A collage of five scenes: underwater view, palm trees with skyscrapers, a manatee underwater, a coastal scene, and a natural spring.

Water Wednesday Recap: Florida-Friendly Landscaping for New Residents

by Yilin
April 24, 2026

As part of the Water Wednesday webinar series, Tom Wickman, Assistant Director of the Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Program, shared practical guidance on how Florida residents can design and maintain landscapes that work with the state’s ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: FFL, Florida Friendly Landcaping, Gardening, Irrigation, Landscape, Water Wednesday
A collage of five scenes: underwater view, palm trees with skyscrapers, a manatee underwater, a coastal scene, and a natural spring.

Water Wednesday Recap: Where Your Water Comes From and How to Use It Wisely

by Yilin
April 2, 2026

In March, we hosted the second webinar in our 2026 Water Wednesday: A New Residents Guide to Florida’s Environment series. This session, Florida Water 101, focused on where Florida’s water comes from, how it is used, and what residents should ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Aquifer, Florida Water, Floridan Aquifer, Groundwater, Irrigation, New Residents, Reclaimed Water, Water Challenges, Water Conservation, Water Demand, Water Quality, Water Supply, Water Use Florida, Water Wednesday

Papaya banker plant system strengthens biological control of whiteflies

by Stella Canfield
March 25, 2026

A new study finds that papaya banker plants can strengthen control of the sweet potato whitefly, one of the most damaging pests in ornamental crop production. Published in the journal “Biological Control,” the research highlights a promising ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Banker Plants, Biological Control, Cindy McKenzie, Lance Osborne, Papaya, Pests, Poinsettias, Whiteflies, Whitefly
A collage of five scenes: underwater view, palm trees with skyscrapers, a manatee underwater, a coastal scene, and a natural spring.

Water Wednesday Webinar Recap: What New Florida Residents Should Know About Climate and Seasons

by Yilin
March 19, 2026

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but sunshine is only part of the story. Florida’s climate is shaped by water, heat, and seasonal weather patterns. Warm oceans surround the state, and underground aquifers store large amounts of water. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Climate, Climate Patterns, Dry Season, Extension Water Education, Florida, Hurricane, New Residents, Seasons, Storms, Water, Water Wednesday, Weather, Wet Season
Leaves of industrial hemp plants in a greenhouse

Hemp flowering behavior research provides further guidance for Florida growers

by Tory Moore
February 26, 2026

New UF/IFAS research suggests Florida growers must carefully select hemp varieties and factor the length of a given day when scheduling when to plant. Understanding hemp flowering behavior, or how it responds to light and varying daylengths ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Archive, Hemp, Hemp Research, Industrial Hemp, UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research Education Center, UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project, UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research And Education Center
A bush of hemp.

Hemp pest ID tool from UF/IFAS available now

by Tory Moore
February 26, 2026

Pests can cause devastating impacts to a hemp crop. The first step to tackle a pest problem is to identify the unwelcome intruder. A new UF/IFAS hemp pest identification tool takes the guesswork out of identifying some of the potential Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Archive, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Entomology, Hemp, UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore, UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project
Macro image of the texture of begonia leaves

Building better begonias

by Tory Moore
February 26, 2026

Begonias are among the top five most popular plants found in flower beds and Florida leads the way in production with sales valuing more than $11.8 million, according to the USDA. But heat waves and drought have hurt begonia production in the ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Archive, Begonias, Climate Change, Environmental Horticulture, Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services, Fngla, Grant, Plant Breeding, Usda
Panorama of sunrise at Lake Alice.

How-To Video Series to Create Your Own Sustainable Landscaping

by Yilin
February 3, 2026

Wondering how your landscape can protect the environment? The Water Wednesday Team has partnered with the UF/IFAS Communications and developed 11 videos to show you how your landscape can be both esthetically pleasing and environmental friendly. Click ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: FFL, Florida Friendly, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Hands-on Video, How-to Video, Landscape Practices, Sustainable Landscape, Water Conservation, Water Protection, Water Wednesday
A collage of five scenes: underwater view, palm trees with skyscrapers, a manatee underwater, a coastal scene, and a natural spring.

New to Florida? Join Water Wednesday for Practical Guidance on Florida’s Environment

by Yilin
January 22, 2026

Florida is home to unique weather patterns, water resources, landscapes, and ecosystems. For many new residents, adjusting to these conditions can raise practical questions about everyday life, from lawn care and home maintenance to storm preparedness ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Management, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Climate, Environment, Landscaping, Nature, New Residents, Water, Water Wednesday, Wildlife

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