Apopka REC – EDIS Update

Does Consumers' Awareness Impact Their Purchase Likelihood of Neonic-Free Plants?

Neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides have been facing intense scrutiny because of their potential role in pollinator insect population declines. Research has shown that insecticide use in general has resulted in $284 million per year in damages to honeybee and pollinator services in the United States. This is especially worrying because food supply would fail to meet increasing global food demand without pollinator insects.

Consumer awareness of neonic pesticides increases the purchase likelihood for plants that are labeled “neonic-free,” and, as consumer awareness of neonics increases, demand for plants may decrease if there is limited availability of neonic-free options. This 5-page fact sheet written by Hayk Khachatryan and Alicia Rihn and published by the Food and Resource Economics Department explains the practical implications for growers, retailers, and policy makers and describes how these stakeholders can benefit from increased awareness of this important new market niche.
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1008

Household Water Usage and Irrigation Practices

Water pollution and drought in the United States have made water scarcity a widespread concern. Currently, residential consumers account for most urban water use, and meaningful programs that lead to water conservation rely on a comprehensive understanding of how consumers use water inside and outside their homes. This 5-page fact sheet written by Hayk Khachatryan, Alicia Rihn, and Michael Dukes and published by the Department of Food and Resource Economics outlines University of Florida researchers’ assessments of current US household indoor and outdoor water use to assist policy makers and researchers with creating incentives for homeowners to conserve water.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe996

Florida Consumer Preferences for Indoor Foliage Plant Attributes

Consumer demand for indoor foliage plants is decreasing. One strategy to counter decreasing demand is to align products with consumer needs. To explore this strategy, this 4-page fact sheet written by Hayk Khachatryan and Alicia Rihn and published by the Department of Food and Resource Economics examines purchasing barriers for indoor foliage plants so that breeders, growers, suppliers, and retailers may develop and promote products to overcome those barriers. This paper also investigates the potential of using novel plant attributes that are not readily apparent in retail outlets to generate consumer interest in indoor foliage plants.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe994

Biology and Management of Ragweed Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorous L.) in Ornamental Crop Production

This six-page fact sheet provides an overview of Ragweed Parthenium, Parthenium hysterophorous L, including a species description and information on how to manage ragweed parthenium culturally, physically, and chemically. Written by Debalina Saha, Chris Marble, Robert H. Stamps, and Shawn Steed and published by the Environmental Horticulture Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep531

Chilling Injury in Tropical Foliage Plants: III. Dieffenbachia

A chilling temperature is any temperature that is cold enough to cause plant injury but not cold enough to freeze the plant. Chilling injury can occur to tropical foliage plants if greenhouses become too cold or if plants are exposed to chilling temperatures outside of the greenhouse during packing and shipping. Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumb cane, ranks among the top five most popular foliage plant genera produced and sold in the United States. This four-page fact sheet describes the chilling temperatures of Dieffenbachia cultivars in order to assist growers to better manage greenhouse temperatures. Written by Jianjun Chen and published by the Environmental Horticulture Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep530

Do-It-Yourself Insect Pest Traps

Many types of traps can be used to monitor or control insect pests. Traps to capture insects vary greatly, depending on the target, location, and purpose. Traps may be inexpensive and disposable, or more complex. This 12-page fact sheet describes several traps for common pests in the home, garden, and landscape that can be made using common household materials or that are readily available in stores. Written by Steven Arthurs and Adrian Hunsberger and published by the Entomology and Nematology Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1103

Improving Weed Control in Landscape Planting Beds

Because landscape beds often contain a variety of ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees, using herbicides to control weeds in these areas can be challenging; however, non-herbicidal methods can be labor intensive. This 6-page fact sheet outlines how to use landscape design and cultural and chemical practices to effectively control weeds in landscape beds. This publication also discusses the use of pre- and postemergent herbicides. Written by Chris Marble and Andrew Koeser, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, June 2015.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep523

Biology and Management of Graceful Sandmat (Chamaesyce hypericifolia) in Ornamental Crop Production

Graceful sandmat (Chamaesyce hypericifolia) is a problematic weed that often grows in container media in ornamental plant nurseries. This 4-page facts sheet profiles the biology of graceful sandmat and recommends physical, cultural, and chemicals methods for managing the weed in the nursery environment. Written by Theresa Chormanski, Chris Marble, and Lyn Gettys, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, June 2015.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep522

Commercial Production of Ornamental Tropical Foliage Plants: Micropropagation

Florida nursery operators need to understand plant propagation principles and techniques so they can grow enough plants for sale. Micropropagation is a way to culture plant tissue to rapidly propagate a large number of plants. This 4-page fact sheet presents an overview of micropropagation to help growers evaluate it as a propagation technique for their own nursery operations. Written by J. Chen and R. J. Henny, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, May 2015. (Photo: J. Chen, UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep520

Biology and Management of Mulberry Weed (Fatoua villosa) in Ornamental Crop Production

This 4-page fact sheet discusses the characteristics of mulberry weed (Fatoua villosa) and explains how to control its growth in a nursery environment. Written by Chris Marble and Shawn Steed, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2015.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep517

Biology and Management of Oxalis (Oxalis stricta) in Ornamental Crop Production

Oxalis grows throughout the year in Florida. It can be found growing in sidewalk cracks, alongside trails, in lawns, flower beds, cultivated fields, and in container nursery stock. In greenhouse studies, oxalis populations have been shown to negatively impact the growth rates of ornamental crops. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Matt Lollar and Chris Marble, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, February 2015. (Photo: Chris Marble)

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep514

Identification, Impacts, and Control of Ragweed Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) (ENH1187/EP448)

One of the worlds most invasive weeds, this member of the Asteraceae family is a problem in Africa, Australia, India, and is increasingly a problem in Florida. Learn more in this 10-page fact sheet was written by Robert H. Stamps, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep448

Dieffenbachia Diseases: Identification and Control in Commercial Greenhouse Operations (PP286)

Dieffenbachia is among the top 10 most popular plants produced by commercial foliage growers in Florida. This 4-page fact sheet provides guidelines to identify and treat diseases that may be encountered during the commercial production of Dieffenbachia. Written by David Norman and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp286

Using Gibberellic Acid and Ethephon to Induce Flowers on Tropical Foliage Plants (ENH1186/EP447)

Even though they are prized for their beautiful leaves, flowers are induced in tropical foliage plants for breeding and for marketing purposes. This 6-page fact sheet discusses several factors to consider when developing protocols for inducing blooms in tropical foliage crops. Written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep447

New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: Aglaonema ‘Leprechaun’ (ENH1185/EP446)

This dwarf, more highly branched and rounder cultivar of Aglaonema 'Silver Bay' developed as a whole-stem mutation that was found within a large population of Aglaonema 'Silver Bay' plants. This 4-page fact sheet was written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep446

Prevention, Early Detection, and Eradication of Benghal Dayflower in Field Nurseries (ENH1085/EP350)

Benghal dayflower is an increasingly problematic weed that is federally designated as a noxious weed. This 10-page fact sheet provides nursery owners how to prevent, detect, and eradicate this invasive plant. Written by Robert Stamps, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, May 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep350

New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: Pothos ‘Pearls and Jade’ (ENH1180/EP441)

Pothos plants are tree-climbing vines native to the Solomon Islands, but they flower seldom and never under greenhouse conditions or in interior environments. As a result, no hybridized pothos cultivars are known to exist. Because of the barriers to hybridization, a program was initiated at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) in Apopka, Florida, to induce mutations in order to develop new pothos varieties. Pothos ‘Pearls and Jade’® (Fig.1) is a mutation selection from a group of ‘Marble Queen’ plants. This 4-page fact sheet describing the new hybrid was written by R. J. Henny, J. Chen, and T. A. Mellich, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep441

ENH1168/EP429 Cold Protection of Foliage Plants in Shadehouses and Greenhouses

ENH1168, a 10-page illustrated fact sheet by Robert H. Stamps, Jianjun Chen, Seenivasan Natarajan, and Lawrence R. Parsons, informs ornamental foliage plant growers about various cold protection measures that can be adopted before and during cold events to avoid or minimize losses due to chilling or cold injury. Includes glossary and references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, July 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep429

ENH1093/EP357 Tropical Foliage Cultivar Development: New Ornamental Introductions Drive Plant Markets

ENH-1093, a 3-page illustrated fact-sheet by R.J. Henny and J. Chen, looks at foliage cultivar development and markets through history. Includes references and a table chronicling changes in major foliage plant genera in commercial production between 1975 and 1999. Published by UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP357

ENH1092/EP356 Tropical Foliage Plant Development: Origin of New Cultivars

ENH-1092, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by R.J. Henny and J. Chen, describes three avenues for new tropical foliage plants to enter the commercial trade — plant acquisition and collection from the wild, selection of natural or induced mutations, and hybridization — and how new introductions are evaluated. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP356