As ornamental growers, you know that while summer has just begun, mum season is around the corner and preparations will begin soon. You also know that because garden mums are often grown outdoors, they can face weather conditions favorable for insects and diseases. However, with the proper steps to prepare for the season ahead, you can help ensure healthy, attractive crops at the end of production.

Step 1: Know Your Threats

Root and stem diseases caused by Pythium and Fusarium spp. pathogens are common mum diseases likely to emerge under high temperatures and moist conditions. Affected plants will appear pale green and show signs of wilt during the warm times of the day, recovering in the evening. As the disease progresses, plants become stunted and fail to recover.

Thrips, aphids and worms are common insects that can affect garden mums in production. Aphids have piercing-sucking mouthparts that they insert in the phloem and extract plant sap, which affects the overall vigor of plants. Adults and nymphs can cause damage, which can include reduced leaf expansion, leaf discoloration or silvering and leaf loss.

Thrips are tiny, elongated insects that scrape and pierce plant tissue, then suck out the sap and cellular contents from leaf tissue, flower buds and/or unexpanded shoot tips. This can cause leaf stippling (silvery streaking), scarring and distortion.

Loopers, armyworms and other lepidopteran pests can damage mums if not found in time. Growers should look for moth activity in production areas and be ready to apply appropriate controls to stop worms before they feed on terminals.

Step 2: Implement a Programmatic Approach

Plant protection products are essential when the environmental conditions are conducive to pest development or when symptoms are first observed on mums. An agronomic program, such as this one from Syngenta, rotates products with different modes of action to maximize product strengths when needed most and prevent resistance.

Step 3: Round Out Your Program with Proven Products

An agronomic program should include trusted solutions for mum protection, like Mainspring^® GNL insecticide. When used preventively, Mainspring GNL keeps pest populations from building to damaging levels by stopping insect feeding upon ingestion. This stops disease transmission and unsightly insect damage to foliage and flowers. It can be applied as a spray or drench, which helps you target all insect pests on your mums.

Control of Green Peach Aphids (Myzus persicae) on Calibrachoa ‘Malibu Pink’

Take the necessary steps now to prevent threats to your mums during production. By knowing what to watch for and implementing an agronomic program to target these pests, you can help ensure a successful season ahead.

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