In this issue, our articles provide management guidelines and updates relevant to the nursery industry. Featured articles cover water management topics, including cost analyses for building a water recycling system, the pathogen risk associated with implementing these systems in nursery production, and common irrigation mistakes, and ways to prevent them in nurseries. In the Science to the grower section, we cover valuable insights on pH management, and its effect on plant nutrition. This issue also marks the first of five articles dedicated to soil and water pH. Additionally, the regional advisor report highlights the current treat of the invasive shothole borers and strategies to manage them. Lastly, in the Campus and research updates section, we shared the topics of the upcoming Ask the Advisor series, a recap of the most recent UCNFA conference and its presentations, as well as new research projects on characterizing Botrytis populations in California’s nursery industry, and extension resources offering free training on irrigation management.
Altman Specialty Plants (Altman) built an irrigation runoff water capturing and recycling system to address concerns about interruption in the supply of and the increasing cost of municipal water that they relied on for irrigation. One container nursery site is 400 acres and located in the “Inland Empire” of Southern California, where a favorable plant production climate allowed the citrus industry to flourish during the last century. However, water is scarce in this area, with about 12 inches of rain per year and as low as 6 inches per year during the 2012-2016 drought.
Ornamental nurseries rely on a large quantity of high-quality water to irrigate a wide range of ornamental crops with diverse water needs. Over a year period, a containerized nursery in California can consume about 2.5 million gallons of water per acre (Pitton et al., 2018). This high-water demand contrasts with the current scenario of reduced water availability in agriculture due to climate change, water costs, which vary depending on location, and regulatory measures. To overcome these challenges, some producers reuse captured irrigation run-off water (recycled wat
This is by far the most common problem. Watch this video of an impact sprinkler not spinning because it is being operated at low pressure or scan this code. Impact sprinklers typically need 50 psi to operate. Gear drive rotors (such as the Hunter PGP or the RainBird 5000) need 45 psi. Stream nozzles (Rainbird R-VAN, TORO PRN or Hunter MP) need 40 to 45 psi. Senninger Wobblers are the exception and operate as low as 15 psi.
The pH of soil and water and how it affects plant growth and chemical makeup of soils and media is somewhat detailed. In the next five newsletters, we will present different aspects about pH. Once complete, one should have a thorough understanding of pH and how it influences plant production.
Part I – What is pH?
Part II – How is nutrient availability affected by pH
Invasive shothole borers (ISHB) are a group of non-native ambrosia beetles within the genus Euwallacae. There are two ISHB species currently found in California, the polyphagous shothole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) which was first detected in 2003, and the Kuroshio shothole borer (Euwallacea kuroshio) which was first reported in 2015.
Each month, UCNFA hosts a free virtual Q&A session on a topic related to greenhouse and nursery management. Drawing on our members’ varied expertise, we hope to provide guidance and answer questions related to your production challenges. Our topics and schedule for the beginning of 2025 are as follows:
Botrytis blight, rot and gray mold caused by Botrytis spp. are the most recurrent disease on both ornamental and vegetable transplant greenhouse crops in California, generating losses in these industries.
The UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA) hosted its annual California Nursery Conference in Watsonville, bringing together experts to share advancements, discuss challenges, and network within the nursery industry. The conference featured hands-on demonstrations on plant nutrition, pest management, and water efficiency, encouraging knowledge-sharing that is prevalent in this industry.
University of California Cooperative Extension advisors offer a one-day technical training in irrigation best management practices for irrigators of containerized nursery plants. The curriculum was developed with input from focus groups with nursery managers and aims to improve irrigation efficiency, reduce water consumption and improve plant health. Funding from California Department of Food and Agriculture allows advisors to travel to your nursery or greenhouse to conduct training on-site.
by Johanna Del Castillo Múnera and Bruno J.L. Pitton
The University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA) is a collaborative effort dedicated to conducting research and outreach activities tailored to address the challenges and needs of California’s nursery and greenhouse industry. UCNFA is a partnership between UC Cooperative Extension and UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences academics. UCNFA fosters collaboration among researchers, educators, producers, nursery associations, and others in the Green Industry.
The UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA) evolved from the California Ornamental Research Federation (CORF) that was started by Ray Hasek, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Floriculture Specialist, and Hank Sciaroni, UCCE Advisor in San Mateo County in the 1980s. They organized an annual statewide meeting that included presentations, a tour, and a trade show that focused on flower growers, which expanded to potted plant and, eventually, outdoor nursery crop growers. This annual meeting provided educational information on production best management practices and rotated loca
