As the holiday shipping season approaches, protect your poinsettia crop from disease while maintaining quality and profitability. Phyton 27 provides broad-spectrum protection against bacterial and fungal pathogens, such as bacterial leaf spot, Botrytis, and powdery mildew, by moving systemically through the plant to safeguard it from the inside out.
Wondering what you need to do to ensure your poinsettia crop is healthy and disease-free as the holiday shipping season approaches?
The most powerful tool in your toolkit is a disease-prevention protocol that minimizes the presence of pathogens that cause costly diseases throughout the shipping season. Phyton 27 protects poinsettias (and other ornamentals) from common pathogens while allowing the beauty of your plants to shine through.
Diseases That Affect Poinsettias During Shipment
Three of the most common diseases that affect poinsettias during shipment are bacterial leaf spot, Botrytis, and powdery mildew. Let’s take a closer look at these diseases.
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot on poinsettias can be caused by several strains of bacteria, including Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. The spots appear as water-soaked areas on the leaf surface. When the spots dry out, they appear to be thin and have a paper-like appearance.
Water splash and physical contact spread bacterial leaf spot, both of which are common during shipping. Late season high temperatures and high relative humidity can cause bacteria to move rapidly from plant to plant.
Botrytis
Botrytis is one of the most common diseases in finishing crops, including poinsettias. The bacteria causes gray spots on leaves and bracts or cankers on stems. It often appears gray and fuzzy on the infected area. It usually develops during periods of high moisture during the final phases of production, when plants are grown with little spacing at slightly cooler temperatures. These conditions create the environment where poor air movement and water splash allow the disease to spread rapidly.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew usually appears as a white powder on the poinsettia leaf surface. It typically appears near the end of the crop cycle when the relative humidity is high. Powdery mildew spreads by air movement and water splash.
Preventing Disease During Shipment
To prevent disease during the poinsettia shipping season, we recommend treating your plants with a broad-spectrum bactericide and fungicide. Phyton 27 uses the plant’s natural process of translocation to move its disease-preventing properties through your plant, protecting the entire plant from the inside out.
Phyton 27 can be applied throughout the growing cycle, from propagation to harvest and shipment. It’s gentle on most tender plant tissue and will not damage plants, blooms, or bracts. It controls the most common pathogens without leaving a residue on the plant or blooms. Phyton 27 is effective at times of stress, such as crowding prior to sale, storage, and shipment.
To learn more about common diseases in poinsettias and how Phyton 27 can help you maintain healthy and beautiful plants all season long, get in touch with the experts at Phyton or place an order through our distributors or our online store.
Poinsettia Shipping FAQs
What are the most common poinsettia diseases during shipment?
The most frequent issues are bacterial leaf spot, Botrytis (gray mold), and powdery mildew, all of which thrive under high humidity and crowded shipping conditions.
How does Phyton 27 protect poinsettias from disease?
Phyton 27 is absorbed into the plant’s vascular system, providing systemic protection that moves through the entire plant and remains effective for up to 21 days.
Is Phyton 27 safe for delicate poinsettia bracts and blooms?
Yes. Phyton 27 is gentle on tender plant tissue, leaving no visible residue or damage to blooms and bracts, making it ideal for finishing and shipping stages.
When should growers apply Phyton 27 for best results?
It can be used throughout the growing cycle, from propagation to final shipment, ensuring consistent protection during periods of stress, crowding, and transport.
