Paul Fisher
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Floriculture
Environmental Horticulture Dept.
University of Florida
2549 Fifield Hall, PO Box 110670
Gainesville FL 32611-0670
Voice: 352.392.1831 x 375
Fax: 352.392.3870
Email:pfisher@ufl.edu
Professional Background:
Education
Ph.D. in Horticulture (Michigan State Univ.), 1995
M.Appl.Sci. in Resource Mgmt. (Lincoln Univ., New Zealand), 1988
B.Sci. in Botany (Univ. of Auckland, New Zealand), 1985
Work Experience
2006-curr. Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Univ. of Florida
1996-2006, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Univ. of New Hampshire
1995-1996, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Univ. of California at Davis
1991-1992, Visiting Scholar, Michigan State University
1989-1991, Research Associate, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, New Zealand
Extension
Research-based information for greenhouse floriculture focused
on production, propagation and shipping of plugs and cuttings
(the Young Plant Research Center).
Water treatment to minimize runoff and disease-related issues
(the Water Education Alliance for Horticulture).
Case studies for horticulture training (http://ramosus.massey.ac.nz/demo.asp).
University of Florida programs including Floriculture Field Days.
Research
Applied research for the commercial greenhouse industry, including
the Young Plant Research Center, an industry-driven research program for
the production, propagation, and shipping of young plant material.
Media-pH and micronutrient management, including understanding how factors drive pH
changes over time and correction of pH-related problems.
Computer decision-support systems for growers, to help to optimize growing conditions,
and to consistently and profitably achieve high-quality crops in time for target sales periods. These tools allow graphical tracking of plant height, flower development, nutrient, or pest levels over time.
Here is an example article on modeling pH dynamics.
We thank the following organizations for providing research funding:
American Floral Endowment
The Young Plant Research Center partner companies: Blackmore Co.,
Center Greenhouses, Costa Nursery, D.S. Cole Growers, Ellegaard, Four Star Greenhouses,
Glass Corner Greenhouses, Greencare Fertilizers, Knox Nursery, Kube-Pak Corp.,
Lucas Greenhouses, Pindstrup, Pleasant View Gardens, Premier Horticulture,
Quality Analytical Laboratories, Sun Gro Horticulture, and Welby Gardens.
Teaching
My current graduate students are:
Kate Santos (Ph.D.): Optimizing nutrition during rooting of cuttings
Connie Johnson (Ph.D.): Quantifying the acidity and basicity of fertilizers
(co-advised with Dr. Jamie Gibson)
Jinsheng Huang (Post-doctoral Research Scientist): Dynamical modeling of
media-pH in container substrates
Angelica Cretu (M.S.): Leaching and corrective fertilizer actions during
propagation
