GriffinGazetteI N D U S T R Y I N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U G R O W

w w w . g r i f f i n s . c o m W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 I s s u e

UPCOMING EVENTS

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GGIA WinterGreen

January 22-23, 2009Location: The Classic CenterAthens, GA

New England Grows

February 4-6, 2009Location: Boston Convention CenterBoston, MAwww.NEGrows.org

SNA Tradeshow

February 12-13, 2009Location: Cobb Galleria CentreAtlanta, GA

Griffin Northern Grower Expo

August 26, 2009Location: Eastern States Exposition CenterThe Better Living Center Building West Springfield, MA

Griffin Southern Grower Expo

September 23, 2009Location: Lancaster Host ResortLancaster, PA

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Griffin Locations:

All articles and material featured in this Gazette cannot be duplicated without written permission. Copyright © 2009 by Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies

Cheshire, CTTel: (203) 699-0919

Ball Ground, GATel: (770) 479-5528

Tewksbury, MATel: (978) 851-4346

Gray, METel: (207) 657-5442

Bridgeton, NJTel: (856) 451-5170

Ewing, NJTel: (609) 530-9120

Auburn, NYTel: (315) 255-1450

Brookhaven, NYTel: (631) 286-8200

Schenectady, NYTel: (518) 381-7120

Morgantown, PATel: (610) 286-0046

Knoxville, TNTel: (800) 766-6347

Richmond, VATel: (804) 233-3454

Our Latham, NY Branch has now moved to Schenectady, NY.

126 Van Guysling AveSchenectady, NY 12305Phone: (518) 381-7120Fax: (518) 381-7127

Griffin Grower Services

Upcoming Webinar Schedule:

Disease Control Update Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 11:00am - 12:15pm Jim willmott $39.95

Plant Growth Regulators /Spring Crop Review Thursday Feb 26, 2009 11:00am - 12:15pm Rick Yates/ Peter Konjoian$39.95

Webinar Library:

Garden Mum Production - $39.95

Pack Trial Wrap-up - $39.95

Poinsettia Production - $39.95

Profitability Workshop - $39.95

Greenhouse Clean-up - $39.95

Bio-controls &Bio-rational Pesticides - $39.95

DVD’s

Garden Mum Production - $59.95

Poinsettia Production - $59.95

Profitability Workshop - $59.95

Greenhouse Clean-up - $59.95

Bio-controls &Bio-rational Pesticides - $59.95

Energy / Profitability Series5 DVD Series - $89.95

GGSPro.com Subscriptions are also now available.

1 year Subscription # 1: Access to Webinar Library & Publications - $1991 year Subscription # 2: Access to All Upcoming Webinars, Webinar Library & Publications - $299

Save 25% off of the above

Webinar Prices.

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Prices.

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Special Savings on Webinars and DVD’s from GGSPro

Use this Code 1 9 G G S P to receive the following Savings:

25% OFF of the upcoming webinars and webinar library listed below (Discount taken off of prices below)

20% OFF all of the DVD’s listed below (Discount taken off of prices below)

Please call for special pricing: 888-GGSPRO-1 (Reference Code: 19GGSP)Discount not available on website.

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on GGSPro Services and products

G R I F F I N G A Z E T T E W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 I S S U E

W W W . G R I F F I N S . C O M 3

During last fall’s GGSPro profitability seminar tour Rick Yates, Jim Willmott, and I had an opportunity to spend time with Griffin customers like you, a full day at a pop, in locations from Maine to Virginia. We touched a lot of concerned growers and, in return, participating growers touched us. I’m quite confident we saw an accurate cross section, at least regarding geographical base, of our east coast greenhouse industry. The three of us concluded that while there is serious concern

about the state of our industry there is also passionate optimism about the opportunities that await those who are up to the challenge.

I want to tie today’s comments back to those made in my last column to continue a discussion about how we need to manage our greenhouses to ensure their health and relevance. In that last issue five tips were presented for operating profitably. 1. A better understanding of greenhouse overhead is sorely needed.2. Thinking in terms of square feet is no longer sufficient, it’s time to think in square inches.3. Shrinkage and waste are silent assassins.4. Grower mentality needs to take a back seat to business mentality. 5. If there ever was a time to raise prices, it’s now.

From the title of this column it’s clear where today’s discussion is heading, directly to tip #5. As we turn our attention to pricing, here are a couple of thoughts to shift our minds into gear.

Does anyone believe energy costs will stay down?Many of this industry’s production inputs are either directly or indirectly connected to the price of oil. With last summer’s peak price came much gloom and doom regarding the future. During the months since, many have been wondering if growing flowers will remain relevant in an energy challenged world economy. It troubles me that, with oil prices declining steeply since last summer’s peak, growers seem once again to be falling back into a troubling mind set that assumes energy is no longer an immanent concern. Really? Who out there believes that oil prices will remain at fifty dollars per barrel and not gradually head back toward the peak of one hundred and fifty dollars? Call me a skeptic, but I feel that last summer’s spike in oil pricing was the straw that helped break the world economy’s back and trigger this global recession. What does this point have to do with price increases for spring 09? Well, at every stop along our seminar tour profit margin and escalating energy costs were cited as major concerns. In fact, Rick, Jim, and I built the entire seminar around these two realities. If the complaint was that last spring’s margins were lower than acceptable, and then energy costs spiked, isn’t it time to raise prices? What’s troubling is that a false security associated with falling energy costs will cause some growers to somehow rationalize that prices can stay at 08 levels because the energy “event” has passed.

Who’s responsible for the guilt trip? A recurring question from the seminar tour will further frame this discussion. If memory serves me, it was during our Syracuse, New York seminar that a

30 minute detour was taken before our lunch break. Following a slot on the program focusing on pricing and production capacity relationships, one grower came right out and asked what others were charging in their four inch programs. While lively, the general tone of the interaction was frustrating as growers seemed to be operating in a price range separated by pennies, nickels, and dimes. Finally, someone in the audience called out the fifty ton gorilla in the room by raising the question “Why do we feel guilty asking for more money?” Therein lies a question I think is facing many in their greenhouse operations. Indeed, why DO we feel guilty raising our prices? Are we slackers trying to milk our customers? I don’t think so. In my opinion we are as hard a working bunch of farmers as our vegetable growing and animal raising brethren. Are we monopolizing our market and practicing price fixing to pad our own pockets? Again, I don’t think so. Our industry is now accurately defined as being hyper-competitive and that designation is hardly associated with high margins. This guilt trip is real, it surfaces every time we hold a seminar on profitability, and we need to first get it out on the table. Only then will we be able to talk about it and decide how to deal with it effectively. Why do we feel guilty raising our prices when every one of our production inputs keep costing more? No one seems to have a good answer.

Putting business mentality ahead of grower mentalityI wouldn’t be raising these questions if I didn’t have an opinion about how to deal with them. Marketers and economists tell us every day that there is a time proven correlation between supply and demand in any industry concerning the product lines put on the market. A favorite question of mine during presentations on profitability goes something like this. Would you rather grow one hundred mixed containers and sell them at fifty dollars or grow fifty containers and sell them for one hundred dollars? While gross revenue is the same for both strategies, the profit margin is much higher when we limit the supply by producing less and selling for more. There are all kinds of reasons thrown at me for why the latter model won’t work. We’ve heard plenty of them. Some scream that the market won’t bear a higher price because competitors down the street will sell for less. How about changing the size and design so that your mixed container is nothing like those down the street? Others quickly blurt out that if the price is raised customers won’t buy as many and, if that happens we’re doomed. Really? Isn’t that the point? Sell less, for a higher price, and pocket the profit differential. Here’s where the discussion meanders as these knee jerk reasons for not reducing supply and allowing prices to rise are brought into the discussion. If we grow fewer signature mixed containers and raise their price it then allows us to grow a smaller size and offer it at the old price of the large container. Are you really going to tell me that this makes you feel guilty? Of course we’re going to sell fewer as we raise the price, that’s what the experts are telling us will happen. Let’s stop feeling guilty about making more money by raising prices.

GROWER to GROWERBy Peter KonjoianResolution #2009-1: Raise Spring Prices

4 G R I F F I N G A Z E T T E W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 I S S U E

When the Technical Department receives this call about New Guinea impatiens our investigation usually takes us in one of two directions. One is broad or cyclamen mites and the other is high soluble salts.

Broad and Cyclamen mites cause damage by injecting a toxin as they feed. These mites are microscopic and are difficult to locate

even with 100X magnification. This dilemma is intensified by the fact that they are reclu-sive, often tucked away deep in folded growing tip tissue. Since high soluble salts or environ-mental factors can cause similar symptoms a positive identifica-tion is essential. Translaminar systemic miticides are the preferred methods of control. Examples would include: Avid, and Pylon.

Once mites are ruled out, we can then explore the possibil-ity of high soluble salts. New Guinea impatiens have a very low fertilizer requirement, when compared to most spring annuals. Propagation of unrooted cuttings requires no fertilizer until the roots are established. After root formation, NGI are feed at 75 to 100 ppm N constant liquid feed or once every third or fourth watering at 200 ppm N.

Overfertilization causes the NGI foliage to start curling upward and if left to go too long may result in tip burn, root dete-rioration then finally collapse of the plant. The remedy for high soluble salts is to leach with clear water and making sure the roots are protected with a fungicide drench. Incorporating the use of an EC meter into your opera-tion can prove to be helpful in monitoring the salts level of a sensitive crop such as New

Guinea impatiens.

Thielaviopsis is a fungal patho-gen that causes a devigorating root disease and has become a part of many growers’ vocabu-lary. This disease is called Black Root Rot, because of the black root discoloration that develops due to the spores. The green-house crops that are most often affected by Thielaviopsis include calibrachoas, pansies, vinca and violas. We have also had some reports on clematis, diascia, fuchsia, petunia and verbena.

Other distinct symptoms caused by Thielaviopsis are that the foliage appears yellow and stunted and the roots don’t seem to want to grow out beyond the plug. This root disease often produces random patterns in the flat.

Thielaviopsis is a soil borne patho-gen and the resting spores can remain viable for a minimum of

one year. The spores of this fungus can be spread from the infected plants through soil, water, fungus gnats or shore flies. Once established in the greenhouse, it can persist and infect the next crop.

Thielaviopsis management should include trying to avoid produc-ing susceptible plants in pro-duction area recently infested with Thielaviopsis. Greenhouse sanitation is of utmost impor-tance to break the string of this

disease. Always Clean Before Disinfecting (ACBD) is the battle cry of the PACE49 company and applies equally well to cleaning greenhouse surfaces and re-used plastics. Without first removing organic matter and other debris from the surfaces to be sanitized, success is impossible. (Your Griffin salesperson can familiarize you with the correct products to use for this purpose.) Even after utilizing this approach it is best to not use reused plastics on highly susceptible crops. Cooler greenhouse temperatures and high soil pH also favor the development of Thielaviopsis. Following the proper plant culture is important to each crop. For example, we see more instances of Thielaviopsis on calibrachoas when this plant is grown at lower temperatures and soil pH higher than 6.0. Ideal soil pH for Calibrachoa is in the range of 5.3 to 5.8.

Even with the best cultural practices, fungicides are often still needed. Examples of effective Thielaviopsis control products are Banrot, Cleary 3336, Medallion, OHP 6672 and Terraguard. Please consult the Griffin Insecticide and Fungicide Options Bulletin for a comprehensive list including rates and use patterns.

Timely Tips: Frequently Asked Questions

My New Guinea Impatiens leaves are curling upward? 1

By Virginia Brubaker, Technical Support Specialist

What is the root disease that has a long name and starts with a “T”? 2

High Soluble Salt Damage on NGI

NGI Leaf Curl from Excessive Soluble Salts

Black roots on Calibrachoa

Yellowing & stunting from an affected root system

3 of the 4 Plugs Affected

Broad Mites on NGI

5W W W . G R I F F I N S . C O M

Technical Tips:Controlling Pests in Retail GreenhousesBy Rick Yates, Technical Services Manager

There are a number of things that make controlling pests in retail greenhouses a challenge. Long hours of operation, plant displays that favor retail presentation and not production and rapid turnover of plants arriving from multiple sources to name a few. Let’s face the fact that our retail customers tend to take a dim view of pesticides. We want to avoid harsh pesticides as well as those that leave a visible residue or an odor.

In fact, we would rather avoid pesticides all together if possible. Ready to meet the challenge head on? Here we go!

What steps can we take to reduce the number of insects, mites and diseases making their way into our retail greenhouses in the first place?

• Communicate expectations with suppliers- Incoming shipments of plant material have the potential to bring trouble with them. Some growers seem resigned to the fact that incoming foliage and tropical plant shipments from Florida will sometimes arrive with scale insects, mealybugs, mites or other difficult to control pests for example. Your plant broker needs to know up front if you will refuse infested shipments upon arrival. Read the terms and conditions portion of the order form before placing an order to familiarize yourself with

accepted procedures in these cases. Try to do business with suppliers that will stand behind their products. It is much easier to control pests in a production setting than a retail greenhouse. If they can’t or won’t control pests how are you supposed to do it? An ounce of exclusion is worth a pound of cure! That brings me to my next point.

• Inspect incoming plant shipments- Retail greenhouses can get crazy busy at certain times of year but scouting plant material for pests before it is allowed into your operation is worth every bit of the time and expense it requires. This goes for the wholesaler down the road from you as well as the material shipped in from afar. While it is true that even good suppliers may have a low level of pest presence in a shipment you shouldn’t have to accept any more than that. Reward clean growers with your business.

Despite our best efforts and those of our suppliers there will be times we will need to apply pesticides. I have prepared a list of suggested pesticides to use in the retail setting. You can obtain a free copy of that list by contacting Griffin’s Technical Services department and asking for the bulletin titled, “Controlling Pests in Retail Greenhouses”. This document gives tips for controlling insects, mites, diseases, algae and weeds in a retail friendly manner. The unique requirements of the retail setting caused me to use a strict set of criteria in developing the list of suitable products. To be included, the pesticides should have:

• Short re-entry intervals• Low odor• Minimal visible residue• Good bloom safety

The emphasis was on selecting “softer”, bio-rational, and reduced risk pesticides. Wherever possible pesticides with edible crops on the label were used since in the retail setting we often see edible crops side by side with ornamentals. The rapid turnover of plants makes utilizing biological controls tricky but if you produce the majority of your finished plants on site this might be a viable option for you. Here is to a pest free spring season in your retail operation!

Mealybugs on Diplandenia

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Griffin’s Plant Department Global NetworkDiversity and Freedom of ChoiceBy Nanette Marks

Plant Corner

The Plant Department of Griffins started out with local roots over 23 years ago while occupying shared office space at Esbenshade’s Greenhouse in Lititz, PA. Through understand-ing our customers’ needs, we began brokering young plants through Esbenshades as a way to meet the demands for the local four state area. Now in 2009, we are servicing the East Coast from Maine to Georgia, and those primordial roots have grown into a worldwide network of domestic and international options.

The network we have built has resulted from the grower’s ever-changing need for optional choices based on the current trends and economic times. We have experienced gravitations from plugs to vegetative, from un-rooted to pre-finished, and from the newest hybridized plants back to heirloom vegetables. Our vendor network and their offerings are scrutinized and re-programmed to accommodate these changing times.

The global network begins with the very basic parts of the plant supply chain - seed and un-rooted cuttings. These are the start for every product that comes out of your greenhouse. Griffins sells flower and vegetable seeds that are bred and harvested all over the world. Seeds are imported and stored under the most stringent of conditions to arrive with the highest germination and vigor. Unrooted cuttings are imported from countries that have the ideal light for vegetative growth, and low risk of disease pathogens. The cuttings are taken from elite stock that is started from virus free tissue culture in labs, and tested regularly throughout each stage of building up stock. Countries such as Israel are free of Ralstonia, making it ideal for propagating with zero tolerance for any virus or fungi pathogens. Most growers have done away with any form of retaining stock plants due to the risk of carrying over pathogens. It is important to know that your starter material is coming from the cleanest sources whether it is Israel, Kenya, Guatemala, Costa Rica, etc. Our vendor/breeders can ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean cuttings and viable seed.

If you don’t start your own seed or root your own cuttings, then these products are going to our plug and young plant producers to be shipped at a variety of growth stages. Plugs trays and rooted liners range from 512 cells to 50 cells depending on how much finishing time you can allow before sale. These young plants are lit for early initiation and properly toned for a fast takeoff without excessive vegetative growth. Letting someone else start your plants can save a grower an average of 4 to 8 weeks in bench time and heating space depending on the crop. It can also save in equipment by eliminating the need for heated benches and mist systems, or seeders and germination chambers.

An increasing trend is seen in growers utilizing Plug & Ship programs. Crops come pre-planted on a grower truck, ready to place on floors and benches. Consider now that not only did you not have to grow the plugs or root the cuttings, but you don’t use any labor to transplant and tag them. This requires no storage space for soil and pots, no early outlay of cash for supplies, and eliminating the need for additional equipment such as soil mixers, flat fillers, conveyors, water tunnels, plug poppers, or even a transplanter. It is an option that we have seen growers taking advantage of in recent years, both large and small operations. Because of this, we are seeing more vendors offering plug & ship or plant & ship programs for seed, vegetative cuttings and also mums.

Pick Me Up & Go (Herb)

Unrooted Box

Gro n’ Sell Big Burly

Continued on next page.G R I F F I N G A Z E T T E W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 I S S U E

W W W . G R I F F I N S . C O M 7

The next option taking this a step further is the vast array of prefinished programs that are available from our vendors. The scope extends beyond the simple Geranium and New Guinea programs of the past. It now includes branded material such as Proven Winners® in PW pots, herbs, perennials, vegetables, baskets and combos. The choices are unlimited. For example, Kube Pak offers every variety in their listing available as a prefinished or plant & ship product. That’s thousands of varieties!

Griffins also offers finished material for unusual plants or crops that are difficult to grow in our specific climates. Ranging from exotic plants grown on volcanic Hawaiian rock to blooming orchids, Griffins has many finished plant programs all inclusive with freight from various points within the United States.

With Griffins you will find so many options for freedom of choice. Go Global - Go Griffin. Please call the Plant Department today for color brochures and pricing, or contact you Griffin Sales Representative.

Contact the Griffin Plant Department at 800.732.3509Plant Cover Photo: Aquilegia Origami Pink and White

Plant Corner article continued from previous page.

Hawaiian Volcano Plant

Plant and Ship Proven Winners®

Greenhouse grown ornamentals such as Poinsettias can be susceptible to various challenges posed by insects and disease causing pathogens during the early stag-es of propagation. The environment in the propagation area can have significant effect on the quality and productivity of the propagating material. Algae and slime growth in propagation trays, walkways, bench tops and irrigation lines can alter the environment conducive for pest incidence and severity and can decrease the overall aesthetic value of the growing facility. Propagation area sanitation is an important first step in creating the right environment for propagating seeds and cuttings. Zerotol, a peroxygen based algaecide/fungicide, is designed for greenhouse sanitation applications. The powerful oxidation chemistry in Zerotol acts as a potent biocide upon contact with cell membranes of bacteria, fungi, yeast and algae. Cutting tools and seeder equipment used during propagation can be sanitized by soaking in a 0.3-1% solution of Zerotol for a minute. As a preventative measure against pathogen infections, unrooted cuttings can be dipped in 0.2-0.3% solution of Zerotol before planting.

For hard surface applications, a 1-2% solution of Zerotol was found to be effec-tive in controlling algae and slime growth on flats, trays, benches, walkways and other work areas. In addition, constant injection of Zerotol into irrigation systems (Using Dosatron or similar injection systems) at low rates (0.02% to 0.1%) was found to be effective in controlling algae growth in plug trays and pots and overall increase in the vigor of the propagation material. Zerotol can also be effectively used at low rates (0.003% to 0.1%) to treat recycled water used for propagation (Fig. 1).

Case Studies:

Biosafe Systems conducted two separate studies on Poinsettias at a commercial greenhouse in CT during summer of 2008, determining the effect of Zerotol on plant vigor, algae, disease incidence and insect population. Vigor of cuttings were rated on a 1-10 scale (1= Dead Plant and 10= Vigorous Plant) and Algae infestation on a 1-6 scale (1= No algae and 6=100% of plug or pot covered with Algae). Disease incidence was measured in terms of percentage plants infected with a particular disease. Sticky cards were used to measure the insect population in the treatments.

In the first study, Zerotol was applied as a continuous injection at 1:1000 using overhead irrigation boom for five consecutive days on 1 week old young poinset-tia cuttings (cv. ‘Classic White’) followed by a maintenance treatment at 1:5000 for three weeks. Observations showed an overall increase in the vigor of cuttings and decrease in the algae infestation after application of Zerotol (Figs 2 and 3).

Zerotol-Propagation Insurance

Continued on next page.

Figure 2: Study 1 (Cutting Phase): Plant Vigor

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Figure 1: Effect of Zerotol in controlling total bacteria in recycled greenhouse waterSample of Recycled water used on Poinsettia propagation

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Zerotol Concentration

Product Feature:

Insect population, especially fungus gnats and shore flies, were significantly decreased in the Zerotol treated area (Figs. 4 and 5). There was no significant disease incidence during this period to measure the treatment differences.

In the second study, when the Poinsettia rooted cuttings (cv. ‘Prestige’) were transplanted to pots, Zerotol was applied at 1:300 as a weekly once preventative spray. After four weeks of application, Zerotol treated Poinsettias had significantly higher plant vigor and lower algae infestation (Figs 6, 7 and 8).

From disease stand point, there was about 18% incidence of bacterial spot on the leaves of untreated Poinsettia whereas Zerotol treated plants had relatively no incidence of the disease (Fig. 9). Insect population was not studied during this period.

The above studies suggest that use of Zerotol on ornamentals has multiple benefits including significant disease control, increased plant vigor, algae control and overall decrease in insect population, especially fungus gnats and shore flies.

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Zerotol-Propagation Insurance article continued from previous page.

Figure 3: Study 1 (Cutting Phase): Algae

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Figure 6: Study 2 (Transplanted cutting phase): Plant Vigor

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Figure 7: Study 2 (Transplanted cutting phase): Algae

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Figure 8: Study 2- Algae Control in transplanted pots after using Zerotol

(a) Untreated (b) Zerotol treated

Figure 9: Study 2 (Transplanted cutting phase): Bacterial spot incidence

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G R I F F I N G A Z E T T E W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 I S S U E

(a) Untreated (b) Zerotol treated

Figure 5: Study 1 - Sticky cards showing the effect of Zerotol on insect population

Figure 4: Study 1 (Cutting Phase): Insect Population

Total InsectsShore FliesFungas Gnats

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OSMOCOTE® PLUS: TAKING CRF TO THE NEXT LEVELThe Osmocote® family of fertilizers from Scotts Professional has long been recognized as one of the fundamentals for a sound nutritional program. Since the first generation of Osmocote was introduced, Scotts researchers have kept working on new and improved generations of the controlled release fertilizer to help growers produce the best possible crops. In fact, according to Fred Hulme, Ph. D., Scotts Professional’s director of technical services, the company’s third generation Osmocote product—Osmocote® Plus—utilizes unique Scotts Patterned Nutrient Release Technology™ that goes beyond that of traditional controlled release fertilizers.

“Controlled release fertilizers are designed to feed plants a consistent rate throughout the growth cycle,” Hulme said. “However, some plants feed more heavily early in the growth cycle, and others feed more heavily later on. The patterned release of Osmocote Plus makes it possible for growers to coordinate the delivery of nutrients with a plant’s specific feeding habits.”

Research, testing and trialsScotts conducted extensive research to develop Osmocote Plus. Initial developmental work was conducted in the lab under controlled conditions. Although beneficial, this research did not take into account the variable environmental conditions that are part of the growing equation. So, Scotts started conducting research under actual nursery and environmental conditions throughout the U.S. to generate more relevant performance data.

Scotts developed the Sand Leach Unit, a new method of testing at its field research stations. Sand Leach Units account for 100% of the nutrients applied and actually measure how different fertilizer treatments continuously release nutrients throughout the growing season. Scotts’ coated components, finished goods and competitive products were tested in Sand Leach Units.

Over a 10-year period, Scotts compared the same treatments in side-by-side plant growth trials at a variety of geographic locations, including Florida, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and California. Results from these tests enabled Scotts to develop an innovative patterned release fertilizer product that predictably and consistently performs over a wide range of conditions—Osmocote Plus.

How does patterned nutrient release work?An Osmocote Plus prill contains N-P-K, magnesium and micronutrients. Water vapor is absorbed into the prill through the patented polymer coating and dissolves the fertilizer inside. When the temperature is warm and plants are in active growth, the coating expands allowing more fertilizer to be released. When it’s cold, the prill releases less fertilizer. However, the patterned nutrient release of Osmocote Plus stems not just from temperature, but also from the product’s unique coating technology.

“Osmocote Plus contains four types of homogeneous prills differentiated by the thickness of their polymer coating,” Hulme explained. “The thickness of the coating, along with temperature, controls when nutrients are released, as well as the product’s longevity. The thinner the coating, the faster the release; the thicker the coating, the slower the release and the longer each prill will continue to release nutrients.”

This combination of temperature and coating thickness is the result of more than a decade of research and development—it’s the third generation patterned nutrient release technology that makes Osmocote Plus unique by synchronizing the release of plant nutrition with plant demand.

Different release patterns for different plantsOsmocote Plus is available in three different patterns—Hi-Start®, Standard®

and Lo- Start®—and in longevities from three to fourteen months to suit the needs of just about any crop.

• Hi-Start releases an extra boost of early nutrition that’s perfect for spring canning/topdressing, fast growing species, heavy feeders and spring-summer feeding species. Annuals, perennials and short-term crops requiring larger amounts of fertility in the first part of their growth cycle are also good matches with Osmocote Plus Hi-Start.

• Standard releases a steady source of nutrition throughout the growth cycle that’s right for general purpose use, spring canning, short-term propagation or base feed in a combination Coated Fertilizer/Liquid Feed program.

• Lo-Start releases an extra boost of nutrition later for fall canning when more fertilizer release is desired in the following spring. Lo-Start works well for long-term propagation, bare root plants shifted to container production, and summer or fall feeders.

Learning from the past to make better products for the future

Osmocote was the f irst controlled release fertil izer on the market, and Scotts has continually refined and improved its technology by building new coating lines and including controlled release micronutrients.All of this extensive research and development has lead to the Osmocote Plus of today that features Scotts Patterned Nutrient Release Technology. Plant nutrition is now even more efficient, less wasteful and more closely in tune with plant growth. And while today’s Osmocote offers unparalleled precision, tomorrow’s Osmocote promises to be even better.

Osmocote® Plus: Taking CRF to the Next LevelProduct Feature:

W W W . G R I F F I N S . C O M

10 G R I F F I N G A Z E T T E W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 I S S U E

Pesticides remain the backbone for protecting ornamental greenhouse crops, but their losses to resistance and regulatory actions have served as a wakeup call. Two decades ago while working as an Extension Agent along with Dr. John Sanderson, Cornell University Extension Entomologist, we encountered the beginning of one of the worst pest outbreaks ever faced by greenhouse growers - whiteflies on poinsettias. Growers nearly forgot about these pesky flies until we lost Temik! Soon greenhouse whitefly

populations exploded along with the newly introduced, even more trouble-some, Sweetpotato Whitefly. Weekly pesticide applications were made in futility prompting many growers to give up growing poinsettias.

Seeing an opportunity to help, Dr. Sanderson and I introduced growers to a beneficial parasitoid, Encarsia formosa. Let’s just say results were less than dismal! Participating growers were more aggravated than we were disappointed - not a happy ending! Thereafter, there were other failures and it became a common belief that biological control in commercial greenhouses would never be practical. For the twenty years since, Cooperative Extension and industry researchers have made progress: Biocontrol has come a long way! Today it is a practical and effective pest management alternative in ornamental greenhouse crops.

While ornamental growers resisted biocontrol, greenhouse vegetable growers could not. Since pesticide choices were few, they needed to consider alternatives. Biocontrol progress here has translated into practical systems that are now effective - not only for whiteflies, but also thrips, aphids, spider mites and fungus gnats in ornamental crops! Much has been learned about new and old biological control agents (BCAs) and practices to enhance their efforts.

Fast forward twenty years: Déjà vu! Western flower thrips develops resistance to Conserve. Could biocontrol be the answer? Frankly I had doubts, but was impressed by the results of a BCA system offered by BioBest Biological Systems. Ronald Valentin, Technical Representative with BioBest, explained to me the logic behind this well designed thrips control

program. While we can only briefly touch on the details here, let’s consider how it works for Western flower thrips on spring crops: The system employs a one two punch from Amblyseius cucumeris, a predatory mite, and Orius insidious a predatory bug. (Amblyseius swirskii is a better mite for warm situations > 68oF average daily temperature).

Don’t expect miracles! BCA’s will not stop a raging thrips population. Start with plants free of thrips and pesticide residues toxic to BCAs. First, A. cucumeris is applied as “breeder piles” to flats or pots. These contain bran and bran mites. A fungus grows on the bran serving as food for the bran mites which in turn serve as food for the beneficial mites. Predatory mites

feed only on first stage thrips larvae. Mites should be established on thrips free plants before moving from propagation to final production. Then when adult thrips lay eggs, mites eat them shortly after hatching. Control is good for 4 - 6 weeks with costs about equal to media applications of systemic insecticides.

Orius insidious, known as the minute pirate bug, offers the potential knockout blow, but for years, its success was limited as populations could not build fast enough prior to thrips outbreaks. Dutch cucumber growers, in the early 1990s, found that pepper plants provide pollen as a food source and promote Orius populations. Later, BioBest found that an ornamental pepper ‘Black Pearl’ better fits the needs for Orius in ornamental production. Think of pollen as kindling to get Orius populations flaming! Just in the past couple years, growers in Canada and the U.S. have successfully used these peppers to fuel Orius populations.

The final hurdle for success is that Orius needs long day photoperiods to avoid diapause - their resting stage. Under natural photoperiods in North America, Orius must be released after the beginning of March. Also, it takes 2 generations or 8 - 10 weeks to challenge thrips. However, research and observations indicate that Orius does not enter diapause when artificial lighting provides long days. Daily high intensity supplementary light for more than 14 hours in propagation is enough, but afterwards plants are grown under short days. While not proven in commercial production, there are good reasons to believe that providing low intensity day light extension for 4 hours may be enough. We are currently working with growers to confirm this. The cost for Orius and pepper plants is less than pesticides requiring weekly or biweekly applications.

Implementing biocontrol may seem challenging, but the good news is that growers intuitively understand how to grow things. Think of BCAs as just another crop with similar cultural and environmental requirements. Biocontrol in ornamentals has moved from research labs into the hands of greenhouse growers whose creativity and ingenuity will no doubt expand the practicality and effectiveness far beyond the current state of the art and science!

For additional information, please contact Griffin’s Technical Services Department and visit BioBest’s website at: http://www.biobest.be/

By Jim Willmott, Technical Services Specialist

Biological ControlIs Biological Pest Control Practical for Ornamental Greenhouse Crops?

Application of predatory mites to a crop of African violets Photo credit: BioBest Biological Systems

Black pearl pepper plants produce pollen that provides a source of food for Orius before thrips populations build. Photo credit: BioBest Biological Systems

W W W . G R I F F I N S . C O M 11

Product Feature: Efficient Use of Water Soluble Fertilizer

Intro: In order to compete in the global economy and succeed in the marketplace, all facets of production are being evaluated. Cost cutting measures are being implemented such as comparing all inputs to production such as container size, media source, plant material and chemical choice. Due to the recent worldwide increases in raw material costs for fertilizer, another factor being evaluated is the cost of water-soluble fertilizer and how to use it efficiently to maximize your plant’s full potential. Older practices used are being reevaluated and new techniques are being adopted.

Water Quality: One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a fertilizer is to establish the alkalinity level of the water. A water test should be taken at least once a year to determine if any changes in the water quality have occurred. If a grower is using a blend that is not suited to the water type, there will be fewer uptakes of nutrients by the roots and increased feed may be used unnecessarily. For example, a grower with highly alkaline water, bicarbonates greater than 250 mg CaCO3/L, should either be using sulfuric acid injection to eliminate the bicarbonates and then use a balanced feed, such as Plantex Complete 17-5-17. Newer blends are available which help alleviate some bicarbonate issues such as Plantex Complete Plus 19-8-13 and pH Reducer, 18-9-18. The issue with alternating is that during the winter months, in early February and March, the media does not dry out as quickly as during the spring and the fertilizer blend being used generally lasts longer in the media. This causes pH changes in the media that are not desirable. Early pH problems in crops such as calibrachoa and vegetative petunias are harder to remedy later on. In addition, early pH imbalances contribute to increased disease problems in some crops.

Media Components: Most growers use soilless mixes from various suppliers throughout North America. The components of a soilless mix have changed over the past 50 years of production. It is now common to see mixes containing bark, peat, vermiculite, perlite, coir and rice hulls. A few factors need to be considered when choosing a new mix. Bark needs to be well composted. If a crop is grown in a mix containing bark that is not well composted, the micro-bial activity in the compost will use the nitrogen from fertilizer to speed up the process. A crop growing in this type of mix will not be uniform and will often show chlorotic symptoms. Much higher feed rates will be needed for crops grown in this type of media. Many media suppliers also incorporate a starter charge to their mix along with lime. The starter charge contributes nutrition to the crop for approximately 2 weeks of growing time in northern climates. If mix-ing your own mix, starter charge rates vary depending on which crop is being grown. Controlled release incorporation is another possibility to consider when developing your fertility program.

Growing Environment: Temperature and relative humidity are two factors to consider when developing a fertilizer program and deciding how to categorize your crop. Crops that require cooler temperatures to grow such as primula and pansies generally need lesser amounts of feed than high temperature crops such as hibiscus. The type of fertilizer required for cooler crops is also different, lower levels of urea and ammonium nitrate are recommended due to the potential problem of ammonium toxicity at cooler temperatures.

Micronutrients: At times, micronutrient deficiencies are overlooked and cure-alls are given to help alleviate problems. For example, calibrachoa grown with lower amounts of iron chelate from the start of the crop will most definitely show symptoms of deficiency within 3 weeks of transplanting. The pH of the media

is often the culprit but a remedy of quick iron chelate helps green the crop up quickly for a short period of time. The main issue is not resolved and extra time, energy and product is given to the crop to try to solve the problem. In many cases at least 20% of the crop is not saleable in time or the quality is reduced. The media should be checked regularly for EC and pH and iron chelate should be provided at higher levels for crops such as calibrachoa and petunias that have a high demand for this element. Feeds are available for crops requiring higher levels of micronutrients, such as Plantex 19-2-19 Fertility Plus.

Feed or Famine: Another common practice among growers is to feed at a higher rate for 3 waterings and then to leach with water. Many producers have followed this tradition for generations. However, with the higher cost of fertilizer, this practice is being reevaluated. Leaching with water dilutes the feed in the media and depending on how much water is being used, may remove all of the base nutrients. Leaching in such a manner is costly since you are sending your fertilizer down the drain and is not good for the environment. The better practice is to feed constantly at a lower rate at every watering. Plant roots will uptake nutrients, as they need them. Maximum growth potential will be achieved since nutrients will be available at all times. Leaching is required, depending on the crop, if salt build up occurs. However generally maximum 20-30 % leachate levels are encountered. Plants also respond better to constant feed in terms of disease resistance and insect resistance. When plants are deficient, they are sensitive to greater attack from insects and disease. Conversely, some insects are attracted to plants, which have extreme levels of nutrition, notably, nitrogen.

Mechanics: Injectors play an important role in crop nutrition and need to be serviced on a regular basis. In many instances, deficiencies are seen due to failures or miscalibration from irrigation systems. In order to avoid delays in production and eliminate costly problems during production, check your injector and make sure it is in good working order. Many companies, such as Dosatron, provide maintenance kits. Calibrate your meters and make sure they are in good working order prior to checking EC levels. Irrigation lines, emitters and hoses need to be maintained as well. Deposits of organic matter accumulating in irrigation lines can decrease the flow of water and also consume or tie up elements in fertilizer water.

Production Practices: The use of ebb and flood benches and flood floors has also decreased the use of fertilizer for most crops. Recycling runoff irrigation water is being used in many successful operations throughout the country. However, testing the irrigation water is fundamental to making this system work. Besides saving fertilizer costs, these methods also decrease the environmental risks involved with runoff.

Staying on Track: Finally, it is worthwhile relying on suppliers of your plants, substrates, fertilizer and equipment to assist you in making appropriate choices, but to ensure that your fertility program stays on track, media and tissue tests can tell you if there are enough nutrients available for your crop’s growth or too much or if there are any imbalances. Regular monitoring is key.

Sheilah Graham, M.Sc. AGR.US Sales Manager Plant Products Co. Ltd.

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