greenhouses

Bedding Plants 2021 Webinar Series for Greenhouse Growers

UConn Extension Offers Bedding Plants 2021 Webinar Series for Greenhouse Growers

greenhouse flowers
Photo: Leanne Pundt

A three-part webinar series on plant growth regulators, pests, and diseases on ornamental plants in greenhouses. Presentations are for commercial greenhouse growers (wholesale and retail) producing ornamental spring bedding plants, specialty annuals and herbaceous perennials.

 One pesticide recertification credit has been approved for each one-hour webinar for all New England states. All webinars will take place from 12 to 1 PM EST.

  • Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, Effective Use of Plant Growth Regulators, George Grant, GGSPRO Technical Specialist
  • Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, Research Update on Managing Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests, Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University
  • Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, Diseases of Spring Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials, Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University

For more information and to register click here.

2021BeddingPlants webinars pdf.

 

 

Biological Controls in Greenhouses

More Connecticut greenhouse growers and retailers are using biological controls to manage insect and diseases (Photo of greenhouse). Here you can see a variety of spring plants for sale that were grown using biological controls (beneficial insects and mites, and biologically based fungicides). As an  example, this yellow gerbera daisy flower was grown using biological controls. (yellow gerbera daisy). This is to prevent damage from western flower thrips that can damage flowers (pink gerbera daisy). Small predatory mites (photo of bags in plants) are placed in the crop that prey upon the small thrips in the flowers. Here the predatory mites  are contained inside a controlled release sachet containing bran and a additional food source for the beneficial mites. The small predatory mites emerge from these small paper sachets over a 4 to 6 week period preying upon western flower thrips. (Note: western flower thrips are primarily a concern in greenhouse production, not in the home garden). Source: Leanne Pundt, UConn Extension Educator in Greenhouse IPM.

The Garden - WoodburyGerbera DaisyIMG0003131

New Greenhouse Pest Guide Web App

Pest app

Try our new mobile optimized website app for commercial growers that contains options for biological control and pesticides for management of insect and mite pests common in commercial greenhouse production.  This app can be used on your computer, smart phone or other electronic device.

This was a cooperative project between Leanne Pundt of UConn’s IPM program and Tina Smith, Project Leader, Extension Floriculture Specialist for the University of Massachusetts Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program.