S01:E06
“The Queen of Flowers: From HVAC Engineer to Peony Scientist with Dr. Emily Zhou”
What happens when an HVAC engineer falls in love with plants and earns a PhD studying one of the world’s most beloved flowers? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Emily Zhou, assistant professor at the University of Central Missouri, to explore her remarkable journey from engineering in China to pioneering peony research in the United States.
Peonies have captivated cultures for over 4,000 years—from ancient Chinese poetry to modern American weddings. But growing these stunning “queens of the flower world” isn’t easy. Dr. Zhou’s groundbreaking research reveals how growers can slash production time from 18 months to just 5-6 months using the right combination of chilling treatments and plant growth regulators. Whether you’re a commercial producer looking to hit the Valentine’s Day market or a plant enthusiast dreaming of growing peonies in the South, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and enchanting plant stories.
Discover why peonies need cold to bloom, how a $120 yellow peony in a one-gallon pot reflects the plant’s precious nature, and what it means when a plant scientist says she still thinks like an engineer. This is plant power at its finest!
Listen Time: ~46 minutes
Consulte las Notas del Programa
This episode in our first season is made possible through an educational grant from the American Floral Endowment, whose research priorities helped shape the topics that are featured. To learn more about AFE and access their research and educational resources, visit their website at endowment.org.
Featured AFE Resource: DLI Maps and Free DLI Poster — Understanding Daily Light Integral is essential for greenhouse production. Access these free tools at endowment.org.
Dr. Emily Zhou — Assistant Professor, University of Central Missouri, Department of Agriculture. Former R&D Scientist at Bowery Farming (indoor vertical farm). PhD research focused on herbaceous peony production, vernalization, and plant growth regulators. Background in HVAC engineering with 10+ years industry experience before transitioning to horticulture.
“I gained my Doctor of Philosophy out of that… I took so long a time and so much effort on this. And it’s rewarding. It is such a beautiful plant.” — Dr. Emily Zhou
“They are speaking two different languages, but I know both of them.” — Dr. Emily Zhou, on bridging engineering and plant science
“It’s not just the plant, it’s everything about the plant.” — Dr. Ping Yu, on plant power
“We don’t know enough. And my idea is going back to academia being a professor.” — Dr. Emily Zhou, on why vertical farms struggle and why education matters
“You just learn the things, you never know when one day you can use them.” — Dr. Emily Zhou
Vernalization is the process where plants require a period of cold temperatures to trigger flowering. For peonies, this means exposure to temperatures around 40°F (4°C) for several weeks. Without adequate chilling, peonies will grow vegetative shoots but won’t produce flowers.
| Chemical | Function | Concentration | Application | |–––––|–––––|—————|———––| | Gibberellic Acid (GA3) | Replaces some chilling requirement, promotes flowering | 100 ppm | Drench, after chilling | | Uniconazole | Growth retardant—compact plants, stronger stems | 15 ppm | Drench, 12 oz/pot | | Paclobutrazol | Growth retardant (less effective on peonies) | Variable | Drench |
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Research Publications:
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Blooms and Beyond is a podcast that covers plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower looking for management solutions, a student exploring horticulture careers, or someone who just loves plants and their stories, you’ll find something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu from the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who bring enchanting stories, pioneering research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.
Your Takeaway: When you walk away from each episode, commercial professionals should have at least one piece of advice to help with production, and plant enthusiasts should have one cool fact to share about plants. Because that’s how we spread plant power to a larger audience and make the environment a little bit better.
Host: Dr. Ping Yu Featured Guest: Dr. Emily Zhou, University of Central Missouri Producer: Rich Braman, UGA Center for Urban Agriculture
This episode in our first season is made possible through an educational grant from the American Floral Endowment, whose research priorities helped shape the topics that are featured. To learn more about AFE and access their research and educational resources, visit their website at endowment.org.
Episode Release Date: January 18th, 2026 Episode Length: 46:46
“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌸🌿
Peony, herbaceous peony, tree peony, vernalization, chilling requirement, GA3, gibberellic acid, uniconazole, plant growth regulators, cut flowers, Valentine’s Day, controlled environment agriculture, CEA, vertical farming, HVAC, Virginia Tech, China, floriculture, nursery production
