IPM Calendar: January

January IPM
In the Greenhouse
      Ideally, the greenhouse should have a period of “rest”, or be empty for a period between crops.  For those who have several weeks between crops, this is an excellent way to stop last year’s pest from becoming this year’s pest.  The “rest” should be several weeks long.  Temperature’s should be kept above 80°F during that time, causing an increase in the metabolism of insects and leading them to starve in the absence of food.  Of course, a heated rest is feasible in the summer months, but economically difficult in Northwestern Pennsylvania in January.  Freezing is another way to “rest” the greenhouse, but freezing is more likely to induce hibernation of insects, rather than starvation. 
      Whether you are able to “rest” the greenhouse or not, sanitation between crops is critical.  Debris left from previous crops must be swept up, placed in a plastic bag, removed from the greenhouse and destroyed.  Weeds under the benches should be controlled either by hand removal, or treating with an herbicide labeled for greenhouse use, such as:-------.  After herbicide treatment, the plant debris must be raked and removed. 
  
<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/weeds on floor/Weeds%20on%20floor%2C%20hose.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/weeds on floor/Weeds%20on%20floor%2C%20hose.html','popup','width=548,height=470,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/weeds on floor/Weeds%20on%20floor%2C%20hose-thumb.JPG" width="300" height="257" alt="" /></a>

The weeds on the floor of this greenhouse must be removed.  The weeds provide a vector for disease and harbor insects as well.  The hose, wand, and breaker nozzle should be sanitized.  The hose ends should be place up, off of the floor, even while the greenhouse is at rest.  While a brand new greenhouse may claim to be clean, most greenhouses that have pathogen related diseases once are likely to have remnants or descendants of that disease on the floor.  While insects may starve after a sustained period of time over 80°F, most pathogens can survive until they are presented with conditions over   160°F. 
 
<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/2007/12/13/pvc clip/2007_0713ImaxJuly070167.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/2007/12/13/pvc clip/2007_0713ImaxJuly070167.html','popup','width=1280,height=960,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/2007/12/13/pvc clip/2007_0713ImaxJuly070167-thumb.JPG" width="300" height="257" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/2007_0713ImaxJuly070168.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/2007_0713ImaxJuly070168.html','popup','width=1280,height=960,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.personal.psu.edu/rab147/blogs/ornamentalgrowersipmupdate/2007_0713ImaxJuly070168-thumb.JPG" width="300" height="257" alt="" /></a>

Here, a PVC pipe was cut and sanded to make a clip for holding hoses.  The clips help to keep the hose ends off of the floor where disease is surely lurking…

Find a new home for pet plants… If you aren’t going to sell them, they shouldn’t be there
Sanitize Benches, floors, tools,
After sanitizing, let it all dry up, this will help to kill shoreflies, (which live and reproduce around algae), and fungus gnats, (that will reproduce in the moist soil in pots, or the moist soil under your benches). 

If you had a history of weeds last year, hose down greenhouse walls and ceilings with a strong jet of water.  Weeds seeds, such as ----- can stick very effectively to greenhouse walls, especially if a little condensation coats the walls.  When windy or dry days come, the seeds will fall, dropping into pots on benches and hanging baskets. 
Even if your greenhouse is empty, you may find it helpful to place out some yellow or blue sticky cards.  That way you can control an insect problem before you move in a food source.