Aphicide Awareness: Reports of Phytotoxicity on Ornamentals

After my previous post outlining how Ontario growers may be experiencing resistance to Beleaf (flonicamid), several growers are experimenting with alternate aphicides (chemicals that control aphids) this spring. These growers tested products on small batches of crops at high rates, to look for phytotoxicity, and have passed on their results to share with the rest of you.

Keep reading to see which products are affecting which crops, and how you can help mitigate issues with phytotoxicity from insecticides.

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New Program Offer from Enbridge

This post was originally written by Abigail Wiesner, Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Production Specialist.

Check out the one-of-a-kind incentive program from Enbridge. Offering 3 times the standard rate for energy efficiency projects. Read on to see how you qualify.

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Strategic Solutions for Substrate Success!

This post was originally written by Abigail Wiesner, Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Production Specialist.

For the last few decades, growers in North America have been reading headlines about the steady decline of peat used for horticultural purposes across multiple European countries. With Canadian sources of peat, and trade primarily between the United States, local growers haven’t been severely affected by global changes in peat use and reduction trajectories.

Even though Canadian growers haven’t seen the same reduction of peat use in the local market, it doesn’t mean we can’t learn from Europe’s goals, decisions, and success stories.

Read on to learn about the benefits of trialing new components for your media mixes.

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Deficiencies Got You Down?

This post was originally written by Abigail Wiesner, Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Production Specialist, with contributions from Chevonne Dayboll.

As we move through production for fall and winter crops a refresher for nutrient deficiencies feels appropriate.

No matter where you are in a cropping cycle, nutrition problems can be tricky to figure out. The good thing is they can be differentiated from disease or pest issues based on a few key observations:

If the damage is uniform and crop wide, it’s most likely a nutritional issue
If the damage is localized or more random, it’s most likely a disease or pest issue

Keep reading to learn more about different nutrient deficiencies and how to spot them in poinsettias and other crops.

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In Case you Missed it, GrowON Presents: How to use Light Spectral Combinations to Steer Plants

This post was written by Abigail Wiesner, Acting Floriculture Production Specialist.

In case you missed the recent GrowON presentation on July 22nd, by Dr. Youbin Zheng (University of Guelph) we’ve now uploaded to YouTube!

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Points for Points! Production Pointers for 2024 Poinsettias

This post was originally written by Abigail Wiesner, Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Production Specialist, with contributions from Chevonne Dayboll.

Christmas in July? Not quite, but poinsettias are making their way into greenhouses across Ontario, and they always arrive at the hottest time of the year.

Nutritional issues, environmental stress, PGR mistakes and early diseases can all be costly in this high-value crop. Read on for common pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as links to pest management information in early production.

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Garden Mums 2024 – Tips, Tricks, and Production Bits

This post was contributed to by Abigail Wiesner, Drs. Sarah Jandricic, and Chevonne Dayboll.

As we feel temperatures rising, summer is on its way – and so are garden mums! This post has updated information to help you optimize your irrigation, fertilizer, pest management programs and more in garden mum production.

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New Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist

As we head toward the Canadian Greenhouse Conference, let’s welcome OMAFRA’s new acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist. Abigail Wiesner will be within the position until Sept 2024.

To learn more about Abbie, and how to contact her, keep reading.

Abbie has a BSc and MSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Guelph, with a specialization in entomology. For the past 11 months, Abbie has been with OMAFRA as the Acting Canola and Edible Bean Specialist.

Additionally, Abbie has experience within the nursery and landscape sector conducting leading research on the box tree moth, an invasive insect pest impacting the sector since 2018.

Abbie has a strong passion for helping growers to ensure that they are supported, have economical and effective solutions to production issues and are educated on industry and research advancements. Contact her about all issues related to greenhouse floriculture production, including nutrient and environmental issues, energy, lighting, and labour concerns.

Please contact her through email at abigail.wiesner@ontario.ca and by phone at 226-979-8250.

OMAFRA’s New Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist

*Sophie Krowlikowski (left) helps with an OMAFRA field day in cereal crops.*

Like me, many of you may have been feeling the absence of Dr. Chevonne Dayboll, who has temporarily taken a Research Analyst assignment with OMAFRA. To help fill the gap, we welcome Sophie Krolikowski, who will be the Acting Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist until June 2023.

To learn more about Sophie, and how to contact her, keep reading.

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Missed our Webinar on Smart Sensors for Floriculture? Access the Recording On-Demand

Missed our latest Controlled Environmental Agriculture Webinar by Dr. Nemali? That’s OK. We recorded it for you!

Just register for the webinar using the link in the original posting, and you’ll have access to the recording right away. (Note there’s a few minutes of dead air in the recording – don’t worry! Exciting content starts at about the 2 minute mark.)

You can learn more about Dr. Nemali’s exciting research by checking out his CEA website!

You can also find the link to the webinar recording here:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_71KmGWbGQtKzGFae9tjVdA