Poinsettia
by Douglas A. Cox and Roy Van Driesche
Greenhouse Soil Nutrient Management and Cultural Practices
- To minimize groundwater pollution, greenhouse growers reduce fertilizer
solution
concentration, maintain leaching volume from containers at 10 to 20% of water
applied, or use saucers to catch and hold leachate. 10 pts - Grower has a microscope or 10X hand lens available for use. 10 pts
- Irrigation water runoff is controlled through the use of drip or sub-irrigation systems, or other methods of containment and treatment such as an artificial wetland. 10 pts
- Soil tests are performed every 20 to 30 days and results are used to adjust fertilizer practices. 10 pts
- Records of minimum and maximum temperatures are maintained throughout
the
crop cycle. 5 pts
Category Total 45 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Pesticides Application and Records
Only pesticides approved and registered in the state are used. Records
of pesticide applications including date, field identification, targeted
pest, pesticide name, formulation, rate and number of acres treated are
maintained. Pesticide drift is minimized. Re-entry and pre-harvest intervals
are adhered to.
- Pesticide application equipment is calibrated for rate and droplet size every 3 months. 10 pts
- Nozzles are replaced and routine sprayer equipment maintenance is
performed
prior to planting the poinsettia crop. 10 pts - Records of pesticide applications are maintained and organized. 10 pts
- Records of planting dates and stage of crop of treated fields are maintained. 5 pts
- Water-sensitive spray cards have been used to test the coverage of leaf surfaces in this crop within the past five years, using current pesticide application equipment. 10 pts
Category Total 45 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Disease Management
- A program of sanitizing greenhouse floors, benches and greenhouse
structure is
implemented. 10 pts - A properly designed horizontal air flow (HAF) system is installed and maintained. 10 pts
- Crop is monitored weekly for disease or decay. Both tops and roots
are inspected.
Records of observations are maintained. 10 pts - Proper humidity control and ventilation is practiced. 10 pts
Category Total 40 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Insect Management
- Incoming plants and/or cuttings are inspected immediately upon arrival
for insects
and other problems. If insects are present, appropriate action, which may include
return of shipment, is taken. 10 pts - Pesticide use information is obtained from supplier of cuttings. 5 pts
- At potting, 50 or more cuttings are assessed for whitefly nymphs.
Insecticides are
used only if more than two nymphs per leaf are found. 10 pts - Crop is monitored on a weekly schedule for whitefly and records are
kept.
- Yellow sticky cards (1 per 1000 sq ft of bench space) are monitored
and changed weekly. 10 pts - Five plants per 1000 sq ft are selected randomly and examined
for
insect pests. 5 pts - Indicator plants are marked and observed over time. 5 pts
- Yellow sticky cards (1 per 1000 sq ft of bench space) are monitored
- If multiple applications of foliar insecticide are used, the risk of insecticide resistance is reduced by using insecticides with different modes of action. *5 pts
- Biological control is conducted as follows: Parasitic wasps, Eretmocerus
eremicus,
are released (3 pupae per plant) weekly until harvest, except for weeks
7, 8 and 9.
Fenoxycarb is applied in weeks 7 and 8. Assessment of cuttings (practice
no. 3,
above) must be completed. Bonus: 30 pts
Category Total 50 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Weed Management
Weed management is important in managing insects in greenhouses.
- All weeds and other plants which may harbor insects are removed from
inside the
greenhouse at least 30 days before the crop is placed on the benches. 10 pts - A grass- and weed-free buffer strip of 20 feet is maintained outside the greenhouse. 5 pts
- Weeds inside and outside the greenhouse are monitored and recorded. 5 pts
- Mechanical or physical weed management methods, such as plastic mulches,
are utilized. 10 pts
Category Total 30 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Education
- Manager has a current copy of the New England Floricultural Recommendations
pest control and growth regulator guide. 5 pts - Manager attends one or more state/regional/national Extension greenhouse
management training session during the current year. 5 pts - Manager subscribes to the UMass Extension Floral Notes. 5 pts
- Manager subscribes to one or more trade magazines (e.g. Grower
Talks,
Greenhouse Manager). 1 pt
Category Total 16 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Grand Total 226 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %
Acknowledgment
The authors thank Tina Smith for her contributions to these
guidelines.
