How do I slow plant growth?
March 27, 2020
Growers have asked, “What can be done to slow growth on crops during times of low demand? “ —A great question. Let’s look at the available options.
Environmental
If you find your crops growing under lower light levels, warm temperatures and heavy fertilization, excessive growth or stretching can occur. Excess growth can be slowed by growing crops cooler with increased spacing and using less water, a term called growing “harder.” If space allows, increase plant spacing and if crops can take colder temperatures in the 60º F range, you may want to consider this approach. The use of negative DIF (difference between daytime and nite time temp.) is also a growing technique useful during finish and can help reduce plant height.
OHP Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)
Chemical plant growth control is a standard tool for growing many crops and is used during early plug, liner, and early to mid-finish production. Late application of PGRs to plants can offer growth control for a short period of time or stop growth in order to hold a crop for a long time. Such applications are done with a drench of triazole-based PGRs such as OHP’s Pac O. Below are suggested OHP products and rates that can offer late growth control.
B-Nine® WDG
A spray application at 2500 to 3750 PPM (mums) or 5000 PPM can offer growth control on a number of plants. Zinnia, coleus, mums and other large leafed plants respond well from B-Nine WDG foliar applications. Apply early in the morning and do not overhead water for 24 hrs. The lower rate of 2500 PPM is less risky but users may need to make a couple of applications. A tank-mix of B-Nine WDG at 1250 or 2500 PPM plus Cycocel at 1000 PPM will increase effectiveness. DO NOT use Cycocel rates over 1200 PPM.
Cycocel®
We do not recommend the use of Cycocel in late finish as the rates needed for growth control may produce a yellowing. Cycocel is best used early to mid-cycle in crop production.
Pac O™ (Spray applications)
Foliar applications can vary wildly depending on the crops involved. Remember that viola, geranium, and begonia are VERY sensitive to Pac O. Sprays could range from 2 to 5 PPM. For other herbaceous crops use the mid to higher rate recommendations making sure to cover stems as best as possible; consider rates of 15 to 30 PPM. If crops have more leaves than stems showing you should consider B-Nine WDG sprays.
Pac O™ (Drench applications)
Drench applications are very effective in holding crops over. Consider using from 1 to 4 PPM using the correct drench volume for the pot size. A 1 PPM drench is like a 10 PPM spray. This 10:1 ratio can help you to determine what drench rate to use. Petunia baskets that are up to size will hold well using a 4 PPM drench.
Woody ornamentals are probably best held in check by using high spray rates or moderate drench rates of Pac O. Plants like azalea and other woody plants would use 100 to 150 PPM as a spray or 10 to 15 PPM as a drench. Lantana or other smaller plants respond well to a 2 PPM drench.
Generally speaking, one drench application should hold for 4 weeks or possibly longer. Drench volume is very important and users should follow the container drench volume rates in the label.
OHP Fortress herbicide – Now registered in California!
January 28, 2020
OHP, Inc. is pleased to announce the California state registration of Fortress® Ornamental Herbicide.
Fortress is now available for sale through authorized OHP distributors in California as well as in other states.
Fortress is a unique combination of the active ingredients isoxaben and dithiopyr formulated on a user-friendly engineered granule that provides virtually no dust and low odor. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements are minimal for the applicator.
The Fortress granules are uniformly round and do not hang up in crop canopy, resulting in better coverage and performance.
The specimen label lists many desirable perenn0ials, ornamental grasses, and woody plants that are tolerant to Fortress. Among the troublesome broadleaf and grassy weeds controlled by Fortress are crabgrass, eclipta, bittercress, oxalis, marestail, spurge, purslane, and others.
OHP is a leading provider of pest control solutions to the production ornamental and horticultural markets.
Click here for current state registrations, label, SDS and product information.
EPA approves 10 pesticides for use on hemp
January 2, 2020
In December of 2019 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved adding hemp to the use sites of 10 pesticides. Nine of the products are biopesticides and one is a conventional pesticide. For further information, or to see the current EPA hemp registration applications, click here.
Below is a list of OHP’s current biosolutions offerings:
- Ancora – Microbial Insecticide
- Azatin O – Biological Insecticide
- FireWorxx – Herbicide
- Kalmor – Fungicide/Bactericide
- Kopa – Insecticidal Soap
- Pycana – Insecticide/Miticide
- SoilGard – Microbial Fungicide
- Thuricide N/G – Biological Insecticide
- Triact 70 – Fungicide/Insecticide/Miticide
- Triathlon BA – Biofungicide/Bactericide
OHP introduces Pradia Insecticide!
August 1, 2019
OHP, Inc., announces the introduction of Pradia™ Insecticide to the ornamental nursery and greenhouse markets.
Pradia is a broad-spectrum, innovative and novel combination product developed for control of both sucking and chewing insect pests on ornamentals.
The combination of active ingredients – cyclaniliprole and flonicamid — provides quick knockdown and lengthy residual activity of many troublesome pests including whiteflies, thrips, aphids, leafminers, armyworms, moths and caterpillars, loopers, plant bugs, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, and beetles including flea beetles.
“We are pleased to offer Pradia to our nursery and grower customers,” says Dan Stahl, OHP vice president and general manager. “The unique combination makes it an ideal, fast-acting, broad-spectrum insect control solution.”
In addition, the combination product offers another advantage.
“The systemic and contact activity offered by Pradia makes it an ideal choice for use on hard-to-control sucking and chewing insect pests,” says Dr. Carlos Bográn, OHP manager technical service. “Plus the combination of two active ingredients with overlapping spectrums of control will aid in preventing resistance to diamide insecticides on key pests such as thrips, whiteflies, and aphids.”
Compatible with parasitic wasps, predatory mites, and lady beetles, Pradia is ideal for use as a tool in an IPM program.
Pradia is formulated as a user-friendly soluble concentrate in quart containers and has a 12-hour REI.
Click here for the latest state registrations, label, SDS and Pradia product information.
OHP adds Sarisa Insecticide to portfolio
August 1, 2019
OHP is excited to announce the introduction of Sarisa™ Insecticide, a revolutionary new product for broad-spectrum control of insect pests on 
ornamental greenhouse and nursery stock.
The active ingredient in Sarisa, cyclaniliprole, provides extended residual protection against key nursery and greenhouse pests such as thrips, beetles including flea beetles and Japanese beetles, armyworms, gypsy moths, loopers, plant bugs, lace bugs, and leafminers.
“Sarisa offers many attributes that make it an outstanding product to use today and into the future and we’re happy to introduce another tool to help both our nursery and greenhouse grower customers manage their insect control,” says Dan Stahl, OHP vice president and general manager.
A diamide insecticide, Sarisa provides quick knockdown and residual activity of sucking as well as chewing insects with its novel mode of action and has a 4-hour Restricted Entry Interval (REI).
The active ingredient in Sarisa assists in the conservation of many beneficial insects such as predatory mites, parasitic wasps, and lady beetles, notes Dr. Carlos Bográn, OHP manager technical services.
“The selectivity of the active ingredient allows beneficial insects and other arthropods to continue to manage secondary pests,” says Dr. Bográn, making Sarisa compatible with IPM and resistance management programs.
Sarisa is formulated as a user-friendly soluble concentrate that may tank mixed with appropriate partners. The use of a spreader sticker may help performance.
Click here for the latest state registrations, label, SDS and Sarisa product information.