Study of hydroponics in cut flower production to increase water conservation and crop quality

View the project final report

Commodities

• Additional Plants: ornamentals, other, cut flowers

Practices

• Crop Production: water management
• Production Systems: hydroponics
• Sustainable Communities: urban agriculture

There is an increasing demand for locally grown, sustainable produce, including cut flowers. In Utah, like much of the West, water availability is a major concern for farmers and this will likely only continue. While the benefits of growing locally are substantial, water use for conventionally grown flowers is increasingly unsustainable. 

Many vegetable growers (notably tomato, salad greens and hemp production) successfully grow high quality crops in controlled environments, but little research is available for floriculture. 

We looked at the feasibility of growing high-value crops, such as dahlias, hydroponically indoors to mitigate both the high water usage and pest and environmental pressures of field grown crops. Research species included five common floriculture crops chosen for their profitability and species diversity: dahlias, snapdragons, cosmos, scented sweet peas and lisianthus. We tested the best methods for each crop grown, and compared water usage directly in conjunction with a field crop of the same variety. We measured water usage, supplemental fertilization and amendment needs as well as the quality of the flowers with this research, focusing on stem number and length per plant, bloom size, and overall quality. 

Our goal with this research aimed to produce a product of similar or higher quality to field production, with significantly less water and land resources. We intend to share our methods and results with other growers to create a standard growing practice in places with low water availability, few land options, or challenging seasonal conditions for growing conventionally. 

By studying the feasibility of growing floriculture crops hydroponically, we tested methods that reduced water input while maintaining a marketable, local cut flower crop held to the same standards as conventionally grown cut flowers. Using this information we shared what we learned with other flower farmers the amount of water saved, hydroponic crop quality, costs involved, and best growing methods for specific crops.