10/26/1995

Nursery Field Day Provides Information for Commercial and Home Growers

MOBILE, Ala. - More than 100 nursery operators, landscapers and homeowners saw research projects and heard the latest results from researchers in Auburn University's Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System during a Nursery Field Day held recently at the Ornamental Horticulture Substation here.

Commercial nursery operators were especially interested in results of tests using coconut coir for potting mixtures in bedding plants and a test to interrupt the night of poinsettias that may increase holiday season marketing opportunities. They also heard results of another test using a combination of foam rubber and copper to prune the roots of large woody ornamentals. Landscapers and homeowners were able to learn about new herbicides and fungicides available for use on a number of ornamental crops and also about the use of oil sprays to control scale on azaleas and other woody ornamentals.

AU researcher Austin Hagan showed the crowd results of various fungicides used to control bacterial blight on mums. All the chemicals used, including Phyton, Aliette, Fluazinam, Kocide and Agri-Strep, controlled the disease. However, fluazinam 500F used at a 12-ounce rate, delayed flowering. Though most of these materials are not labeled for use on mums, Hagan noted no significant problems were seen with phytotoxicity, indicating some or all of these products may soon be available to growers.

In a similar screening test with herbicides on mums, Auburn researcher Charles Gilliam also found a number of products that control weeds and cause little or no injury to mums. Though not registered for use on mums, such herbicides as Stakeout, Pennant, Snapshot 2.5TG, Factor, Pendulum and Gallery DF did a good job on weeds without damaging the plants. However, the Auburn researcher noted that in the test Snapshot 80DF caused some stunting in both Yellow Jacket and Heather mum varieties.

Auburn researcher Ken Tilt showed the group results of tests using foam rubber alone and in combination with copper to keep roots pruned in large woody ornamental trees grown in plastic pots.

"The idea is to grow a tree that can be removed from the plastic pot, wrapped in a plastic bag and shipped," he explained. "Both the copper and the foam may prove to be too expensive, but the cost of either or both are at least partially offset by saving the cost of the plastic pot, reducing shipping weight and saving the cost of disposing of the pot once the tree is planted," Tilt said.

Interrupting the sleep of poinsettias actually makes the plant think it has had two short days, according to Auburn researcher Bridget Behe. "By exposing poinsettias to light from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., we hope to develop a system that will allow growers to pot poinsettias at one time, but have them bloom over a long period of time. If we can do this, then growers can provide better quality, more colorful poinsettias to consumers from Thanksgiving to New Year's," Behe told those attending the AU field day.

The Nursery Field Day is held every two years at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System research facility. It is co-sponsored by the Experiment Station System and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Much of the work shown at the Substation was recently included in an "Ornamental Horticulture Research Report" published by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System and available from county extension offices, the Ornamental Horticulture Substation or by contacting the Office of Research Information at 110 Comer Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849.

-30-

News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

October 26, 1995