A new pesticide is available for greenhouse ornamental production in Canada that has shown potential for effective suppression of difficult-to-control thrips and whitefly species.
But to keep this new tool effective, growers will have to use this chemical wisely. Keep reading for efficacy data on ornamental crops and best management practices for incorporating this chemical into your IPM toolbox.
Continue reading “New Chemical Control Option for Thrips and Whitefly”
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”
Efficacy trials are key to keeping growers informed about which chemicals currently work and which don’t for Bemisia whitefly.
Entomologists at the University of Maryland and Delaware recently did such a study, and included newer pesticide registrations. If you missed the article in the July issue of Grower Talks magazine, keep reading for the link to their results and a Canadian take on the study.
Continue reading “Which Pesticides are Effective for Whitefly?”
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”
As suspected, it’s turned out to be a heck of year for Poinsettia. Many growers faced Erwinia, others had rooting issues, and all faced significant pressure from Bemisia whitefly from infested cuttings.
As the time approaches for the plants to go out the door, this post covers whitefly control successes/failures in 2018, and what to do with remaining populations.
Whitefly and other poinsettia issues are also being discussed at the Niagara Poinsettia Open House on Tuesday, November 20th. This will take place at Jefferys Greenhouse (Plant II) starting at 10 am. See the latest issue of Greenhouse Canada Magazine for more information (pg. 28). Hope to see many of you there.
Continue reading “2018 Poinsettia Wrap Up: Whitefly and Pesticides”
If you started out using biological control in your Poinsettia crop this year, you’ve now reached the crucial tipping point for whitefly control decisions.
Based on the size of your whitefly population in mid-late September, your populations could end up too high by November to effectively control. Ultimately, this could affect sales.
So, do you keep going, and hope for the best? Or switch horses mid-stream, and start using chemicals? To help you determine which is the right call, keep reading.
Continue reading “The “Tipping Point” for Whitefly Control in Poinsettia”
Now that poinsettias are safely tucked into their prop trays and the threat of Erwinia (Pectobacterium) is almost over, it’s time to think about other Poinsettia issues.
Root rots, nutritional issues, environmental stress and PGR mistakes can all be costly in this high-value crop. Read on for common pitfalls and how to avoid them.