New to a thrips biological control program for chrysanthemums, or just need a refresher on the most effective strategies currently being used in the industry? Then watching the Greenhouse Canada Webinar, “Tips for Thrips Control: From Propagation to Pocketbook” is a good place to start.
Keep reading for the webinar link and some chrsysanthemum IPM tips for 2018.
This Webinar, recorded in 2016, details an IPM program for western flower thrips over an entire mum cycle, from planning to sale. Different IPM strategies are used at different times to optimize control and keep costs down.
Although we use potted mums as an example here, these strategies can serve as scaffolding for a thrips management program in other floriculture crops.
The link to this webinar can be reached here. All that’s required is registration with an email address to view the presentation.
And now, a few IPM tips and updates for the 2018 potted-mum season:
- Dipping cuttings upon receipt in products like landscape oil can be a highly effective way to minimize thrips in your crop. However, if you’re never tried this technique before, or are growing new varieties, make sure to do a small test batch. Phytotoxicity CAN occur, and can be affected by things like the time in the dip solution and inadequate misting/rinsing after. Read the label carefully and check out this video on proper dipping technique.
- Note that Garden Mums tend NOT to tolerate oil dips well.
- In general, it seems to be a “low” thrips year for many growers (so far, anyways!). If you’re seeing lower thrips counts than normal on your sticky cards, you may be able to reduce some of your biocontrol inputs to save costs. Perhaps lower the rate or frequency of your nematode applications, or reduce applications of Beauveria products. Of course, careful monitoring will be needed so you can jump back up to full gear if thrips numbers start to swell. Have an action plan prepared ahead of time, just in case.
- Though the thrips might be lower, HIGHER rates of spider mites have been seen on mum cuttings this year. For information regarding their control, see this post.
- Good aphid control can be achieved with drenches of Beleaf (flonicamid), but phytotoxicity has been seen in Ontario in certain varieties of mums. See this post for details.
- Look for an upcoming post on the effectiveness of mass trapping and how it can potentially eliminate 1 Million thrips from your greenhouse this summer!