THRIPS

Browsing through the greenhouse today with my trusty magnifying glass what did I see? Lo and behold the nasty thrips already!!!
Description

Of the more than 6,000 thrips species known in the world, the following five are common pests of greenhouse crops: Greenhouse thrips (Heliothrips haemorroidalis), Banded greenhouse thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis), Flower thrips (Frankliniella tritici), Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), and Onion or tobacco thrips (Thrips tabaci).

They were feasting on a tray of Impatiens which by the way they love, which is not good because they pass on a virus which will really mess them up.
It doesn't take long for them to multiply making it harder to get rid of them.One of the best sprays to use in the greenhouse for thrips is conserve.



Thrips are small (~1/8” long) and narrow-bodied insects commonly found feeding on leaves and stems. Greenhouse thrips (Heliothrips femoralis) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella tritici) are plant pests commonly found in most greenhouses and on flowering plants kept indoors. Adult greenhouse thrips are dark and western flower thrips adults are straw yellow to light brown. Greenhouse thrips nymphs are pale green and can resemble small aphids without cornicles. The larval form of flower thrips appear wormlike and range from pale yellow to light orange.

Since thrips are quite small and their pale-colored nymphs are difficult to detect, using magnification when scouting is recommended. The presence of thrips gives a splotchy appearance to leaves.

If you ever see anything unusual on the leaves of any plants in your greenhouse splotching, streaks, mottling get your magnifier out because more than likely it is a bug of some sort. Scouting is one of the most important tools in the fight with bugs.


Using rasping-sucking mouthparts, both larvae and adult thrips cause a distinct splotchy appearance on leaves.
If you see any kind of deformity or splotchy appearance or anything out of the norm on leaves, get your magnyfying glass out because 9 times out of ten it is a bug of some kind.

A good magnifying glass essential in a greenhouse, without one you will never see mites or even thrips (especially when you get older). Also I have found sticky cards to be invaluable.They will show adult thrips when they are in your greenhouse

GETTING READY TO GROW

It may be cold outside but today it is 70 degrees inside our greenhouses. Tee shirt weather!! We are busy filling pots, baskets, flats and anything else that can hold dirt.It's about that time to roll. Next week we will be potting up Fuschia AND New Guinea Impatien Baskets for Mothers Day which by the way is only about 10 weeks away.

We are planting tomato baskets which produce sweet cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket,our customers love them.We also are trying a patio pepper that will grow in a hanging basket .

Seeding Dusty Miller, Marigolds, Peppers and Petunia next week .

PLANTS THAT FILTER YOU AIR

Just a note on indoor plants.Every house should have a spider plant indoors.Two reasons: 1. They are SO EASY TO GROW!! 2.THEY FILTER YOUR AIR!!!

As a matter of fact, plants can clean up to 87% of indoor pollutants, given the right circumstances.

They're cheaper, more pleasant to look at and they make no noise! Most houseplants will outlast an air purifying machine, too, cutting the cost even more. Oh... and they don't add to your electric bill. Not only do plants absorb chemicals from the air, they balance the humidity and increase oxygen levels. You don't have to use plants that create allergy problems to clean your air, either.

Any plant can clean your air but some are better than others and the spider is one!. * Spider plants

Starting seeds under Lights

If you are new to starting seeds indoors under lights I have a few tips. You can use regular flourescent lights don't let anyone tell you , you can't . I have been doing it for 25 years. When you start seeds they won't stay under the lights that long and I have found regular lights work very well.

One item you will need to do a really good job is a heat mat of some sort. Bottom heat is a must for starting seeds.Purchase a nice heat mat that holds 2 flats. 2 flats will fit under one 4 foot light fixture very nice. Start your seeds in plastic flats or containers of some sort.Make sure they are sterilized if they are used.Use the best potting soil you can find. DO NOT USE GARDEN SOIL FROM OUTSIDE.You are asking for trouble with disease .Damping off is a disease that will wipe out your seedlings and usually comes from dirty soil or seed starting trays.

Water your flat or seed containers very thorough then seed.If you are seeding by hand do not place to many seeds in a flat .If the seedlings are too crowded they will grow to spindly.Seed the size of tomato seed should be spaced 1/4" apart.You can broadcast the seed but that will take trial and error to find the right amount of seed to sow in one container. Cover your seed flat with either a plastic dome or plastic of some sort. This is very important , this keeps the soil from drying out before the seed germinate so you will not have to water and disturb the seeds before they germinate.Place the trays under your lights turn on your heat mat and you will be surprised how fast seeds will germinate.

Now the critical part is to know when to take the seed trays of the heat mats.Once all the seeds have germinated they must come of the heat mat if they start to grow to tall too fast. The bottom heat will make the seedlings grow to fast and spindly so when all germination has occured take the trays off the heat mat. Now you can do one if two things. The trays are now ready to go under another set of lights with no bottom heat. The seeds are all germinated so they don't really need any more bottom heat. Just place trays within 3-4 inches of your lights. You can use a timer if you want. They will need about 15-17 hours of light inside per day.The other option is take the seedlings outside if you have a greenhouse or hothouse of some type.They will not do very well on your windowsill they will need to be under the light or go outside on the greenhouse.
Once the seeds germinate and have at least 4 sets of True Leaves (these are the leaves that sprout out after the two first leaves you see when the seeds first germinate) They can take cooler temperatures, possibly as low as 50 degrees depending on the crop you are growing.

Now your seedlings will need a little time and then will be ready for transplanting. That's another day!

Get your greenhouse ready

It's getting to be that time if you have a hobby grenhouse.I know you are itching to get started. Looking through all those seed magazines .Picking out your favorite flowers and plants to grow.
Now's the time to be cleaning up your greenhosue and getting ready.Sterilize all your benches and equipment. You can use bleach, a 10% solution or try to find a commercial product called Greenshield or Zero tol.These products work great for sterilizing.
Make sure if you use any old pots or flats or plastic of any kind to sterilize real good.You are asking for serious problems with disease if you don't.The first step to succesful greenhouse growing is sanitation.

If you have heaters now is the time to run them and check their operation.Unit heaters especially need attention.If they are not running correctly you will pay the price later when your greenhouse is full of plants.

Start pansy and other cold crops indoors .They can be moved into cold greenhouse before to long.