Spring is in full swing at the greenhouses in Michigan. Easter lily growers wrapped up moving lilies to coolers or shipping them late last week. Spring bedding plants are coming into full color. After a slow start early in January due to delayed vegetative cuttings or plugs/liners, growers are catching up to their production schedules as they approach ship dates. Generally, growers are predicting an excellent spring and there has been very few production issues. However, there are always some challenges every year. The Michigan State University Extension Floriculture team and the MSU Diagnostics lab has reported the following problems:
- Botrytis on geraniums, ranunculus
- Nutrient deficiencies on vinca
- Powdery mildew on redwood propagules
- Calcium deficiency on Pericallis
- Phytophthora on petunias
- Chilling injury on peppers
- INSV and NSWV on New Guinea impatiens
- Broad mite damage on New Guinea impatiens and seed impatiens
- Distorted growth on 3 cultivars of fuchsia
- Pectobacterium infection on calla lilies
Source: eGRO Blog (Heidi Linberg)