The topic of plant strengthening was the subject of an online ornamental plant seminar held by the supplier Multikraft. Gardener Martin Schärtl from the retail business "1A Garten Krauss" uses a cold fogger for this purpose.
Little experience with application method until now
Schärtl's decision to use biostimulants was prompted not only by health considerations ("I have two small children and want to be able to work in the greenhouses all day without causing any damage") but also by the increasingly tighter approval situation for plant protection products. In order to achieve a better distribution of the biostimulants and a better uptake by the plant, and also to save working time and costs, he received the recommendation to apply the biostimulants with a cold fogger. Until then, there was hardly any experience with this application method. The gardener can now fill this gap a little.
"No damage at all to the chrysanthemums"
Schärtl started in the fall of 2022 with the application on not yet showing color cut chrysanthemums on 700 square meters, applied first compounds immediately over four hours from 5 to 9 p.m., then left the ventilation closed until eight o'clock the following day, the shading even for 24 hours. "You could see a dew coating due to the agent on the leaves. But despite the large amount, no damage occurred even after three days." Getting brave, he adjusted his recipe of the agents used a bit more and continued fogging at weekly intervals, using a five percent concentration, six liters per greenhouse, until the chrysanthemums began to show color. "No damage at all to the chrysanthemums despite the high concentration, but beautiful dark green leaves - I had never seen such a rich green on our plants," Schärtl reported at the seminar. There was also no need for trimming. "Top nutrition without an ounce of chemistry," he concluded.
Schärtl continues to mist with conviction
Since then, his standard solution has consisted of MK 5, BB Blatt, MK Boden, Terrafert, and Biplantol - with the exception of the latter, only products from Multikraft, because the damage occurred in mixtures with other products. Since then, Schärtl has continued to mist with conviction, also adding tonics to the irrigation water of the ebb and flow system and, he feels, has also been able to significantly reduce pests such as aphids and thrips. "Then I became even bolder," Schärtl says. The gardener achieved similarly good results with poinsettias, which not only became rich green as a result of misting (three percent) but also so hardy that they even survived a nighttime temperature drop to ten degrees without damage. Even sensitive varieties, such as 'Alaska,' coped with the cold temperatures without any consequences. Schärtl also achieved good qualities through cold misting with Erysimum (up to five percent concentration) and primroses, which remained as compact through the biostimulants as if "he had compressed them with Tilt or Bonzi."
Source: Taspo