Too salty?
Dr. Mirza has some pointers to make sodium a little more digestible | 8
Summer trials
Insights on the standout new varieties put to the test at Sawaya Gardens | 12
CGC ‘25
Sector harvests resilience in Niagara | 22
2025 greenhousecanada.com
Sollum’s advanced dynamic lighting solution delivers measurable results.
By adapting in real time to crop stage and conditions, growers achieve higher yields and quality, and reduced energy use.
It’s about increasing productivity, season after season.
The 2025 summer trials at Sawaya Gardens saw plants put to the test under very dry and hot conditions in Southern Ontario.
4
News 6
Feeling salty? 8
Understanding sodium’s influence on greenhouse crop nutrition. By Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza
Retail innovation 12
Pop-ups, pop-ins give growers a nimble way to meet customers where they are. By J Lynn Fraser
Inside View 34 New tech, new reality?
A peek inside the The Branch by Connon Nurseries pop-up in Caledonia. Photo courtesy: Connon Nurseries
Trial and triumph
A look at how the latest plant varieties held up at the 2025 Sawaya Garden Trials.
BY MELHEM SAWAYA
CGC ‘2025
Highlights and breakthroughs at this year’s Canadian Greenhouse Conference.
BY AMY KOUNIAKIS
Perennials that pay Standout perennials that deliver strong margins, steady performance from planting to retail. BY GREENHOUSE
As I write, we are just wrapping up another successful year at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference. The industry turned out in droves for three days of fellowship and knowledge-sharing that flew by in heartbeat.
This year’s program, including a bus tour, workshops and education sessions, was truly exceptional and provided the foundation for so many insightful conversations I had over the course of the event. Exhibitors put on a fantastic showcase of products, services, solutions and innovations; I heard from many who felt this was one of the busiest years for the tradeshow floor in recent memory.
Canadian grower and marketplace as we read up on some of the results from the Sawaya Summer Garden Trials on Page 16. This summer, new varieties were put to the test under the very dry and hot conditions in Southern Ontario throughout the summer. Many innovations in the development of these plant genetics are designed specifically to address grower challenges and increase consumer appeal. Same with our look at the top perennial picks on Page 26; these selections were made with the Canadian supply chain in mind.
The latest case study from our Dr. Mirza on Page 8 dives into sodium’s influence on greenhouse crop health. In this article, he goes back to basics to provide an understanding of the function of this element and how it impacts plant processes. If you’re feeling a little salty these days, Dr. Mirza might have a few pointers in this piece to help you out.
Finally, on Page 34 our own Gary Jones reflects on our ‘Brave New Technology World’ in his November
“In light of recent uncertainties, CGC ‘25 served as a beacon of hope.’
In light of recent uncertainties, not just in this sector but across the globe, CGC 2025 served as a beacon of hope: the possibility and positivity this sector generates when they’re all in the same room is awesome to bear witness to. When it comes to ‘harvesting resilience,’ the Canadian greenhouse industry and this premier event are doing this with unparallelled precision and efficiency. Read up on this year’s show on Page 22.
While innovation was on display at the CGC, it plays out in the pages of this issue of the magazine as we explore some of the innovative ways that producers are getting their products into the hands of consumers. Starting on Page 12, we meet some of the growers and businesses utilizing pop-ups and pop-ins to get products out the door.
Check out how plant breeders are adapting their products to the
edition of ‘Inside View.’ He asks where we’re at in terms of tech adoption and automation and how the workplace is changing as a result. He sees a whole new world of possibility for production and for diversifying and expnading the greenhouse workforce.
From bustling trade show floors and engaging workshops to growers using creative sales strategies, this issue highlights how the industry thrives amid uncertainty. Have a read and reach out with any questions or comments at akouniakis@ annexbusinessmedia.com.
The Center for Horticultural Innovation, based in Leamington, has rebranded as Biophi to reflect its role in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector.
The new identity, a recent press release noted, centres around the idea of ‘Growing Possibilities.’
“Adopting the Biophi identity allows us to better represent who we are today: a collaborative hub accelerating horticultural innovation,” said Matt Korpan, executive director of R&D, in the release.
Established in 2020 as a division of South Essex Fabricating (SEF), the organization conducts applied research and industry-led collaborations aimed at developing practical solutions for greenhouse and indoor growers.
As part of the rebrand, Biophi has introduced a new name, visual identity, and updated messaging. The changes were developed in partnership with global design studio Bruce Mau Design. (Source: Biophi)
A new report on consumer trends predicts that ‘climate anxiety and digital overload’ will have a major influence on buyer behaviours in the coming year.
According to the 2026 Garden Trends Report, from U.S.-based Garden Media Group, the “garden is becoming the place where chaos softens and possibility blooms.”
The theme of this year’s report, ‘Lemonading,’ is based on the notion that more
consumers are embracing life’s simple pleasures and turning challenges into opportunities “through creativity, mindfulness, and joy.” This is expected to be most evident in the garden and among plant collectors, as more people turn to mindful practices to counter rising burnout.
As a result, consumers will be drawn to plants that are more rare or exotic and to planting gardens that ‘support pollinators, preserve ecosystems and restore
The Dramm Corporation has promoted Devon Vanzalen to regional sales associate for the Niagara region.
According to a recent press release, Vanzalen has worked with the company’s Canadian office for the past decade as inside sales and service representative, supporting customers nationwide, servicing spray equipment, and managing office operations.
He will continue those responsibilities while taking on a more direct role with Niagara-area customers, the company said in the release. (Source: Dramm)
biodiversity.’ Pet-friendly varieties, as well as more compact products like mosses, cacti and succulents, are also expected to be popular in the coming year.
In addition to highlighting some of 2026’s trends, the report offers suggestions for how the green industry can tap into them to stay connected with customers. To that end, the report offers inspiration and insights on everything from retail displays, product
lines and packaging, to community engagement and wellness initiatives. This is the 25th anniversary of the Garden Media Group’s forecasting report for the green industry. Over the years, the annual report has spotlighted pivotal shifts in gardening, including the surge in container gardening in ‘03; the renewed embrace of native plants in 2007; and the growing focus on plants for wellbeing in 2018. (Source: Garden Media Group)
Source: AI on the Horizon: September 18, 2025; Conference Board of Canada
12.2 % of Canadian firms using AI for producing goods or delivering services in Q2 2025.
HALF of Canadian businesses are investing in training existing employees to use artificial intelligence.
Job postings requiring AI skills have nearly doubled since 2023
BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
In the following article, we will discuss:
• Sodium as a non-essential element for greenhouse crops
• Its relationship with potassium
• Major source of sodium is water and levels above 100 ppm may render it unsuitable for irrigation
• High sodium can destroy the drainage of organic growing media
• Sodium management strategies
A grower recently asked me a question about sodium: where does it show up in leach tests and in tissue? He was specifically asking about cucumber grown in rockwool. In our discussion, we considered the fact that feed water had about 20 ppm sodium while leach water showed higher levels: 70 ppm in cucumbers; 50 ppm in peppers; and 133 ppm in tomatoes. He was so worried about
ABOVE
the impact of sodium on yields that he decided to test each fertilizer source. This case inspired me to write about sodium in this issue of Greenhouse Canada. Many growers also review their nutrient programs at this time, so they may find this information useful.
SODIUM AND ITS SOURCES
Sodium (Na+) is a cation with a positive charge and is not considered an essential element in plant growth. Plants are non-selective in nutrient uptakes and will absorb whatever is present in the rootzone. Therefore, the presence of any element in cell sap does not indicate if it is essential or not.
Sodium can come from different sources like irrigation water as sodium chloride and sodium sulfate. I recall sodium nitrate was available for use as a fertilizer in early the 1980s and it may be available for agricultural use although less
Although sodium is considered to be a ‘non-essential’ element for greenhouse plants, if it is present in water or available in the rootzone, the plant can take it up as a partial replacement for potassium.
When testing water quality, the key factor in its suitability for greenhouse irrigation is the amount of sodium in the water in relation to calcium and magnesium.
commonly used in greenhouse fertilizer programs.
It can also come from peat, coir or soilbased growing media. In greenhouse crops coir is pre-washed with calcium nitrate solution and growers prefer to use such media. Small amounts of sodium may also be present in chelated trace elements but the amount is not significant enough to affect crop health.
Although sodium is considered to be a ‘non-essential’ element for greenhouse plants, it can still be used in the synthesis of chlorophyll and some other metabolic processes in the plant. If sodium is present in water or available in the rootzone, the plant can take it up as a partial replacement for potassium which helps in the opening and closing of stomata.
When we talk about sodium, chloride should also be mentioned because sodium chloride is commonly found in water supplies. Chloride is needed in small amounts and helps in plant metabolism, photosynthesis, osmosis and ionic balance within the cells. I have seen tomato pollen viability reduced when chloride was found to be very low (less than 10 ppm) in fertilizer solution.
Water quality is determined by taking a test and looking at the levels of various minerals, and remembering the key factor in its suitability for greenhouse irrigation is the amount of sodium in the water in relation to calcium and magnesium. The labs will give Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values. Specifically, SAR is the ratio of the sodium concentration divided by the square root of half the sum of the calcium and magnesium concentrations.
For example, if a water test shows an Electrical Conductivity (EC) value of 0.8 mS/cm and less and a SAR value of less than four, then it is suitable for greenhouse irrigation. Any water with higher EC and SAR values requires special management practices of leaching and monitoring for sodium.
Leach monitoring becomes important
Image 1: A case where geranium plants failed to establish; very poor root development right from the beginning and limited chlorophyll. Serious root rot was evident. EC of leach was above 7 mS/cm. Image 2: Severe root rot, waterlogged growing medium and poor top growth was the result of high sodium in water.
because different growing media can retain sodium and affect root zone concentrations which can reach toxic levels.
Deficiency of sodium is very rare because it is not an essential element, however chloride deficiency symptoms are known in tomatoes. Toxicity is more common once the levels start building in the rootzone. Images 1 and 2 (above) are examples from a
geranium and begonia crop where sodium in water was above 300 ppm and the symptoms appeared within three weeks of use.
High potassium in feed solution can help to reduce uptake of sodium
Yes, one can design a fertilizer program to counteract the possible negative effect of sodium within limits. If one finds the sodium level is above 100 ppm, EC is above 0.8 mS/cm and an SAR above four, then the potassium level could be around 250 to 350 ppm. Thus, plants will absorb more potassium than sodium and keep the plant health in balance.
Expert help may be required to help with designing fertilizer programs suited to one’s specific crop and water quality.
• Consider using reverse osmosis (RO) if sodium is above 100 ppm. Also be aware that RO water also requires to be managed by adding potassium bicarbonate to provide some buffering and pH adjustments. Waste water from RO systems should not be dumped into irrigation ponds an should be kept separate.
• Analyze water twice a year and seek expert help, if needed, to interpret it properly.
• Monitoring leach water for pH and EC is essential. Sometimes the contribution of EC from sodium is significant. For example, a leach water analysis showed 700 ppm of sodium it will make about 1.0 of EC if water is recycled.
• Sodium needs to be monitored regularly if water is recycled.
Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza, Ph.D., P.Ag. is an industry consultant in Alberta and can be reached at drmirzaconsultants@gmail.com.
BY J LYNN FRASER
BELOW
In the spring of 2025, Waterdown’s Connon Nurseries opened seven pop-up locations branded ‘The Branch by Connon Nurseries.’ All were stocked with Connon’s nursery plants and complemented with annuals and seasonal products produced by grower partners.
Pop-up stores enable companies to “market-test without being bound by long-term leases and costly tenant improvements.”2 By their very nature, pop-ups are cost effective and mobile, allowing “brands to gauge demand by testing new products and promotions, while creating a boutique-style shopping experience” Because their costs are low, pop-ups enable brands to learn about a specific market’s needs and to “be nimble” when adjusting to “a market’s unique demands.”2
Companies look to pop-ups to solve a number of issues. Dr. Janice Rudkowski, an assistant professor in the department of retail management at the Toronto Metropolitan University, notes companies should approach a pop-up store with “clear goals/objectives”. Some pop-ups are used to “liquidate merchandise, while others launch new products, create excitement and brand awareness, test out a location and/or product, or build community.” Pop-ups are “less risky and less expensive than committing to a permanent store,” notes Rudkowski.
Pop-ups add revenue streams, which is helpful in these uncertain economic times. In March of 2020, Darvonda Nurseries, a producer headquartered in Langley with locations across Western Canada, was informed by its “largest wholesale buyer” that it could not take on most the company’s plant order for the spring.1 The solution, Lawrence Jansen, owner of the 47-acre operation, found was to establish, in four weeks, seven pop-ups in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The popups sold Darvonda’s “vegetable, flower bedding plants, and hanging baskets” originally destined for “garden centres at big box retailers.”1
Pop-up stores may be fleeting, but they have legal requirements. According to a 2018 Export Development Canada blog post on the perks of pop-ups, a business
licence or registration for the jurisdiction where the pop-up will be opened is needed. If selling a food product a special permit may be needed. It is also important to have a “written agreement with the property owner or management company you’re working with.” For pop-ups a lease agreement is usual, and the terms and conditions should be carefully considered. Additional insurance will be needed for comprehensive coverage on a short-term basis. 2
A temporary retail space can offer a customer a wraparound experience that engages the senses and makes the customer feel that they have access to a fleeting, exclusive event. “The pop-up should also offer an experience (vs. just selling products) to appeal to the ephemeral and experiential nature of pop-ups,” observes Rudknowski. “Fruits, vegetables, and plants would be excellent products as they can be displayed really beautifully and feature in season/limited time only items.” These surprise stores give consumers an opportunity to try products that are new, seasonal, luxury, or bulk. In Toronto’s Union Station one store often hosts pop-ups by Louis Vuitton, Oreo, SodaStream, Kombi, M&M, Bauer, and Great Canadian Sox.3
Convenience, potability, and attractiveness will capture consumers’ attention. “Products that have immediate appeal on a shelf” as well as “limited time or exclusive products that can’t be found easily elsewhere; products that can be easily purchased on the spot and taken away by the customer” will attract customers to a pop-up store according to Rudknowski.
“Consider how products will be displayed. Pop-ups don’t have a lot of storage, so may need daily shipments to re-stock. Cold storage will also need to be considered,” comments Rudknowski. The location and stores in the area need to be investigated. Rudknowski advises asking questions such as “What competition is nearby?”; “Are the products unique or can similar products be purchased nearby?”; does product and pricing fit with the “neighbourhood demographic.”
Find out when the neighbourhood does its shopping and who is doing that shopping and for whom. Is locating, for example, near the local hockey arena or in a busy mall
Connon hosts markets in their greenhouses in the off-season. These have grown in popularity and frequency over the years, and are way to keep customers coming back for more
a better choice? As Rudknowski notes, knowing if parking or public transit nearby is also important.
Since pop-up stores have to compete, temporarily, with established neighbourhoods stores the pop-up has to be inviting. As Rudknowski asks, “Is the pop-up space very appealing and aesthetically pleasing? Is the pop-up going to create some buzz and/or excitement in the neighbourhood?” The short-lived nature of pop-ups is part of their appeal.
“Limited time pop-ups tend to be more successful, when the timing aligns with consumer demand. Pop-ups that create an experience also tend to be more successful,” Rudknowski points out.
The pop-up must be efficient. This means having “a convenient POS system as customers are used to just tapping their phones or credit cards to pay for items,” Rudknowski advises, “People don’t carry cash anymore, and if the POS is multi-step or malfunctions, this can result in a lost customer.”
The people hired to manage the pop-up need to be very skilled at customer service, but also product knowledge. They are an important part of creating a memorable experience.
“Spring 2025 marked the beginning of popups supplying our nursery products,” said Valerie Kristjanson, marketing and media manager for Waterdown-located Connon Nurseries.
The producer farms more than 400 acres for retail and wholesale markets. Connon’s perennial production facility is comprised of more than seven acres of greenhouse which
house tropical plants and houseplants prior to distribution, Kristjanson explains.
“Identifying the need for plants to be readily accessible in busy hubs outside of our existing nurseries, we opened seven locations branded ‘The Branch by Connon Nurseries,’” she said. “Operating from April into the end of September/October, Branches are stocked with our nursery plants and complemented with annuals and seasonal products produced by valued grower partners.”
Greenhouses can also function as locations for pop-ins bringing in the curious and potential customers. Connon Nurseries offers an example.
“We began hosting market events during our quieter months in 2018, first at our Waterdown sales yard, then our Newmarket location. This season will be the first for our sales yard in Trenton,” said Kristjanson. “We started out small with 25 to 30 vendors and have grown to over 75 vendors in Waterdown each week. We felt our beautiful indoor spaces could be shared with the community, welcoming people that may not be plant people. It is hoped market attendees become customers over time.”
Pop-in markets held at Connon Nurseries “feature local culinary creators, artisans, and makers of unique foods and wares. We curate the selection of vendors to ensure a wide offering,” Kristjanson said. “We create offers for attendees to use on our products while at events, along with ‘come back and save!’ incentives. We work with a shop local platform, ‘Get in the Loop,’ that provides an app to encourage patrons to return, purchase from ourselves or our vendors multiple times, obtaining a reward.”
The final step of a pop-up or a pop-in is the post-event analysis. “Sales volume, foot traffic and conversion rates” are needed to measure performance.4 Reviewing customer feedback in person, online, on comment cards is constructive.
Pop-ups and pop-ins can establish good will for a brand, and warm feelings in the community for a local business. In difficult economic times growers can develop multiple revenue streams through reaching out with pop-ups or by being a good host with pop-ins. The best ROI is customer loyalty and community good will.
1. Avison/Young (A/Y), 2020, Alberta/B.C. Greenhouse nursery teams up with…, https://www.avisonyoung.ca/newsreleases/-/aynp/view/2020/05/04/ alberta-b-c-greenhouse-nursery-teamsup-with-avison-young-to-create-popup-garden-shops-glow-gardens-/in/ calgary
2. B. Sirois, 2018, Pop-up shops, EDC, https://www.edc.ca/en/blog/pop-upshops.html
3. D. Israelson, 2022, ‘Here today, gone tomorrow’, Globe and Mail, https:// www.theglobeandmail.com/business/ industry-news/property-report/articlehere-today-gone-tomorrow-the-rise-ofpop-up-and-short-term-retail/
4. L. O’Neill, 2024, 11 Tips To Make Your Pop-Up Shop…, https://www. lightspeedhq.com/blog/pop-up-shop/
5. Retail Insider, 2021, Canadian Pop-Up Facilitator…, https://retail-insider.com/ bulletin/2021/09/canadian-pop-upfacilitator-pop-up-go-to-expand-intothe-united-states-in-new-partnership/
A look at some of the standout varieties at the 2025 Sawaya Garden Trials
BY MELHEM SAWAYA
The Sawaya Gardens annuals and perennials trials celebrated its 25th year in 2025. What started in a back yard with approximately 150 vegetative varieties has grown to be close to 3,000 varieties. Ideally, a trial should include new and old varieties because just showing what is new is only a showcase for a breeder who has already decided that the new variety is better.
To be fair, breeders do a lot of trialling before they introduce a new variety to the market but regional trials are necessary to select varieties suitable to your market.
This summer in Southern Ontario was very hot for many consecutive days but the plants in the trial did not suffer in terms of flowering or growth. The size of the flowers in some varieties, however, were much smaller than usual and the lifespan shorter. Some
varieties compensated by having more blooms thanks to the higher light intensity.
Taking a number of criteria into consideration, we scored every cultivar from grower point of view and consumer point of view and produced two average numbers one to reflect production and performance and the other for consumer appeal for the duration of the trial.
Approximately 80 per cent of the trial cultivars were graded above 8 out of 10 from the production and the customer appeal. Due to space limitations, I am only going to highlight a few cultivars that exceptionally performed through the whole season, but this doesn’t mean they are the only ones.
1. Alocascia- Imperial Red, and 2. Alocascia - Odora Variegata Yellow are two tropical varieties that were recommended to grow in the shade, but my stubborn curiosity forced me to try them in full sun. To the presenter’s surprise they performed
very well the whole summer two years in a row. Last year was rainy weather the whole summer long, but this year is from the hottest summer on record and still the two Alocascias looked great through the whole summer and now close to frost they will be grown indoors in somebody’s house.
and
on Green are two vigorous fibrous begonias from two different breeders who realise the days of having only compact varieties does not cut it. The trend now is for large, vigorous varieties that can
fill large containers or have excellent performance in landscapes. As I am authoring this report the begonias still look fresh and healthy and like last year
that have the same characteristics as the Megawatt and the Viking begonias, but the plant has a mounding growth habit not an upright one like the others.
Begonia boliviensis - Beauvilia Dark Begonia boliviensisWaterfall Encanto Pink have a trailing
growing habit rather than the upright or mounding, but still vigorous, no need for deadheading like the other begonias and they are excellent in hanging baskets. Best to grow in full sun in the greenhouse and outdoors for strong plants and mounds of flowers.
8. Calibrachoa - Calipetite Apricot Dream, and 9. Calibrachoa - Calipetite Orange Sunsets are two clours of the calipetite calibrachoa which are very compact and required no growth regulators. The calipetite are great for 4-inch pots or pans they put on a great show the whole summer. They covered the 14-inch pots in our trials and spilled over the edges but did not trail down. Could be great for rock gardens but they need watering and fertilizer to look healthy the whole season.
10. Calibrachoa - Superbells Magic Double Grapefruit just: as the name
suggests it is one colour of a double flower series which gives it a higher value look. It can be grown in larger baskets or in patio pots that could bring higher prices. No deadheading needed.
11. Calibrachoa - Cabaret Yellow Improved has a medium trailing growth habit that works great in baskets just like the whole series. No deadheading required, powdery mildew resistant and easy to flower. Two rooted cuttings can make a 10-inch hanging basket. If you are after assorted colours in the same basket, the cabaret series works well; two colours with two cuttings in a 10-inch
basket and three assorted colours of three cuttings in 12-inch basket.
12. Calibrachoa - MiniFamous Neo Deep Orange, and 13. CalibrachoaMiniFamous Neo Red Shuffle are two of the more vigorous in the MiniFamous series. They have a trailing habit and are great for baskets and combinations. Some colours are mounding, and others are trailing. Use caution if you are doing combinations to match the growth habits.
14. Calibrachoa - Minifamous Uno Double Red is one colour of the Uno Double series, which looks great and has
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
In 2024, Canada produced 304 million kilograms of greenhouse tomatoes and 175 million kilograms of greenhouse peppers, with a value of CAD $938 million and CAD $618 million, respectively (Statistics Canada, 2025). Both crops are susceptible to a wide range of pests and disease; however, Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) represents the most significant threat to tomato crops domestically, as well as globally, and has the potential to threaten pepper crops.
On infected tomato plants, leaves experience leaf curling, narrowing and mottling; they express stunted growth and tomato fruit is typically smaller, misshapen and with visible mottling and brown “rugose” wrinkles. ToBRFV contamination can occur at any point through the supply chain; however, the dominant method of spread is through mechanical contact e.g. agricultural tools, workers’ hands and clothing, as well as during crop maintenance. Rugose can also spread through infected seeds, hydroponic transmission as the virus is shed from infected plant roots, and buzz pollination using bumblebees. There is no cure for ToBRFV, meaning an integrated management approach must be taken to prevent transmission and protect crop production.
One aspect of an integrated management approach is being able to disinfect greenhouse surfaces (floors, greenhouse glass, benches, troughs, climate screens) during the cleanout phase of production, as well as on-going during commercial production. Previous studies have looked at disinfecting ToBRFV from common greenhouse surfaces. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) has found that there is little to no research on the efficacy of cleaners and disinfectants against ToBRFV on cold surfaces, which reflects cleanouts during the winter in the Canadian market, as well as on climate screens which are used to control humidity, temperature, exposure to direct sunlight and for stray light abatement. In the present study, Vineland studied the efficacy of a range of three cleaners and disinfectants against ToBRFV applied to surfaces including ambient temperature glass (21-24°C), cold glass (0°C), aluminum, galvanized steel, concrete and climate screen.
The products trialed were Pace Plant Health’s Strip-It PRO, AgH PRO, and KleenGrow. The products were trialed in different concentrations, and a tank mix combination of Strip-It PRO and KleenGrow was also tested. KleenGrow (16 mL/L) was 100% effective at removing or inactivating ToBRFV from both ambient and cold glass, concrete and climate screen. KleenGrow (16 mL/L) had one surface remain positive for ToBRFV on aluminum and steel. KleenGrow (32 mL/L) was 100% effective at removing or inactivating ToBRFV from all surfaces except for ambient glass, where
one surface was positive for ToBRFV. With respect to KleenGrow, there appears to be a dose-dependent response on aluminum and steel, while there is no difference on the remaining surfaces. Strip-It PRO (40 mL/L) was 100% effective at removing or inactivating ToBRFV from ambient glass and concrete, while being least effective on aluminum with 100% of surfaces positive for ToBRFV. One replicate was positive on each of cold glass, steel and climate screen. A combination of Strip-It PRO (40 mL/L) and KleenGrow (32 mL/L) was 100% effective at removing or inactivating ToBRFV on ambient glass, aluminum and climate screen, while being 83% effective on all surfaces. The difference seen between Strip-It PRO (40 mL/L) on Aluminum and the combination of Strip-It PRO and KleenGrow is likely driven by the effectiveness of KleenGrow. AgH PRO was 100% effective on both ambient and cold glass and concrete, while being 67% effective on steel, aluminum and climate screen. In addition to this, KleenGrow (16 mL/L and 32 mL/L) and Strip-It PRO + KleenGrow were tested with a contact time of 120 minutes, which was 4 times that of the other products, including Strip-It PRO (on its own) and AgH PRO. While both 30 and 120 minutes are within a reasonable range for commercial greenhouse cleanouts, this increased contact time may influence the efficacy of the products.
ToBRFV is generally quite difficult to disinfect compared to other greenhouse pathogens. However, this research has shown that with this trio of products from Pace Plant Health, growers can effectively and reliably control the spread of the pathogen and thereby protect their crops. All three products are readily available in Canada.
To learn more or to order, please visit www.pacesolutions.com or contact your Pace Plant Health representative.
46th Canadian Greenhouse Conference delivers high energy and deeper connections
BY AMY KOUNIAKIS
For three days in October, the greenhouse industry came together in Niagara Falls for the chance to share knowledge, do business and connect at the 46th annual Canadian Greenhouse Conference.
This year’s programming centred around the theme of ‘harvesting resilience,’ and the sector turned out in droves to reflect on challenges, share successes and strengthen the collective spirit that drives Canadian greenhouse growers.
As always, the CGC bus tour kicked things off and attendees were welcomed into farms, greenhouses and production spaces, not to mention one of the industry’s leading research facilities, across the Niagara region.
Under grey skies and through intermittent downpours, the buses’ occupants got an up-close look at the front lines of the Canadian greenhouse Industry. Our first stop, Meyers’ Farms in Niagaraon-the-Lake, offered an enticing look at a family-
ABOVE
run business that spans generations and is thriving in the wake of recent expansions and investments in automation and technology. It was the perfect jumping off point for inspiration.
The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre was the second destination of the day where attendees got to hear from some of the centre’s researchers working to address a number of industry challenges. The visit underscored the vital role of this innovation space in facilitating progress in the greenhouse sector.
Freeman Herbs and Hendriks Greenhouses, consecutively, were the next two stops. Tours led by Marco Deleonardis, the research and development manager at Freeman, and Belal El-Hasan, head grower at Hendriks, dove into some of the production challenges these sister operations have faced and the solutions they have developed. Both stops had everyone abuzz on the bus.
The 2025 Canadian Greenhouse Conference trade show floor.
INSET
Meyers Farms staff answer questions from attendees of CGC ‘25 bus tour about irrigation.
Marco Deleonardis, R&D manager at Freeman Herbs in Beamsville, inspired the group with his outlook on production during a tour of the company’s state-ofthe-art greenhouse.
David Klyn-Hesselink, owner and grower at Fenwick Berry Farm, showed the CGC bus tour around his family’s operation, which sits on approx. 150 acres.
Following a delicious lunch with a truly breathtaking view across Lake Ontario at The Shore in Lincoln, participants piled back onto the buses to head to United Floral Distributors (UFD), where they were schooled in wholesale floral logistics. This was the first opportunity, for many on the tour, to witness this end of the supply chain. It was a frigid visit (they keep their facilities at a crisp temperature, for obvious reasons) but very eye-opening for many.
Our sixth and final stop of the day, at Fenwick Berry Farm, afforded another look at unique aspect of the sector. This firstgeneration family farm is a prolific berry plant propagator. Owner, David Klyn-Hesselink, shared some of his insights on the various crops his farm grows (mainly strawberries, blackberries and raspberries) and gave visitors access to his hoop houses to see where the magic happens (and get out of the rain).
Vineland’s Dr. Alexandra Grygorczyk gave a fascinating presentation on some of the work being done on waste diversion for the greenhouse sector.
Dr. Omid Joharchi of Anatis Bioprotection offering at look at some of the native predatory mites he specializes in, at the CGC’s first ‘Tools of the Trade’ workshop.
The official opening of the show came the day after the bus tour and saw one of the CGC’s busiest trade show floors in recent memory. Sessions this year were very busy and engagement with speakers was high, with growers eager to swap insights, ask tough questions and dig into practical solutions.
Sessions looking into floral and vegetable production, AI and big data and the use of UV and dynamic lighting in the greenhouse,
provided much food for thought as conversations about the speakers and their messaging spilled onto the tradeshow floor during Happy Hour.
Day 2 of the conference dawned a little more slowly as attendees and exhibitors recovered from the previous evening’s networking events but still, the energy at the show was dynamic as the CGC’s first Student Day kicked off. Students had the opportunity to walk the floor, meet with industry leaders and speakers to explore opportunities in the Canadian greenhouse industry. Once again, speaker sessions, usually sparsely attended on the second day, were packed with people prepared to learn.
Also new this year was the Tools of the Trade workshop that offered a more drop-in format for attendees wanting to learn more about the latest in crop protection. Experts also provided a very detailed demo on navigating Ontario’s Crop Protection Hub, a free and very detailed resource for growers. It should be noted that this website contains incredible amounts of specific greenhouse crop information that can be useful to growers across the country and beyond.
As the curtains closed on another successful Canadian Greenhouse Conference, one thing was clear: the spirit of innovation and collaboration within Canada’s greenhouse community remains as strong as ever. From farm tours to packed sessions and a buzzing trade show floor, this year’s event showcased not only the sector’s resilience but its readiness to adapt, evolve and grow together. With new initiatives like Student Day and the Tools of the Trade workshop setting the stage for the next generation of growers and innovators, the CGC once again proved why it’s the go-to gathering for anyone shaping the future of controlled-environment agriculture in Canada.
Grow smarter with these handpicked varieties selected by breeders for performance, quality, and consistency
BY GREENHOUSE CANADA
There are a lot of factors influencing the average consumer these days that growers need to take into consideration as they prep their benches for seasons to come.
When Greenhouse Canada reached out to breeders to get their top perennial picks for 2026, they answered the call by providing new and improved selections that promise to not only perform well for retailers and end consumers alike but also require fewer inputs and interventions from growers.
Much of the genetics listed below have also been singled out for their uniform and reliable crop performance and pest and disease resistance, not to mention shelf life and mass appeal.
Have a look at what breeders feel hold the most promise for Canadian growers and their customers in the year to come.
Please note: Varieties are not presented in any particular order.
1. Echinacea Panama Rose:The newest addition to Danziger’s URC Echinacea collection. Panama Rose is first-year flowering with no vernalization or bulking required. Early blooming in weeks 22-24. Open plant habit with petal presentation and everlasting flower power. Zone: 4-9; Input: URC / Liner
2. Gaillardia Gusto Orange Zest: A bright, citrusy orange Gaillardia to round out the Gusto series. Bred for uniformity and easy rooting, Gusto is first-year flowering with no benefit to cooling. Consistent flowering on symmetrical round habit looks amazing in containers or in the landscape. New flowers cover maturing stems for a continuously fresh appearance. Available in four classic colours Lemon, Paprika, Sweet Chili, and Orange Zest. Zone: 4-9; Input: URC / Liner
NOVA NURSERIES
3. Agastache ‘Peach Pearl’:A companion for the outrageously popular ‘Pink Pearl’. Peachy-orange flowers smother this plant for months. Blooms June through October without taking a breath. Same great habit as ‘Pink Pearl’. Excellent downy mildew resistant foliage. A garden and perennial bed must have. Zone: 6-10; Input: URC / Liner 4. Heuchera ‘Iridescent’ This striking plant features soft-pink flowers that complement the colourful and shimmering foliage. ‘Iridescent’ showcases pearly foliage that shifts from rose-pink to silver-lavender as the season progresses. Its leaves are held in a tight mound and shine in the garden as well as containers; ‘Iridescent’ also performs well as a blender and a standout in mass plantings, edges and borders.
5. Coreopsis Nova Amber: The newest addition to the Nova series of Coreopsis from Terra Nova Nurseries. Aptly named for the abundance of amber-coloured blooms that cover the plant. Dense, bushy growth creates a mounded habit in the landscape or in containers. Mildew-resistant foliage is irresistibly soft to the touch. A pollinator magnet! Zone: 6-10; Input: URC / Liner
SYNGENTA FLOWERS
6. Digitalis Dottie series: Dottie is a compact and well-branched series that are easier to finish in a variety of sizes. With a height of 16-20”, Dottie requires less PGR to remain controlled in containers. Large flowers are presented on strong stems in five rich and captivating colours: White, Cream, Purple, Warm Rose, and Peach. Also available as a mix. Uniform and early to flower for efficient production. Zone: 4-9; Input: Seed
7. Leucanthemum Western Star Capricorn: A new yellow Leucanthemum addition to the exceptional Western Star collection. Capricorn is perfect for 2.5-quart to 1.5-gallon container production. Notable for their superior habits and flowering, Western Star varieties all have low chilling requirements ensuring they bloom consistently. Zone: 4-9; Input: URC / Liner
8. Sedum spurium Spot On Red: The newest addition to the Spot On series from Syngenta Flowers. Attractive foliage and exceptionally large flowers make Spot On a big upgrade over regular Sedums. Low-growing groundcover habits create a carpet of colour in the landscape. First-year flowering makes scheduling and production easy. Zone: 4-9; Input: URC / Liner
9. Ajuga Best Buddies: Lush foliage emerges in the spring and holds its color through the summer. Available in four beautiful colours including dark foliage Espresso (pictured), Lime, and two multicoloured varieties Toffee and Caramel where foliage emerges green and ages to rich brown tones. All varieties have bright blue flowers that bloom from April through June. Compact, tidy habit is perfect for mixed containers, borders and ground cover. Highly attractive foliage plant for autumn combinations. Breeder: Kientzler Young Plants; Zone: 4-9; Input: URC / Liner
10. Astilbe Fireworks Pink: Astible with a new and unique flower habit. Prolific flowers weep over the top of the foliage. Blooms early to mid-summer. Flowers are a nice bold pink color with dark green foliage. Compact habit. Supplier: Unex Inc.; Zone: 3-8; Input: Bareroot
11. Crocosmia Firestars: Large, full flowers with distinctive striped petals are available in three bright bicolour varieties. Compact, clump forming habit for improved garden performance. These better and stronger cross breeds are more resistant to frost. Great summer colour, easy to grow. Award of Garden Merit at RHS 2021. Supplier: Unex Inc. Zone: 6-9; Input: Bareroot
DÜMMEN ORANGE
12. Veronica Candela Pink: Dümmen’s first-year flowering perennial that shines with vibrant, eye-catching colour at retail.
Perfectly matched in timing with the other three varieties in the Candela series, it delivers reliable uniformity and striking performance. As part of the True North program, Candela Pink is hardy to Zone 3, ensuring dependable overwintering even in the coldest climates. With its strong garden presence and retail appeal, this variety offers growers a high-quality, resilient option that extends perennial sales with confidence.
13. Salvia Noble Knight: This is another first-year flowering perennial with striking purple-blue blooms held on a compact, well-branched habit. Its strong branching makes production easy, while the bold flower colour ensures high retail appeal. As a Dümmen Orange True North variety, it’s hardy to Zone 3 and built for dependable performance in challenging climates. Ideal for growers seeking uniform crops with standout garden presence, Noble Knight delivers both efficiency in production and beauty in the landscape.
14. Phlox Flame Pro White Improved: Part of the uniform Flame Pro series, this improvement delivers synchronized timing and consistent size for a predictable, programmable crop. As another True North variety, it’s hardy to Zone 3. Growers can count on fully loaded, fully blooming racks at retail, making it easy to capture attention with this showstopping white. Reliable, uniform, and retail-ready, Flame Pro White Improved adds impact and efficiency to any perennial program.
15. Geranium Purple Glow: Garden designers looking for a deer resistant, low maintenance spring perennial will find the new Purple Glow Geranium sanguineum very appealing. It has excellent flower coverage on its low-mounded plant habit with vibrant, saturated colour on each of its blooms. It has a vigorous growth and fills out beds and containers nicely. Reliably hardy to zone 3a. Produce in
gallon (15-cm) pot sizes 1ppp from a rooted liner in 10-12 weeks.
16. Phlox Candy Cloud series:
The new Candy Cloud series of hybrid phlox blooms after Phlox subulata and before Salvia nemorosa, giving growers a colourful option to fill the perennial gap in spring. Designers and gardeners will love this phlox’s showstopping colours with heavy flower coverage. Available in Pink, Blue, Lavender and Dark Pink varieties to create a mounded flower carpet during that peak late-spring market. Grows best in locations that receive partial to full sun in the early season. Hardy to zone 4a.
17.Brunnera Frost King: The kingsized leaves of this brunnera display strong, green venation. The texture and shape help it mix seamlessly into a wide range of shade-garden designs. The plant’s bright blue flowers are a bonus in the spring. Hardy to zone 4a, it has excellent cold tolerance and is best grown in larger gallon-sized (15-cm) pots in production 1ppp. Brunnera Frost King was a Retailer’s Choice Award winner at the Cultivate’25 show, recognized for its deer resistance and retail appeal.
18. Sedum Spectacular: There is a seed alternative to vegetative Sedum spectabile. New Sedum Spectacular from PanAmerican Seed has a more compact habit and sturdy flower clusters. Its stronger stems mean less breakage making it “spectacular” for smaller pots, patio container combos and mid-border landscape designs. Sedum Spectacular offers good plug quality, seeding uniformity, and a convenient, multi-pellet seed product form. Bright chartreusegreen foliage light up the garden. Reliably hardy to zone 3b.
19. Echinacea Artisan collection:Ship more blooming plants to market with the Artisan collection of Echinacea. Available
in three hues: Red Ombre, Soft Orange, and Yellow Ombre. This collection elevates seed Echinacea to offer consistent plant structure and flowering – all plants are uniform and ready to sell at the same time. The flexibility of seed means it fits better into growers’ production schedules. Plants are high branched and full with a more upright habit. They attract butterflies, bees and foraging birds to create a lush pollinator haven.
20. Digitalis BeeFoxy F1 Hybrid series: An amazing new Digitalis series from Jelitto Jet Seeds’ breeding program. Beautiful compact foxglove plants with healthy, uniform foliage and striking, brightly-coloured flowers. Jelitto’s ‘Jet Seed’ technology produces super clean seed with no pelleting or coating needed for easy machine sowing. This compact
series requires not vernalizations and is a pollinator magnet. At a height of about 32 inches/ 80cm, these BeeFoxy beauties are perfect for the middle of the border and, as a cut flower, make a great bouquet. Hardiness Zones 4-8.
21. Superbells Double
Grapefruit Calibrachoa: This dynamic, colour-shifting calibrachoa opens lemon yellow, then takes on soft pink tones when exposed to sunlight. The overall effect is like two pastel calibrachoas comingling in one captivating combination. It’s stunning in hanging baskets, window boxes and upright recipes where its slightly looser habit allows it to mix beautifully with other medium-vigour companions. It’s ideal for spring sales and holiday promotions. It blooms from spring into fall, requiring no deadheading to keep
it in colour, and it has been screened specifically for resistance to Thielaviopsis.
22. Supertunia Vista Cool Jazz Petunia: Earning the name Supertunia Vista is one of the greatest accomplishments if you’re a petunia. It requires years of development and rigourous trialing, both in-ground and in containers, with only the very best making the cut. This year, we are proud to debut a brand-new colour for the series – cool orchid pink. Like all Supertunias, this new selection requires no deadheading to stay in bloom and is blanketed in colour from spring to frost.
23. Southern Blaze Bright Pink Phlox: This positively glowing bright pink selection is a color expansion for the series which also includes Blueberry, Red Hot and White. It’s about 30 per cent more compact in size but contains all the flower power or more. A pollinatorfriendly variety, Southern Blaze Bright Pink is extremely reliable and easy to grow due to its outstanding heat and humidity tolerance. Northern growers and retailers should not bring these heat-lovers in too early, making them ideal for late spring and summer sales.
All photos and descriptions are courtesy the variety’s respective breeder or supplier.
25_010735_Greenhouse_Canada_NOV_CN Mod: September 19, 2025 4:00 PM Print: 09/29/25 page 1 v2.5
a good growing habit. Capitalize on the double flower look by planting it in larger hanging baskets to justify higher value. No deadheading, great from one metre or 30 metres.
15. Premium sun coleus mighty mosaic, 16. Coleus - Talavera Moondust, 17. Coleus - Terrascape Mojave Sunrise, and 18. Coleus - Terrascape Queen are all great varieties in terms of appearance and growth habit. They are the easiest crop to grow but be sure to treat for downy mildew prevention. Most of the varieties are selected so they do not seed even after mature growth. Try growing them as combination of two-colour coleus or with other cultivars.
19. Coleus - Burgundy Wedding Train is much more compact compared to the other varieties. Burgundy Wedding Train has a trailing habit and smaller leaves that make it very suitable for combinations. Make sure it is treated for downy mildew before planting.
20. Celosia plumosa - Flamma Golden, and 21. Celosia - Bright Sparks - Bright Red Bronze Foliage are seed varieties that are great in any landscape or containers that will tolerate heat and thrive the whole summer and then shines for the fall in combinations with garden mums or just grasses. The seed varieties are a fraction the cost of the vegetative ones.
22. Celosia - Kelos Fire Scarlet is a vegetative celosia that has a more controlled habit and narrower leaves. A facultative short-day plant that can be programmed for indoor production as a flowering pot where the seed varieties could be too vigorous if you do not know to manage the growth regulators.
23. Geranium - Fantasia Fuchsia Berry, 24. GeraniumFantasia Dark Red, and 25. Geranium - Fantasia Shocking Pink are medium-vigour varieties of the Fantasia series that are suitable for hanging baskets. Fantasias can manage the heat very well, they have very strong flower stems that keep the flowers standing straight up all the crop time.
26. Geranium - Mojo Scarlet is compact geranium suitable for four-inch production, but it will keep growing outdoors and gets to a decent size. Easy to grow, does not require much, if any, growth regulators. If a little more size is required, then a one-time florel spray will delay flowering for three days but give it a chance to bulk nicely.
27. Geranium - Galaxy Salmon is the other side of the coin: very vigorous when growing, requires lots of growth regulator treatment and takes a lot of space and will flower later than other varieties. Hard to grow in the greenhouse but has excellent garden performance.
Zonal geraniums have no tolerance for low pH or else it will speckle the bottom leaves and if not corrected you could lose the crop. pH must be higher than six, or micronutrient toxicity will take place. Correcting the pH will solve the problem. Monitoring the pH early in the crop is necessary. If your water has a low pH and low bicarbonate you will get low PH.
28. Ivy Geranium - Cascade Sofie, on the other hand, can handle a moderately low pH, we found it is even better for them.
In our trials we erred and did not check the pH. I went on a holiday without leaving proper instructions and when I got back the low pH symptoms were vivid. We treated to raise the pH and changed to a fertilizer that increased the pH. By the time the trial was upon us you could not see the damage.
We took advantage of this mishap and recorded the range of symptoms caused by the low pH on all varieties. It was interesting to see how some showed severe symptoms while others were not so bad.
This is Part 1 of our coverage of the Sawaya Garden Trials. Part 2 will be featured in an upcoming issue of Greenhouse Canada
Melhem Sawaya is a greenhouse consultant and owner of Sawaya Gardens in Waterford, ON. He can be reached at mel@focusgreenhousemanagement.com
Back in the May issue, I referenced the ‘Top 5 Technology Wishes’ from the 2024 CEA Census Report. To save you looking it up, these were (in order of preference):
1. Energy efficiency,
2. Remote monitoring and control,
3. Integration with the IoT (Internet of Things),
4. Data analytics and reporting, and
5. Scalability for future growth.1
(Remember that this census covered all aspects of CEA and the majority of respondents were in the vertical farm space, so it may not fully reflect the views of typical greenhouse companies.)
Energy efficiency and alternatives to natural gas have always been and will always continue to be high on the technology agenda. Remote crop monitoring and environmental sensing has been practiced for some time, but when linked to the IoT it opens up a new way of greenhouse control.2 However, the detail and power of these new tech systems depends on the accuracy of the sensors monitoring the greenhouse ecosystem increasingly critical to controlling greenhouse equipment at its most optimum. Indeed, during April’s ‘ACT Grower Summit’ in Langley, there was much discussion about new sensors. Many of the new sensors can be quite costly, and the grower may not be familiar with what the sensors do, their calibration methods, or even the benefit of the information that’s being provided, so good coaching and training in using these ought be considered.
Further, when AI and machine learning are also
know how to interpret the masses of data it is now possible to collect? And what do you do with all that data once you have used it; how do you store it? And how do you do that securely? Just this week as I write, several European airports, like Heathrow experienced travel nightmares after having checkin and baggage handling systems hacked. What disruption would such an external intervention do to your business? This has been explored previously in Greenhouse Canada, but it still remains a serious barrier to some growers for adoption of new technology. And this fear could also partly be the reason why “In today’s digital world, 60% of agricultural operations are still using pen, paper and spreadsheets to store and track operation data.”3
‘Review where you’re at with regards to the Brave New [Tech] World...’
incorporated, we have the possibility of accurate forecasting and pro-active climate management. My son-in-law is installing a new heating and hot water system in his home, and the ‘thermostat’ will ‘learn’ the habits of the family, providing ‘on-demand’ hot water and room heating when it’s needed before being asked. Very useful on the scale of a large greenhouse. Companies like Svensson, Priva, Let’s Grow, and Signify/Philips to mention a few, have focused on key features like ‘communication’, ‘connectivity’, ‘remote sensing’, ‘data-driven’, and ‘AI’ for some time, and these are pretty much standard topics of discussion ‘around the water cooler’ now.
But perhaps it’s not a good idea to simply off-load the data management to some AI-bot that we don’t really understand the workings of. So how do you
As we deal with new technology, automation, robotics, etc., one of the first objections is that it will ‘do away with jobs’. Well, that is part of the intention after all, but for many in the grassroots workforce, it is a red flag. However, maybe adoption of new tech will open up new roles in the greenhouse business? If you haven’t one already, perhaps it’s time to start hiring your own (in-house) ‘Data Analytics Manager’ to handle data-focused challenges and help realize its enormous potential. Perhaps someone who was a grower with strong data management curiosity and skill set. I would have never imagined this even just a few years ago, but the workplace is changing at such a rapid rate these days. Time to take a step back and review where you’re at with regards to the Brave New Technology World, and where your business may need specific hires or even new positions in your company structure.
1. Agritecture Consulting and CEAg World, “2024 CEA Census Report”, with support from industry partners Priva, Sollum Technologies, and TTA.
2. Pradeep, M, et al, (14 March 2024) “An IoT Based Greenhouse Remote Monitoring System for Automation of Supervision for Optimal Plant Growth”. 10th International Conference on Advanced Computing and Communication Systems, Coimbatore, India.
3. Telus, via LinkedIn, “Digital transformation in agriculture retail: Driving efficiency and helping ensure accuracy, every time”, (April 2024)
Gary Jones has worked in many aspects of the horticulture industry in BC, the UK, and elsewhere, and welcomes comments at greenhousewolf@gmail.com.
Black Bear® professional mixes with biochar are built for growers who expect more. Biochar delivers the aeration and consistency you count on, without the dust and handling hassle of perlite. Easy to integrate, priced right and ready to ship—with a carbon-capture story you’ll be proud to share.
Ready to see the difference? Scan to learn more.
