| Home | Greenhouse | Pest Control | Garden Construction |
|
Success in the greenhouse and nursery industry results primarily from knowing how to gather and employ knowledge in an effective manner—not from working harder and harder. Many people never discover this basic fact and, as a result, either fail in business or work for only a fraction of the profits they could be enjoying. This section will give you valuable knowledge about some particularly profitable ornamental plants that you might use as a “core” inventory in horticultural business. Even if you don’t become a commercial horticulturist, many of the ideas presented will find application in your enjoyment of plants, trees, and flowers as a hobby or recreational activity. First, we will discuss some of the criteria to employ when selecting various plant groups as commercial winners and then we will explore how to choose alternates for your unique circumstances. Finally, the details about specific groups of plants which are proven commercial profit centers will be listed. PROFIT IS THE OBJECTIVE The following points will help you develop a way of thinking which naturally leads to the selection of plant species which yield the greatest profit with the least possible effort. Many unprofitable operations I have observed over the years have no formalized criteria for judging the types of crops to grow and sell. They simply grow and sell according to their whim. This is all wrong! In most businesses, a small proportion (perhaps 20%) of the merchandise line offered generates the lion’s share (perhaps 80%) of the profits. A good business person quickly realizes this situation and attempts to emphasize the highly profitable items while devoting less time and effort to the least lucrative product lines. Horticultural businesses are no different. You will generally find that a few plant varieties account for the vast majority of both sales and profits. In fact, this general correlation between sales volume and profits for particular plant groups will soon be pointed out as one of the most significant factors you should evaluate. A good selling variety doesn’t always yield high profits, but it’s more likely to do so than is a slow seller. Keep in mind that your quest is for the most profitable plants—this is the yardstick used for measure in the following discussion. A plant may be desirable in several respects, but if it isn’t a good money maker—it is not considered for inclusion. HOW TO FIND A WINNER You may wish to develop a personal list of your own favorite money making plants or add to the one which will soon be presented. Every plant group won’t be equally profitable or desirable under every circumstance. The following general suggestions will help you develop a feeling for how to begin your search. • In most cases, highly profitable varieties are staring you straight in the face. Many of the better selling, commonly used plants are a potential gold mine (although they may presently be found in every discount store at rock bottom prices). The probable reason these varieties are so widespread is that they exhibit several good characteristics. They are unquestionably popular, and it’s likely that they are easy to grow and adaptable. Although these popular varieties may only be marginally profitable under normal growing and marketing conditions, imaginative growers can often develop new methods which add appreciably to product appeal and value. One of the most significant advantages which commonly known plants possess is everyone already knows about them and recognizes that they are good varieties. All you need to do is invent new ways of reinvigorating their popularity and increasing the profit margin. Developing customer recognition and desire for plant groups is of prime importance—half this work is already completed when you work with popular varieties. The key means of making old varieties more profitable is to develop unusual uses, better growing methods, and more effective promotional avenues. Look over all the major plant groups you see for sale, and see if you can come up with something new. The idea may not even need to be totally new; it can simply be novel for your particular market. One unusually good brainstorm may be worth thousands of dollars if it involves an already popular variety. • Although older more recognized varieties have been stressed as the first place you should look for highly profitable plants, you cannot neglect to seek new and unusual species which may become extremely popular if they are introduced properly. Again, these plants need not be totally new to the market; they must only seem unusual and desirable to your customers. One example I have seen recently is the use of dwarf Mugho Pine and dwarf Alberta Spruce in large containers to create miniature outdoor landscapes. Using these common shrubs and other dwarf rockery plants and flowers, you can create a truly original ready made retail item that sells for $100-$250. Equally as important as finding new varieties is the discovery of novel trends in plant use and marketing. The product is only one part of a multifaceted growing and marketing equation. Expand your knowledge in order to discover anything new— be it unusual varieties, growing methods, or marketing avenues. Look around your town to see which plants are being used, and how. You will be amazed at the number of new ideas that present themselves in the course of a neighborhood stroll—that is if you are thinking about the problems at hand rather than daydreaming. The same exploratory procedure applies to landscape nurseries, greenhouses, horticultural sales areas, and the like. You must discover what competitors are doing and immediately copy any worthwhile ideas they come up with. After all, you are not the only one who has a brain, and it’s not against the law to copy successful programs—it is simply good business tactics. We have already mentioned the potential profitability of older, well-recognized plant groups. Keep your eyes open for new (perhaps seemingly inconsequential) developments in these major groups. Small changes in colors, lasting or growing quality, disease resistance, etc. can sometimes herald a revolution in profitability and demand. Both Geraniums and Poinsettias have experienced tremendous market growth in recent years due to an accumulation of individual improvements. A small improvement to major plant groups is usually worth a great deal more than revolutionary advances with an inconsequential species. The remaining suggestions emphasize things you should not do when searching for profitable plant varieties. Never make the mistake of choosing varieties on the basis of what you personally like and dislike. Always make these choices from the standpoint of how customers actually react to specific plant species. And, whenever possible, judge the customers’ response upon numerical data (however primitively measured) rather than vague guesses about how the customers appear to feel. Some of the biggest mistakes I have made growing plants for sale commercially have resulted from letting my own preferences play too large a part in crop selection. Not everyone—not even a majority of people—will choose the same plants which appeal to you. This variety of preferences is what makes life interesting. Let customers show you what they like by allowing them to vote with their pocketbook. Your job is to tally the votes—not stuff the ballot box with meaningless personal preferences. A good way to find out about new plants is to read a variety of seed and other catalogs in which companies promote their new offerings of trees, vegetables, flowers, etc. But don’t believe everything they say—not even a small part of it. These companies are trying to sell you merchandise, and, while most of them are reputable, they do tend to exaggerate any possible benefit when describing their products. The only way to determine if a new variety meets your standards of acceptance and profitability is to grow and sell it on a trial basis. Never grow more than a reasonable sample the first year— no matter how enticing the descriptions sound. These plants may have performed wonderfully under the test conditions of the catalog company, but it’s possible they won’t react the same under your conditions. This warning, of course, applies to the crops mentioned shortly as being my favorite money makers. You should use these ideas only as a general guide to the most profitable species. Finally, don’t pin your hopes for a highly profitable horticultural business too completely upon an unchanging merchandise line of money making plants. You must perform periodic reevaluations based upon the procedural methods you develop for crop selection. I mention this because competitors will eventually steal all your best ideas (just as I previously counseled you to do the same). You must be one step ahead of the competition by constantly selecting new money making crops. The greatest asset you can possess is not about specific money making plant varieties but how to recognize them in the first place. PROFITABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS There are thousands of ornamental plant varieties in use today. Most commercial horticulturists specialize in growing and selling a small fraction of this vast array because they can manage only a relatively few species effectively. Naturally, if the selection must be limited to a reasonable number, it makes good sense to grow and sell the most profitable varieties. As mentioned previously, the customer will ultimately tell you which species they like best—but the number offered for purchase must be prescreened to include only those plants which have a decent chance of success. A plant group should possess specific important characteristics if it’s to have any hope of being a highly profitable crop. Listed below are some of the selection criteria which are most important. You must realize that only a very few select species will possess each of these characteristics to the fullest degree—most of the better plant groups are lacking one or more vital criteria to some extent. This is where judgment and experience become important: you must be able to evaluate and balance the entire range of characteristics in order to select each species for the final test by consumer preference. You can not expect to be correct 100% of the time in choosing potential winners. The great majority of species evaluated will be obvious losers or only worthy of minor attention. If 1 out of 10 varieties which you eventually allow consumers to test becomes truly successful, this should be considered a good batting record. • A good species should show strong promise of being able to sell in reasonable quantity. Spend the majority of your time trying to find new uses or new marketing methods for previously established strong sellers. A plant group need not always sell in tremendous quantity to be highly profitable—it may be that it sells steadily through the year, thus making the process of growing it more predictable, more orderly, and perhaps more efficient. For example, Coleus is not an especially large crop in spring and summer, but it does sell reasonably well for shady areas outdoors. It also has a decent market in fall and winter as an indoor foliage plant. One thing is certain: only a tiny proportion of crops ever become profitable unless they eventually sell in reasonable quantity. If it doesn’t sell very well, then the price must be high in order to recoup production costs—there is not much demand for extremely expensive plants. • A highly profitable crop should be easy to grow for the producer and for the eventual consumer. In many cases, it also helps if the plant grows quickly. Some specific things you should look for are: A) Is it relatively pest free? B) Does it grow predictably from year to year? C) Does it grow well within a tolerable range of environmental conditions? D) Does it grow within bounds (doesn’t require excessive production space)? E) Are the crop conditions it requires economical (no excessive heat source required, no excessive labor needed, etc.)? F) Does the specific crop culture it requires fit within your operational capacities? G) Is it a good keeper (remains in sellable condition over a reasonable period of time)? Don’t neglect the need for plants to consistently perform well for customers from year to year. In my commercial operation I have encountered some species which were extremely popular and profitable for I or 2 years but eventually failed to be a high profit crop simply because they did not grow well for customers over an extended time frame (Martha Washington Geraniums For example). • The most profitable crops are generally those which you can propagate reliably at your own greenhouse or nursery. If you can start the majority of your own plants, this eliminates a major cost of purchasing and transporting starter material. It also allows you to have more control over a critical phase of crop culture and to prevent the importation of exotic bugs and diseases into the production area. Plants that can be used for several different purposes are often more profitable to grow and sell than are those with a single limited application. For instance—Petunias or Impatiens have a variety of uses in flower beds, porch planters, and hanging baskets; thus they are a bigger money making crop than perennial Primroses which are not so versatile. Multipurpose plants not only sell better, they sometimes offer the producer a chance to move inventory between different product uses, depending upon which one is in demand at that particular time. Plants which are not widely available elsewhere in sufficient quality or quantity are often a good bet for high profits. Geraniums and Rose plants are a case in point—while both are widely promoted at cheap prices by discount stores, these items are seldom of the quality which discerning gardeners prefer. Therefore, high quality and larger specimens of Roses and Geraniums are often very profitable for the independent grower who caters to the dedicated gardener. Even when very popular varieties are widely available in good quality at discount stores, there is every chance that you can make good money offering similar merchandise simply by having plenty of stock available at all times. During peak seasons, the chain stores may not have sufficient merchandise available to meet demand, and many customers will then purchase your plants even if the price is considerably higher. • It must be stressed again that plant varieties which are highly profitable in the long run must perform well for the customer. You want to concentrate upon plant groups which reliably make money year after year, not those which do well for a season or two and then fail because consumers find the plants don’t measure up to initial expectations. MODIFYING FACTORS APPLYING TO PLANT LIST During the past 25 years, the use of garden plants has grown tremendously. This is where the big profits have been in ornamental horticulture, and it’s the main reason the following list of plant varieties focuses primarily upon garden plants. I have many plants that I like to grow and sell but most of them don’t make a good deal of money simply because they don’t sell in the same large volume as do spring garden plants. Also, you will notice that, even though most of them can be grown without protection, few woody plants are listed. The culture of woody plants is somewhat more specialized; I thought it best to generally restrict discussion to those varieties which are better suited to small scale local production and to those in which on premises propagation is more easily possible. These plant groups reflect my personal experiences. You must interpret the results based upon the fact that I am a medium size local grower who specializes in selling to a rather upscale market. My production is highly labor intensive and aimed towards consumers that demand high quality. Large growers who specialize in the wholesale trade for mass markets may find that my list is partially unsuitable for their purposes. Growers who live in extreme climates such as the Desert Southwest or a temperate rain forest may need to evaluate these recommendations for light and temperature somewhat differently than persons who live in more moderate climates. Full sun means something different to a person living in Michigan as opposed to a resident of Arizona. The temperature and light ranges given represent, as much as possible, a middle ground. Growth of the plant varieties mentioned is generally good under a wide variety of circumstances. This is perhaps one reason why many of them are listed. But you must understand that some, such as Impatiens and Petunias, grow best at opposite extremes of environmental conditions. Impatiens are popular in the shady east, while Petunias are more widely grown in the western sun belt. All these plants may be assumed to grow well under normal cultural conditions of fertilizer, water, and soil unless specific mention of exceptional needs is made in the special comments section which follows each variety. BEST MONEY MAKING PLANTS Deciding which plant varieties to include in this list has not been an easy task. There are many more I would like to emphasize, but our immediate task is to pick the top performers. Don’t accept this list uncritically, you may wish to add or delete species based upon your own judgment. Use the various criteria mentioned previously to help make your choices. Greenhouse Gardening (Time-Life Books) is a good source of information for other useful species and for many cultural details (which I have necessarily omitted from this small book). Although an attempt to mention some climatic and geographical variations will be made as the plant groups are discussed, please remain alert to interpret all the information in relation to the particular circumstances which exist in your locale. Persons who live in extreme southern or coastal regions should take heed of this advice more carefully since the descriptions presented apply most closely to the interior of North America. The temperatures mentioned refer to night unless otherwise noted. Day temperatures may generally be allowed to increase 10-25° F from night time. Varieties are listed alphabetically, and no importance should be attached to their order of appearance. Established growers should evaluate the following list to make certain each of the plants mentioned is in their program. If one or more is missing, there should be a good reason for the omission; each one is a proven money maker. New growers need to consider each of these plant groups which makes sense under their proposed business plans. All of these plants may not fit into your cultural methods, but I think many of them will. Hopefully, by using this information, you can quickly establish a core group of profitable crops. This is something that took me years of trial and error to accomplish. Readers who are unfamiliar with one or more plants mentioned can easily consult Greenhouse Gardening (Time-Life Books) or The Illustrated Hand guide of Landscape Plants. In addition to more complete descriptions of the various species, photographs are presented. Alyssum: • Principal uses: Annual flower gardens and mixed combination pots where a low growing plant is needed. • Sales potential and season: A great seller in spring and early summer. Blooms profusely and smells heavenly. Quick growth and inexpensive seed make Alyssum very profitable. • Propagation methods: By seed which is generally very inexpensive. Multiple seedlings may be transplanted to small pots or several seeds can be broadcast in the final container since germination is extremely vigorous. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Very vigorous, blooms in as little as 6 weeks from seed but must receive careful attention in early stages to produce a uniform crop. • Pests and diseases: Insects are usually no problem, but various fungal diseases can devastate seedlings. Provide plenty of fresh air and don’t over water. Temperature preference: Germinate at 65 F, and then grow early stages at 55 F until well-established. Better plants result when the temperature is dropped to 45 F during the last 1/2 of the crop schedule. • Light preference: Full sun. Plants quickly become leggy and blooming is inhibited when shaded. • Special comments: The key to selling lots of annual Alyssum is to schedule crops so that new material is ready as needed. Although freshly blooming Alyssum is almost irresistible, old plants quickly become unsalable. White flowered varieties generally bloom earlier than do pink and purple. White is also more fragrant. Specific seed selections vary greatly in performance; try several until you get one that does well for you. Asparagus Sprengeri: • Principal uses: Greenery in spring and summer, annual flower pots, and hanging baskets. Also used as an inexpensive foliage plant in high light indoor situations and as filler and greenery in cut flower arrangements. • Sales potential and season: Although Sprengeri sells only in limited quantities, it does have year around uses so that it can be profitably grown in every month of the year. • Propagation methods: By seed. Germination is slow and irregular over a period of 25-45 days after planting at 75° F. Seed must be a fresh crop since it soon loses viability. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Does not grow as fast as some annuals, but it’s a quick grower when compared to other indoor foliage plants. Very easy culture. • Pests and diseases: Aphids love the tender new shoot tips. No major disease problems. • Temperature preference: Grow at 55-65° F for the most compact plants. If you want looser, more hanging foliage then grow at 65-70° E • Light preference: Full sun in areas where outdoor sunlight is less intense or semi-shade in high light climates. Generally full sun if indoors. Will grow in fairly shaded situations but plants become rangier. Special comments: Asparagus Sprengeri is one of the most useful multipurpose ornamental plants. It grows easily at all seasons but must be planned long in advance since a heavy 4 inch pot takes from 6-12 months to produce from seed (depending on temperature and planting date). Mature plants must not be allowed to dry out since the needle-like leaves yellow up and drop off easily if plants are subjected to drought. Best to grow on the moist side when fully developed. Bacopa: • Principal uses: Annual garden flower, very useful as a trailing filler in combination pots and hanging baskets. • Sales potential and season: Produces masses of small delicate flowers from early spring to late fall. The best display is during cooler weather or in slight shade during summer. • Propagation methods: From cuttings, roots easily if cuttings are clean and not allowed to wilt during first 4 or 5 days. Remove from mist after this time to prevent rot which quickly develops in wet situations. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easily grown if day temperatures can be held under 85° F. Slight shade recommended in summer. Pinch to develop good branching. Crowded plants and poor ventilation encourage stem and leaf rot. • Pests and diseases: Most common pests attack Bacopa, but mealybug and white fly are the primary offenders if control efforts are poor. Plants develop thick growth over time which can lead to stem and leaf rot. • Temperature preference: Best production if grown cool from 50-60° F when established but tolerates higher and lower temperatures quite well unless subjected to extremes every day. • Light preference: Full sun except in high light areas where moderate shade may be required during midsummer. • Special comments: One of the best selling and most useful plants to come along in years. Seldom seen 10 years ago. White Bacopa is most popular because it produces a snowy cascade of flowers on semi-trailing plants, hence the common name of “Snowdrift” or “Montana White”. Blue or lavender forms such as “Mauve Mist” or “Blue Mist” are very floriferous and decidedly more trailing in habit but don’t seem to tolerate summer heat so well. Cacti and Succulents: • Principal uses: Indoor plants for high light areas. Outdoor patio planters in summer or year-round in mild climates. Rock garden displays. • Sales potential and season: Reasonable sales year-round for indoor uses. Certain climatic areas may have considerable demand for outdoor plants. • Propagation methods: Seed, cuttings, divisions. Exact methods and conditions necessary may vary but generally do best when humidity and moisture are minimal. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Cacti and harder leaved Succulents may be very slow. Many softer Succulents and some Cacti grow fairly quickly. A few Succulents exhibit rapid growth. Need reduced moisture and fertilizer. • Pests and diseases: Most pests become a problem only if prevention is ignored. Diseases are seldom serious unless excess moisture is available. • Temperature preference: Best growing temperature is 60 - 75° F for most species, but lower temperatures generally are tolerated and sometimes even beneficial. Contrary to popular thought, higher temperatures seldom promote better or faster growth. • Light preference: Full sun. Many species may tolerate light shade without noticeable ill effects. Almost none prefer shade. • Special comments: This is a big group of plants. You can select a limited number of those species which grow and reproduce easily. They can be sold individually or as combination pots. The slower growing varieties are seldom a big profit center for smaller growers—generally, they are grown by specialists who operate in warmer climates. A low labor crop which thrives on neglect if proper basic conditions are provided. FGR_120: Cacti and succulents can be combined in pots for creative marketing. Chrysanthemum: • Principal uses: Perennial garden flower. A leading potted and cut flower. • Sales potential and season: The number one fall blooming perennial. Can be sold in bloom in spring or fall. Good demand in the floral trade. • Propagation methods: Mainly from cuttings offered by specialist propagators. A few seed varieties. Usually best to obtain disease free cuttings rather than propagate your own. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Grows quickly and vigorously, but good attention must be paid to pest and disease control, critical temperatures and day length. Heavy feeder. • Pests and disease: Diseases are seldom a problem if you ‘purchase cuttings from reliable propagators. Aphids are the main pest, other insects can also become established if preventive control is not practiced. • Temperature preference: Safest to maintain temperatures above 60° F br bud set; garden varieties will generally set bud at temperatures down to 500 or 55° F. Excessive night or day temperatures can delay or prevent bud set. • Light preference: Full sun. Chrysanthemums are an extremely day length sensitive crop. Variations in this factor are the main consideration when timing the bloom period. • Special comments: Smaller growers generally will be best off to focus on the garden plant market. Flowering pots and cut flowers are relatively easy to grow if attention is paid to details but numerous large growers have flooded the market with product on a year-round basis. Garden Mums are easy to produce and sell in good quantity—one of the best profit makers. FGR_122: Garden Mums are a perennial profit maker. Coleus: • Principal uses: Brilliantly colored foliage accent plant outdoors in spring and summer. Inexpensive indoor foliage plant. • Sales potential and season: A good selling outdoor plant in climates with less intense sun, moderate spring bedding sales even in sunny areas. Year-round steady sales as indoor foliage. • Propagation methods: Both seeds and cuttings start easily. Seeds more common for mass garden sales. Start both at 750F. • Growth in greenhouse and nursery: Rapid and easy when in vegetative phase. Winter flowering occurs in northern greenhouses and limits growth unless day length is extended by artificial lighting. • Pests and diseases: Insect pests not serious unless allowed to establish without control measures. Various stem and root rots can be serious if over watering occurs. Plenty of ventilation and warm temperatures help avoid disease. • Temperature preference: Warm, 65-70° F is ideal, hut plants will grow reasonably well 10° F either side of this range. • Light preference: Shade outdoors in all climates except those where sun intensity is low. Good sun indoors. Some new varieties are available which are touted as lull sun plants in all but the sunniest climates. • Special comments: Coleus is not one of the very best selling bedding plants, but it has many other uses through the year. The steady nature of sales year-round and easy culture make Coleus a real money maker. It makes impressive patio planters and hanging baskets which can be sold at high prices. Many exciting leaf colors are available—well done large plants are very eye catching. Cucumber and Squash • Principal uses: Spring vegetable gardens. • Sales potential and season: Both sell extremely well for a limited period of time. • Propagation methods: Seed. Germinate 3 seeds directly in each selling container. They sprout quickly at 55 F.
• Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Very fast; can be sold in 3-4 inch pots within 3-4 weeks of sowing. Squash is especially fast. Watermelons and Cantaloupe react similarly but must have higher average temperatures. • Pests and diseases: No serious disease or insect pests if normal precautions taken. Mice can ruin an entire crop overnight by digging up and eating seed. Trap every mouse before planting. Warn customers not to separate seedlings; plants don’t transplant easily—they must be handled carefully. Plants won’t tolerate cold temperatures. • Temperature preference: Grow at 50-65° F after germination. Can tolerate higher temperatures but growth is leggy and weak. • Light preference: Full sun. • Special comments: This is without doubt the highest profit crop of all, and it sells well. Only the limited sales time is a drawback. Choose your varieties carefully, as some don’t set fruit unless more than one plant or more than one variety is present. Planting 3 seeds per pot solves the problem of needing multiple plants for fruit set, and it makes a nice plant faster Since plants grow quickly and the marketing window is short, scheduling must be done carefully to assure plenty of high quality product at the proper time. Cyclamen • Principal uses: A major flowering pot plant during cooler months. • Sales potential and season: Many growers should emphasize this low labor crop more. Can be the major winter and early spring flower crop if promoted. Southern greenhouses can do well with Cyclamen in winter. • Propagation methods: Seed. Germinate at 60-70° F Best varieties must be sown 6-9 months before flowering and grown shady during summer. Southern growers will probably wish to purchase small plants for late fall planting. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: An easily grown crop if basic environmental factors are maintained. Rather slow— this is why there is often a shortage of good Cyclamen. • Pests and diseases: Spider mites can become serious if early precautions are not taken. Crown rot is often a problem if temperatures are too low and moisture is high. Provide good air circulation. • Temperature preference: Will tolerate very low temperatures but growth is retarded. Commercial production for faster crops requires 55-60° F. This higher temperature also reduces incidence of crown rot. Cyclamen don’t like excessive summer heat and extreme sun; you must be sure that shady, cool conditions are provided at this time. • Light preference: Full sun late fall through early spring in north. Shade in warmer months. Southern growers may need to shade lightly in winter. • Special comments: The Cyclamen is a very popular winter flower that can be easily produced by most every smaller grower if they have the patience for long crop cycles. Not as yet overdone in discount stores. The bulbs which develop on seedlings should not be buried, as this leads to crown rot. Place only the bottom portion of the bulb in soil. Dianthus • Principal uses: A large group of perennial and hardy annual garden plants. Some species (especially Carnations) are also useful as potted and cut flowers. • Sales potential and season: Spring, early summer sales are very good in most climates. In mild climates, you can sell many garden Dianthus for winter annuals. • Propagation methods: Seed in most cases. Divisions and cuttings are common for certain groups. Cuttings are the primary means of reproduction for Carnation cut flowers. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: The entire Dianthus group grows easily but requires lower temperatures and fertilizer in order to avoid lush growth. Over watering can also cause the same problem. • Pests and diseases: Aphids are the main pest and can become serious if preventive measures are not taken. Diseases are not generally a problem if reasonable attention is paid to cleanliness and cultural factors. • Temperature preference: Dianthus like it cool. Most do best at 40-55° F after establishment at higher temperatures. Will generally tolerate light frost, and, when acclimated, they will survive heavy frost. • Light preference: Full sun. Shady conditions cause tall, spindly plants. • Special comments: Dianthus contains many useful garden varieties for the small grower. Not often a big item at chain stores because good stocky plants are not easily grown without careful attention to detail. Hardy annual types are especially colorful and have proven to exhibit good perennial characteristics even in my harsh winter climate. Dusty Miller FGR_126: Dusty Miller makes an attractive accent plant. • Principal uses: Silvery foliage accent plant for spring and fall gardens, patio planters, and hanging baskets. Occasionally used as foliage in cut flower arrangements. • Sales potential and season: Has exceptional sales possibilities if it’s shown in potential uses. Since it does not flower extravagantly its usefulness must be demonstrated. Plants are extremely cold hardy and will exhibit nice silver foliage outdoors until Christmas in all but the harshest winter climates. • Propagation methods: Can be taken as cuttings but almost always propagated by seed. Germinate at 65 F, establish well at 55-65° F, and then drop temperature to 4S F during last half of growing period. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easy to grow, but seedlings must be established carefully. Crowded or overly wet plants will develop leaf and stem rot easily. • Pests and diseases: Aphids can become troublesome if control is neglected. Disease problems minimal except as noted above. • Temperature preference: Likes warm temperatures to start but can be grown well in later stages even with occasional light frost at night. Heavy frost is tolerated in the garden if acclimated gradually. • Light preference: Full sun. Can he used in slightly shaded garden situations or in shade type hanging baskets and planters, but growth is not as compact and as intensely silver as in full sun. • Special comments: Dusty Miller is a garden plant which could reach major crop status if its exceptional garden performance was promoted to the fullest extent. Could be used as a winter annual in moderate climates. Since it’s easy to grow, and keeps well on display, it’s very profitable. Geranium • Principal uses: Garden beds, patio planters, and outdoor hanging baskets. A good indoor bloomer for sunny spots. Large pots are a perfect gift for Mother’s Day. • Sales potential and season: One of the most popular spring and summer flowers. A great seller if you offer modern varieties in a broad choice of colors. • Propagation methods: Seed propagation is popular for inexpensive plants, but vegetative cuttings are still preferred for the most desirable plants. Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easy to grow nice plants quickly if attention is paid to cultural details. Don’t forget to produce a good number of larger pots for demanding customers. Pests and diseases: No serious pests if preventive measures are taken. Diseases are no problem if certified disease free stock is used for planting or mother plants. Don’t attempt to hold mother plants from year to year. • Temperature preference: Propagation and establishment 70- 80° F. Finish the crop at 55-65° F. Higher and lower temperatures can be tolerated, but crop quality deteriorates. • Light preference: Full sun. Some shade is tolerated in extremely high light areas. • Special comments: Geraniums sell in volume, but strong competition means you must pay attention to every detail in order to produce good quality plants that sell profitably. Seed Geraniums are easier to grow but don’t generally produce the exceptional blooms that discriminating buyers prefer. Don’t forget Ivy Geraniums, as they are important for hanging baskets and planters. Modern disease free stock is absolutely necessary for profitable production. Grape Ivy • Principal uses: A trailing indoor foliage plant for relatively low light areas. Easily trained to a trellis for specimens or as a room divider. • Sales potential and season: Good demand all year as an indoor plant. Can be used as a shady trailer outdoors in summer or in mild winter climates. • Propagation methods: From cuttings generally, but seed is sometimes available. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Plants are slow to start but grow more easily once established. Needs a light, well- drained and highly organic soil. • Pests and diseases: Mealybugs can be troublesome unless controlled. Grape Ivy is very susceptible to mildew unless ideal atmospheric and temperature controls are practiced. Easiest way to avoid mildew is to spray all plants periodically with a suitable fungicide. • Temperature preference: Best specimens are produced at 60-70° F in greenhouses. This is one reason large crops for export are usually not produced in Florida, thereby making Grape Ivy in short supply compared to other foliage varieties. A good item for local northern greenhouses. • Light preference: Light shade in winter greenhouses, heavy shade in summer. Moderate to tower light in interior landscape. This is one of the easier plants to care for indoors. Maintains a lustrous, dark green leaf color. • Special comments: Since it’s easy to grow, long-lived, and tolerates rather low light, Grape Ivy is one of the premier indoor plants. Coupled with the relatively short supply it makes a good profit item. Mildew control is the main problem for growers, but, if plants are disease free when sold, they rarely develop this disease in the home or office. Two common varieties— regular pointed leaf and oak leaf with rounded leaf tips. Blooming geraniums are difficult for customers to resist. Hibiscus: • Principal uses: Potted flowers. Outdoor flowering shrubs. • Sales potential and season: Sells steadily all year as a potted flower and interior landscape plant for sunny areas. A popular shrub for tropical and subtropical outdoor landscapes. Some varieties are suitable for landscaping in colder climates. • Propagation methods: Usually by cuttings. Root under mist at 70-80° F. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Grows easily and quickly. Must be watered and fertilized adequately without large excesses. Usually needs extra iron to develop a good green color in the leaves. Blooms at any season. • Pests and diseases: Aphids and spider mites become easily established. White flies are serious if plants are exposed to infection. No serious diseases. • Temperature preference: Best temperature in the greenhouse is 70°F, but plants will tolerate higher and lower. Cold climate landscaping varieties can be grown cooler. • Light preference: Full sun. When plants are ready to flower, they can be placed in slightly shaded locations and continue to bloom well. • Special comments: Hibiscus have become one of the most popular flowering plants in recent years. The flowers are exceptionally beautiful. They can be grown through the summer and fall in northern greenhouses. Winter production is difficult unless plenty of sun and good heat are available. Hibiscus make nice patio planters in summer. Cold hardy varieties should be used more in northern landscapes. Impatiens: • Principal uses: Outdoor garden beds, patio planters, hanging baskets. Nice indoor blooming plant for sunny spots in winter. New Guinea Impatiens make an inexpensive flowering pot for gifts. • Sales potential and season: Impatiens is the largest selling garden plant in America. Not as popular in high light areas but still important. Small but steady sales through winter as a blooming window plant. Ivy • Propagation methods: Seed or cuttings. Inexpensive garden plants mostly by seed which is touchy to germinate properly. New Guinea Impatiens primarily by cuttings but limited seed varieties are available. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easy, quick growth if warm temperatures are provided. Plants won’t tolerate high salt water. Fertilizer must be limited or growth becomes overly lush and weak. • Pests and diseases: Most pests can become established unless decent control measures are employed. Spider mites are the most frequent problem. Mealybugs are common on New Guinea Impatiens. Stem and root rot are likely if temperatures are cool and over watering occurs. Damping off is common on seedlings. • Temperature preference: Germinate at 65-80° F. Grow young plants at 60-70° F. Lower and higher temperatures can be tolerated but quality of growth is impaired. • Light preference: Impatiens don’t tolerate extremely sunny locations, but some varieties are being introduced which perform well in all but the sunniest climates. • Special comments: There is lots of competition in the Impatiens market but also much opportunity for volume sales. The key to success is attention to every detail of crop culture and production of high end specialty items such as porch planters and hanging baskets. Pay attention to selecting only the very best varieties. Since seed germination is sometimes difficult, you may wish to consider purchasing established seedling plugs from specialist growers or resort to purchasing “enhanced” seed. • Principal uses: Indoor foliage plant for high light areas. Outdoor perennial ground cover and climber. Useful as trailing filler in cut flower arrangements and bridal bouquets. • Sales potential and season: The market for Ivy is not spectacular. but it continues to be steady in most all seasons. Good customer recognition. • Propagation methods: Cuttings. Easily rooted at 60-80° F. Many varieties are available. Discussion here refers mainly to the English or California types of true Ivy (Hedra), but there is considerable outdoor use of other plants which are erroneously called Ivy (Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper, etc.). • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Very easy and relatively fast at 6O F One of the most foolproof inexpensive foliage plants available. • Pests and diseases: Spider mites can be very serious unless precautions are taken to avoid exposure. No serious diseases under reasonably sanitary culture. • Temperature preference: Tolerates a wide variety of temperature and still produces acceptable plants. • Light preference: High light indoors for best growth but will tolerate some shade. Prefers some shade outdoors if the sun is intense. • Special comments: Steady year-round sales, easy culture, and a variety of uses combine to make Ivy a very profitable item for anyone who grows plants throughout the year. Lilacs: • Principal uses: Flowering landscape shrub, sometimes used as hedges or small trees. • Sales potential and season: Can be sold containerized from late winter through fall. Mostly in areas with pronounced cold winters. The majority of sales occur when Lilacs bloom naturally in the local landscape. Everyone in Canada and the northern United States is familiar with Lilacs so there is a steady demand. • Propagation methods: Seed for some varieties (especially common Lilacs), suckers, cuttings. Suckers of common purple and white Lilacs are the easiest method for small retail growers or purchase inexpensive seedlings from specialists. For other varieties purchase bare root plants wholesale. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Best to pot multiple seedlings or small suckers in 1 or 2 gallon pots in early spring or late fall. Leave outdoors and mulch the pots for winter protection. Sell the next spring. New spring transplants make very little leaf and stem growth the first growing season, but fall transplants that root in during winter leaf out well the following spring. • Pests and diseases: Scale is a common pest unless precautions are taken. • Temperature preference: Normal outdoor temperatures in northern latitudes. Keep pots mulched in winter to prevent alternate freezing and thawing damage. Better growth usually results when pots are protected from heat build up in summer if grown in high light areas. • Light preference: Some shade after transplanting may be beneficial, but full sun is okay after rooted. • Special comments: Lilacs are not a grower’s dream. However, due to the fact that there is steady demand for these popular shrubs and because plants that have not been over wintered in the pots usually look unacceptable for discriminating buyers, growers who wish to pot up before winter sets in can command premium prices. Common Lilacs are the least expensive varieties to deal with, but numerous hybrid selections are available. Smaller plants of hybrids are usually hard to find. The Korean Lilac is a dwarf variety which blooms well the first spring after transplanting from rather small stock—most varieties do not. Lilac tree selections are also available. There is little advantage to potting Lilacs during spring since fall planting seems to yield approximately the same results without the need to care for potted stock the first summer. Lipstick Plant • Principal uses: Indoor blooming foliage plant. Principally used in hanging baskets or smaller pots. • Sales potential and season: Sells steady all year as indoor plant. Much better market when plants are blooming freely. • Propagation methods: Usually by cuttings. Seed may be used in some cases. Grow in a well-drained, highly organic soil. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easy grower, but better blooming varieties are rather slow to produce a quality basket. Some varieties which don’t have conspicuous blooms produce vigorous attractive foliage and are best used for vegetative characteristics rather than flowers. • Pests and diseases: Not particularly susceptible to most common pests. Problems can arise if control procedures are inadequate.
• Temperature preference: Tolerates a wide range of temperature but does best at 65-75° F. • Light preference: Enjoys good light but won’t tolerate full sun in the greenhouse. Leaves burn easily in summer if light intensity is too high. • Special comments: Lipstick Plant is one of the more durable indoor plants that flower well. Most retail foliage customers ask two questions: 1)Is it easy to grow? 2) Does it flower? This is one of the few plants that fills both qualifications. Even though Lipstick is relatively unknown to most people, the bright scarlet “lipstick” tubes emerging from a burgundy- colored base draw attention instantly. Large commercial growers seldom offer Lipsticks— probably because they are a long term crop that is relatively hard to get started well. The plants, however, grow easily once they are larger. Being a rather expensive plant to produce means that few mass merchants are interested in them. This leaves the local grower who caters to upscale customers free to set a profitable price on these gorgeous plants. Lipsticks usually bloom well about twice a year on older wood—most commonly in spring and fall. The blooms last for a good while. Plants should be pruned well several months in advance of anticipated bloom to develop numerous bud sites. Marigold • Principal uses: Outdoor garden beds, patio planters, combination hanging baskets. Occasionally as an inexpensive cut flower. • Sales potential and season: Basically a spring and summer bedding plant. One of the more popular groups of plants in sunnier regions. Less popular in shady climates. • Propagation methods: Seed. Germinates quickly and easily at 55-70° F. Some of the newer varieties are expensive but well worth the extra cost if chosen carefully. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Very fast and easy if warm temperatures (55 F) are provided to start and adequate fertilizer is applied. Last 1/2 of crop cycles can be 45-60° F. • Pests and diseases: Despite popular tales to the contrary, aphids love Marigolds and will ruin crops unless guarded against. Over watering leads to stem and leaf rot on crowded plants. • Temperature preference: Marigolds will tolerate a wide range of temperatures but grow best at the medium range of 50-60° F. Very susceptible to frost damage. • Light preference: Full sun. Some varieties are responsive to photoperiod for flowering. Check seed books to determine what day lengths promote best flowering. • Special comments: Marigolds are a grower’s dream plant if details are followed and fertilization is adequate. Many size groups are available for different garden needs. Color selection is a major drawback—available generally only in yellow, orange, and maroon variations. Mice love the seed so make sure a trapping program is conducted prior to sowing seed. Marigolds in bloom are always popular. Principal uses: Rower beds. Use in hanging baskets and patio planters is increasing, especially for cool weather months. • Sales potential and season: Extremely popular in early spring and less so in cool fall months. As a winter annual in mild climates. • Propagation methods: Seed. Germinates best at 55-65° F Most seed is extremely expensive. Mice love it and can destroy an entire sowing in a few hours. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easy and quick to flower. Over fertilization and overwatering lead to lush plants which are unsalable. Attention to detail is necessary with Pansies. • Pests and diseases: Aphids become established quickly unless preventative measures are taken. Relatively disease free. • Temperature preference: Pansies like it cool. After establishing seedlings at 45-60° F, drop the temperature to 34-45° F. Light frost at night won’t hurt acclimated plants, but growth is slowed considerably. Hard frost is tolerated in garden beds. • Light preference: Full sun. In shadier areas, Pansies may be planted after trees lose their leaves in fall. • Special comments: Many new varieties have recently been developed. This, along with an upsurge in fall gardening interest, is making Pansies a major bedding crop. Well-grown plants are always in demand because Pansies require careful culture and handling to maintain their cheery appearance. This is why chain stores don’t sell their fair share. Peperomia • Principal uses: Indoor foliage plants for medium and high light situations. Mostly smaller plants but very useful in terranums and combination work. A large number of varieties. • Sales potential and season: Sell reasonably well all year. Main season is November through June as gifts in terrariums or combination planters. Some varieties are suitable for hanging baskets. • Propagation methods: Usually from leaf or stem cuttings. Root quickly at 70-80° F. Don’t like high moisture when rooting. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Easy to grow and most varieties are reasonably vigorous. • Pests and diseases: No serious pests unless preventive measures are neglected. Stem and leaf rot can be serious if cuttings or plants are overwatered. • Temperature preference: Grow best at 65-70° F, but higher and lower temperatures are tolerated. • Light preference: Strong diffuse light. Will tolerate more and less light but plants are not as attractive. • Special comments: Peperomias are recommended for the year-round operator because they sell reasonably well, have many uses, come in a large variety, and grow quite easily. Petunia • Principal uses: The premier garden flower for full sun locations. Also extensively used in hanging baskets and patio planters. • Sales potential and season: Extremely popular in sunny climates because it flowers so profusely and a full range of colors is available. New varieties are now available which supposedly will tolerate rather cool winter temperatures in mild climates. • Propagation methods: Almost always from seed which is small but germinates easily and quickly at 65-75° F. Seed must not be allowed to dry out. Some newer varieties are from cuttings. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Grows easily and quickly, but tends to become lush and overgrown if too much fertilizer, heat or water is applied. Not an easy crop to grow to perfection. • Pests and diseases: No serious pests if normal precautions are taken. Various stem and leaf rot are serious if damp conditions prevail. Southern growers are particularly plagued by diseases. Botrytis attacks flowers quickly if high humidity prevails. • Temperature preference: Establish seedlings at 55-65° F, then drop the temperature to 45-60° F for finishing. Lower temperatures make it easier to grow compact plants but can lead to disease problems, smaller flowers, and delayed flowering. Pansy • Light preference: Full sun. Shade decreases flowering and causes plants to become weak and unacceptably lush. • Special comments: Petunias are perhaps the showiest common garden flower. It’s not easy to grow plants to flower in crowded cell pak containers. This is why I prefer to specialize in large hanging baskets and planters where truly spectacular results can be achieved fairly easily. Petunias are good profit makers, but culture and scheduling must be carefully planned. Poinsettia • Principal uses: The main flower used for decorating during the Christmas season. Mostly in pots but some utilized as cut flowers. • Sales potential and season: Although the sales season is limited to approximately 60 days, many millions of plants are sold nationwide. By offering good plants in a variety of sizes and colors, there is the potential for an expanded market. • Propagation methods: Commercial production is through cuttings rooted under mist at 70-80° F. Most smaller growers order their rooted cuttings from specialist propagators. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Relatively easy and quick if proper environmental conditions are supplied. The large number of new cultivars vary substantially in the exact conditions necessary. • Pests and diseases: White fly is the predominant pest. Clean planting stock and constant preventive measures during growth are absolutely essential. Various stem, root, and flower diseases can also become serious if prevention is neglected. • Temperature preference: Most varieties require 63-68°F for commercial production. Higher and lower temperatures are tolerated, but quality is reduced. Once flowers are mature, the temperature can be dropped to 58-62° F for holding. • Light preference: Full sun in most climates, but extremely sunny conditions may require light shade during establishment of small plants and at flowering. Poinsettias require short days to bloom, and flowering can be delayed or prevented by extraneous sources of light at night. • Special comments: Plenty of lower quality Poinsettias are available for sale at cheap prices. If a good profit is to be made, the smaller grower must concentrate on high quality and a variety of sizes and colors. This crop offers growers the chance for substantial income in midwinter, but it must be managed and priced right to realize a good profit. Pothos • Principal uses: A semi-vining foliage plant which is utilized extensively for hanging baskets, pots, and combination work. • Sales potential and season: Pothos is perhaps the most widely sold tropical foliage plant. It provides steady sales throughout the year. Often used in large quantities as ground cover for indoor landscaping. • Propagation methods: Cuttings. Root easily at 70-85° F. When large amounts are needed, it’s often best to obtain inexpensive starter plants or rooted cuttings from southern growers. Poinsettias are in high demand during Christmas. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: An easy grower as long as adequate heat can be maintained. Likes a well-drained soil so roots are not exposed to excess water. • Pests and diseases: Pests are not serious unless preventive measures are ignored. Root rot and various leaf spots can be a problem if there is excess moisture in the soil or around leaf surfaces. • Temperature preference: Pothos will maintain themselves at 600 F but don’t make much growth. Good active growth occurs above 70° F. Northern growers have a hard time producing good plants in midwinter unless plenty of heat is available. • Light preference: Lower light can be tolerated, but plants do better when strong diffuse light is available. • Special comments: Although Pothos is difficult to grow profitably in northern greenhouses, it does have a strong and steady demand. Either by producing your plants in summer or purchasing them from southern sources, you can take advantage of this ready market. Southern growers can make steady income by providing high quality products for the northern winter market. Roses • Principal uses: America’s most popular woody garden plant. Used also as patio planters, flowering pot plant, cut flowers. • Sales potential and season: Almost unlimited demand for well-started blooming garden plants in spring and early summer. Plenty of poor quality plants are available, but there is a need for superior quality. • Propagation methods: Usually purchase bare root dormant plants from Rose growing specialists. Suppliers must be chosen carefully to assure that plants are alive and vigorous. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Pot and sprout in humid greenhouse or other shelter. Plants grow quickly and easily to the flowering stage if minimum requirements are met. • Pests and diseases: Aphids and spider mites are a problem but can be easily controlled if preventive measures are taken early. Mildew disease is serious if adequate precautions are not taken. • Temperature preference: Grow at 50-60° F. Much lower temperatures can be tolerated once plants are well-established. Significantly higher temperatures promote weak tall growth. • Light preference: Full sun except when dormant plants are being sprouted. • Special comments: Although good dormant plants are expensive and diseases and pests are troublesome, garden Roses can be extremely profitable. The heavy demand means you can price good quality plants at a level considerably above ordinary mass market Roses and still sell a large amount. Cut flowers are a specialty crop for larger growers, overseas imports of cut Roses make this market very competitive. Shasta Daisy • Principal uses: A popular garden perennial. Can be sold as small starter plants or as large flowering container specimens in early summer. • Sales potential and season: Sells well in spring and summer but somewhat limited in flower color (white). This is the number 1 perennial in some sections of the U.S. • Propagation methods: Usually from seed. Germinates quickly and easily at 55-70° F. Several new varieties have recently been introduced. Choose for flowering date, height, and flower characteristics. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: One of the easiest perennials to grow, but it’s a heavy feeder. Grows so fast it can become overgrown easily so several well-timed crops should be planted. • Pests and diseases: Aphids are a problem if allowed to get started. No serious diseases. • Temperature preference: Will tolerate higher temperatures but prefers 40-50° F for the majority of growing time. If flowering pots are desired, 35-40° F temperatures will enhance bud set. • Light preference: Full sun. Blooming is probably related to day length. Most varieties won’t bloom until early summer even if they are old enough. Some new varieties bloom a little earlier. • Special comments: Shasta Daisies perform well for the consumer. The seasonal display is outstanding, and you can count on good sales when plants are blooming in established landscapes. The ease of culture and relatively brisk demand makes this one of the most profitable perennials. Can be bloomed the first season if started early and grown cool. Swedish Ivy • Principal uses: An inexpensive indoor foliage plant for high light situations. Sometimes used as a rambling filler in shaded outdoor patio planters and hanging baskets. • Sales potential and season: Swedish Ivy (also known as German Ivy and Creeping Charlie) sells steadily throughout the year because it’s one of the best and most vigorous inexpensive foliage plants. • Propagation methods: Cuttings. They root quickly at 55- 750 E This plant is so vigorous that cuttings may be stuck directly to the finishing container without mist or bottom heat. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Grows easily and quickly into a dense mound of rambling foliage. Older plants develop long, pendulous branches unless they are pinched back regularly. • Pests and diseases: No serious pests. Stem and leaf rot can be a problem in early growth stages if low temperatures and high humidity prevail. • Temperature preference: Best growth at 60-70° F, but good plants can be produced either side of this range if cultural methods are altered to fit the temperature regime. Several cultivars available. Green is the most popular. • Light preference: High light indoors, shade outdoors. Plants will tolerate some shade indoors but tend to produce longer, less leafy branches. • Special comments: Swedish Ivy has no particular overwhelming advantageous trait, but, when all the factors (reasonable and steady market, insect and disease resistance, rapid easy growth, good appearance, and tolerance of varied conditions) are added together, it becomes an extremely profitable crop for those growers who can sell indoor foliage on year around basis. Tomatoes, Peppers • Principal uses: Vegetable gardens. Container and raised bed culture. Profitable fruit production indoors is very difficult and is better left to larger, specialized growers. • Sales potential and season: Spring and early summer. Everyone wants to try a Tomato or two each season. Large plants are becoming more popular and can extend the sales season into late summer. • Propagation methods: Seed. Easy to germinate at 70-80° F. Must be removed to cooler temperature and plenty of fresh air as soon as up well or seedlings become elongated. Peppers are susceptible to damping off. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Very easy to grow nice crops quickly if a few details are attended to. You must schedule crops carefully to be ready for the relatively short selling season. But they must not be overgrown. • Pests and diseases: Both Tomatoes and Peppers require clean conditions. Although not extremely susceptible to either pests or diseases, a wide range of problems can occur if preventive measures are ignored. • Temperature preference: Grow Tomatoes at 55-65° F after seedlings are established. Peppers like it about 5° F warmer. Higher temperatures will work, but growth is lush. Plants are very susceptible to frost damage. • Light preference: Full sun. Shade will cause unacceptable elongation of stems. • Special comments: You must pay attention to the proper varieties for your climate—repeat business from satisfied customers is important. Choose varieties that are disease resistant. Although diseases may not show up in your greenhouse, they are a major factor in customer disappointment later. An easy crop and big profit maker if you become known for good plants of the proper varieties. Vinca Vine: • Principal uses: As a perennial ground cover vine and as a filler vine in hanging baskets and patio planters. Flowers are blue, but these are seldom the main attraction. • Sales potential and season: Very popular in spring and summer because it’s the premier vine used in annual flower combination planters. Can be sold throughout the year as a perennial groundcover in mild climates. • Propagation methods: Cuttings, plant divisions. Tips root quickly if they are not allowed to wilt and are provided with mist. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Quick and easy at 45- 600 F. Good growth but slower at lower temperatures. Flowers well only if exposed to cool (35-45° F) temperatures in winter. • Pests and diseases: Aphids and spider mites are troublesome unless control measures are practiced. Relatively disease free. • Temperature preference: Very frost tolerant after established. Leaves generally retained through the winter if there is snow protection during the coldest weather. • Light preference: Shade or full sun. Quite tolerant of different light intensities but becomes bunchier in full sun, while shade leads to excessive elongation. • Special comments: Independent garden centers often sell a lot of Vinca Vine simply because the chains don’t think to carry it as a separate item. This is one of the garden plants that is not especially showy but almost everyone uses. Sells best if it’s sheared back when plants become long and stringy. Several varieties, including common Myrtle which is used as a groundcover. Viola • Pests and diseases: Aphids can be a problem if preventive measures are not employed. No serious diseases. • Temperature preference: Grow very cool (33-50° F) after well-established. Will withstand light frost easily or heavy frost after acclimated to the garden. • Light preference: Full sun to very light shade. Shady situations cause elongated, weak growth—too much water, fertilizer, or heat do the same. • Special comments: Violas have the same appeal as Pansies, but flowers are smaller and more numerous. Violas are one of the most suitably hardy perennials for northern areas and can become an important crop if you offer a selection of the best varieties. Seed is generally much cheaper and plants flower earlier than Pansies. A very profitable crop. • Principal uses: Perennial flower beds. • Sales potential and season: A good blooming perennial for early spring and fall. Can be used as a winter annual in milder climates. • Propagation methods: From seed. Germinates easily and quickly at 55-65° F. • Growth in greenhouse or nursery: Grows easily and quickly. Flowers well the first season from seed. Dwarf compact varieties are some of the best blooming early perennials for bedding. Prev. | Next: How to make and sell private label potting soil worth $$ thousands |