Faculty contact: Neil Mattson

Visit the Greenhouse Horticulture website.

The economic value of New York State’s floriculture products ranks fifth nationwide. The Floriculture Production Research Program investigates cultural practices and solves production problems to improve the sustainability of New York State’s floriculture industry. Our emphasis is placed on:

1. Management of water and nutrient inputs to mitigate runoff from horticultural facilities.
2. The development of protocols for the production of high quality plants with improved energy efficiency.

We communicate with industry clientele through presentations at grower training sessions, peer-reviewed and trade-journal articles, conference papers and proceedings, internet-based fact sheets, extension publications, and on-site visits with producers.

Some topics include:

• Salinity management guidelines for herbaceous ornamentals.
• Salt accumulation and management in closed irrigation systems.
• The addition of silicon to container-grown plants to improve plant quality and resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses.
• Molecular and biochemical mechanisms for ornamental plant salinity resistance.
• Characterization of root exudates and dissolved organic carbon in closed irrigations systems.
• Thermal unit (degree day) models for scheduling production of herbaceous ornamentals.