1. The Who and What of Greenhouse Problems! Objective 11.00 11.01: Explain potential problems related to bedding plant production 11.02: Hypothesize causes of problems with bedding plants 11.03: Propose possible solutions to problems with greenhouse plant production

2. Potential Problems (Click to view) Cultural Disorders Germination Problems Fertilization Problems Uneven growth Tall and spindly growth Diseases Seedlings falling over Lower leaves brown, rotting, and drying Insects Plants missing Holes in leaves or plant parts missing

3. Cultural Disorders A cultural disorder is anything that can cause a plant a problem but is not caused by a type of pest (disease, weed, or insect)

4. Cultural-Germination Problems Causes Improper temperatures Over-watering or underwatering Chemical residues in medium Seed planting depth Low quality seeds

5. Cultural-Germination Problems Correction or Prevention Use high-quality seeds Plant at proper depth Use medium with no chemical residues Maintain proper temperatures Maintain proper moisture levels

6. Cultural-Fertilization Problems Causes Lack of nutrients Root injury Improper pH of medium Excessive fertilization Manganese Deficiency

7. Cultural-Fertilization Problems Correction or Prevention Test soil or media Apply correct amounts and kinds of nutrients Use pH correcting materials

8. Cultural-Uneven Growth Causes Poor mixing of medium Uneven moisture levels Unlevel flats Poor grading of seedlings

9. Cultural-Uneven Growth Correction or Prevention Proper mixing of media Even watering Grading seedlings by size and quality Placing flats level

10. Cultural-Tall and Spindly Growth Causes Too much nitrogen fertilizer Overwatering Low light intensity (too much shade) High temperatures

11. Cultural-Tall and Spindly Growth Correction or Prevention Use the correct amount of nitrogen Reduce frequency of watering Lower temperature Provide more light Use growth retardant such as B-Nine SP

12. Cultural-Slime or Algae Causes Too much watering

13. Cultural-Slime or Algae Correction or Prevention Water less often Clean out fertilizer tanks Don’t leave any standing water

14. Diseases Help me! I’m dying.

15. Disease An abnormal condition of an organism that impairs plant functions

16. Disease Disease is a plant disorder caused by an infectious pathogen or agent

17. Three Conditions Necessary for Diseases Host plant Disease causing organism or pathogen must be present Favorable environment for disease organism to develop

18. Groups of pathogens Bacteria Fungi Viruses Parasitic plants- mistletoe, dodder, lichens (attach to plants)

19. Plant Disease Must be identified before they can be treated Warm temperatures and moist conditions in greenhouse plant production make most horticulture plant diseases worse

20. Disease Preventing plant disease through sanitation and insect control is much easier than treating the disease.

21. Diseases Blight Canker sores Damping off Galls Leaf spot Mildew Mosaic Rots Rust Smut Wilt

22. Diseases-Seedlings Falling Over Causes Stem rot Damping-off

23. Diseases-Seedlings Falling Over Correction or Prevention Use sterilized media Apply fungicides Improve air circulation around plants

24. Diseases-Brown, rotting leaves Causes Botrytis a necrotrophic fungus that affects many plant species, although its most notable hosts may be wine grapesnecrotrophicfunguswine grapes

25. Diseases-Brown, rotting leaves Correction or Prevention Increase air temperature Increase air circulation around plants Use proper fungicide

26. Damping off Fungal disease Causes young plants and seedling to rot off at soil level

27. Mildew Grows on leaf surfaces Upper and lower leaves Appears as white, gray or purple spots Example is powdery mildew

28. Mosaic Caused by a virus Leaves have irregular mottled areas with patterns Ranges from dark green to light green to yellow to white

29. Rots Causes plants to decay and die Usually has a unique smell

30. Rust Causes small spots on leaves Resembles yellow, orange, brown or red rust Mainly on underneath of leaf

31. An arthropod with three pairs of legs and three body regions; insects may have one or two pairs of wings Insects

32. Insects-Plants Missing Causes Slugs Snails Cockroaches

33. Insects-Plants Missing Correction or Prevention Use baits and pesticides

34. Insects-Holes in Leaves Causes Aphids Mealy Bugs Scale Insects Thrips Whiteflies Flea beetles Fungus Gnats Leaf miners Cutworms Caterpillars

35. Insects-Holes in Leaves Correction or Prevention Use of recommended pesticides to control insects

36. Insect bad guys! You’ll never look at a bug the same.

37. Damage Damage depends on the type of mouthpart Chewing Sucking

38. Chewing- Beetles Eat leaves Stems Flowers Fruits Nuts

39. Beetles Correction Oil or soap

40. Chewing- Caterpillars Larva Moths Butterflies Fuzzy and hair Eat young leaves and stems Roll up in leaves, makes leaves curl

41. Caterpillars Correction Tent Caterpillars-kerosene to burn them

42. Sucking- Aphids Pierce and suck juices Plant lice Cause stunted growth, yellow spotted leaves Sticky substance and black mold Attracts ants

43. Aphids Correction Apple Cider Vinegar Oil or Soap Malathion Lady bugs

44. Sucking- Mealy Bugs Pierce and suck from underside of leaves Suck in leaf axils Causes yellow appearance Sticky secretions

45. Mealy Bug Corrections Oil or soap Neem

46. Sucking- Thrips Chews and then sucks Causes plant tissue to become speckled or whitened Leaf tip withers Leaf curls and dies

47. Thrips Correction Insecticidal Soap

48. Sucking- Whiteflies Feeds on underside of young leaves Little flying white specks when plants are shaken

49. Whiteflies Correction Marathon Lady bugs

50. Sucking- Mites Attack underside of leaf Causes leaves to turn gray to grayish Severe infestations cause webbing Insects can be red

51. Slugs & Snails Problems Plants Missing

52. Slugs & Snails Correction or Prevention Use baits and pesticides Beer Caffeine (Coffee)