Poinsettia Powdery Mildew Alert

According to Dr. Steve Nameth, due to the cool night temperatures and the warm day temperatures, conditions are ideal for Powdery Mildew on poinsettia stock. The disease will first appear as small white fuzzy spots on the leaves and if left unchecked will spread rapidly to other poinsettia plants. Try to maintain good air circulation in the greenhouse and check your plants once a day for disease. If Powdery Mildew shows up, a timely diagnosis makes all the difference in heading off a disaster. There are some effective fungicides available, but prevention and early diagnosis are the best remedies.