Lois Berg Stack

• University of Maine

In 2008, we administered a survey to participants at four venues in Maine to determine: 1) the degree of interest in organically, sustainably, and locally grown plants; 2) whether respondents would pay more for these plants compared with conventional plants; and 3) which demographic groups expressed the greatest interest in organically, sustainably...

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. marketing, consumer behavior, ornamental, vegetables, herbs SUMMARY. In 2008, we administered a survey to participants at four venues in Maine to determine: 1) the degree of interest in organically, sustainably, and locally grown plants; 2) whether respondents would pay more for these plants compared with conventional plants...

A survey of the Maine landscape and nursery industry was conducted to identify industry views on invasive plant issues, attitudes towards potential regulation, and to estimate the potential economic costs of banning the sale of specific invasive plant species in Maine. Analysis of the 190 surveys returned (19% of 980 mailed) revealed that 76% of in...

Ethephon was sprayed on Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch (poinsettia) ‘Sonora Jingle’ and ‘Sonora White’ to control their height and produce more compact potted plants. The results showed that Ethephon could effectively control the growth of ‘Sonora Jingle’ and ‘Sonora White’ poinsettia. Height was reduced by was 33.4 ± 0.8% for ‘Sonora Jin...

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) traditionally has been recommended as a shade plant, but many cultivars are also suitable for full sun. In regions of the country where light limits growth and photosynthesis, supplemental lights are used to increase daily light integral (DLI). Understanding the minimum DLI necessary to produce coleus would min...

Organic and conventional greenhouse growers in Maine were surveyed to determine the research needs of growers who may produce organic ornamental bedding plants. Organic growers were also asked to identify their greatest motivator to determine whether they feel that there is a greater market for organically grown ornamental plants. The greatest perc...

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellariodes (L.) Codd) is an ornamental foliage plant valued for its colorful variegation patterns. Cultivars of coleus are able to tolerate a broad range of light conditions. However, the leaf variegation that coleus is valued for has been noted to change depending on the amount of light in which it is grown. Successful col...

In commercial greenhouses, fan flower 'Whirlwind Blue' (Scaevola aemula R. Br.) plants are sensitive to phosphorus applications in the range typically applied to other floricultural crops. To quantify this response, fan flower plants were grown in Hoagland solutions containing 0, 20, 40, 60, or 80 mg·L-1 P. Plants fertilized with either the highest...

Teaoil Camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) is a promising horticultural crop that has been cultivated for various purposes in China for more than 1000 years. It is a small tree, which grows naturally from latitudes of 18° to 34° North and in acidic soils where January mean temperatures do not drop below 2°C. As cooking oil, it compares favorably wit...

Scaevola aemula R.Br. (fanflower), an ornamental plant native to Australia, produces stunted growth when fertilized with high concentrations of P. To determine optimum P concentration, rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm standard pots and grown with a water soluble fertilizer, where P concentrations were 0, 14.5, 29.0, 43.5, 58.0, 72.5, 87...

Five of the ten training sessions for Maine Master Gardeners (MGs) were taught using interactive television (ITV) in 1993. Trainees at one location participated in the sessions live; trainees at seven locations participated in the sessions from distant locations but in real time; and trainees at two locations viewed videotapes of the ITV sessions a...