An Ohio grower told us that some large retailers require him to use a special bar code for the retailer's products instead of the universal code sequence for every product set by United Bar Code, Dayton, Ohio. His frustration comes when expensive labor is used to change tags to satisfy these clients. This grower wants to know`if other growers are having similar experiences. Please direct your comments to Dr. C. Pasian at 614-292-9941 or FAX at 614-292-3505.
Verticillium wilt was found on Helichrysum in several Ohio greenhouses. The poinsettia stock plants and cuttings look very good this year, in part due to good weather. Some isolated Erwinia root-rot disease was noted in localized propagation beds. Thrips were noted in many greenhouses. Stay alert to thrips in and outside the greenhouse. Inspect poinsettia propagation benches for Erwinia. Cool temperatures were keeping poinsettia cuttings from stretching. Mums were budding up well this year as compared to the warm summer of 1995.
If a cold front brings cooler night temperatures (into the 40s-50s), growers should consider heating the poinsettia greenhouses at night even if it is Summer and "it is painful to the pocket". Optimum night temperatures for poinsettias are between 60 and 70 F. Poinsettias that are in poly houses may experience lower night temperatures (2-5 F) than the outdoors when it gets cool due to radiational cooling and absence of air movement in the enclosed structure.
The Society of American Florists held a Government relations briefing on July 14 at the OFA conference. It was stated by Drew Gruenburg, V.P. of SAF that floriculture accounts for 11% of crop agriculture and employs 300,000 - 400,000 employees nationwide yet only receives 0.019% of the Federal research dollars. Hopefully there is a $200,000 increase in floriculture research funding this year.
The Poinsettia Growers Association is looking for a new "home". OFA is one of the groups that has been approached to consider assuming parts or all of the program.