Caleb Spall is an M.S. student at Michigan State University and is currently investigating how light quality, DLI, and photoperiod influence flowering and morphological responses of greenhouse-grown specialty cut flowers during the young plant and finishing stages.
Consumer and market demand for locally sourced, sustainably produced fresh specialty cut flowers continues to increase in the U.S. Growers across northern latitudes cannot produce specialty cut flowers in field or high tunnel cropping systems year-round due to the extreme temperatures and low DLIs characteristic of winter months. As a result, they must utilize greenhouses to produce high-quality specialty cut flowers during the winter to satisfy demand.
The results of this research could be adapted into cultural guidelines for Midwestern and northern growers who are already utilizing or plan to utilize greenhouses for year-round specialty cut flower production.
Source: Floriculture Research Alliance