Events

Registration is now open for workshops on May 1 and 6 2025 presented by NZ International Plant Production Society and the U.S. research/outreach team NC1186 Water Management and Quality for Specialty Crop Production and Health. Sponsored by Bluelab.
Gain practical hands-on skills for greenhouse and nursery growers of container crops. Workshops include demonstrations and a grower tour.
Demonstration topics:

1. Compare container substrate (potting mix) physical properties (water, air & solid)
2. Use leaching fraction to guide your irrigation practices and avoid runoff
3. Audit your irrigation system to efficiently manage water
4. Measure substrate pH, EC and water alkalinity to keep crop nutrition on track
5. Select irrigation control options including loggers and cloud-based software
6. Measure light and temperature for crop yield and quality
Workshop dates and locations (own transport required):

(1) Christchurch, Thursday May 1 from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Kiwiflora Nurseries (final registration 28/04/25 or maximum attendance of 60 people)

(2) Palmerston North, Tuesday May 6 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Totara Glen Nurseries (final registration 02/05/25 or maximum attendance of 60 people)

Workshop Program (3.5 hours):

Arrive on time to complete registration

• Welcome from local host and research team
• Tour of nursery (1 hour)
• Demonstrations with first set of 3 stations at the nursery (1 hour)
• Demonstrations with second set of 3 stations at the nursery (1 hour)
• Workshop finishes. Drinks & snacks.

Registration fee $25 per person
Click here to register online

Grower Locations
Christchurch 1:00 PM on May 1: Kiwiflora Nurseries 851 Waterholes Road, Templeton, Christchurch 7678. An 8.5ha operation that propagates and grows a comprehensive range of trees and shrubs for the wholesale and retail sector nationwide. Tel (03) 349 4582
Palmerston North 9:00 AM on May 6: Totara Glen Nurseries: A leading native plant nursery specialising in natives, revegetation plants, hard-to-propagate species and specialized eco-sourced lines. 167 Staces Road, Aokautere, Palmerston North. Tel 0274 981 583

Cancellations: If the workshops cannot be held due to circumstances out of our control, you will be notified and a full refund will be given.
If you cannot attend, a full refund will be given until Thursday 24th for the Christchurch workshop or Tuesday 29th for the Palmerston North workshop. After those dates, no refunds but substitutions will be permitted.