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Consumer Preferences for Hawaiian Orchids Revealed

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 15:37

Price drives buying decision, study shows

COLLEGE STATION, TX—Orchids are the fastest-growing group of potted flowering plants in the United States, outranked only by poinsettias in sales. The wholesale value of potted orchids in the U.S. has risen 80% in the last decade (to $126 million in 2007), but information concerning consumer preferences for orchids is still very limited. To help Hawaiian garden centers and orchid growers gain insights into consumer attitudes and preferences, researchers from Texas A&M University designed a study that analyzed consumer preferences affecting orchid purchases and the relative importance of different orchid “attributes”, including species, price, size, and color.

Invaders Could Devastate Florida Avocado Industry

Thursday, 09 September 2010 16:15

Research finds economic impact of laurel wilt disease could be “catastrophic”

HOMESTEAD, FL—Florida’s lucrative avocado industry could face a serious blow from a duo of deadly new invaders. Together, the invasive fungus called “laurel wilt disease” and the redbay ambrosia beetle, which carries laurel wilt, represent a significant economic threat to the industry. According to a report published in HortTechnology, direct losses from the invasion could range from $183 million to a remarkable high of $356 million. “The impact on the local economy would be catastrophic”, noted Dr. Edward A. Evans of the University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center, one of the authors of the study.

Black or Blue? Mulch Color Affects Okra Growth, Yield

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:34

Study determines usefulness of dark-colored plastic mulch and row covers for okra production

MIAMI, FL—Plastic mulches have been used in vegetable production in the United States since the 1950s. Black plastic (polyethylene) mulch, which alters the plant’s growing environment by generating warmer soil temperatures and holding more moisture than bare soil, is the standard mulch used in vegetable production. A new research study evaluated the effects of colored plastic mulches with and without row covers on growth and earliness of fruit production on okra. According to the report in the latest issue of HortTechnology, the color of mulch used produced significant differences in okra growth and yield.

Campus Green Space More Important for Undergrads

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:26

For graduate students, quality of life may be linked to other factors

SAN MARCOS, TX—Students’ perceptions of their overall experience on campus may be most strongly associated with their academic accomplishments, but research has also found a solid relationship between undergraduates’ use of campus green spaces and their perceptions of quality of life. Are campus green spaces as important to graduate students as they are to undergrads? A new study investigating this question revealed some interesting insights.

Frequent Flower Buyers Seek Product Variety

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 02:31

Study reveals consumer values influencing floral purchases

TAIPEI, TAIWAN—Florists and other retailers who sell flowers and plants can now add another tool to their marketing kit. A recent study of “consumption values” may help them understand what influences consumers’ choices in regard to floral purchases, and how to better design marketing efforts and purchase stock that can increase customers and sales.

Li-Chun Huang from National Taiwan University and Tzu-Fang Yeh from Da-Yeh University headed a research project that evaluated the differences in floral consumption values across consumer groups (the full study appears in a recent issue of HortTechnology).

Students Learn Environmental Stewardship, Improve Science Scores

Wednesday, 09 December 2009 11:40

Middle schoolers’ test scores boosted by integrating horticulture lessons

BATON ROUGE, LA—Keeping with the global “green” trend, educators worldwide are relying more on environmental education lessons to enhance students’ science knowledge. Studies have revealed that bringing environmental education into the curriculum raises not just science scores—environmental-based lessons can also improve student test scores in other subject areas. Naturally, educators are interested in developing new ways to integrate these relevant lessons into the classroom in hopes of piquing student interest and comprehension in multiple subject areas.