When poinsettias get problems, they always seem to hit hard and fast. Things like whitefly, Lewis mite, root rots, and nutritional issues can all quickly derail a quality crop. This is why scouting might be more important in this crop than any other.
Here’s a month by month guide on what you should be looking for to prevent small problems from becoming big issues.
Continue reading “Poinsettia Problems: Your Monthly Scouting Guide”
Although we’ve been talking for years here in Canada about dipping your poinsettia cuttings in low-risk pesticides, some growers have yet to take the plunge.
This preventive technique improves efficacy of BOTH biocontrol and pesticide programs for Bemisia, since it lowers your starting pest pressure.
If you’re still unsure of how or when to apply cutting dips, check out the rest of this post.
Continue reading “Dipping Poinsettia Cuttings to Reduce Whitefly 101: 2020 Edition”
It’s that time of year again where it’s “do or die” time in Poinsettia: either your biocontrol program is on track, or it’s time to see if pesticides work.
Here’s what to look for in your crop to help you make the decision, including acceptable infestation levels and evidence of successful biocontrol.
This post also contains information on chemical options for Bemisia whitefly in 2019.
Continue reading “Biocontrol of Bemisia: 7 Things to Consider Before You Turn to Chemicals.”
It’s that time of year again where two of our biggest crops cross over: fall pot mums and poinsettia. This means growers have to simultaneously keep an eye on the two biggest pests in the industry: thrips (usually western flower thrips) and Bemisia whitefly.
Here’s how things are shaping up with these pests and where they might be going.
Continue reading “What you NEED TO KNOW about Thrips and Whitefly Control: September Update”
Okay, so Poinsettia don’t really get that many problems. But when issues arise, they can hit a crop fast and hard. Whitefly, Lewis mite, root rots, and nutritional issues can all quickly derail a quality crop.
Here’s a month by month guide on what you should be looking for to prevent small problems from becoming big issues.
Continue reading “99 Poinsettia Problems: Your Monthly Scouting Guide”
Here in Canada, we’ve been talking for years about research on the highly effective method of dipping your poinsettia cuttings in low-risk pesticides to reduce starting whitefly populations.
Thanks to Dr. Rose Buitenhuis (VRIC), Cary Gates (FCO) and BioWorks, the label for BotaniGard WP has now officially been expanded to include dip applications. This now adds to our arsenal (see below for more dip products).
Read on for the current BotaniGard label and how dipping can help improve your Bemisia whitefly program this year, whether you’re using pesticides or biocontrol.
Continue reading “Now’s the Time for Whitefly Prevention: Registered Products for Poinsettia Dips”
T’is poinsettia sticking season once again, and the question always comes down to the same thing: do I use chemicals to control Bemisia whitefly and hope it works this year? Or do I switch to biological control? Here we show some head to head comparisons that can help you decide.
Continue reading “Poinsettias: To Spray or Not to Spray, that is the Question”