Education:

• PhD., Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, 1972
• M.S., Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, 1968
• B.S., Horticulture, University of Connecticut, 1966
• A.S., Horticulture, Ambler Campus of Temple, 1964

Educational Programs:

• Hort 352, Flower Arranging Floral design beginning with elements and principles of design. Flower arranging techniques as well as different styles of flower arrangements.
• Hort 450, Greenhouse Management Maintenance and manipulation of the greenhouse production systems including structures, covers, light, temperature, carbon dioxide, water, growing media, fertilizer and greenhouse cost accounting.
• Hort 453, Flower Crop Production and Management Production of greenhouse flower and foliage plants; development of management skills for a greenhouse business.
• Hort 457, Interior Plantscaping Foliage identification, environmental factors affecting plants, concepts of interior plant design, installation and maintenance.

Research Interests:

Evaluation of growing media physical characteristics, predominantly water and air, and how those physical properties affect plant growth. As part of this work, new growing media components such as parboiled rice hulls have been evaluated. There has been some effort to evaluate fertilization of growing media and its impact on plant growth. In association with Dr. Robert Berghage, we are evaluating methods of greenhouse energy conservation. The initial work was done by students doing an energy audit of a commercial greenhouse operation. In association with Dr. Dennis Decoteau, we are evaluating how indoor foliage plants can reduce the concentration of an air pollutant, ozone. Ozone is an air pollutant that is both indoors and outdoors and a very economical way to remove ozone from an office or home would by have foliage plants in the home or office. Orchids are a lovely, popular but slow growing greenhouse crop. To grow them from seed may reguire from 3-7 years to produce a flower. We have been examining different procedures to reduce the amount of time that the orchid seedlings stay in tissue culture. This should reduce the total time to flower for the orchids.

My Orchids

Recent Publications:

• Phillips, J., E.J. Holcomb, and K. Kelley. 2007. Determining Interest in Value-added Planters: Consumer Preference and Current Grower and Retailer Perceptions. HortTech. 17(2):238-246.
• Holcomb, E.J., C.W. Heuser, and P.H. Heinemann. 2007. Recycled leachate from Fresh Spent Mushroom Compost for Greenhouse and Nursery. Mushroom News 55(5):4-10.
• Holcomb,E.J., and R. Berghage. 2006. Greenhouse Energy Conservation. Grower Talks 70(10): 42-43.
• Holcomb, E.J., C. Heuser, P. Heinemann, and F. Miller. 2005. Nutrient Changes in Spent Mushroom Substrate During Compositing. Mushroom News 53(10): 6-11.
• Lamont, W.J., M.D. Orzolek, E.J. Holcomb, K. Demchak, L. White, and B. Dye. 2003. Production System for Horticultural Crops Grown in the Penn State High Tunnel. HortTechnology 13(2):358-362.
• Heinemann, P.H., G. Preti, C.J. Wysocki, R.E. Graves, S.P. Walker, D.M. Beyer, E.J. Holcomb, C.W. Heuser, and F.C. Miller. 2003. In-Vessel Processing of Spent Mushroom Substrate for Odor Control. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 19(4):461-471.
• Young, J.R., E.J. Holcomb, C.W. Heuser. 2002. Greenhouse Growth of Marigolds in Three Leached Sources of Spent Mushroom Compost over a 3- year Period. HortTechnology 12(4):701-705.
• Lamont, W.J., M.D. Orzolek, E.J. Holcomb, R.M. Crassweller, K. Demchak, E. Burkhart, L. White, and B. Dye. 2002. Penn State High Tunnel Extension Program. Hort Technology 12(4): 732-735.
• Holcomb, E.J. and R. Berghage. 2001. Photoperiod, Chilling, and Light Quality During Daylight Extension Affect Growth and Flowering of Tissue-cultured Easter Lily Plants. HortScience 36(1):53-55.
• Heinemann, P.H., R.E. Graves, S. P. Walker, E.J. Holcomb, C. Heuser, D.M. Beyer, G. Preti, C.J. Wysocki, and F.C. Miller. 2001. Aerated Floors for spent mushroom substrate processing. ASAE paper no. NABEC 01-902. The American Society of Agricultural Engineers. St. Joseph, MI. 18 pp.
• Owino, T., J.M. Hamlett, and E.J. Holcomb. 2000. In-Situ Determination of Electrical Conductivity of Potting Media Using Time Domain Reflectometry. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 31 (15+16):2685-2705.
• Moorman,G.W., R.J. Lease, K. Brown, J. Lynch, E.J. Holcomb, R. Snyder. 1999. Effects of a Slow Release Phosphorus Fertilizer on Gray Mold of Geranium. Biological and Cultural Tests 14:56.
• Moorman,G.W., R.J. Lease, K. Brown, J. Lynch, E.J. Holcomb, R. Snyder. 1999. Effects of a Slow Release Phosphorus Fertilizer on Pythium Root Rot of Geranium. Biological and Cultural Tests 14:57.
• Koide, R.T., L.L. Landherr, Y.L. Besmer. J.M. Detweiler, and E.J. Holcomb. 1999. Strategies for Mycorrhizal Inoculation of Six Annual Bedding Plant Species. HortScience 34(7):1217-1220.
• Britton, W, E.J. Holcomb, and D.J. Beattie. 1998. Selecting the Optimum Slow-release Fertilizer Rate for Five Cultivars of Tissue-cultured Hosta. HortTechnology 8(2):203-206.
• Holcomb, E.J., D.J. Beattie, and R. Berghage. 1998. Effectiveness of Uniconazole on Lilies at Positive and Negative DIF. PGRSA Quarterly 26(4):178-185.
• Lin, Y.P., E.J. Holcomb, and J.P. Lynch. 1996. Marigold growth and phosphorus leaching in a soilless medium amended with phosphorus-charged alumina. HortScience 3(1):94-98.
• Weaver, S.L., D.J. Beattie, and E.J. Holcomb. 1995. Overwintering spring bulbs in large containers. HortTechnology 5(4):350-351.
• Holcomb, E.J. and P.N. Walker. 1995. Chrysanthemum and poinsettia growth in coal gasification slag amended media. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Analysis 26(15&16):2497-2510.
• Holcomb, E.J. 1995. Flower Industry Expectations of Students. HortTechnology 5(1):81-83.
• Contrisciano, T.M. and E.J. Holcomb. 1995. Growth of Bedding Plants and Poinsettias in Mineral Wool and Mineral Wool/Peat Substrates. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 26(3&4):485-501.
• Wickremesinhe, E.R.M., E. J. Holcomb, R.N. Arteca 1994. A Practical Method for the Production of Flowering Easter Lilies from Callus Cultures. Scientia Horticulturae 60:143-152.
• Beattie, D.J., A.M. Blodgett, and E.J. Holcomb. 1993. Effects of root removal, irrigation method and ancymidol on flowering of Asiatic lilies. PGRSA Quarterly 21(2):64-72.
• Holcomb, E.J., S. Gamez, D.Beattie, and G.C. Elliott. 1992. Efficiency of Fertigation Programs for Baltic Ivy and Asiatic Lily. HortTechnology 2(1):43-46.
• Holcomb, E.J., K.M.Olson, and N. Khoury. 1991. Comparison of Growth Retardant Application Methods for Hybrid Lily Height Control. Plant Growth Regulator Society of America Quarterly 19(4)217-221.
• Holcomb, E.J., L.D.Tukey, and M.A. Rose. 1991. Effect of GA on Inflorescence in Uniconazole Treated Chrysanthemum. HortScience 26(3):312.
• Beattie, D.J., E.J. Holcomb, and C.F. Deneke. 1990. Effect of Uniconazole and Paclobutrazol on Plant Height and Flowering in Physostegia virginiana and Chelone obliqua. Plant Growth Regulator Society of America Quarterly 18(4):187-193.
• Holcomb, E. J., J. A. Flore, and R. D. Heins. 1988. Photosynthetic response curves for chrysanthemum grown at different PPF levels. HortScience 23(1):206-208.
• Schlagnhaufer, B. E., E. J. Holcomb, and M. D. Orzolek. 1987. Effects of supplementary light, solution heating and increased solution Ca levels on lettuce production in Nutrient Film Technique. Applied Agriculture Research 2(2):124-129.
• Koch, G. M. and E. J. Holcomb. 1983. Utilization of recycled irrigation water on marigolds fertilized with Osmocote and constant liquid fertilization. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 108(5):815-819.