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”
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”
2016 turned out to be a bad year for Lewis mite (Eotetranychus lewisi) in poinsettia. Although it’s too early to say how 2017 is going to go, you should be considering possible preventative measures THIS WEEK for Lewis mite, especially if you have a history of Lewis mite with your cuttings. Treatment of this pest is more difficult later in the crop (though not impossible). Keep reading for biological and chemical control options for this pest.
Poinsettias cuttings are here! Unfortunately, they will likely arrive with unwanted “presents” in tow. This includes Bemisia whitefly, a pest that can be hard to control with natural enemies and can ALSO be resistant to pesticides. So what’s a grower to do?
By implementing some preventative measures RIGHT NOW, and understanding WHEN it’s appropriate to spray, you can help save yourself a lot of headaches later.