The Greenhouse Grower List Of 15 Apps For 2015 [Slideshow]
Let’s face it. We’re busy. We’re mobile. And we love our technology, especially when it fits in the palm of our hand.
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1. PGR MixMaster
Use PGR MixMaster to calculate correct dilutions for plant growth regulators. Simply enter a product, final dilution volume (in gallons) and dilution concentration (ppm), and the app does the rest. Developed by The University of New Hampshire Extension, PGR MixMaster is available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.
OHP, Inc. also offers an app for taking the guesswork out of PGR calculations. Check out PGR Calculator on iTunes.
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2. Greenhouse Scout
The Greenhouse Scout mobile application from Gorges provides a summary of information on biological control of common greenhouse insect pests and an interactive interface for collecting, organizing and presentation of scouting data and product application for insect management. Available for $9.99 through iTunes and Google Play.
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3. GroGetter
The Gro Getter app from Ball Horticultural Co. is a plant search and information tool for commercial growers and retailers. It provides take-it-with-you access to more than 6,000 plant varieties from the world's leading breeders. Available through iTunes, Google Play and optimized for Windows devices.
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4. Virtual Combo Designer
The Virtual Combo Designer from Suntory Flowers allows users to build their own mix of Suntory varieties. The app delivers an almost real-life look and feel to the virtually designed combos. Users can choose from three different containers and more than 100 varieties of flowers to create their own unique patio design. Available through iTunes and Google Play.
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5. Plant Diagnostic Sample Submission
The Diagnostic Sample Submission app allows users to submit digital photo samples to a university plant diagnostic lab for diagnosis or identification. The app contains sample submission forms for plants ranging from small houseplants to large-scale, agronomic crops. The user completes each form by responding to simple, customized questions. After entering a description of the problem and attaching corresponding photos, the sample submission is sent to the selected diagnostic laboratory. Available through iTunes.
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6. Purdue Perennial Doctor
The Purdue Perennial Doctor app helps people better identify and manage insect, disease and environmental problems on herbaceous, perennial landscape plants. Information in this app is useful in the Midwestern and Eastern United States. Available for $.99 through iTunes and Google Play. If you like this app, also try the Purdue Annual Doctor.
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7. GrowIt!
GrowIt! from Ball Horticultural Co. lets you garden socially. Gardeners can share photos of their plants, interact with other growers and learn about what grows best in their area. GrowIt! users can browse the photos of neighbors’ plants and choose to “leave it,” “like it” or “grow it” to help them determine what kind of plants they will grow at home. Available through iTunes and coming soon for Android devices.
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8. Trial Tracker
Trial Tracker is part of the ET Grow horticultural suite of software developed specifically for growers and breeders, which includes CropTracker, RackTracker and RetailTracker. This app is a quick and easy way to access, monitor and measure the performance of greenhouse trials in real-time and learn about the trials as they are taking place. Available through iTunes, Google Play and Blackberry.
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9. Biobest Pesticide Side Effects
Biobest Pesticide SideEffects is a guideline for the integrated use of biological control agents and pollinators in combination with crop protection products. It allows users to find pesticides compatible with specific biologicals. Available through iTunes, Google Play and Blackberry.
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10. Suntory Growers Guide
Designed for iPad tablets, this fully integrated tool provides complete cultural information for the entire Suntory catalog. Growers can sort crops by temperature, light and fertility requirements and view crop times at a glance. In-depth cultural information is provided for each crop. Available through iTunes.
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11. Greenhouse Growers Toolbox
The Greenhouse Growers Toolbox includes both a lite version (free) and a full version ($32.99). The lite version includes three calculators: acid and product dosing; greenhouse area and volume; and dripper timing and volume. The full version has five additional calculators: boiler fuel cost, hydroponic boiler calculations, irrigation pump capacity, irrigation rate targets and radiation and light units. Available through iTunes.
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12. Insect Controls App
This app from Michigan State University is a reference guide for commercial pesticides approved for use in greenhouses. You select one of the common greenhouse pests on the home screen and a list of greenhouse-approved pesticides labeled for that pest appears on the screen. You can then click on the product to learn more about it. Available online.
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13. Armitage's Greatest Perennials And Annuals
No app list would be complete without one that captures Dr. Allan Armitage's know-how. The Greatest Perennial and Annual app allows users to search for annuals, perennials or those grown in sun, shade or for foliage or flowers. Scroll through any plant for useful information and swipe through hundreds of photos. Add plants to your list of favorites, and email some of these to your friends. Also, check out the videos for some helpful hints. Available for $4.99 through iTunes and Google Play.
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14. NOAA Radar Plus
NOAA Radar Plus plugs directly into NOAA's weather sources to provide accurate and timely weather data. It is a hi-resolution, predictive radar app with severe weather warnings, snow/mixed precipitation displays, weather forecasts and more. Available through iTunes for $1.99 and Google Play for $4.99.
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15. DLI Calculator
The DLI Calculator from the University of New Hampshire helps users estimate DLI from their supplemental light sources and estimate hours of lamp operation to achieve a target supplemental DLI. Available through the University of New Hampshire website.
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Also Worth A Download - University of New Hampshire Web-based Apps
The University of New Hampshire offers four web-based grower tools: AlkCalc, DLICalc, FertCalc and PGRCalc. Check them out on the University of New Hampshire website under GrowCalc.
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Also Worth A Download - Back Pocket Grower
Back Pocket Grower is a mobile-optimized website that provides ppm calculators for chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and PGRs. It also includes growing guides for seedling plugs and training videos in English and Spanish. You can access it at BackPocketGrower.com.
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For Greenhouse Marijuana Growers - Grow Bot Marijuana
Growbot Marijuana is designed to help growers create the finest and highest yielding plants possible. Modeled after some of the world's most successful growing techniques, Growbot simplifies the cultivation process. Available through iTunes.
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Just For Fun
Growbot - In this unique puzzle platformer, you play as an advanced robot with the single objective of regrowing all the dead plants. As you move the robot along, the dead plants will regrow under you. The challenge of the game comes with the movement. Available through GooglePlay.
View all
1. PGR MixMaster
2. Greenhouse Scout
3. GroGetter
4. Virtual Combo Designer
5. Plant Diagnostic Sample Submission
6. Purdue Perennial Doctor
7. GrowIt!
8. Trial Tracker
9. Biobest Pesticide Side Effects
10. Suntory Growers Guide
11. Greenhouse Growers Toolbox
12. Insect Controls App
13. Armitage's Greatest Perennials And Annuals
14. NOAA Radar Plus
15. DLI Calculator
Also Worth A Download - University of New Hampshire Web-based Apps
Also Worth A Download - Back Pocket Grower
For Greenhouse Marijuana Growers - Grow Bot Marijuana
Just For Fun
With more than 1.4 million Android apps available (AppBrain.com) and with iOS applications close behind at 1.2 million (TechCrunch.com), it’s no surprise there is an app for everything from what to serve for dinner to one that allows you to trick the gullible into believing you have a portable heater in your pocket (check out Pocket Heat on iTunes). So we knew there had to be something out there for greenhouse growers.
We scoured the app stores — and guess what? If you are looking to identify a pest, there’s an app for that. Need current PGR rates? There’s an app for that. For those who want to garden socially, there’s an app for that, too. So in honor of the New Year, here’s a list of 15 apps that might be worth a download in 2015, and a couple extras just for fun (listed in no particular order).
Did we miss your favorite app? Let us know about others that aren’t on this list in the comments below.
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Janeen Wright is former Editor for Greenhouse Grower. See all author stories here.