Hydroponic nutrient supplies will be impacted by both the Middle East conflicts and restrictions on Chinese exports
By John Fitzsimmons
Amid continuing instability in parts of the Middle East, energy and supply lines for key greenlife production inputs are currently in a state of disruption. What challenges does this bring now and into the foreseeable future for our industry?… Continue reading
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High-quality, crushed, sieved, nutrient-charged and biologically inoculated pecan nut biochar, ready for use in soils or potting mixes (Image: Erik van Zuilekom)
By Erik van Zuilekom
What if the most transformative amendment available to nursery production was not new at all, but ancient, misunderstood, and hiding in plain sight? Biochar is gaining traction across Australian horticulture, yet much of what is sold under its name barely qualifies as true biochar.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Tania Harman and Daniel Knox
This article is the second in our ‘Successful Grant Writing’ series for horticulture businesses, grower groups and researchers. In the first article, we focused on the strategic foundations of a competitive application: the right project, at the right time, for the right program (‘How to write a successful grant funding application’, Hort Journal Australia, April 2026).… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Plants can be conceptualised as self-sustaining machines that do not eat food; they manufacture their own food using photosynthesis. Every leaf is like a solar panel, capturing energy that can be stored in the plant’s roots and other storage organs.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Corban
Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you are not as capable, qualified or deserving as others think you are, even when there is clear evidence that you are. It is that internal voice that says, ‘I don’t really know what I’m doing… I’ve just been lucky.’… Continue reading
Read MoreFunded by the nursery levy, the Greener Spaces Better Places program is driving sales by educating Australians on the benefits of plants, and inspiring them to head to their local nursery to learn more.
Building on the success of The Plant Value Report, this quarter has focused on keeping plants and their value top of mind in mainstream and social media, while supporting retail nurseries to drive sales.… Continue reading
Keynote speaker Sally McGrath shares this year’s International Women’s Day ‘Give to Gain’ message (Image: The Landscape Association)
Over 120 members and guests of The Landscape Association (TLA) gathered for the annual Women in Landscaping Brunch on 24 March, 2026, to celebrate the role of women in the industry, alongside International Women’s Day (IWD). With a fresh new format, the Artarmon event showcased insights from our keynote speaker, Sally McGrath, under the IWD theme, #GivetoGain.… Continue reading
Read MoreThe 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
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