The International Day of Plant Health falls on 12 May, so in the lead up to this event next month, I thought it only fitting that we dedicate an issue to the theme of biosecurity.
Some of you may be attending the Plant Biosecurity Research Symposium at the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne in May.… Continue reading
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Delegates at the International Horticultural Expo Conference on 9 March 2026 (Image: Ludovic Vilbert, Inwardout Studio)
By Gabrielle Stannus
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) 2026 Meeting, which took place from 8-12 March 2026, offered unique insights into the current challenges and opportunities for the global industry and provided in-depth knowledge of Australia’s ornamental horticulture sector.… Continue reading
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Dr Chris Brosnan and Dr Don Gardiner in the University of Queensland (UQ) laboratory (Image: Megan-Pope, UQ)
By Natalie MacGregor
University of Queensland (UQ) research has revealed that double-stranded RNA-based biopesticides (dsRNA) sprayed on plant leaves can travel right down into root systems. Led by Dr Chris Brosnan at UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), the work also disproves a long-standing misconception that dsRNA directly enters plant cells.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Plants infected with myrtle rust are still specified and sold in humid and subtropical parts of Australia every day. Once established in the landscape, the results are unmistakable with plants showing yellow powdery lesions, purple pustules and distorted new growth.… Continue reading
Read MoreUsing practical technology to ease pressure in production nurseries
INTRODUCTION
Production nurseries are operating in an environment of sustained pressure. Labour shortages, rising input costs, increasing regulatory requirements and heightened biosecurity expectations have combined to make day-to-day management more complex than it was even a few years ago.… Continue reading
Engaging experienced contractor Baden to build this gravity rock wall rather than ourselves allowed us to save time and money for the client (Image: Patrick Regnault)
By Patrick Regnault
We are working in a very volatile period, politically and economically. Global change is afoot and as business owners, managers and workers we need to adapt to uncertain conditions. Added to that unpredictability is the real threat of climate change.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Tania Harman and Daniel Knox
This article is the first in a series designed to help horticulture businesses, grower groups and researchers better understand how to approach grant funding and improve their chances of success.
Grant funding can be transformational for horticulture organisations, but it is also extremely competitive.… Continue reading
Read MoreIn this issue of Hort Journal, we celebrate ornamentals and the people who grow, trial and champion them. We also turn the spotlight on women in horticulture, recognising their contribution across production, design and leadership.
My personal taste in ornamental plants leans heavily towards those that are also edible, so potted colour is usually not the first thing to attract my attention.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Corban
Running a business is not easy. The early mornings, the physical work, the constant problem-solving, the pressure of keeping jobs profitable, keeping staff happy and wanting to stay, and ensuring clients are satisfied can wear anyone down. If you are feeling stretched, tired or frustrated at times, that does not mean that you are doing it wrong, it means that you are in the thick of running a real business.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Jennifer McQueen
What keeps women in greenlife? It is not just plants. It is purpose, flexibility, shared knowledge and the quiet strength of community. In this International Women’s Day reflection, women from across Australia share how they found their way into the industry, and why, despite the challenges, they choose to stay.… Continue reading
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