Four Star Culture Guide - 2019 - 110

Bio Program Overview
Biological control has been a growing part of Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) for several years, and Four Star is including
these techniques and sciences into our pest management
program. Here are the highlights of our current practices.
Annual Stock Plants:
Main target pests are Thrips and Spider Mites, and occasionally
Aphids.
Evolvulus, Helichrysum, Ipomoea, Laurentia, Lotus and Sutera
(Bacopa) are key genera to watch.
Bio controls begin August 1st and end in December when our
stock ships out.
While they were originally implemented on Ipomoea and
Sutera, we now use bio controls on all stock.
We use the following predatory mites: Swirski (Amblyseius
swirskii) and Persimilis (Phytoseiulus persimilis). Mites are
applied via AirBug gun weekly.
Swirski-Mite sachets are used on stock Sutera baskets.
Sachets are hung on baskets and replaced every 4 to 6 weeks.
Large yellow Horiver cards are used to monitor and trap Thrips,
Alate (winged form) Aphids, Fungus Gnats, Shore Flies, and
many other flying insects. They are put out on every other table.
Spraying weekly (1x a week) with Botanigard , NoFly or
Azatin® is normal. Overture® is used for higher Thrip pressure.
We use Floramite® for Two-spotted mite pressure, and
Endeavor® for Aphids. (See compatibility list.)
®

™

Perennials and ColorChoice® Shrubs:
All perennials and ColorChoice® shrubs receive predatory mites
once a week via AirBug gun. A mixture of Persimilis, Swirski
and Californicus (Neoseiulus californicus) are used.

Finished Summer baskets:
Swirski-Mite Plus sachets are hung on baskets two weeks after
transplant. Swirskii LD sachets last up to six weeks.
We perform regular sprays with Botanigard®, Overture®,
Pedestal®, Endeavor®, Molt-x® or Azatin® (1x a week if needed,
2x a week depending on pressure).
Projected start date by Weeks 20 - 21.
Banker Plants:
We recently implemented banker plants to counter Aphid
pressure in Ipomoea stock, and are now also using for
perennials and ColorChoice® shrubs.
Banker plants also begin in October and continue through
summer into fall. The plants are purchased from IPM
Laboratories Inc. and A. colemani is purchased from Koppert
Biological Systems. We release them two weeks straight after
introduction of the banker plants.
Banker plants consist of winter rye and are infested with Bird
Cherry-oat Aphids.
Compatible Insecticides for Biological Controls
Overture®

Molt-X®

Azatin® XL

Floramite®

Botanigard®

AzaGuard™

Endeavor®

NoFly™

Pedestal®

Captiva®

Met 52®

Aria®

Rycar®

Grandevo®

ProMite®

Hexygon®

Aza-Direct®

Kontos®

Ovation®

Triact® 70

DiPel® Pro

This treatment begins June 1st through October 1st (depending
on weather and low temperatures at night).
Spot spraying for Aphids and Mites is done as needed
before applying biocontrols. We use Endeavor®, Triact® 70,
Botanigard®, Met 52®, Floramite® and Hexygon®.
We have minimized sprays dramatically to just using spot
sprays, rather than spraying two times a week.

Four Star Greenhouse I www.pwfourstar.com I 734-654-6420
110

The rates and chemicals listed are based on our southeast Michigan growing conditions, and are not recommended for nationwide application.
Please adjust the rates and spray applications to your location and facility.

http://www.pwfourstar.com

Four Star Culture Guide - 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Four Star Culture Guide - 2019