Powdery mildew is one of the most conspicuous plant disease problems that growers face. If you grow roses, gerberas, poinsettias, rosemary, phlox or verbenas (to name a few!) you are very aware of how rapidly this fungus disease can build up to an epidemic. Plant breeding efforts have provided some cultivars that are less susceptible to powdery mildew. But knowledge of which plants are prone to this disease, how unusual symptoms might fool you, and how best to deploy fungicides is critical for growing healthy flower crops. Cornell plant pathologist Margery Daughtrey gives an in-depth discussion of integrated pest management strategy for powdery mildew—including what to grow, what to scout for, and some effective treatment programs using fungicides and/or biofungicides.

Are you up to speed on the latest in flower care and handling? What should you do to make sure the flowers you present to your customers are at their best? We’re taking you back to the basics of proper care and handling techniques and why it’s important to make sure everyone on the team is trained properly. AFE has supported the development of ‘industry friendly’ handling techniques for cut flowers. Loann Burke AIFD, AAF, PFCI, a highly acclaimed retail florist and event specialist, will demonstrate many of the key steps every florist should use to assure flower quality and longevity. From flower box to finished design, Loann takes you through every step of the process and shows you the tricks of the trade to keep your flowers fresh and your customers coming back.

‘Smart N-Sensor’ technology for floriculture crops will be presented. This technology uses images of plants to estimate whole-plant N content. The technology is reliable, easy to use, and low-cost (minimal to a few hundred dollars). Using the technology, floriculture growers can non-destructively quantify plant N status whenever needed for optimizing fertilizer application in greenhouses. The technology offers either smartphone (for small-scale operations) or micro-controller (for large-scale operations) based models.

Impatiens was once one of the most popular bedding plants until Impatiens Downy Mildew (IDM) devastated landscape plantings around the world. Plants often looked good in production but died once planted in the landscape. After a decade of breeding and technology, impatiens are back with two new series offering a high degree of resistance to IDM. Margery Daughtrey, plant pathologist at Cornell University, discusses the attributes of Beacon (PanAmerican Seed) and Imara XDR (Syngenta Flowers) series and share practical tips to optimize the performance of these plants from propagation to planting in the landscape. You will learn that using protectant fungicides during production is a good idea, even when impatiens are highly resistant to downy mildew.

Work has been conducted over the last few years to determine the efficacy and rotations of various non-neonicotinoids for managing MED whitefly (Q-biotype). Discover how to evaluate the efficacy of biological control agents and pesticides in a commercial greenhouse as a grower.

Work has been conducted over the last few years to determine the efficacy and rotations of various non-neonicotinoids for managing MED whitefly (Q-biotype). Discover how to evaluate the efficacy of biological control agents and pesticides in a commercial greenhouse as a grower.

Heat delay of poinsettia flowering is of growing concern across the U.S. as climate change has caused fall weather patterns to be less predictable and many regions of the country are experiencing higher average temperatures. A few extra degrees of heat at the wrong time can easily cause a one to two week delay in flowering, which can be disastrous for growers. Our research has focused on improving our understanding of the timing and magnitude of the high temperatures that cause heat delay and developing practical solutions to help growers avoid missing target market dates. Our results reveal that poinsettias are not equally susceptible to high temperatures throughout the fall. There are specific weeks of the poinsettia season that high temperatures will cause the largest delays in flowering. We have also identified the specific temperatures during the day and night that are most critical to avoid. By increasing our understanding of the variables that contribute to heat delay, we have identified practical solutions to avoid missing target market dates, such as cultivar selection and black-clothing. These solutions are discussed so that growers have practical options for addressing this phenomenon.

Speaker: Dean Kopsell, University of Florida Melissa Munoz, Clemson University

Questions abound when considering the use of LED lighting. Choices of fixtures and light quality can be very confusing. Erik Runkle has been evaluating LED lighting since they were first available to the greenhouse industry. He simplifies the selection and use of LEDs, both indoors and in greenhouses.

Growers seek to optimize plant growth while maintaining production costs. Interest in LED lighting has surged in recent years due to the potential energy savings. Growers continue to wonder if supplemental lighting with LEDs is needed for their greenhouse operations. Jim explains how to determine if your location and crops justify adding supplemental lighting.