Turning wetland waste into growth Research at Assiniboine College, in Brandon, Man., explores the viability of using cattails as a sustainable growing media.
Assessing the suitability of this wetland plant as a growing media. BY
DR. POONAM SINGH
Winter woes Tips for controlling climate to prevent fruit loss in cucumber plants.
BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
KOUNIAKIS
I try to steer well clear of politics in these pages but there’s an issue these days that begs addressing and, unfortunately, it’s highly political.
As of writing, the U.S. deadline to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canada has changed several times. Even if this deadline comes to pass with another extension, or, better yet, a scrapping of the policy, this situation has forced this industry and a great many others to rethink how it conducts business in a volatile and unstable environment and how can one prevent or mitigate vulnerabilities.
If the tariffs have been enacted, there is a lot of uncertainty and unprecedented challenges Canadians will face for years to come. Either way, this is an historic period in the history of our relationship with our supposed friend and biggest trading partner. As we work through this, Greenhouse Canada will do its utmost to keep on top of this issue and to provide content that will help demystify the impacts and fallout of these tariffs. In the meantime, keep in touch with your associations and stay engaged.
for the not-for-profit LGGE, which is meticulously organized by a dedicated group of volunteers. Read more about the Grower Expo on page 32.
This month, longtime contributor, Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza, lends his expertise to a grower looking for advice on a healthy-looking cucumber crop that has dropped its fruit. It’s a quick look at how to adapt irrigation and climate to control a plant’s growth rate during low light months.
On page 26, we hear from the Greenhouse Technology Network’s Rita Sterne, who offers a look back –and forward – at the possibilities she and her colleagues and their network have cultivated in the years since the GTN’s inception. This piece comes to us as the GTN wraps up its first major program at the end of March and it serves as an important illustration of the vital work the group facilitates and the innovation it inspires.
Dr. Poonam Singh, researcher and instructor at Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man., explores how cattails – the plant found in abundance in wetlands – could be used as a
‘This is an historic period in the history of our relationship...’
Tariffs were an inevitable topic of discussion at the recent Leamington Greenhouse Grower Expo (LGGE). Tariffs was a big topic of discussion, but it didn’t dampen the mood. Hundreds gathered to hear from researchers and industry experts on pests, and the use of bios in the greenhouse, succession planning and irrigation and to walk the stacked trade show floors (there were two!) It was a busy and productive show (the first day, saw dozens join in for a seminar on scouting) that brought together some of the greatest minds in the game. This is just the second year
media amendment. The college is still in the process of researching the possibilities of using cattails (which are considered invasive in many regions) as a sustainable additive to growing media, but Dr. Singh’s work shows there’s plenty of promise. Read more on page 8.
We round out the March/April issue of Greenhouse Canada with a closer look at succession planning and columnist, Gary Jones, questions whether or not there’s room for more than one growing philosophy when it comes to tackling fusarium in peppers.
Cole Mucci, a third-generation grower, is launching KingsOne Farms, a new, state-of-the-art greenhouse in Kingsville, Ont., that will be dedicated to the automated and sustainable production of lettuce.
In a recent LinkedIn post, Mucci Farms shared the news, via FreshPlaza.com, that one of their own was branching out into the new 6.5-acre facility.
Mucci has served as the bell pepper operations manager at Mucci Farms in Kingsville for the past several years.
“This venture marks the beginning of something truly special as we focus on producing clean, healthy
food for our community,” Mucci said in a recent LinkedIn post.
“By combining innovation and sustainable practices, we aim to deliver fresh, high quality produce that benefits both people and the planet.”
Production at the new greenhouse is slated to begin in fall 2025.
Mucci has partnered with Prospiant, a provider of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and customdesigned, manufactured and installed greenhouses for research, education, and retail garden centers, to design the facility. Source: LinkedIn)
Schoneveld Breeding took home the IPM Novelty Showcase Award in the category of flowering potted plants with its new variety, ‘Illusia’ cyclamen at IPM Essen 2025, held in January.
This eye-catching and floriferous variety features a unique
bearded flower shape and is ideally suited for autumn cultivation.
“The introduction of Illusia followed careful breeding and extensive testing by several growers, proving an excellent shelf life,” Shoneveld said in a release announcing the win.
Todd Lewis, a fourth-generation farmer from Gray, Sask., has been appointed to the Senate of Canada.
In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced three individuals, including Lewis, to fill vacancies in the Senate. Lewis has been a strong voice for the province’s agricultural industry for over 40 years. He is currently the first vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and a member of the Canadian National Railway Agricultural Advisory Council. Prior to that, Lewis was president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan for five years and has served on various committees.
Lewis will join former CFA colleague Mary Robinson, who was appointed to the Senate earlier in 2024.
The Senate appointments include economist Martine Hébert from Québec and former police officer Baltej Dhillon from B.C. (Source: Government of Canada)
“When the plant is in full bloom, it looks like a bouquet of flowers, with countless buds hidden underneath. Illusia challenges the boundaries of nature.”
Illusia has been honoured with a number of awards since its introduction. At
the 2023 Japan Flower Trials, it was named best potted plant and flower of the year.
At the 2024 HTA National plant show in Coventry, UK it was honoured with the New Plant Award for Flowering Houseplants.
(Source: Shoneveld)
Source: ‘Investment in building construction, December 2024’ (Statistics Canada)
1.9% the rise in which investments in building construction rose in December 2024.
1.3% the amount in which Ontario’s non-residential construction increased in December 2024.
DR. POONAM SINGH, ASSINIBOINE COLLEGE
Peat moss has long been the go-to choice for soilless plant media, prized for its favourable properties. However, as concerns about peat extraction and its environmental impact grow, many in the horticultural industry are looking for sustainable alternatives. One potential option is cattails, a hardy wetland plant that thrives in aquatic environments. This article explores how cattails can be used as a growing media additive, highlighting their benefits, limitations, and potential applications.
Cattails (Typha spp.) are known for their ability to tolerate a range of environmental conditions, including variations in water levels and nutrient availability. They can thrive in nutrient-rich environments, making them particularly successful
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in areas impacted by agricultural runoff. Their extensive root systems help stabilize soil and prevent erosion, while their dense foliage provides habitat for various wildlife species.
While Typha species provide essential ecological functions, they are also considered invasive in many regions. The invasive hybrids have been particularly problematic, as they can outcompete native vegetation and dominate wetland areas. The rapid growth and high reproductive capacity of cattails allow them to establish quickly, often leading to monocultures that displace a diverse array of native plant species. For example, studies have
Grow trial, led by Dr. Poonam Singh at Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man., with lettuce in growing media amended with Typha (cattail) plant fibres.
shown that wetlands overrun by cattails exhibit lower plant species richness and diversity compared to healthier, more diverse ecosystems (Mininni et al., 2012). The accumulation of litter from cattails can further suppress the growth of other plants by blocking light and altering soil chemistry, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates their dominance (Mininni et al., 2012).
While Typha species, particularly invasive hybrids, pose challenges to native ecosystems, they also offer unique opportunities for sustainable applications, such as incorporating them as a growing media additive.
To explore this potential, we collaborated with Typha Company, a Winnipeg-based firm, to explore the potential of Typha fibres as an ingredient in growing media.
Typha Company harvests cattails from three Manitoba locations: Grants Lakes, Pelly Lake, and the Netley-Libau Marsh. The fibres, which range in length from 0.6 to 1.4 cm, are processed through hammer milling or shredding and then steampasteurized to eliminate pathogens, pests, and wild seeds.
The grow trials were conducted in the greenhouse facilities at Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man., between January and May 2023. The greenhouse was maintained at 22°C during the day, 18°C at night, and relative humidity levels of 60 to 65 per cent. Various growing media mixes were tested, incorporating different proportions of Typha fibre with Canadian sphagnum peat. The mixes included 10, 20, 30, and 40 per cent Typha combined with peat, and control using Pro-mix (commercial media mix). Before creating the blends, the peat’s pH was adjusted from 4.5 to 5.8 by adding dolomite lime.
The physical properties of the growing media blends, including bulk density, porosity, and water-holding capacity, were evaluated to ensure their suitability for plant growth. Chemical analysis of the Typha fibers revealed a pH of 7, soluble salts of 0.6 mS/cm, organic matter content of 79 per cent, and a cation exchange capacity of 6.9 meq/100 g. The fibres were also found to contain various nutrients, including phosphorus (19 ppm), potassium (406 ppm), magnesium (311 ppm), calcium (618 ppm), sulphur (37 ppm), zinc (1.3 ppm), manganese (10 ppm), iron (23 ppm), boron (1 ppm),
nitrate-nitrogen (1 ppm), and chloride (124 ppm).
Lettuce seeds (Bibb variety) were sown in treatment media blends in 72-cell trays and grown for three weeks before being transplanted into 15 cm pots containing same media blends. The pots were placed on greenhouse benches and managed under controlled conditions using standard cultivation practices.
Three fertilizer treatments (weekly applications) were tested: no fertilizer, 100 ppm nitrogen, and 200 ppm nitrogen.
Non-fertilized plants received distilled water. Each treatment had 20 pots arranged in a randomized block design with four replications of five pots each. Weekly measurements included plant height, spread, leaf count, and chlorophyll content. At the end of the cycle, shoots and roots were separated, cleaned, dried, and weighed to determine dry weight.
Nutrient concentrations in drainage water were also monitored weekly for pH, EC, and key nutrients using portable meters. We noticed that applying 100 ppm and
Seed germination experiments with peas in Typha-based growing media.
200 ppm nitrogen had a positive effect on lettuce growth. Plants grown in Typha 10 per cent mix with 200 ppm nitrogen had maximum height and spread (due to larger leaf size) among all treatments. Increasing nitrogen to 200 ppm consistently improved plant height across all media blends compared to 100 ppm nitrogen. Leaf count showed minimal differences between 100 ppm and 200 ppm nitrogen treatments, with the highest counts observed in Pro-mix supplemented with nitrogen compared to Typha-based blends.
Plants without nitrogen showed reduced chlorophyll content throughout
Seed germination experiments with peas in Typha-based growing media.
the experiment. In Typha 30 per cent and Typha 40 per cent mixes supplied with 100 ppm nitrogen, chlorophyll levels dropped significantly after the third week. Plants grown in Typha 10 per cent mix with 200 ppm nitrogen had better chlorophyll levels than when higher proportions of Typha were used in the mix. Overall, nitrogen fertilization improved chlorophyll content in all treatment mixes and control.
Shoot dry weight increased with increasing nitrogen levels, with Promix (control) outperforming Typha blends. At 200 ppm nitrogen, root dry weights in Typha mixes were similar to control, but shoot dry weights were lower compared to control mixes. Increasing the Typha content in the media mix (especially at lower levels of nitrogen fertigation) consistently reduced shoot weight. The maximum root weights were observed in Promix, and Typha10, with 200 ppm nitrogen.
While Typha species, particularly invasive hybrids, pose challenges to native ecosystems, they also offer unique opportunities for sustainable applications, such as incorporating them as a growing media additive.
exceeding 500 ppm, especially in mixes treated with 200 ppm nitrogen. Phosphate levels also surpassed the optimal range in these treatments, while potassium, calcium, and magnesium remained below recommended levels.
Mixes with 30 per cent and 40 per cent Typha fibres showed higher nutrient levels in leachate and had poor plant performance, likely due to reduced nutrient uptake and accumulation in the media. Additionally, sodium concentrations were higher in Typha 40
per cent mixes fertilized with nitrogen during weeks three and four, though plants showed no visible sodium toxicity symptoms.
Poor growth in Typha-rich mixes may result from nitrogen immobilization. Typha fibres, with a high carbon-tonitrogen ratio of 79.8:1, likely caused nitrogen depletion during microbial breakdown of carbon in the media.
The physical properties of Typha-based mixes also contributed to their lower performance compared to Pro-mix. While
In all Typha-based mixes, pH levels increased after the second week, with the effect being more pronounced in mixes containing higher Typha content (30 – 40 per cent). As expected, nitrogen fertigation raised EC levels, with 200 ppm nitrogen resulting in higher EC values throughout the experiment. For optimal plant growth, nutrient concentrations in pour-through leachate should ideally range as follows: nitrates (180-320 ppm), phosphates (11-16 ppm), potassium (220-360 ppm), calcium (>300 ppm), and magnesium (>100 ppm) as researched by Cavins et al., 2004. During the trial, nitrate levels in the leachate were often excessively high,
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Cattails are known for their ability to tolerate a range of environmental conditions, including variations in water levels and nutrient availability.
pre-planting nitrogen application to mitigate nitrogen immobilization in such mixes in our future trials.
In addition to this, we are testing various waste stream materials including waste sheep wool, composts from diverse sources, biochar produced through pyrolysis of different feedstocks, and byproducts from the agricultural and timber industries, with potential for use as growing media additives.
The potential applications of cattails in horticulture highlight the need for continued exploration of sustainable practices...
Typha-peat blends (with 10-30 per cent Typha) had total porosity similar to other mixes (85-95 per cent), they exhibited high air-filled porosity (>40 per cent) and low container capacity, reducing their water-holding capacity. Mixes with 30-40 per cent Typha dried out faster, requiring more frequent irrigation, which, along with nitrogen immobilization, made them less suitable for plant growth. Our ongoing research into hydraulic conductivity and water desorption would provide a clearer understanding of water dynamics in these media blends and help refine their use in growing systems.
Our next round of trials is underway, focusing on using composted Typha fibres to address the nitrogen immobilization caused by raw fibres observed in the initial trial. Composting can help stabilize nitrogen dynamics in fen plant materials like Typha. Studies have shown that a three-week composting process can make nitrogen levels in Typha and similar plants more consistent. We anticipate that this process will help increase the proportion of Typha in the soil mix. We would also explore the effect of
The potential applications of cattails in horticulture highlight the need for continued exploration of sustainable practices that can enhance agricultural productivity while protecting our environment. Since growing media is not a one-size-fits-all product; it is an engineered mix that can be tailored to create the ideal root zone environment, our goal is to match and mix materials to provide the necessary structure, aeration, and water retention for healthy plant growth. Our focus is on the use of environmentally friendly options that can be sustainably sourced and produced. We are all about shaking things up with fresh ideas and sustainable solutions! Our goal is to create growing media that not only help crops thrive but also support a greener, stronger future for horticulture!
Dr. Poonam Singh is a professor and researcher of horticultural sciences at the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture & Environment at Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man. She can be reached at singhp@assiniboine.net
• Cavins, T. J., Whipker, B. E., and Fonteno, W. C. (2004).
Establishment of calibration curves for comparing pour-through and saturated media extract nutrient values. HortSci. 39(7), 1635-1639.
• Mininni, A. M., et al. (2012).
Posidonia-based Compost as a Peat Substitute for Lettuce Transplant Production. HortSci. 47(10), 14381443.
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BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
Growing crops under lower natural light conditions is always a challenge, especially for high light requiring crops like cucumbers which need a Daily Light Integral (DLI) of above 20 moles/m2/day, the optimum being around 30. DLI depends on light duration and intensity. For example, if a cucumber crop is getting 400 micromoles/m2/second for 12 hours then a DLI of 17.2 moles/m2/day is achieved. If there are 600 micromoles/m2/second for 12 hours then a DLI of 25.9 moles/m2/day and that is good for cucumbers.
A grower sent me some pictures of aborted cucumbers while also mentioning that the crop looks ‘beautiful.’ They described the crop as having, big, dark-green leaves, very good internode distance and, in general, appeared to be a very healthy-looking crop.
The grower was then asked to send a few pictures of the plants, as seen in the images to the right and below, and they helped me to diagnose the problem. The grower also sent leaf samples from the top and bottom of the plants along with nutrient solution for analysis.
DIAGNOSIS
The leaves are big, and this is what I typically call “elephant ear” leaves, which describes unusually large leaves indicating very vegetative response by the plant.
This tells me that the assimilates that the plant
is making under low light conditions throughout January and February are being sent primarily to the leaves to expand them to trap more light.
This crop was started in January when DLI was barely 12 to 15 moles/m2/day from natural light.
This is also a time when closer attention should be paid to irrigation volumes and temperature, especially night-time temperature.
In this case, it was discovered that the major factor was the failure of one furnace and the night temperature dipped to below 12ºC for a few hours. Drooping leaves also point to the fact that relative humidity was also high, likely around 90 per cent.
Winter ventilation is always a challenge because it forces growers to heat and ventilate at the same time, and that is costly.
On the other hand, the loss of production where almost all of the stem flush was gone, likely caused serious economic damage.
The nutrients were in range. There were some differences in top leaves of the plant and lower one. Calcium is a good example where it is higher in lower mature leaves and lower in the top leaves.
If one wants to determine a nutritional deficiency or toxicity, then collect recently mature leaves, generally 4th from the top, for analysis.
BY AMY KOUNIAKIS
Planning is well underway for Grower Day 2025 and as we prepare to mark this industry tradition’s 30th anniversary, we’ve been inspired by the past.
At its inception, Grower Day was an opportunity for greenhouse growers to come together to discuss production issues. The first event, hosted in June 1995 at the Delhi German Home, welcomed a little under 200 attendees to learn about poinsettia production. The following year, perennials were the topic of the day and the number of attendees surged to close to 250.
Since those early years, Grower Day has seen fluctuations in attendance and changes to its format, but the goal has remained the same in its three decades: cultivating connection, moving the industry forward and supporting innovation in Canada’s greenhouse sector.
This year, we’re working on a lineup of information sessions geared towards pest management, biocontrol, crop hygiene, and profitable plant production. Our speakers come from a variety of backgrounds: top Canadian researchers and industry specialists, along with experienced growers to share real-world insights about the business.
Dr. Sarah Jandricic, the Greenhouse Floriculture IPM Specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), and one of the world’s leading researchers on Thrips parvispinus will be providing an update on what’s happening with this pest in terms of biocontrol, scouting and options for management. Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will also be joining us to share some of the work she’s done, looking into aphid resistance to Beleaf.
PREDATORY MITES IN ACTION: SMARTER SCREENING FOR BETTER BIOCONTROL
(Dr. Omid Joharchi, Researcher,IPM Specialist, Anatis Bioprotection Inc.)
Mites play a pivotal role in greenhouse environments, acting both as pests that cause significant economic losses and as beneficial predators used in biological control. Despite their importance, mites have often been underrepresented in pest management research relative to insects. This presentation highlights the crucial role of predatory mites in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and introduces a framework for selecting species based on their life strategies.
FIGURE 1
Published in the August 1995 edition of Greenhouse Canada, the recap report on the first Grower Day in Delhi, ON. Approximately 200 people attended.
Here’s a rundown of some of the other crop protection sessions we have planned for Grower Day 2025:
(Belal El-Hassan, Owner/grower Hendrik’s Greenhouses) Kalanchoe, a flowering succulent native to Madagascar, is quickly becoming a consumer favourite due to its ease of care. Gain insights on the production of this money-making crop and how to keep it pest and disease free from stick to ship.
(Jasper Verhoeven, Product Specialist, Disinfection & Hygiene, Royal Brinkman)
With the trend from a smaller toolbox to act curative or preventive on disease in crops, a hygiene protocol is becoming more important. It is not a stand-alone element but rather one component of Integrated Crop Management (ICM).
This year, we will also be hosting a grower panel discussion, moderated by long-time Greenhouse Canada contributor, and one
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Grower Day ‘25 presenter, Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, pictured at Grower Day ‘23.
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Dr. Sarah Jandricic will provide an update on T. Parvispinus at Grower Day 2025.
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Learn about predatory mites from Dr. Omid Joharchi at Grower Day ‘25.
of Grower Day’s original organizers, Melhem Sawaya. Sawaya wanted to give growers an opportunity to discuss how they’ve incorporated biocontrol methods into their operations and what they find is working and what’s not. It will be an informal discussion about successes and failures and
the impact they’ve had on bottom lines.
With our focus on tradition in preparing for this year’s event, we’re bringing back a Grower Day favourite for lunch: cabbage rolls! In its earliest years, this was the lunch served the Delhi German Home and many a year since, their absence has been lamented. We’ll also invite attendees to take a stroll down memory as we display some of our Greenhouse Canada archives.
Don’t forget, Grower Day also includes a small trade show of leading industry
suppliers, offering a timely one-stop shopping opportunity.
More updates to our schedule and highlights planned for this year’s Grower Day are forthcoming. Stay tuned!
This year’s Grower Day is taking place Tuesday, June 17 at the Holiday Inn & Suites Conference Centre, St Catharines.
Only $30 to register, in honour of our 30th anniversary. Available to the first 100 growers!
Register at www.GrowerDay.ca
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Preparing for the future opens door to possibilities
BY J LYNN FRASER
“It’s never too soon,” says Hugh Arnold, Adjunct Professor of Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, says of succession plans (SP). “It drives a mindset and a set of activities involved in the leadership and development of people and their strengths for the future.”
Despite being necessary and inevitable, SPs are a fraught and difficult aspect of business for many if not most greenhouse growers and ag-executives.
“The reasons that growers tend not to have a SP are varied. SP can feel like planning for [their] own demise or exit and that can be difficult. It is also common to see situations where there is no apparent successor or the fear that a successor is not ready (or able) to take over,” states Glen Kroeker, FEA, Business Advisor, Farm Credit
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Canada (FCC). It can “feel like the end of an era for the Senior Generation. SP is about planning for the successful continuity of the business. It is a plan to have the business span multiple generations.”
According to Statistics Canada (2021) the average farm operator was 56.0 years in 2021. In Canada, according to an RBC report (BCG, 2023), by 2033 40 per cent of Canada’s farm operators will retire. Additionally, 60 per cent of farm operators will be over the age of 65 in the next 10 years. Most, 66 per cent of growers and ag-owners, do not have a SP in place (BCG, 2023).
A search for a successor and a SP sends a message. It tells those who are financially (and
Hugh Arnold, adjunct professor of management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
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emotionally) invested in the company such as employees, clients, suppliers, shareholders, competitors, and management that the company is stable and the business will continue.
The reasons that growers tend not to have a SP are varied. SP can feel like planning for [their] own demise or exit and that can be difficult.
The BDC states that a SP “gives you time to prepare” a successor while it helps to “protect business value and shareholder interests.” The SP and the executive search signals “the company’s ongoing ability to deliver the same service and continued positive returns,” and that “institutional knowledge” will be protected.
“A poor plan or no plan will close doors on future options,” Kroeker says. “A good SP will keep doors open and expand opportunities for the future.”
According to Sigma Assessment Systems, large companies should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, relying on HR to choose a successor or placing the position on a pedestal. They should also try to sidestep pitfalls like focussing on
one candidate or not understanding the effects of change, and keeping the company’s SP a secret (Sigma Assessment, 2024).
“A larger company,” Professor Arnold says, “has a larger pool of candidates.”
A smaller company is more likely to choose an external candidate. The advantage, Arnold points out, “is that an internal candidate is a known quantity and they know the organization.” Choosing to promote someone from outside of the company “sends a message to those who are below the level of CEO.”
Both large and small organizations use search firms notes Arnold, whose company Hugh Arnold Associates Ltd., “focuses on assisting senior executives with their key strategic, organizational and leadership issues.” The Board of Directors (BoD) of a company may perform also the executive search. “It may be the most important job a BoD ever have,” Arnold observes.
Research by Fernández-Aráoz et al., (2021) found externally
sourced CEOs in large firms tended to underperform. They also found that with an external candidate there was a loss of “intellectual capital,” and they were “ill-prepared” by their new firms. If a company was doing poorly, an external candidate would add value, but in a reasonably performing company an external candidate “destroyed value.” They concluded that external candidates should only be hired in “exceptional cases.” Internal candidates did not “significantly change their company’s performance” if they were “similar” in their ways of working to the person they replaced.
Poorly prepared internal candidates also failed. Small firms can benefit from hiring external candidates, however. The authors recommend “plan your SP well before you think you need to” and “grooming” managers who have “four critical traits — curiosity, insight, engagement, and determination.” These traits will serve a company well in a world that is “volatile, uncertain, chaotic, and ambiguous.”
An external candidate, Arnold notes, may be “highly intelligent, they may be
charismatic, and they may be verbally skilled, but they may not be great at the job.”
Conflict and damage to a business’s reputation, both family-owned and otherwise, are inevitable consequences of not having a SP. Boyer (2006) notes conflict, compensation, governance and wealth transfer issues are associated with not having a SP. The long-term survival of a business might also be affected. The Family Firm Institute (FFI), a global network of professionals specializing in family business advising, has found that only 30 per cent of family-owned businesses survive into the second generation with 12 per cent lasting into the third generation, and three per cent remaining in the fourth generation (Boyer, 2006). A SP protects the present, the near future, and the far future of the farming family and the family business.
The SP “should be reviewed on an annual basis or more frequently as required, but early is always better than later,” advises Kroeker.
“I think it is much better to consider a SP as a continuity plan for the business,” says Kroeker. “It can remove a lot of negative connotations from the discussions and it is a better base for communications.”
Commentators in business and academia note that a lack of communication in farm families will slow or derail a successful SP and will negatively affect next generations. It is estimated that two-thirds of family businesses fail in the second generation due to a lack of open communication (Boyer, 2006).
The development of a SP allows a farm family to voice what they want their relationship to the family business to be. Musselman (2015), in his study of management and transfer of ownership of American agribusinesses, wrote: “Perfect harmony in any business is not possible. Moreover, there are benefits to constructive criticism and differing opinions.” As well, he noted, “excessive turmoil and conflict give resistance to moving along in SP.” Taylor and Norris (2015) found that when Canadian farm
families were not close, when they disagreed on what was fair, and when they disagreed on “rules of fairness,” “conflict” would ensue over the transfer of farm assets.
Kerry Smith, CPA, CA, TEP, a Partner in MNP’s Professional Services team and National Leader of Family Office Services notes: “It is rare that kids want to carry on the family business” even though the parents may assume that they want to.
Mixing money, family, and emotions can be explosive. Best practices for a SP for a family business is to be as methodical and rational as possible while drawing on the objective expertise of business experts.
“The consequences for a business with no SP is that the options
for family members and the business will decrease over time. Without a good plan, there is little to no chance the business and family will have the opportunity for an orderly succession. The succession will end up being dictated by circumstances that might be out of their control,” Kroeker cautions.
Part of the success of a family transition in leadership is connected to the “motivation” of the individual chosen as the new leader as well as their “real-world job training” both in the family business and elsewhere (Boyer, 2006). Conditions should be set, it is advised, for the family members learning/work experience in the business and how they earn consideration for later leadership (Boyer, 2006).
25_000556_Greenhouse_Canada_Mar_Apr_CN Mod: January 23, 2025 12:00 PM Print: 02/11/25 page 1 v2.5
SP professionals such as bankers, investment counsellors, and accountants can help a family make reasoned, rational decisions regarding how assets can be allocated among the second generation and third generation and beyond. They can help with decisions regarding the benefits and drawbacks of, for example, debt, taxes, insurance, real estate, or share buy-sell options.
A successful transition of assets, according to Smith, depends on decisions such as on whether to sell or gift the business to the next generation or to sell to employees or executives (who may not be a part of the family), or a “strategic third party.”
Weighing contributions of family members, whether it is sweat equity, business degree knowledge, or innovative ideas that strengthened the business, is important, Smith said. As important is who has the respect and the confidence of the managers and employees in the family business. The family’s “philosophy around wealth” and how it should be treated, is a guide to how assets could be divided and what family members fit into the SP Smith said. He cautions, however, that “equal isn’t always fair and fair is not always equal.”
“Although it is hard to think about your mortality, it is a very necessary process to ensure the longevity of your life’s work,” says Anna Barnitz, CFO, Bob’s Market & Greenhouses, Mason, West Virginia (Drotleff, 2008).
“For family-owned businesses, it is very important to start a succession plan as soon as family members become involved in the business in any way,” notes Kroeker.
RBC (2025) advises having a plan ready before you retire. The plan, RBC suggests, should be developed over several years during which the needs of the individuals involved can be considered.
Establish relationships with the experts you want involved in your planning so that you have a solid working relationship with them. They should also know you and your values, and your hopes for your future and your family said Smith.
RBC (2025) notes that a formal SP brings transparency and understanding of the business issues involved as well as a deescalation of tensions among family members.
The process increases the “general knowledge” of the family and allows time to consider the choices made as well as “providing financial security.” It also ensures income and structures debt for the upcoming generation; wealth and tax management in the present day.
Overall, it presents decisions plainly, in a written format, for family members while allowing them to see the plan as it develops over time.
Getting organized is also important. RBC (2025) suggests that among the documents you should have ready access to includes: wills and directives, partnership agreements, financial statements, income tax returns, business appraisals and plans, insurance policies, lease agreements, employee contracts, mortgage and loan information, an “asset list (equipment, buildings, land” etc.), and lists of key suppliers
July 6 - 9 2025
The 2025 Garden Centres Canada Summit, held in Winnipeg Manitoba, offers a prime networking and educational opportunity for everyone in the independent garden centre industry! Scan the QR code or contact anne@canadanursery.com to learn how you can be a part of the action!
and consultants. Include, as well, locations of files, bank accounts, passwords, keys, codes, and concerns about the business.
SPs must be revisited to ensure that the assumptions and estimations that went into making the plan still hold true over time. This can include business evaluations, changes in the family, and property valuations. These changes have repercussions for taxes, debts, future income, and future generations.
“None of us is immortal,” Arnold says. “Although, a few want to be in their job forever.”
• BCG Centre for Canada’s Future; Arrell Food Institute, 2023, Farmers wanted: The labour renewal Canada needs to build the next Green Revolution, RBC, https://thoughtleadership.rbc. com/farmers-wanted-the-labour-renewal-canada-needs-tobuild-the-next-green-revolution/
• BDC.ca, Succession planning, n.d., https://www.bdc.ca/en/ articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/templates-business-guides/ glossary/succession-planning
• Boyer, M., 2006, Planning a seamless succession, Greenhouse Product News, https://gpnmag.com/article/planning-seamlesssuccession/
• Drotleff, L., 2008, Secrets of succession, Greenhouse Grower, https://www.greenhousegrower.com/management/financeoperations/secrets-of-succession/
• Fernández-Aráoz, C., Nagel, G., Green, C., 2021, The high cost of poor succession planning: A better way to find your
next CEO, Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2021/05/ the-high-cost-of-poor-succession-planning
• Musselman, R.D., 2015, Stages of succession planning and factors of transferring management and ownership for the family agribusiness, A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University, https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1606&context=open_ access_theses
• RBC, 2025, Succession Planning: The First 5 Steps Toward the Future You Want, https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/ healthcare-financial-solutions/royal-college/advice-andlearning/article/?title=succession-planning-the-first-5-stepstoward-the-future-you-want#:~:text=With%20succession%20 planning%2C%20it’s%20always,process%20can%20take%20 several%20years.
• Sigma Assessment Systems, 2024, Common pitfalls of succession planning and how to avoid mistakes, Blog, https:// www.sigmaassessmentsystems.com/top-10-successionplanning-mistakes/
• Statistics Canada, 2022, Canada’s 2021 Census of Agriculture: A story about the transformation of the agriculture industry and adaptiveness of Canadian farmers, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220511/ dq220511a-eng.htm
• Taylor, J.E., Norris, J.E., 2004, Sibling relationships, fairness, and conflict over transfer of the farm, Family Relations, V 49, Iss 3, 277–283, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.17413729.2000.00277.x
BY RITA STERNE, PHD, PROJECT MANAGER, GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY NETWORK
As Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN) members wind up year six projects at the end of March, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned while launching this unique network of five research centres. Working alongside research and subject matter experts at each research centre has been challenging but also immensely rewarding work. Navigating an emerging cleantech ecosystem around indoor horticulture has shown us that one can find success while working at the unpredictable “edges” of an industry, as well as astounding innovation and collaboration.
GTN began operations just prior to the
pandemic, not an ideal setting for launching a network! (Remember when no one was in office to answer their phone?) Despite this, by leveraging social media, our team reached out to personal, industry, and academic connections to search for greenhouse-related technology businesses developing and testing solutions for greenhouse and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry challenges.
There are a lot of businesses developing potential solutions for indoor horticulture, but they are not neatly located in one industry or sector nor are they always in sectors adjacent to agriculture or the
ABOVE A close-up of a tomato inside a portable MRI scanner the University of Windsor constructed for a GTN project that sought ways to mitigate crop losses by monintoring internal plant health.
Ostrich fern fiddleheads in growing in pots in a greenhouse environment.
greenhouse industry. These technology businesses can be found in almost any industry or sector!
• Lesson One: The clean technologies needed to grow plants sustainably and profitably indoors in the future require creative solutions from a staggering breadth of experts and businesses. As a result, a sustained and creative outreach strategy is necessary to find and connect with these innovators.
Pursuing a shared goal of supporting innovation for Ontario’s greenhouse industry proved crucial to the network’s success. With an online presence established in April 2021, the number of applications steadily grew for funded innovation projects. In early 2023, two new network members were added, further enabling GTN to leverage their greenhouse and technology expertise and reach out to technology businesses needing professional research support.
Investments in cleantech projects have resulted in the testing and validation of more than 66 innovative solutions to
date (and more in the pipeline). Many projects required greenhouse trials in a controlled environment facility; these trials are time-consuming but necessary for every greenhouse-related technology. By reducing risk for industry/growers through trials and other projects, GTN members have reduced risk for industry. In addition, two centres provided additional support to Ontario businesses through market insights research that informs additional
technology development to meet industry needs and support a successful commercialization strategy.
• Lesson Two: Investing in cleantech solutions is a complex and lengthy process but is well-supported by networks with technology expertise and the industry market knowledge to support the case for technology adoption.
To date, GTN has connected more than
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Orchids at three blooming stages (100, 50 and 0 per cent) with three levels of irrigation (none, light, and optimal) to understand parameters and overall structure of the plant.
300 organizations across this emerging, indoor agri-tech ecosystem, and has helped small- and medium-sized businesses find information, expertise and facilities, and funding. Sharing business connections for technology businesses facing an unclear pathway to commercialization in a new (to them) ecosystem is necessary for innovation success.
• Lesson Three: Networks are wellsuited to serve many ecosystem partners across industry and sector boundaries. They are an ideal organizational form to share connections and help ecosystem partners share information and collaborate on solutions.
Finally, I’d like to share a personal reflection. I’m fond of saying that curiosity is my superpower. In my role with GTN, I have leveraged that superpower; I add
The search is underway for Greenhouse Canada’s Top 4 Under 40. Nominees must work in the Canadian greenhouse, horticulture industry or allied trades and be 39 years of age or younger by Dec. 31, 2025.
Know someone who is a standout leader in the industry who exemplifies the spirit of innovation, growth and forward-thinking? Someone with an unmatched passion and dedication to their craft and its future? Tell us! Nominate a supervisor, staff member or fellow grower to recognize their impact on the farm and on the Canadian greenhouse sector.
NOMINATIONS CLOSE MAY 9, 2025
‘Curiosity is a superb foundation that has enabled navigation of a complex, new ecosystem.’
to my chemistry, physics, and biology knowledge daily. Just as my high school education helped me understand these sciences, my post-secondary education helped me understand the delicate balance of innovation, the factors affecting competitiveness and business success, and the importance of collaborating around shared goals.
In this role, I have also worked across academic disciplines, industries, sectors, and academic institutions and models with our five GTN members—and I’ve learned from every single one of their
Members of the Greenhouse Technology Network exhibiting at the 2023 Canadian Greenhouse Conference.
perspectives on challenges facing the greenhouse industry.
I have also learned from businesses and growers of all sizes about how they make tough decisions.
• Lesson Four: Curiosity is a superb foundation that has enabled navigation of a complex, new ecosystem. Curiosity also helped me find ways to work with five distinctly different institutional partners to leverage resources to reach a shared goal, thereby, contributing to the development of a variety of cleantech solutions for Ontario’s greenhouse industry.
The greenhouse industry is a complex ecosystem comprised of many, advanced plant production technologies working together with a wide variety of ecosystem supports. I encourage us to continue to embrace the lack of predictability of this context and to openly discuss solutions and trade-offs with colleagues and contacts; this will help us build important and new relationships and build trust across the ecosystem. What else can we do together?
There are many plant production settings and scales across which a new, clean technology may be adopted. Let’s share encouragement; innovation in this space is highly challenging and the risks are real. Let’s share our agriculture and technology knowledge with innovating businesses; they need to understand indoor agriculture and all its wonderful complexities.
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If I’ve made a connection that has been helpful to your business in the last 4+ years, I’m glad! Let’s stay in touch!
GTN is an NC-led network of researchfocused centres that collaborate with small- and medium-sized organizations to grow innovation for Ontario’s greenhouse industry with funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDevON). GTN is comprised of Niagara College Research and Innovation, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, the University of Guelph, the University of Windsor, and Brock University.
BY AMY KOUNIAKIS
In mid-February, hundreds of greenhouse growers and allied professionals came together for the second annual Leamington Greenhouse Grower Expo (LGGE).
Even with a weather forecast filled with doom and gloom, attendees flocked to the Roma Club, in the heart of Canada’s greenhouse country, for a day of networking and knowledge-sharing, punctuated with opportunities to partake in delicious food and socializing.
New this year: a paid, hands-on biocontrol workshop, hosted the day before the Expo opened. The sold-out workshop featured insights on designing a biocontrol plan from inception to execution and was hosted at the OGVG’s office in Leamington.
The Expo, which is a free-to-attend, notfor-profit event, was supported by a long list of sponsors and welcomed more than sixty exhibitors
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to two sold-out trade show floors. The speaker sessions featured some of the sector’s key thought leaders and researchers.
Cara McCreary, OMAFA’s greenhouse vegetable IPM specialist, and AAFC greenhouse entomologist, Roselyne Labbé, provided an update on greenbugs in the greenhouse, a common pest in the region. They had some tips for scouting and accurately identifying green bugs and made a point to note that a lot of their research conducted on this pest, they’ve done so with samples provided by growers in the area.
Matthew Krause, Lallemand’s field solutions director (CEA nursery) for North America, offered his insights on better biopesticide use, while Michael Key, CEO of Impello Biosciences explored the possibilities and future of dynamic biostimulants. There was a lively debate between the two presenters that raised some interesting
Lunch is served at the Roma Club at the 2025 Leamington Greenhouse Grower Expo (LGGE). Attendees had the chance to eat, network and peruse some the show’s exhibitor booths.
Some of the LGGE’s main organizers, from left: Kelsey Vince (ARaymond Network); Meshal Mustafa (GrowLiv Biologicals); and Melissa Mclean (Erie Edge Inc.
Top Picks: DeRuiter’s new veggie varieties on display at the LGGE.
issues and sparked a thoughtful conversation that ended well after everyone had cleared the room.
The discussion carried through lunch at the Pavilion, the location of the Expo’s second trade show floor and cafeteria. There was certainly an excited buzz as friends and colleagues reconnected and wandered the floor over the break.
When we reconvened for the afternoon sessions, Jay Cunningham, business advisor for Affiliated Business Services Inc. and owner of Cunningham Farms in Thamesville, offered a glimpse into the delicate process that is succession planning and its necessity for a business one hopes to span generations. The case studies he shared from his 30+ years in commercial banking and advising, illustrated just how not having those
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LGGE organizer, Meshal Mustafa (far right) catches up with the team from IPM Scoutek, Ella Pekyavuz (left) and Carrie Izsak, who were at the show to promote their smart scouting app.
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Panellists from several ag tech firms, including CH2O, Ridder, Huwasan, Priva, Hoogendoorn, Zwarts, Houweling Americas and Ultramins, discuss water treatment at the 2025 LGGE.
uncomfortable conversations can be bad for business and personal relationships.
Next up, Michael Brownbridge, senior technical service manager at Bioworks, got down to brass tacks when it comes to managing fusarium in pepper crops. He shared the basics of how the fungi functions and spreads and then shed light on best practices for prevention, including the proper use of biofungicides.
On the heels of Brownbridge’s presentation, representatives from several horticulture firms held a panel discussion on water treatment.
As the panel wrapped up, those who hadn’t made their dash to escape the impending storm, convened for an after-Expo networking event and a much fitting celebration to mark the end of a thoroughly engaging, informative and singular experience.
Hats off to the LGGE organizers, a group of dedicated, local volunteers and industry professionals, who outdid themselves in providing such a fertile platform for connection and cultivating this opportunity for innovation across Canada’s greenhouse sector.
BY ANDREA FRANCHINI , JOSE-LUIS IZURSA , AND NEITH LITTLE, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
In recent years, aquaponic systems have gained significant popularity among urban farmers requiring innovation to adapt to space and soil limitations that often restrict food crop production in urban areas (Blum, 2013). Aquaponic farming is a promising method for producing food in small spaces with minimal environmental impacts. Aquaponic farming can be achieved in controlled environments, like home basements, warehouses, and greenhouses, using a combination of artificial and natural light.
High start-up costs are a limiting factor for farmers interested in aquaponic methods when purchasing “turnkey” systems.
However, do-it-yourself construction may save farmers money on startup costs and may provide a system with which they can learn and practice aquaponic methods before investing in larger or commercial scale systems.
Aquaponics is a soilless farming method that combines aquaculture (fish production in a system that reuses water) and hydroponics (vegetable production in a soilless environment). By combining the two methods (aquaculture and hydroponics), the user achieves a symbiotic or mutually beneficial system of plant and fish production.
Fish grown in tanks produce nutrient-rich waste that is filtered and pumped through a biofilter (a medium on which beneficial bacteria grow) that converts ammonia
from the fish waste into nitrates (a natural fertilizer) that nourish the plants through their roots.
In turn, the roots help to filter and purify the water so that fish can thrive. Aquaponics’ circular production system recycles nutrients and water, thus reducing wastewater and fertilizer costs.
• Aquaponic farming is a promising solution to space and soil and limitations.
• Aquaponics can produce high yield crops with limited space and water.
• In a controlled environment, aquaponic systems can provide a continuous production of food for plants.
• Because aquaponics reuses and recirculates water, wastewater and nutrient runoff from production are minimal.
• Nutrients for plants are provided by fish in the system, reducing the need for, and in some cases, eliminating chemical fertilizers and associated costs.
• Growing in controlled environments can reduce exposure to pests and diseases.
• Involves high start-up costs.
• Incurs ongoing electric and energy costs.
• Requires access to a clean water supply.
• Needs daily attention and regulation.
• Requires knowledge of fish, plants, and some plumbing.
• Requires a basic understanding of the nitrification cycle.
• Mistakes can be expensive.
The following list of components is for a system containing grow media (see below). However, it is easily adaptable to a deep-water culture system. Deep water culture (DWC), or raft method, eliminates a grow media and suspends the plant roots directly in the water where they absorb nutrients and oxygen required for growth.
FIGURE 1
• Repurposed food grade 275-gallon Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC): The IBC will be repurposed as a fish tank and a grow bed for plants. (Figure 1)
• Grow media: Clay pebbles, expanded shale, volcanic rock (or any material that is locally available) holds plants in position and serves as a biofilter.
• Bell Siphon: The bell siphon is used to regulate the water level in the grow bed and provides an effect of ebb and flow between the grow bed and fish tank. (See figs. 2 & 4)
• Bacteria: Beneficial bacteria are vital to the aquaponic process and
Founded in 1991, the Centre de Formation Agricole de Mirabel (CFAM) is located in Mirabel, Quebec and provides technical training for agriculture. In February 2021, the first Schmid plant in Canada was commissioned for the customer CFAM.
The agricultural training centre is located in a suburb of Mirabel. In addition to the agricultural school, the CFAM also includes the Mirabel Agri-Food Research Center. The Research Institute aims to promote the development of organic farming and to strengthen the competitiveness of farms.
Cooperation with Combustion Expert Energy
Combustion Expert Energy, Schmid‘s distribution partner, was awarded the project in the second half of 2019. Combustion Expert Energy a pioneer in the Canadian Biomass boiler Manufacturing, Installation and maintaining of biomass systems, has been at the forefront of the renewal energy sector for years. With the Partnership Schmid has secured the most knowledgeable partner with existing local know-how for the market entry in the Eastern part of Canada.
Best technology prevails
Since the customer CFAM has high quality requirements, the Schmid technology and the developed concept were adopted as the basis for the tender.
François Laroche, Quality Control Manager and Technical Advisor at Combustion Expert Energy, is very pleased with the successful project: „It reflects the successful collaboration between the detailed planning of the system components from the Engineering support team from Schmid and CEE expertise of the installation team. This Project is used as a testimonial for future projects, showcasing the success of our companies in delivering high-quality biomass boiler systems. We are enthusiastic to serve our future clients the same way.“
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The funding programme Bioenergy Program
The project is supported by the "Bioenergy Program Quebec". The aim of the support programme is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels. The Bioenergy Program is offered to businesses, institutions, and municipalities that use fossil fuels and commit to measurably and sustainably reduce their consumption by switching from fossil fuels to bioenergy.
Product type Underfeed firing UTSP-360
Fuel Pellets
Power 1 228 MBtu / 360 kW
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Silo Vertical silo with auger discharge
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Combustion Expert Energy, Trois-Riviès, QC, Canada
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essential for nitrification. Nitrifying bacteria convert the fish waste to fertilizer for plant crops. Establishing a beneficial system will require balancing fish input and bacterial colony development.
• Biofilter: A media where bacteria attach and grow to form a biological layer called biofilm (Figure 3). The biofilter hosts the nitrification process (converting ammonia and nitrites
into nitrates) so that plants’ roots can access and absorb the nutrients from the natural fertilizer (converted nitrates).
• Pump: The pump moves water from the fish tank to the biofilter and/or to the grow bed.
• Plants: Plants provide food crops and filter water. During production, plant roots absorb the nutrients and help clean the water before it returns to the fish tank.
• Fish: Fish provide a food source for human consumption and produce waste that is converted into a nutrient rich natural fertilizer to grow the plants. A variety of cold water and warm water fish can be raised in an aquaponic system, yet it is important to keep in mind the stocking density requirements and behaviour of the fish species under consideration. Finding suitable fish for your operation will depend on many factors, including your tank size, distribution goals, accessible markets, and access to fish processing facilities. Before you decide to invest in a commercial scale system, conduct market research on what fish species are best for you.
• Fish Food: Fish food is a source of protein and nutrition for the fish. Like humans, fish need a balanced diet. Nutritional needs may vary by species, so it is important to conduct research to find the right feed to meet nutritional needs.
• Water: The fish tank holds around 250 gallons of water.
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Around 10 per cent of water is lost by evaporation every week. Replenish the water with dechlorinated water. Once the system has fish in it, to refill the system, tap water needs
to be dechlorinated before entering the system. The easiest method is using an additional container, like a 30-gallon drum, filled with tap water and adding an air bubbler to get rid of the chlorine. This process takes around 24 hours.
• Air: Critical for the functioning aquaponics system. Aquatic life and bacteria need dissolved oxygen to survive and multiply. An Air Pump pushes oxygen into the system and the Air Stone helps to circulate the oxygen and improves its availability to the fish.
• Electricity: An energy source to power the water and air pumps and grow lights (when needed).
• Grow lights: Light requirements will depend on the location of your system and the crops produced. Greenhouse production where plants are exposed to sunlight may only require supplemental lighting, while indoor production will require a more reliable and constant lighting system with adequate photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for your plant crop. As a baseline requirement, vegetables need between 12 and 16 hours of light per day and at least 8 hours of darkness. The more exposure your system has to natural light, the more economical your production will be. This article has been republished from the University of Maryland Extension with permission from its authors.
Visit here for the full instructions on how to build your own system using a repurposed food grade IBC tote and other materials.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
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POINTERS FOR PRODUCTION CYCLE IN EARLY SPRING:
• Focus is vegetative direction, but it has to controlled by temperature and the growth should be slow and steady to avoid fruit abortion.
• Average 24-hr. minimum 21ºC dark days and maximum 23.5 on sunny. Day temperature depends on light.
• Pay particular attention to relative humidity. Target Vapour Pressure Deficit to at least 3.5 grams/m3 of air’.
• Adjust night temperature to 1819ºC after fruit set.
• CO2 target close to 800 ppm from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.
• Irrigation feed and volumes need to be controlled and adjusted with crop growth rate. Starting feed EC should be around 3.0 mS and preferably in the growing medium as well. Some varieties may require higher or lower EC to maintain fruit quality. Quantity of feed solution will depend on radiation and heating.
Growing cucumber through the winter is always a challenge and growers should focus on what plant is trying to tell them. In this case, by aborting its fruit, the plant is telling that it is going more on vegetative direction.
Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza, Ph.D., P.Ag. is an industry consultant in Alberta and can be reached at drmirzaconsultants@gmail.com
Scan to read more about managing vegetable crops through the winter from Dr. Mirza.
MARCH
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS OF CANADA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
March 11 – 13
Quebec City, Que.
INDOOR AG-CON
March 11 – 12
Las Vegas, NV
OTTAWA VALLEY FARM SHOW
March 11 – 13 Ottawa, Ont.
ACT LEAMINGTON GROWER SUMMIT
March 19
Leamington, Ont.
GREENTECH AMERICAS
March 25 - 27
Querétaro, Mexico
CALIFORNIA SPRING TRIALS
March 26 – 29
California
APRIL
CPMA CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW
April 8 -10 Montreal, Que.
SAWAYA GARDENS OPEN HOUSE AND HYDRANGEA WORKSHOP
April 17 Waterford, Ont.
JUNE FLORIEXPO
June 4 - 6
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
GREENTECH AMSTERDAM
June 10 – 12
Amsterdam, NL
GROWER DAY
June 17
St. Catharines, Ont.
GARY JONES
I have a confession to make. So, where better to come clean than in a national magazine? I’ve long been torn between high-tech greenhouse production systems, and down-to-earth organic systems. I started my career working with soil-grown seasonal greenhouse veg production (winter lettuce – celery – tomato ‘rotations’), nursery and cut flowers. To get away from crippling root diseases like Sclerotinia, some vegetable growers moved into hydroponic systems: rockwool, perlite or pure ‘NFT’. Soon, these were the accepted norm. Skip ahead some years, and after a move to Canada, I found myself at the opposite end of technology, and deeply involved with farmers committed to organic, soil-grown systems: it was (and is) is so wonderfully interesting.
I was also pondering over this in December’s ‘Inside View’: “Sophisticated technology-based, greenhouse hydroponics versus lower tech input, knowledge-based, organic systems. It seems to be a ‘one way or the other’ stance.” I was thinking of this within the context of the recent Fusarium root issue in greenhouse peppers, and posited that there must surely be room for both growing philosophies, rather than assuming that one has to be the better.
On this Fusarium issue, Cara McCreary gave a
your mood, your personality, your health.” Polanz wonders if the same happens with plants, and reflects on the work of Dr. Soledad Benitez Ponce at Ohio State Uni., talking about the “collection of microbes, not just a specific organism or a specific pathogen”. This reminded me of the work of Dr. Dave Gillespie at Agassiz back in the early 2000’s, in which his aphid research looked at the whole aphid ‘ecosystem’ and all the other organisms that intersected with them, but I digress again.
Anyway, back to the Ohio reports. After looking at the soil microbiome, Dr. Ponce moved her attention to the rootzone biology in soilless systems, where she found “more microbes on the roots and the growing media”…”than in the nutrient itself or the leaves”
Which, I think, is not surprising, but it’s good to discover some similarity with soil-based systems.
Technology is wonderful...but we mustn’t forget to nurture the nature.
fascinating update at the L. Mainland Horticulture Conference in January. Fusarium oxysporum, also known and perhaps better considered as the ‘F. oxysporum species complex’ (FOSC), is very intriguing. In the previous update (March ’24) Cara reported that 36 species or strains had been isolated in the FOSC. Now, (Jan ’25), she reported that 48 have been isolated.1 Twelve new ones in just the past year! (Perhaps it’s time to stop looking… I jest.)
It’s not all bad though – some of these are beneficial species. Fascinating, eh? Cara’s presentation is worthy of a full report of its own. But I digress.
So, I was intrigued to read an article in the Winter ’24 edition of ‘Inside Grower’, with Jennifer Polanz reporting on some research in the US.2 She quotes Dr. James Altland (USDA-ARS Application Tech Research Unit, Wooster): “I think understanding the biological component of a system is incredibly important. As an analogy, you look at what science is telling us now about our gut biome,” he said as an example. “I think there is very good understanding how that microbiome affects
My organic friends would tell me their goal is to ‘feed the soil, not the plant’. Which must be the paradigm opposite to the hydroponic philosophy, since by definition, there’s no soil. So, does ‘feeding the soil’ have a benefit on the soil ecology, and this in turn have a positive influence on plant health? If so, could the soil-less root microbiome also be improving plant nutrition and growth? If that’s the case, what would be the equivalent to ‘feed-thesoil’ thinking if applied to modern soil-less systems? Researchers like Dr. Deborah Henderson (Institute for Sustainable Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic) and Dr. Michael Brownbridge (BioWorks), and companies such as Maxstim, will probably shout the answer, given the ever-growing range of bio-stimulants and bio-fungicides now commercially available for use in exactly these applications. Technology is wonderful – amazing even. But we mustn’t forget to nurture the nature also. There’s room for both and we all still have so much to learn. That’s one of the factors that keeps horticulture such a fantastic industry.
1. McCreary, Cara, (Jan 2025) “Greenhouse Pepper Fusarium Rot Update” L. Mainland Hort Conference, Abbotsford, BC
2. Polanz, Jennifer. (2024) “What’s Underneath the Surface?” Inside Grower.
Gary Jones sits on several greenhouse industry committees in BC and welcomes comments at greenhousewolf@gmail.com.
