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Episodes

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Episodes

Audio Files: Putting Your Media to the Test

PUTTING YOUR MEDIA TO THE TEST FROM THE JULY 2021 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY ED BLOODNICK & TROY BUECHEL NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Comparative product evaluations, product demonstrations and product trials are important for growers when evaluating new products, plant varieties and even growing media. This is the best way of determining what new product can benefit your business. But there are certain protocols that should be followed to ensure products are evaluated properl...

Jun 16, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Frequent Hardy Mum Concerns

FREQUENT HARDY MUM CONCERNS FROM THE JULY 2022 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY MICHAEL DIBERTI NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Some stress—such as moisture, low fertility and temperature—can contribute to the budding issue. Temperature is one of the most frequent triggers. Nighttime temperatures of many of the current mum cultivars need to be above 60F (15C). Lower temperatures over a course of days generally cause the premature budding. The result of it can make the mum look stunted ...

Jun 13, 2023•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Minimizing Risk—Overwintering Perennials

MINIMIZING RISK: OVERWINTERING PERENNIALS FROM THE AUGUST 2022 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY PAUL PILON NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: To better manage and minimize the risks associated with overwintering perennials, it’s important to understand and accept that the main goal of overwintering is the survival of the root systems. This may seem like common knowledge, but most growers don’t think of overwintering plants in this manner. Focusing on the survival of the root system will g...

Jun 09, 2023•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Optimize Rooting Uniformity—A Hierarchical Process

OPTIMIZE ROOTING UNIFORMITY: A HIERARCHICAL PROCESS FROM THE NOVEMBER 2022 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL CALKINS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: For greenhouses rooting large numbers of cuttings or growers interested in processes to improve rooting success, it’s critical to look at the key limiting factors to producing high-quality rooted liners. This is a very scientific process that involves multiple factors of plant growth—hydration, light, temperature, nutrition and gas exc...

Jun 06, 2023•11 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Acres & Acres—I Think We’ve Answered the Question

ACRES & ACRES: I THINK WE’VE ANSWERED THE QUESTION FROM THE JUNE 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY CHRIS BEYTES EXCERPT: Last month in this space I talked about how nervous much of the industry has been about going into spring with the economy boasting both high interest rates and high inflation—and having just come out of a global pandemic, too. Plus, labor rates and input costs are up massively, and we’ve raised prices more in the last two years than we had...

Jun 01, 2023•6 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Poinsettia Fertilization Tricks

POINSETTIA FERTILIZATION TRICKS FROM THE MAY 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY LYNN GRIFFITH NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Stock plants of almost any kind need more magnesium inputs than production plants. There are a couple of reasons for this: 1) Among the primary functions of magnesium in plants is that it’s in the middle of the chlorophyll molecule; and 2) it’s a mobile element.

May 17, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Heating in Your Winter Greenhouse

HEATING IN YOUR WINTER GREENHOUSE FROM THE OCTOBER 2022 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY PATRICK MAHONEY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Fortunately, there are a number of ways for growers to improve their greenhouse and limit expenses during winter. To get the most out of their structure, operations will want to look at the key factors that impact heating efficiency, starting with the greenhouse’s ability to retain heat and the effectiveness of its heating system....

May 16, 2023•7 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Payroll 2023 Style

PAYROLL 2023 STYLE FROM THE MARCH 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY MARK BATTERSBY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Payroll, typically the biggest expense of a business, has come a long way since its creation in 1913. The 16th Amendment to the Constitution gives Congress the “power to lay and collect taxes on incomes.” The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established the minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping and youth employment standards, further complicating payrolls. Obviously, u...

May 10, 2023•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Audio Files: Should You Hire a Consultant for Your Greenhouse?

SHOULD YOU HIRE A CONSULTANT FOR YOUR GREENHOUSE? FROM THE JUNE 2022 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY ALBERT GRIMM NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Most of us are simply not aware of any mistakes we make or else we would avoid them. If we’re unaware of our flaws and deficiencies we cannot improve upon them, and therefore, honest critique is the most valuable professional gift that anybody can present us with. If you’re ready to accept critique, you’re ready for a consultant....

May 02, 2023•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Specialized Growing Media: Jiffy Flexistart

This audio is from a recent Trending Now video. You can find the video version at https://youtu.be/DYmksCn2HfI Tech On Demand podcast host and GrowerTalks Senior Editor Bill Calkins talks to John Bonin, the substrate mix product manager and senior account manager for Jiffy Group, about the iconic company’s new Flexistart specialized growing media. John takes you through a bit of Jiffy’s mission and the importance of high-quality substrates before explaining why Flexistart is a reliable product f...

Apr 27, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast