Florcom Gardens

This is a preventative program designed to combat most of the pests that commonly occur on roses. The chemicals used to compile this program have proved to be compatible with each other and safe (for the plant) within reason if used in the right sequence and at our recommended dosage rates. However, other factors may influence the effect the chemicals have on the plants, i.e. spray water, climate, soil, nutrient status, age of chemicals and storage conditions – spray technique is also critical. We have recommended certain brand names, we do not take responsibility if “generics’ are substituted. There are vast differences in the quality of chemicals with the same active ingredient, but of different origin (manufacture).

This program is based on the assumption that the amount of spray mix applied is approximately 800 to 1200 liter per hectare.

The program consists of a 2 week cycle (preventative) and several ‘special mixes’ that are only sprayed if necessary when an ‘outbreak’ has occurred or when weather conditions are favourable for the development of the pest or disease.

The following preventative spray program will control the following pests and diseases: – aphids, worms, rose beetles, thrips, scale, rose borer, spider mite, powdery mildew, black spot and rust.

Preventative:

Alternate between these mixtures at about seven to fourteen day intervals or longer:

Use a proper wetting agent or wetter/sticker e.g. Latron B or G49 or Agral 90 etc. Dish wash does more harm than good!

Special mixes:

Floribunda (bush/standard 60 – 90cm)

A never-ending display of white flowers, needing very little care – this makes the Iceberg the most popular garden rose.

Small, pointed buds are borne in clusters; pure white; vigorous and extremely prolific; bushy growth. One of the most important bedding roses because of its abundant flowering, growth habit and the significant neutral white. By pruning lightly it may also be grown as a shrub of about 2m height.

1. Sterilize vase by washing with a disinfectant such as bleech.
2. Fill the clean vase with lukewarm water and add flower food.
   

   Homemade Flowerfood Take 2 litres of clean water and add: 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons bleach 1 tablespoon vinegar

3. Cut approximately 3cm from the base of each stem at an angle using a sharp instrument.
4. Remove all leaves that come into contact with the water in the vase.
5. Do not place the flowers in draughts, or near any source of heat, and do not place near ripening fruit.

High populations of thrips are promoted by a mild winter and a sunny spring.

Symptoms:

• Thrips are tiny brown or black insects (approximately 1 mm in length) and are most often found between the petals of the flowers.
• Their mouthparts pierce plant surfaces causing browning of petals and distortion of flowers.
• Leaves are distorted and generally curl upward. The leaves become crinkled and the laminae may be greatly reduced by high populations causing new leaves to be narrow.

The discolouring on the edges of the petals in the picture is caused by thrips.

This picture shows distorted leaves caused by thrip damage.

Pest development:

Survival of hibernating thrips is promoted by a mild winter, a sunny spring and abundant weeds. Female thrips lay colourless eggs in floral tissues. Adults feed on flower parts, later entering the soil to pupate. Thrip life cycles can range from 10 days to a month depending on temperature.

Control:

Spray with a registered chemical and remove weeds.

A method to increase flower production and to ensure that you have flowers throughout the season

Soft pinching of the first growth following winter pruning will ensure that you have roses throughout the season and will increase the production of flowers.

How and when to do the pinch: The stem is pinched (break the stem out with the thumb and forefinger) at the point when the bud is about grain size. At this stage the length of the stem is about 10 to 20 cm. The pinch is done just above the middle of the stem (three to 5 mature leaves are left on the stem). The stem must be soft enough to break out with thumb and forefinger. A clean pinch, which leaves no stalk behind, is preferred.

Soft pinches and production: This method will increase yields (two buds may break instead of a single bud response) and the growth will be staggered. The expected flowering period of the pinched stem will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks. Stem length may however decrease.

Staggering of production: By doing selective pinching the timing for flower periods has now been established for the rest of the year. One method is the pinching of about 20% of the shoots from each plant in one week and another 20% the next week, leaving the balance of 60% to go straight into bloom.