’s such a crucial part of successful commercial growing. Crop scheduling is important because marketing of plants, trees, and flowers occurs predominantly within very restricted time periods. If the crop is not ready, it’s often a total economic loss. Since living plants cannot be manufactured overnight (as is possible with many other types of merchandise), it’s clear that the only way marketing time frames can be met is through careful advance scheduling. Formalized records concerning crop planting and marketing are essential because only a few days can make the difference between success and failure. Are you willing to trust memory from year to year for your family livelihood? No sane person would, especially since good crop records are so easy to keep. Accurate scheduling is absolutely essential to success in commercial horticulture, and you must perform this task without fail. Horticulture is a field which requires acute observation of many factors. In addition to the numerous points any business person needs to keep track of, professional horticulturists must keenly observe daily environmental and cultural conditions. Various plant characteristics such as color, form, size, and health are also very important to monitor on a regular basis. You cannot build a profitable business growing plants, trees, and flowers unless you develop a habit of carefully taking note of all the factors which influence your operation. An important aspect of making observations is the means by which the information is expressed. In everyday practice most people express themselves predominantly by using words. While words are adequate in most cases, the business and technical fields often utilize numbers as a more precise means of communication. I believe you will be much more likely to succeed as a commercial horticulturist if you develop a habit of thinking in numerical terms whenever possible. This should make all your efforts more profitable, since the data input is less subject to error than when using words which may have multiple interpretations. Numerical expression is often possible in cases where it’s not customarily utilized. Much word data can be assigned numerical equivalents which are then used to perform mathematical analysis. You may be surprised how effective this technique is—but it usually takes some practice to begin thinking in this manner. A simple example of word verses numerical expression was given in Section 1. Don’t be intimidated when “mathematical analysis” is mentioned—this simply means you will use simple arithmetic which was learned in grade school. Seasonal demand requires rush work: This fact seems obvious enough, but I have encountered many persons in horticultural business who fail to “make hay while the sun shines.” These people are usually not successful over the long haul. In some cases, an entire season’s success may hinge upon a weekend of furious selling. Although there are various strategies which can be employed to minimize such hectic activity, it will always be an important part of commercial horticulture. Developing a market plan which shifts at least a small amount of peak season sales into earlier and later periods is one way of avoiding this problem to some degree. Crop safety is essential: Some types of horticultural crops must be defended constantly against adverse conditions, while others require only periodic protection. But there is no commercially utilized plant, tree, or flower that will grow into a marketable specimen without some form of protection during at least one stage of development. There are hundreds of potential hazards which can befall a crop— bad weather, insects, disease, poor growing conditions, pollution, and vandalism are only a few of the calamities which can occur. Learning how to manage and accept risk is one of the most important tasks you will face as a grower. Not only must you deal with inclement weather, diseases, insects, and numerous other potential tragedies, you need to devise methods of pricing and marketing which take these many variables into account. Some people simply cannot deal mentally with the risks they inherently face. An even greater number don’t effectively manage those risk factors which could be partially or totally eliminated. Basically, you deal with risk in two ways: 1) Plan ahead to eliminate or control any potential danger, and 2) Accept those problems which cannot be managed. The key to both modes of action is advance planning. Almost every risk factor can be eliminated or controlled to an acceptable degree if you think ahead and carefully plan corrective action. Even those factors which cannot be anticipated or controlled can be dealt with by building a financial reserve fund specifically for this purpose. Such a program requires that you set prices at a level which allows a small proportion of each sale to be placed in this insurance fund. By this means, you have already prepared for occasional serious problems which may occur in the future. In order to become successful, commercial horticulturists must develop a sixth sense concerning dangers to their crop. Not only should growers be instinctively aware of potential hazards, they must become technically proficient at providing conditions which minimize the possibility of crop damage. Environmental management: The object of horticultural science is to modify naturally existing conditions so as to produce crops which are more suitable to the needs of man. Managing environmental factors is really the chief duty of anyone who grows domesticated plants, trees, and flowers—this is the defining characteristic of the horticultural discipline. Every grower must develop a second nature which unconsciously notices and processes information about the environmental factors which may affect plant growth and development. Although the acts of marketing and scheduling are extremely important in commercial horticulture, the ultimate success of an operation hinges upon producing a beautiful crop which appeals to consumers. This goal can be attained only if proper growing conditions are provided. A complete listing of physical factors will be presented soon. Blooms sell plants: People purchase ornamental plants, trees, and flowers primarily because they are beautiful. Ordinarily, the average consumer equates beauty with colorful blooms and will pay a higher price for material which is in bloom. It’s true that certain horticultural plants such as most trees don’t possess colorful flowers, but, in this case, the same general principal still holds true since consumers will purchase a tree which is leafed out more readily than one which is not. The implications of this fact to commercial horticulturists are obvious. You will sell more plants, trees, and flowers if the primary attraction (be it flowers, fruit, or leaves) is prominently displayed. Bedding plants in flower outsell green transplants by at least 5 to 1, and the same fact holds true when leafy trees are compared to dormant ones which have not yet produced leaves. Multiuse crops profitable: If a garden plant has several potential uses such as in hanging baskets, patio planters, garden beds, and decorative florist pots, it has more market versatility than does a plant which can be utilized in only a single one of these situations. The majority of plants are not truly multiuse, but the ones which are warrant special consideration as potential crops. As an example, certain large flowered Begonias can be utilized for all the specific situations mentioned above—therefore, if you have an oversupply of these Begonias in one market category, it’s likely they can be sold for one of the other uses. This reduces the likelihood that some plants must be dumped. Beauty primary: Oftentimes, in the hope of gaining a competitive advantage or of increasing profitability, growers try to cut corners on expenses. This may take the form of reducing labor or materials used in crop production—sometimes it can be accomplished without a lowering of crop quality (beauty), but in many cases the crop suffers a loss of appeal. Growers must always be aware that they run the risk of ruining the entire image of ornamental plants, trees, and flowers by sacrificing beauty for the sake of economy. Some emphasis upon economy is certainly justified since the great majority of consumers could not afford to purchase plants which are perfect in every respect—but the compromises involving beauty and economy must be carefully weighed. Perhaps the greatest problem facing ornamental horticulture today is the lack of primary emphasis upon quality and beauty. Too many marketing outlets are more interested in volume and price. FGR_64: Blooms can be crucial in the marketing of flowering plants. Labor biggest expense: Tight control of labor costs must be practiced in order for horticultural businesses to be profitable. Control may be practiced by two general means: A) Keeping a lid on wage and benefit levels, and B) Making sure the workforce is effectively utilized. Each method of control should be employed judiciously to avoid antagonizing employees more than necessary. In many situations, a good amount of labor economy may be realized by improving management techniques and organizational methods—this route requires that the supervisor direct work more efficiently, but it often requires no sacrifice on the part of employees. Economy realized in this manner is generally preferable to situations where especially low wages are paid or excessive work loads are required. Close communication between growing and marketing: Unfortunately, many growers have no interest in the marketing aspects of commercial horticulture. If this is the case, these people should grow plants, trees, and flowers only as a hobby, or they should work for someone else specifically as a grower. It’s virtually impossible to run your own profitable horticultural business without devoting sufficient attention to both aspects of the operation. You must also combine the two parts carefully so that the entire business works as an efficient whole. Propagating plants saves money: Starting plants from seed or cuttings is the touchiest and most critical part of producing a good crop. You must begin with vigorous, healthy, baby plants in order to make later steps in the crop cycle produce results. Since starting plants requires more expertise than any other step, many growers avoid this responsibility by purchasing small plants from propagation specialists. These experts don’t work for peanuts! By purchasing a large proportion of starter plants you will increase expenses greatly. Avoid this pitfall by learning how to propagate plants, trees, and flowers effectively yourself. It’s fun if you know what you are doing, and it saves a lot of money. There are exceptional situations when it’s more economical to buy seedlings or cuttings from a specialist— but evaluate each instance carefully to see if you couldn’t do the same job for less cost at your own facility. Unless you monitor each purchase, it’s easy to fall into the habit of letting someone else take care of all the more demanding tasks. In order to become an effective propagator, you will need to study and practice these essential steps. Trust important in horticulture: In many cases, the purchaser of plants, trees, and flowers is totally reliant upon the good faith of the seller. Only the grower who has cared for the plants knows the true state of their health or the exact variety designation which they should carry. Some purchasers may wish to know if pesticides have been used on a crop. Everyone in horticulture relies upon previous people in the chain of trust. Growers rely upon material suppliers to provide on-time delivery of specialized products such as pesticides and fertilizers (which often must meet critical quality controls). Retail plant stores expect the grower to deliver healthy plants which are properly conditioned for the local climate. Consumers trust that the retailer is selling plants which will prosper under normal conditions. Finally, whenever a complaint is registered, everyone must trust that it’s not made frivolously. The horticulture industry simply cannot survive unless everyone concerned does their part in promoting a climate of confidence in the products. Basically, every product must carry a guarantee which is sufficient to instill trust. THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FOR GROWING Many readers may be wondering when some actual plant growing recommendations will be mentioned. Have patience—I wanted initially to provide you with important background material about finance and business which many plant growing books totally ignore. Even the following topics which relate more directly to growing plants, trees, and flowers may leave some readers feeling a need for specific information about individual crops. I offer no excuse for my method of presentation, except to say that it’s intentionally meant to convey critical concepts about how to grow profitably rather than presenting minute details. You can find the cultural details in other sources such as Greenhouse Gardening (Time-Life Books)—but be prepared to spend days and weeks studying over 800 pages of technical material. What I want to provide in this present guide is an easily understood (and easy to remember) outline of the basic concepts required for growing beautiful plants, trees, and flowers. Information about the physical environment for growing plants is extremely voluminous and sometimes technical. The answer to most questions is readily available if you consult reference books. It’s much more important for you as a grower to have a general understanding of how to find the right information than it’s to have thousands of isolated facts rattling around in your head. Hopefully, the following points will help you develop a systematic approach towards locating and utilizing the specific information you require. Law of limiting factors: Experienced gardeners generally have a practical understanding of this topic but may lack a thorough appreciation of exactly how it works and how significantly it affects plant growth. The law of limiting factors (as it relates to plants) was discovered in the 19th century by German botanists. Basically, it states that if one of the many physical requirements necessary to plant growth is lacking altogether or is present in insufficient supply, this one factor will limit plant growth even if all other requirements are adequately available. The initial research for this law was carried out with the mineral or fertilizer requirements of plants and applies particularly well to this family of requirements. But it also seems to apply (although perhaps not as strictly) to other families of requirements (such as gases, i.e. carbon dioxide and oxygen) and between families of requirements. In other words, deficiencies in one fertilizer element may completely limit plant growth even if all other families of requirements (such as temperature, light, etc.) are present in suitable amounts. In recent years, the law of limiting factors has perhaps been found to be more of a general principle rather than a rigid law but it still has a good deal of applicability. If the concept (as I have explained it here) still seems fuzzy after you have studied it several times, perhaps you can examine the details more completely in a basic college botany text at the local library. I believe the law (principle) of limiting factors is important enough that every commercial plant grower should understand its ramifications very well. How plants grow: Having a basic scientific knowledge of how plants grow and develop is important to commercial horticulturists. This doesn’t mean you must be familiar with all the physical, chemical, and biological details, but it does mean you should have a general understanding of basic plant science concepts. The previously discussed “law of limiting factors,” is an example of the important principles with which it’s necessary to become familiar. Examples of other concepts might be genetics (plant inheritance), water requirements, light requirements, etc. In the most simple terms, green plants are a very complex chemical factory in which light energy from the sun is captured in a biochemical reaction (photosynthesis) and converted to stored chemical energy in the form of carbohydrate. These carbohydrates (energy) are then released as necessary to promote the growth, development, and reproduction of plants. Although the chemical pathways differ, plants and humans exist through similar processes—people take in already formed energy as food and then burn it to carry on life processes. Most readers probably have a general understanding of the concepts just mentioned, some of you perhaps have advanced knowledge of their workings. But, before becoming a commercial plant grower, each of you should have an organized understanding of the main concepts comprising plant science. This information can be memorized in one afternoon by consulting any good high school biology text. If you understand the fundamental ways in which plants grow, many of the details can be more easily assimilated as the need arises—and you will be able to see how each factor in plant growth fits in with others. By viewing the entire picture, the individual parts make better sense. Many serious crop losses suffered by horticulturists over the years could easily have been avoided had the grower only been better acquainted with elementary botanical principles. The individual physical requirements of plants (as mentioned below) can be inferred through a more generalized knowledge. Physical and chemical properties of soils: Perhaps no other factor affecting plant growth is less understood by most horticulturists than is the soil medium. Soil is such a common and unspectacular substance that it does not draw our immediate attention. I believe proper management of the soil medium, and the nutrient elements usually associated with it, is the single most pressing cultural problem which faces commercial horticulturists. This situation has arisen in large part because modern horticultural systems seldom employ ordinary field soil (several practical and technical reasons for using artificially blended soil media in place of field soil exist, but explaining them is beyond the scope of this short book). In earlier days, when field soil was commonly used for containerized ornamentals, it was not well understood—it just worked reasonably well naturally. The man-made soil systems which have been developed generally work better under modern growing techniques, but they require some basic knowledge to properly manage. Simply by knowing that choosing the proper soil medium for plant growth is extremely important, you have taken the first critical step towards more profitable crop production. Next, you need to understand what soil options are available and how to evaluate their good and bad points. Then you must learn how to use the type of soil medium you choose. And, finally, you should carefully test the soil blend chosen before adapting it for full scale production. A good deal of the uncertainties concerning soil media can be eliminated by purchasing professionally developed mixes. But this costs a good deal of money, and you must still know enough about soils to make an intelligent choice between the numerous brands available. In a later section I will present detailed instructions about how to mix your own soil at minimal cost. Naturally, the fertilizer and water factors—which I will soon mention—are intimately associated with soil and thereby add to the complexity of this general field. The areas of soil, mineral nutrition (fertilizers), and water should always be examined as an integrated whole—even though we may sometimes study them as separate entities in order to concentrate upon specific problems. If you are serious about growing plants, I urge you to study an easily understood and practical reference manual about soils, water and mineral nutrition. Greenhouse Gardening (Time-Life Books) is one of the best sources of information about these subjects. As a commercial horticulturist, you will use mountains of soil over the years— you must select the type you utilize with the utmost care. It should be economical, easily available, and effective. The soil media you choose will have far reaching effects upon plant growth and, ultimately, upon profitability, Mineral or fertilizer nutrients: As growers have switched to using more or less chemically inert soil media, the management of soil nutrition has become a major factor in successful culture of ornamental plants. Whether you intend to purchase commercially manufactured nutrient systems or to prepare your own, a rudimentary understanding of basic nutrient needs and the methods of supplying them to plants is essential. Many reasonably acceptable commercial fertilizer blends are available for use by growers—but these blends are usually at least double the price of purchasing the basic ingredients to mix yourself. A few hours invested in learning how to safely blend fertilizer ingredients can pay tremendous dividends—not only because thousands of dollars are saved over the years, but you also gain a more thorough knowledge of how various fertilizers affect crop growth and development. Even if manufactured fertilizer blends are purchased, you should at least be aware of how to choose intelligently from among the many alternatives. Haphazard nutrient use is the cause of many crop failures. Water quality and application: The important role which water plays in plant culture is obvious even to inexperienced persons. By weight, water normally comprises at least 85% of plant tissue. It’s necessary as the background medium in which all the chemical processes of plants take place. Commercial horticulturists must be acutely aware of the many economic implications which may arise from such factors as water quality and chemistry, volume and availability, delivery, and cost. Some of these factors can be studied with nothing more than careful application of common sense, while certain of them (especially water chemistry) can be effectively evaluated only with specialized knowledge. Since water is such a commonly used substance, we often take it for granted in every day life. As a commercial horticulturist, it will become necessary for you to progress beyond this simple outlook and determine exactly how water affects every aspect of your growing operation. Even an abbreviated discussion of water is beyond the scope of this book; suffice it to say that you must carefully check out the quality and availability of water sources before starting any horticultural business. And then you must meticulously evaluate how water will affect the crop programs which are planned. I have observed many growing operations over the years which were seriously affected by insufficient or haphazard initial planning for water resources. This is something which simply cannot be ignored in the beginning stages of business because a poor water supply often cannot be improved or developed further without great expense and effort. Sometimes there is no practical solution to the problem. The application of water to plants and its availability to them is greatly influenced by soil characteristics. And since mineral nutrients enter the plant from soil solution they are, to a large degree, dependent upon water quality and water application procedures for their proper availability. Thus, we can easily see that soils, water, and mineral nutrition are intimately related and cannot properly be studied independently from one another. Light in plant growth and development: As was mentioned earlier, the defining characteristic of green plants is their ability to capture, transfer, and store light energy from the sun. Anything which affects or modifies this complex process is certain to have a large affect upon how plants grow—and, in turn, how profitably they can be grown. Light energy affects plants fundamentally in two ways: 1) It determines how fast and how much the plant grows, and 2) It controls and modifies many of the developmental processes which occur in plants (such as reproduction and structural form). In some commercial horticulture applications, there is little the grower can do beyond simple spacing, shading, and placement of plants to alter either light intensity or quality—but in other situations (such as greenhouses and artificially lighted structures) the grower often has considerable control of the light available to crops. Practicing light control on plants is often expensive and, in many cases, must be planned long in advance in order to provide proper and economical facilities. A formal understanding of how light affects plant growth is often unnecessary to commercial horticulturists in those situations where little modification of this factor is either possible or desired. However, the knowledge one needs about this physical factor increases as more control is extended. Temperature in plant growth and development Although temperature (in contrast to light) is not a direct ingredient in plant metabolism, it does influence the entirety of chemical processes in plant tissue, and, through this, the actual physical appearance and integrity of the plant. Wilting and freezing are two phenomenon that are familiar to any gardener. They quickly make apparent the vast influence which temperature can have upon plant life—this should be good indication for observant growers that temperature can modify numerous additional processes and physical characteristics. As with light, many situations don’t lend themselves to serious temperature manipulation for crops. But modification of environmental temperature is very important under some conditions (in greenhouses) and can represent the major manipulative tool available to growers. Numerous satisfactory technical means of altering crop temperature are available. There is really no practical limit to the scale of temperature modification. The grower must carefully determine how much environmental modification can be profitably practiced. In general, the trend of modern commercial horticulture is to practice increased environmental management so that various marketing and production objectives can be more closely controlled. This statement applies to all factors but is especially true in regards to temperature. Carbon dioxide and oxygen in plant growth and development: Perhaps no other environmental factors affecting plants are as consistently ignored as are these two gases. This is probably due to the fact that growers generally assume the quality and quantity of CO and O2, cannot be readily monitored or manipulated. Such assumptions may often hold true, but there are times when alteration of the available amounts of these gases is readily controlled. Modern instruments also make quick, easy measurement of both an economic reality. Oxygen available to the roots of plants can be influenced greatly by soil porosity and structure. And irrigation practices also affect soil oxygen to a large degree. But many growers fail to realize that manipulation of this sort is actually influencing plant growth through oxygen enhancement or deprivation. Some greenhouse growers actively regulate the amount of CO in the indoor air by several means—this practice is economical only in limited circumstances. Although CO and O2 availability to plants is manageable in certain cases, growers often accomplish this objective as they are modifying other environmental factors—such as soil or water. Lack of specific attention to CO and O2 does not mean, however, that they are unimportant—it simply means they are normally present in sufficient quantity and quality for reasonable growth to take place. Pest, disease, and pollution control: I believe that, other than labor and marketing problems, control of pests and diseases is the most persistent and unnerving task that I have faced in my horticultural career. Pests and diseases are such a nuisance because they are an unending source of surprise and destruction. Crops can be ruined overnight unless growers maintain steady vigilance. And, once recognized, potential problems are not always easily solved. A good deal of technical expertise is required for truly effective management of pests and diseases. Patience and dedication are also necessary. Fully 50% of pest and disease control problems can be prevented through good housekeeping practices in and around growing areas. Another 25% are avoidable by effective general business management which reduces unnecessary plant inventory and pest importation. The remaining 1/4 can be effectively managed through 1) vigilance, 2) timely response, 3) dedicated and persistent effort, and 4) technical know how. It’s easy to see that the lion’s share of pest and disease control can be accomplished through rather inexpensive channels which only require common sense to apply effectively. Technical expertise is necessary only for a small proportion of control efforts. Many growers fail to see the problems in perspective and approach it from the reverse angle. And even then they don’t attack with a fully loaded gun—their level of scientific knowledge about pests and diseases is woefully limited. FGR_68: An advanced case of mealybug infestation with typical cottony web holding eggs. FGR_69a: More developed mealybug “crawler.” FGR_69b: Hornworms and the typical damage they have inflicted upon Fuchsia leaves. My advice is to practice preventive common sense pest control to the fullest extent possible and only then employ technical means such as pesticides. This approach is easier, more effective and more economical. Importance of new plant varieties: Only a few of the varieties which were grown commercially 50 years ago are in common usage today. They have been replaced for a number of reasons: 1) consumers no longer want them, 2) they have deteriorated genetically or in relation to common pests, 3) newer varieties are available which are more suitable, more economical, or more beautiful. Ash and Maple trees are a good example, numerous new varieties of these popular trees have recently been developed. They are useful for specific purposes and geographic regions. Whatever the reason, many new varieties become available each year. This is a boon to commercial horticulturists since consumers seem to have an inborn craving for something new. Our product base in the industry is continually being revitalized so that customers don’t become bored. It’s essential that every commercial grower have a systematic plan for trialing and adopting new varieties. Only a small proportion of those available will be suitable for each individual operation. New varieties generally grow and develop somewhat differently than the ones they replace, and they will require new cultural programs. As with humans, both inheritance and culture affect the final product. This is a good place to stress the total interrelatedness of all the physical environmental factors we have been discussing. You cannot alter one factor without affecting the expression of another. This is why beautiful plants are difficult to grow—there are so many possible combinations of different physical factors and plant varieties that growing a crop is not only an exercise in technological competence but also an artistic endeavor. Only an artistically inclined person can make sense of the numerous subtle variations as they are fulfilled in the final product. TBL_81: Schedule your crops long in advance, and then record the results carefully. This information will be the basis for future planning. A collection of reports will compose a crop “cookbook.” It’s a valuable part of your business. Plants need reliable and regular attention: Knowing the technical requirements for growing beautiful plants is only 1/2 of the success equation. The needs of plants must be reliably and regularly supplied in everyday practice in order that theoretical knowledge bears fruit. Plants are silent, immobile organisms—they have no means of actively telling growers what they need, nor can they move around to secure required nourishment. This places a large burden upon the grower to determine and then supply their needs without fail. Both the grower and other employees must be extremely reliable. Once a crop has been neglected, it’s often impossible to bring it back to full potential. Extra work and care later seldom equals what was lost through early neglect. Trial crops before commercial production: The reaction of individual varieties to specific physical environmental factors cannot be predicted with great precision. Although you may assume that related plants will perform in similar fashion—this is not always the case. And even when they do react similarly, the degree of correspondence is often not adequate for precision commercial growing purposes. Published growing information should always be accepted only as a general guide which can help the grower work out a specific cultural program for the exact crop. I have grown numerous Poinsettia cultivars for commercial purposes and have found that each requires a completely different cultural program. There are certainly some similarities between these Poinsettia varieties, but the differences are so pronounced that crop failure would surely result if all were given exactly the same treatment. This is why I have stressed cultural concepts in this book. New growers don’t need to reinvent the wheel each time they plan to grow a new crop, but neither should they rely too heavily upon existing cultural practices which are suitable to individual business circumstances. Prepare for surprises: Any business that interacts with Mother Nature must be prepared for surprises. Living organisms and the factors which determine their growth and survival are so complex as to prevent perfectly predictable cultural systems from being developed. Complexity alone is not the only culprit— life itself is sometimes by nature chaotic and unpredictable. All but the worst surprises can be handled without undue disruption if an operational plan is prepared which takes their existence into account and provides possible remedial action when and if they occur. Make a crop cookbook: Throughout this guide the general practices which are necessary to become a profitable grower of plants, trees, and flowers have been enumerated. I have refrained from giving you instructions about how to grow specific crops because there are thousands of potential crop varieties. This detail would be pointless in an introductory text. It’s up to you to choose the individual plants, trees, or flowers you wish to grow commercially. And then you should devise a crop plan for each variety by utilizing the concepts contained in this book. When preparing crop plans you should attempt to be as systematic as possible—in other words, organize them carefully so that the various steps can be easily analyzed and followed. In this way you will be able to evaluate the results obtained each season and make minor adjustments according to your judgment. Eventually, you will wind up with a fine tuned recipe for each crop. A collection of these “recipes” will constitute a “cookbook” which is the core of your success as a commercial grower. This “cookbook” allows you to confidently and profitably grow plants year after year without worrying whether the results will be satisfactory. Prev. | Next: How to grow plants, trees and flowers faster and easier (part 2) |