Our team is excited to work with you!

Meet our Plant Growth Professionals

~$11.6MM in capital improvements
during FY22 and FY23

53 greenhouse compartments for
Research and Instruction

31 Conviron chambers.
16 held for flexible use.
9 supporting BSL-2 research.

100% Compartments with Cooling Systems
79% Compartments with
Supplemental Lighting

~7,500 sq-ft expansion for facilities by Georgia H.B. 81 Appropriation

58% of our chambers have dimmable LED lighting

The future location of the multi-disciplinary greenhouse will surround the recent cool-season greenhouse construction.
3D model visualization of Plant Growth Facilities new greenhouse.
CAES Multi-Disciplinary Greenhouse Addition
Plant Growth Facilities added approximately 8,000 square feet of greenhouse and support spaces tailored to agricultural and horticultural plant research at our Riverbend Greenhouse Complex. Construction began late-August '22 and was completed December '23. The facility features Wadsworth SEED environmental controllers, Adiabatic Cooling, Supplemental LED lighting, Automated-Irrigation Solenoids, Insect Exclusion, Sample Processing Spaces and more.
Pamela Lewis with student assistants Justin Cline and Ellen Jones.

 

2426 Growth Chamber Expansion

Our newest growth chamber facility was finished in November 2021. The area features 12 Conviron chambers, 5 of which are reservable for use by CAES programs. You can view time slots available for research and current reservations at our greenhouse and growth chamber reservation page.

 

Photos of the 2426 Growth Chamber Room Expansion

 

PGF Growth Chamber Availabilities

 


 

Get to know our plant growth professionals


Pamela Lewis with student assistants Justin Cline and Ellen Jones.

 

Graduation decor by PGF's Pam Lewis

Pamela Lewis has been cultivating flowers and plants for the CAES convocation ceremonies for a decade. Following the event, she carefully selects the best remaining plants and donates them to nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Athens area.

Poinsettias hold a special place in Lewis’ heart as her favorite horticultural crop. In their native habitat, these plants bloom in response to shorter day lengths. To ensure their proper growth during winter, we employ blackout tents to prevent light drift.


Mini Daniel Gershon - 1

 

Daniel Gershon

Daniel earned a B.S.A. in Horticulture from the University of Georgia in 1992. His decades of experience began when he was a student working at the UGA Trial Gardens. In 1998, he established Apple Cart Horticultural Services, Inc, a successful landscaping business. By 2010, he joined the Grounds Maintenance team at UGA where he supervised a crew for thirteen years. He enjoys family outings, plant propagation, restoring motorized vehicles and equipment, and giving tours of his cherished gardens.

Facility updates


Greenhouse M1 with the roof polycarbonate removed and the end wall replaced.

 

Greenhouse M1 thru M3 Polycarbonate Replacement

These greenhouses were built in 2008. Over time the polycarbonate has degraded from UV radiation. This impacts the quantity and spectral composition of the light transmitted through the polycarbonate panels to the plant leaves. CAES - Office of Teaching, CAES-Office of Research and Plant Growth Facilities are funding new paneling! Expected completion is early-June 2022.


South Milledge Greenhouses following the replacement of old polycarbonate panels.
Plant growth professionals working on the evaporative cooling pad update

 

Evaporative cooling pad update

Our facilities include 52 greenhouse compartments on three sites in Athens. Thirty-six percent of the compartments required almost 800 new cooling pads. Combining an order of this size allowed us to purchase with economies of scale. The savings were directed back into the cooling media by "double-dipping" many of the pads to extend their expected life from five years to an average of eight.


PGF's 1st Cool-Season Greenhouse

 

PGF's first cool-season greenhouse

Our facilities have expanded to include 600 square feet of cool-season greenhouse space to support Robin Buell's genomics research program. The greenhouse will be completed this May. These compartments will be a part of the larger multidisciplinary greenhouse expansion scheduled to begin construction in late-July 2022.

View Cool Season Greenhouse Photos


White Fly Grant

 

Whitefly grant

Thanks to a whitefly grant award, our entomology department's old greenhouse has been updated with supplemental lighting, area trench drains, insect-exclusion vestibules, new glazing and many other features. The greenhouse now has five compartments all capable of BSL-2 certification.

View Entomology Greenhouse Photos


Riverbend Soil Shed Update
Soil Shed 2 - 1

 

Riverbend soil shed update

We have removed an unused raw material bunk in our Riverbend soil shed to increase the amount of mixing and sterilizing space and increase the amount of palletized media that we can have on hand.


UGA professor and peanut breeder William “Bill” D. Branch has developed more than 30 novel, licensed peanut varieties. (CAES) CAES News
Branch named National Academy of Inventors Fellow
William “Bill” D. Branch, a professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been elected as Fellow for the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Branch is the 17th UGA faculty member to receive this honor, which recognizes inventors whose innovations have had a significant impact on society, economic development and quality of life.
SLF2 CAES News
Spotting trouble: How Georgians can help combat spotted lanternfly
Native to several Asian countries, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania, likely arriving via imported goods. Since its arrival, the pest has spread to 15 states in the Eastern U.S., now including Georgia. While they do not bite or sting humans or animals, University of Georgia experts stress that early detection, prevention strategies and timely interventions are crucial to minimizing the spread and impact of this pest on a variety of plants.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.