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The Flower PodcastAuthor: Scott Shepherd, Host and Flower Educator
The Flower Podcast, hosted by Scott Shepherd is for the floral community to discuss flowers, trends, and business topics, including everything from flower farmer to all aspects of floristry. Each week a featured guest will share their knowledge, passion, and love of flowers. Join us for colorful chats with talented creatives, photographers, growers, entrepreneurs, authors, and so much more!! Be sure to subscribe on your listening platform of choice. Learn more at https://www.theflowerpodcast.com . You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @theflowerpodcast . Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Home & Garden, Leisure Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Using Beneficial Insects in Cut Flower Production with Erik van der Sluys
Episode 303
Thursday, 4 December, 2025
In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Scott welcomes Erik van der Sluys of Beneficial Insectary for a deep dive into natural pest control strategies tailored specifically for flower farmers. They explore practical, real-world approaches to managing common pests such as thrips, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and fungus gnats, and discuss how integrating beneficial insects into your growing system can dramatically improve plant health and resilience. Erik breaks down how growers can strengthen their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) through foundational cultural practices (watering, fertilizing, crop rotation), sanitation practices (removing plant debris, cleaning tools, controlling weeds), and mechanical controls (sticky traps, insect screens, targeted water sprays). He also explains how and when to release beneficial insects—such as predatory mites, parasitic wasps, lacewings, and lady beetles—to support the natural ecosystem of your fields, tunnels, and greenhouses. Listeners will learn how to read seasonal pest patterns, track insect lifecycles, monitor temperatures for pest activity, and build habitats that attract and sustain beneficial insects. The conversation highlights why understanding the biology of both pests and beneficials is essential for long-term success, especially when dealing with repeat issues in crops like dahlias, lisianthus, zinnias, snapdragons, and more. Whether you're looking to reduce chemical pesticides, improve your biological control strategy, or create a more sustainable, resilient flower farm, this episode is packed with actionable guidance and expert insights to help you manage pests naturally—and grow stronger, healthier blooms. Learn more about this topic by visiting Beneficial Insectary. Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers: Learn more and join at ascfg.org Visit RootedFarmers.com and use code TFP25 for $75 off your new membership. The Gardener's Workshop — Helping flower farmers grow smarter at thegardenersworkshop.com Visit accentdecor.com and be inspired for your floral design containers and decor. Learn more about today's episode and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com Subscribe to The Flower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more! If you have a minute, it would be great if you could leave a review wherever you listen to our podcast.
