November December 2023 - 20

GREAT LAKES EXPO
GREENHOUSE
EDUCATION
at Great Lakes EXPO
Lighting, customer engagement among education sessions for growers
BY MADI SCHAFER
E
ducation sessions are just one of many reasons
greenhouse growers attend the Michigan
Greenhouse Growers Expo, which is held during the
Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO, and this
year's lineup will feature a number of opportunities. Among
them, growers will have the opportunity to learn about
proper greenhouse lighting during propagation, as well as
ways to increase customer engagement to boost plant sales.
ERIK RUNKLE AND ROBERTO LOPEZ -
GREENHOUSE LIGHTING DURING
PROPAGATION
Erik Runkle, professor in the department of horticulture
at Michigan State University (MSU) and Roberto Lopez,
associate professor in the department of horticulture at
MSU, will present a session together, " Greenhouse Lighting
During Propagation, " at the Great Lakes EXPO.
Their area of focus includes growing plants in controlled
environments, including indoors and in greenhouses. Runkle
and Lopez will discuss lighting during propagation in their
session with an emphasis on greenhouse production.
" When we talk about lighting, we think about four
parameters. These consist of light intensity, light quality,
photoperiod and the uniformity of light, " Runkle said.
Runkle and Lopez will explain those four parameters
detailing what they are, why they are important in the
production of young plants and how growers can utilize
them to increase the success of propagation.
Temperature, light and humidity all play a vital role in
the rooting process. If one of these components is out of
balance, this could potentially delay the rooting process and
how long cuttings are in the greenhouse, according to Lopez.
" However, recently, growers have been reporting
chlorosis and purpling of some species under LED
supplemental lighting, " Lopez said.
Lopez and his team researched this undesirable change
in foliage color and determined it was primarily caused by
temperature. During the session, both Lopez and Runkle
will discuss the proper procedures to prevent the purpling
and why, specifically, this can happen.
" If you can afford it, provide supplemental lighting
during the winter, on cloudy days and at night, " Lopez said.
" That is going to reduce your propagation time, lead to
higher-quality liners and plugs and save you money. "
Overall, Lopez says the ideal propagation environment
has supplemental lighting, root zone heating or bottom
heating and can control vapor pressure (humidity).
ALICIA RIHN
Alicia Rihn, assistant professor in the department of
Petunia Purpling. Photo courtesy of Roberto Lopez.
20 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 GPNMAG.COM
agricultural and resource economics at the University of
Tennessee, focuses on consumer behavior, willingness to
pay and perceptions of specialty crops and niche products.
Rihn's current research includes plant benefit information,
alternative pest control methods, native plant perceptions,
e-commerce and point-of-sale data.
Rihn will present in two sessions during the Great
Lakes EXPO. In her first session, " Plants are Experiential
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
November December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November December 2023
