Learning Opportunity: Wood Fiber Products in Floriculture Production

By Nick Matysik|March 2, 2026

In 2026, there are more options than ever for growers seeking peat-reduced and peat alternative substrates. One of the top contenders on the market, being researched for additional and expanded applications, is that of wood fiber.

American Floral Endowment‘s upcoming webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as part of its ongoing Grow Pro series, will cover the latest research on peat-less substrate options, primarily focused on wood fiber products. Topics of the webinar will include:

An awareness of wood product types and suppliers on the market.
Determining where wood fiber products can be incorporated into different types of growing systems.
How to evaluate substrate blends to determine the minimum amount of peat needed.
Understanding changes in fertility, pH, and water management when using wood fiber.

The featured speaker for “Floriculture Production in Peat-Reduced Substrates” is Dr. Brian Jackson from North Carolina State University. His work focuses on designing and engineering wood and bark materials for soilless substrates. In addition to being involved in many national and global substrate initiatives and advocacy groups, Dr. Jackson is also currently writing the six-part “A Guide to Wood Substrates” series for Greenhouse Grower. Click here for Part 1.

Willing participants can register for the webinar directly through Zoom or by visiting the Grow Pro Webinar series page on the AFE website, where information on future webinars in the series can be found. Recordings of all past Grow Pro webinars can also be found on the AFE’s YouTube channel.