Finishing poinsettias According to Dr. Bill Argo, to finish poinsettias switch to a water-soluble, high nitrate fertilizer with calcium and maintain a root-zone EC between 1.5 and 2.0 mS/cm. for the saturated media extract method, or 0.6 to 1.0 mS/cm for a 1:2 method.
Post-production quality of poinsettias Late in production, keep medium nutrient concentration low. A standard practice is to stop fertilizing the last two weeks of the crop. However, if the crop has been grown at low to moderate fertility levels, do not eliminate fertilization. Instead, keep applying low fertilizer levels.
Pests present with colored bracts? Smoke generators of Plantfume 103 or Dithio can be used. Growers should be sure that the leaves and bracts are free of moisture droplets when using these products or spotting will occur. Plantfume 103 or Dithio is known as Sulfotepp, a short-residual, vapor active material that is applied as a smoke to kill aphids, whitefly and other small flying insects.
Pinpoint 15G can cause leaf burn on several ornamental plants at current recommended rates. Growers should run tests on several trial plants at several rates. Dr. Lindquist suggests that one-eighth tea spoon might be a better rate. Pinpoint 15G is Acephate, a systemic insecticide effective against a wide range of chewing and sucking pests.
