Floriculture Crop Production Lab

YOUR MUMS ARE WILTING!

Chloe, Alison, and Becky get gold stars today.  Everyone else, your mums were in some degree of wilt this morning.  Some were only slightly droopy.   Sme were severly wilted.  All of the crops you are growing need to be watered before they wilt.  Under watering will cause fewer, smaller flowers, stunted growth and soluble salt damage to the leaves.  I watered all of the wilty mums for you this time but next time, unless you let me know that you need help, I will not save them for you. 

You still need to go check the rest of your plants ASAP.  I only watered the mums.  Chances are if they were dry enough to wilt other things need water also.  Please let your watering partner (you should have their contact info. by now) or me know if something comes up and you not able to get to the greenhouse to check your plants.

Another successful and hopefully enjoyable week in lab has passed.  Here are a few things you need to know from this week.

In lab this week you applied Gnatrol to your Easter lilies to control fungus gnat larvae.  The rate was 32oz/100gal.

Our EC readings on the mums were much better this week.  The leeching on Monday did it’s job.  We will continue with the same concentration of fertilizer and check the EC again next week in lab.

A couple of observant students noticed aphids on their Easter lilies on Wednesday.  Also there were quite a few thrips on at least one sticky card.  Because of this we sprayed everything but the ferns and chives on Friday.  A tank mix of Azatin and Decathlon was used.  Azatin was used at the rate of 16oz/100gal. It is an insect growth regulator and will control the nymph stages of aphids and the pupal and larvel stages of thrips.  Decthlon was also used at a rate of 1.9oz/100gal.  It is a synthetic pyrethroid that will control the nymph and adult stages of aphids, adult and larval stages of thrips, as well as the adult stages of fungus gnats.

 By popular demand the fertilizers and the crops they are used on are written on the whiteboard in the greenhouse.  Greenhouse A is the section where your bench is.  Greenhouse B is where you have been potting your plants.

On last thing.  TAMU Vista has an email feature.  It is only useful within Vista and does not forward to your NEO account.  Be sure you are checking this for communications from your instructors.  If you don’t know how to check it please stop by and see me for help.

If you have any questions about any of this information leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

Here are just a few reminders and information from lab. 

Marathon was applied 2/4/08 at the following rate: 1/3 tsp./pot for the zonal geraniums, mums, and Easter lilies.  2/3 tsp/pot for the ivy geraniums.  Remember, Marathon is a granular systemic insecticide used to prevent the infestation by our most common greenhouse insects.  It is applied to the media surface and watered in.

Banrot was applied 2/4/08 at 8 oz./100 gal. to all geraniums, mums, Easter lilies, snapdragons, and ferns.  Banrot is a systemic fungicide drench that prevents infection from our most common root rot diseases.

Dr. Starman asked me to try to give you an idea of how often I am watering plants in the greenhouse to help guide you in your watering.  The Easter lilies are getting watered every day or sometimes every other day.  The snapdragons are getting watered once a week unless it is really sunny.  The ivy geraniums are getting watered a couple of times per week.  Everything else is every other day or sometimes every third day.  Remember this changes frequently with the weather and you should be checking your plants every day.

 Notice your snapdragons have been moved outside.  This will affect how often you water them so check them carefully.

We another great lab this week. Hopefully they will get a little bit shorter soon but thanks to all of you for staying until you are finished. 

 Our EC readings were quite high in lab on Wednesday.  I have since checked the injectors.  They are running fine.  I also rechecked the EC using a different method and it was on the high side but still within range.  I’m not sure what caused our high readings but the plants and roots look fine.  We will do readings every week so hopefully this week will be better.

 We will be making some chemical applications to your plants this week but I probably will wait until lab to tell you about them so I can explain them better.  Have a great week.  I’ll see you in lab Wednesday.