Editors’ Letter: Dealing with drought
Did you know 2022 was the sixth-warmest year on record based on temperature data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)? And, the 10 warmest years on record have all been since 2010? Earth’s temperature has increased by an average of 0.14° F each decade since 1880, but, since 1981, the warming rate has been increasing more than twice as fast per decade. It’s no wonder plant breeders have been spending so much time and effort developing varieties that are heat and drought tolerant for growers.
This month, we talked with two perennial and shrub experts about plants that can manage long periods of time with limited water. Drought-tolerant varieties are no longer just for the Southern regions. Read all about why these plants will continue to be a necessity and see what the experts’ favorite picks are for dry conditions on page 16.
Don’t miss another great heat-tolerating variety in this month’s Culture Report on page 32. These geraniums are bred with the heat and drought tolerance of ivy geraniums and have a lot of other impressive characteristics that make them a great choice to consider.
FIT FOR SALE
The health of your plants is always top priority, and knowing what products and solutions to use is an important part of managing your success. Our special section on plant health starts with details on insecticides from our resident Dr. Bugs on page 21. Following, you will find great options for battling pest and disease issues in the greenhouse to help continue growing healthy, quality plants for your customers. I hope you find this information useful and continue to have minimal problems in your production.
GPN’S CHAT ROOM
Every month, we send out a survey via email to ask our readers what they think about important topics in our industry. We compile the results and share them with you on one page in each issue, so you can easily see where you stand against others on these topics. Turn to page 42 to check out this month’s discussion. You can always find our latest survey at gpnmag.com/chatroomsurvey. We want to know what you think!
Have you filled out one of our Chat Room surveys? What topics do you want to talk about next? Let me know at hmachovina@greatamericanpublish.com
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