Horticulture brightens the holidays
By Markis Hill
When you think about our holidays, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
For many, it is the wonderful plants that make the holiday so memorable. However, these plants require a blend of science, precision and planning to bloom at the exact right time. There can’t be any room for error when planning out flowering time, because if the plants are not blooming, then they don’t sell.
To ensure that flowers bloom at the right time, horticulturists must undertake extensive planning and preparation. If you look at your local grocery store, you will notice there are blooming and cut flowers all year round, even in the cold of winter.
With today’s modern technology and international trade, it is much easier to get your hands on exotic plants and flowers whenever you want. For some people, having spring bulbs or summer flowers in the midst of winter is extremely important. For this reason, greenhouse production companies find it very lucrative to cater to these markets.
Lunar New Year, also commonly known as Chinese New Year, is a significant holiday in many countries across Asia. In certain cultures, it is customary to gift plants, such as daffodils and mini-Phalaenopsis orchids, to friends and family on this holiday. The thing that makes this gift so special is having these plants bloom on the day of the holiday, which is a sign of good luck for the year.
Since daffodils are a spring bulb, lots of manipulation is required to get them to bloom on the right day. For example, bulbs require cold treatment for several months. When planted in pots or placed in water, they will also need an exact average daily temperature and precise light exposure to mature at a rate that will cause them to bloom on the right day.
Valentine’s Day is also a holiday marked by an abundance off lowers. Dozens and dozens of roses will be sold and given as gifts to loved ones all around the world. This is where international trade plays a significant role in providing flowers for people who celebrate.
In February, in many states, our outdoor roses are still in a dormant state with no colorful flowers to be seen. However, there are plenty of companies that utilize heated greenhouses and labor-intensive practices to sell cut roses to retailers. With modern international trade, most of our roses come from South America, specifically Ecuador and Colombia.
Easter is another holiday that requires precision planning when growing plants. Easter lilies are everywhere during the holiday. They are bulbs native to Japan and Taiwan. Still, the majority of the ones available to us are grown in the Smith River Valley region, which spans southern Oregon and northern California. Just like daffodils, they require a cold period to flower, and similarly, a steady average daily temperature is necessary for their growth.
There is another aspect of growing Easter lilies that is worth considering, and that is the difference between day and night temperatures, also known as DIF. When the difference is a significant amount, the stem on the plants elongates more than when the difference is a smaller amount. In the landscape, Easter lilies usually bloom in mid-summer and can reach 2-3 feet. However, by manipulating the DIF in the greenhouse, plants remain shorter than those that are subject to the 20-30 degree shift we observe in the landscape.
Shorter plants are easier to transport and display in indoor settings, such as churches and hospitals.
As the extended holiday season approaches, and you are looking for flowers and plants that make it so special, don’t forget the science behind what makes it possible.
Markis Hill is horticulture agent at K-State Extension Johnson County.