The fifth annual CCE Cut Flower Webinar Series begins on January 6, 2026 and continues over 5 weeks on Tuesdays. This is a very popular series of online events you won't want to miss, with topflight speakers, a wide variety of subjects concerning growing cut flowers and plenty of interaction between speakers and attendees.  

Tuesdays 1pm-3pm January 6, 2026 - February 3, 2026 (The webinar held on February 3 will run 1pm-4pm)

Cost: $60.00 for all five sessions, $20 for single sessions

Webinars will be recorded, and all the recordings will be sent to registrants for future review.

SESSION 1:  1/6/2026

1:00 PM        Updates on the Cut Flower Cost Calculator

Speaker: Steve Hadcock, Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Market Development Educator, Team Leader of Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension

2:00 PM       Great Woody Cuts: From Field to Vase

Speaker: Dr. John Dole, Professor, Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University

SESSION 2:  1/13/2026

1:00 PM      So You Want to Grow Some Perennials as Cuts? - a few comments that you won't find on the Internet or Chat GPT from a scarred veteran of cut flower foibles

Speaker: Dr. Allan Armitage, Emeritus Professor of Horticulture, the University of Georgia, Author of "Specialty Cut Flowers", "The Field Guide to Specialty Cut Flowers", and 15 other books

2:00 PM        Industry Trends from a Regional Wholesaler's Perspective

Speaker: Jessica Balnaves, Founder & Owner of Flower Aggregate

SESSION 3:  1/20/2026

1:00 PM        Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation: A Sustainable Path to Disease-Free Cut Flowers

Speaker: Dr. Francesca Hand, Professor of Ornamental Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University  

2:00 PM        Biochar Use in Cut Flower Production: Practical Insights

Speaker: Dr. Debbie Aller, Senior Extension Associate, Program Coordinator, the New York Soil Health Initiative, Cornell University

SESSION 4:  1/27/2026

1:00 PM        Bugs in my Blooms?  Using beneficial insects in cut flower high tunnels*

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Lamb, Senior Extension Associate, Ornamentals IPM Coordinator, Cornell Integrated Pest Management

2:00 PM        Propagation Techniques for Plants That Are Used for Cut Flowers

Speaker: Dr. Mark Bridgen, Professor of Plant Breeding, School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, Cornell University

SESSION 5:  2/3/2026

1:00 PM        Managing Powdery Mildew, Leaf Spots and Root Rot on Cut Flowers*

Speaker: Dr. Margery Daughtry, Plant Pathologist, School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, Cornell University

2:00 PM         Managing Pests in (and Out of) Cut Flower Production*

Speaker: Daniel Gilrein, Entomologist and Associate Agricultural Program Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

3:00 PM         Market Trends and New Cut Flower Varieties for 2026

Speaker: Dave Dowling, Cut Flower Specialist, Ball ColorLink

* NYSDEC pesticide application credits will be provided.