Rains holding up bedding crops? Consider fungicidal treatments

May and early June has been unusually wet for most of the eastern United States. The frequency of rain events has put holds on site finishing, and hence installation of bedding plants. Quite a few greenhouse producers wind up holding these contracted plants outdoors, or plants are stored in holding areas owned by the landscaper. Of greatest concern to the bedding plant producer is the returns and complaints that occur as these plants are damaged by the delay. As days of wet weather go by, plants become more susceptible to plant diseases, including root and aerial blights caused by Pythium, Phytophthora, and Botrytis. Saturated soil, high humidity and the inevitable early summer warm up of day and night temperatures favor disease development. It is important that growers and landscapers coordinate how they address this situation. Protective fungicide applications can help reduce disease problems. Once symptoms of disease are present, fungicides will not cure infected and plants. Symptomatic plants should be discarded, rather than planted. Remember that adjacent plants may be infected.