TECH ON DEMAND brought to you by GrowerTalks

Bill Calkins
  • 4.7 (13)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Grow your best crop ever! Cultural and technical information for greenhouse professionals.

  1. Sep 24

    Nick's Newsletter Tip (Week 39): Cool-Weather Crop Management

    Ball Seed Technical Services Specialist Nick Flax breaks down the key environmental and cultural adjustments your production team should make as temperatures drop. The focus starts with dewpoint management. Warm days followed by cool nights can quickly create condensation inside the greenhouse, increasing the risk of fungal diseases like Botrytis and Pythium. Nick explains practical strategies to stay ahead of humidity, including dehumidification cycles, greenhouse "burping," temperature setpoint adjustments and controller checks. The discussion also covers crop culture changes that often accompany fall weather. As plants use water more slowly, irrigation practices may need to be adjusted to avoid overly wet conditions. Nick shares tips on irrigation timing, crop spacing, air movement and using objective measurements such as water-by-weight to guide decisions. Finally, the audio tip reviews some disease prevention strategies for high-risk crops (like poinsettias) and highlights the importance of maintaining a proactive fungicide program as environmental conditions become more favorable for disease development. Now that you're transitioning from summer to fall production, this week’s tech tip offers practical reminders to help protect crop quality and reduce disease pressure during the season ahead. By now, you’ve realized my man Nick is pretty good at that! This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.   Subscribe to the weekly Tech On Demand Newsletter: https://www.growertalks.com/Newsletters/Signup/?newsletter=techondemand

  2. Sep 23

    4 Questions for Sid, a Horticulture Consultant

    Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by one of his mentors, Sid Raisch—the Swiss Army knife of horticulture consultants! Sid is one of the most thoughtful and wise people in or industry and throughout the episode, the depth of his passion for coaching green industry businesses becomes more and more evident, as does his principled approach to continuous improvement. One theme that weaves through this episode is the importance of letting people grow—and how this approach by owners and managers not only sets their operation up for success but also helps them avoid burnout and get the most from their team. Be sure to stick around all the way to the end because the wisdom just keep coming! And keep an eye out for a future Part 2 to this episode. Bill and Sid definitely have more to discuss. Here are the four questions Sid selected: Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond?   Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?   Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”?   This episode is sponsored by NurseryGuide.com. Whether you’re sourcing for a garden center, landscape project, nursery or growing operation, NurseryGuide.com puts one of the industry’s most trusted sourcing resources right at your fingertips. NurseryGuide.com—powered by the Oregon Association of Nurseries.

  3. Sep 16

    AI for Green Industry Businesses ft. Justin Ragsdale (First Steps, Customer Engagement & What’s Next)

    For episode 273, host Bill Calkins talks with IM Digital’s Justin Ragsdale about how greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries can use AI and other emerging technologies without getting lost in hype. The conversation focuses on practical use cases, from automating repetitive work to improving year-round customer engagement and building stronger digital systems. Justin explains how to think about AI as a tool, not a magic wand, and why the best results come from adding context, data and clear business goals. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 5 STEP AI PLAYBOOK FROM IM DIGITAL HERE: https://www.imdigital.com/insights/five-pillars-enterprise-ai-strategy    There’s a lot covered in this episode. Here are a few of the topics Bill and Justin discussed: Perhaps the best way to approach AI is as another tool in the toolbox, not as a replacement for business judgment, staff or customer relationships. A major theme is the importance of context: AI works better when businesses give it clear instructions, business processes, goals, customer information and system access, instead of just asking it to “do stuff.” The episode walks through simple starting points for AI adoption, including using tools like Claude or Gemini Enterprise for everyday tasks such as email triage, social media responses and creating basic marketing agents. How your best early wins will come from solving known problems, not trying to make AI predict the future or solve unclear business challenges. Why customer engagement is a major focus, especially how garden centers can use POS data, marketing platforms, and AI to personalize follow-up based on purchase history, location, and seasonal needs. For businesses, an early step should be to identify their “source of truth” for customer data, then connect other systems to it so AI can build useful profiles and campaigns. Labor efficiency comes up as another key opportunity: AI can help train staff, document tribal knowledge, and reduce repetitive admin work so employees can spend more time on the sales floor with customers. The conversation closes with a look at the future, where the most advanced garden centers will be available across digital channels, in customers’ pockets and responsive 24/7, while still protecting the human expertise that makes garden centers valuable. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 5 STEP AI PLAYBOOK FROM IM DIGITAL HERE: https://www.imdigital.com/insights/five-pillars-enterprise-ai-strategy

  4. Sep 11

    Audio Files: What Plants Are Customers Searching For & Where Is Breeding Still Open?

    WHAT PLANTS ARE CUSTOMERS SEARCHING FOR & WHERE IS BREEDING STILL OPEN? FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHI NGUYEN, SETH WANNEMUEHLER AND MIKE SCHNELLE NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPT: Every breeding program eventually faces the same difficult question: Where should the next five to 10 years of effort go? Grower experience, customer requests and historical sales remain essential, but they mostly describe what’s already known. They may not reveal where consumer attention is building or where the competitive space is already crowded. A recent HortScience study developed a Breeding Opportunity Index (BOI) to add that missing layer by combining U.S. Google Trends data with U.S. plant patent records. USDA production data provided the geographic context. The goal was to screen genera and traits before committing years of breeding, trial space or licensing resources.   Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_09/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

  5. Sep 7

    Insect & Disease Issues in Cut Flowers ft. Dave Dowling

    WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATION Pests and diseases can wipe out a cut flower crop fast—but the biggest mistake growers make is waiting too long to notice them. Ball's cut flower specialist Dave Dowling breaks down the pests and diseases that hit cut flower farms hardest, and the scouting habits that can save an entire season before damage becomes irreversible. Dave spent more than two decades growing cut flowers before moving to the supply side, and he brings that field-tested perspective to everything from low-cost startup advice to the realities of selling top-quality stems. If you're thinking about adding cuts to your operation, or you've already planted them and want to protect your investment, this conversation gives you the practical playbook. Some of what Dave covers in this 30-minute discussion includes: How to spot aphids, thrips, Japanese beetles, lily leaf beetles, tarnished plant bugs, spider mites and cabbage moths before they take over Why certain crops like gladiolas, dahlias, zinnias, lilies, peonies, ranunculus and chrysanthemums are especially vulnerable What actually works for control, from neem and horticultural oils to beneficial insects, Bt and labeled chemical options The difference between prevention and rescue, especially when dealing with powdery mildew, Botrytis, root rots and viruses Why crop rotation, airflow, drainage and relentless scouting matter more than most growers realize Dave also breaks down the hidden traps that catch new growers off guard, like introducing beneficial insects too late, using Japanese beetle traps in the wrong place or overlooking early damage that won't show up until weeks later—when blooms are ruined and the crop is lost. Dave explains how small decisions at the start of the season can determine whether you harvest a clean, salable crop or lose your crop and your profits. This is essential listening for greenhouse growers, cut flower farmers and anyone expanding into a new product line without wanting to learn the hard way. If you grow cut flowers for profit, the advice in this episode can help you protect your crop, your customers and your bottom line. WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATION   Resources Ball Seed Cut Flowers Greenhouse Tech Team Facebook Group

  6. Sep 2

    4 Questions for Coy, a Sales Representative

    Throughout 2026, host Bill Calkins has been catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss. This episode, Bill is joined by his friend Coy Butner, a Sales Representative with Ball Seed Company in the Midwest. It’s a fun episode because Coy is not only a fantastic partner to his customers (greenhouses of every size and shape) but also a great storyteller with a long history in horticulture that spans more than three decades and includes owing a retail greenhouse and then as a sales rep for more than 20 years. But Coy didn’t start off in hort, which is where the episode begins. Coy shares the importance of listening, working with customers to identify challenges and bring solutions, what he looks for in new varieties (and some of his favorite plants like gomphrena, zinnia and echinacea) and how to stay engaged and enthused. He also makes an analogy comparing growing vegetative annuals to raising hogs. You’ve got to hear this! Here are the four questions Coy chose to answer: Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family? Q: What are your top 3 favorite annuals? And perennials? Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with burnout? Q: What do you love most about your job?   This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

  7. Aug 26

    Maximizing Early Order Programs ft. Envu’s Steve Larson

    Host Bill Calkins was joined for this episode by Steve Larson from Envu. Steve and Bill sat down to chat about something that just about every greenhouse owner and manager deals with each year—but a topic that probably doesn’t get the press it deserves (probably because it doesn’t generate the same level of excitement as new plant varieties ...) But when it comes to saving money and securing the crop protection products needed for a successful season—Early Order Programs (EOPs) are definitely one of the most critical topics. Steve and Bill talked about the history of EOPs, why growers should be motivated to buy from an EOP, tips for making smart purchase decisions (not over-buying or under-buying) and the importance of leveraging the terms that often come from early order programs. Steve also discussed Envu’s EOP program, which kicks off on September 1, 2026. Everything you need to know about this program can be found at https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/programs - including the EOP calculator Steve mentioned in the podcast.   Resources Envu Early Order Program for 2026: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/programs Envu Ornamentals: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals Envu Ornamentals Team: https://www.us.envu.com/ornamentals/find-your-envu-rep

  8. Aug 20

    Audio Files: Reconnect Your Website & Connect Online Shopping to Your Store

    ADAPT OR DIE: RECONNECT YOUR WEBSITE ADAPT OR DIE: CONNECT ONLINE SHOPPING TO YOUR STORE FROM THE JULY AND AUGUST 2026 ISSUES OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY JOHN STANLEY, SID RAISCH & DRIES JANSEN NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS   EXCERPTS: Your website isn’t a brochure; it’s your store open 24 hours a day and now it’s also your application for AI recommendation. Most importantly, begin with connecting your email, text and every other marketing effort to the customer with the invitation to learn, be inspired and buy. If your customers are arriving at dead ends on your website right now, fix them and make it easy to click to send you money.    Before you sell a single plant online, your shop is already talking. A site with stale photos from two springs ago, no way to buy anything and an “Under Construction” page tells customers loud and clear: “We are not ready for you.” A clean, current online shop with real products, real prices and a “Buy Online, Pick Up In Store” button tells them the opposite: “We’re open for business, we respect your time and we’re ready to serve you right now.”   Read the Digital Editions: July— https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_07/index.aspx August— https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_08/index.aspx This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

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Grow your best crop ever! Cultural and technical information for greenhouse professionals.

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