Protecting Poinsettias with Mainspring GNL and Avid 0.15 EC Miticide/Insecticide

With fall quickly approaching, poinsettia production is gearing up. From propagation to finish, it is important to continue monitoring for common insect pests, especially whiteflies, as poinsettias tend to attract them more than any other pest and populations can build quickly.

Whitefly Damage

Adult and immature whiteflies have piercing, sucking mouthparts they insert into the phloem to extract plant sap, which affects plant vigor. Feeding injury also results in:

  • Reduced leaf expansion
  • Chlorotic spots on the top sides of leaves
  • Leaf discoloration or silvering
  • Leaf loss
  • Presence of honeydew secretions on leaves that may result in black sooty mold on leaf surfaces
Poinsettia showing signs of thrips damage, 2015

Whitefly damage on poinsettia
Syngenta photo, 2005

Whitefly Prevention

A successful whitefly management strategy includes weekly inspection of the crop coupled with the use of effective products for controlling the adult and immature stages of this pest. When scouting, it is important to examine the underside of the leaves for the presence of eggs, nymphs and adults.  A 10-20x hand lens can be helpful for this inspection. Along with diligent scouting, sprays of Avid® 0.15EC miticide/insecticide early in production will help protect the young plants from Lewis mites and Q-biotype whiteflies, which may be present on in-coming liners or cuttings.  After pinch, incorporate a drench application of Mainspring® GNL insecticide into your pest management program to secure robust  protection against whiteflies.   

Applying Mainspring GNL as a Drench

Mainspring GNL is the trusted choice to control whiteflies and more with a drench application. In a recent survey of U.S. greenhouse and nursery growers, 96% of respondents agreed that they trust Mainspring GNL to protect crops from a wide range of key chewing and sucking pests.*

A drench application of Mainspring GNL will help provide systemic protection against whiteflies during production and after shipping. Drench applications should be applied 2-3 weeks after poinsettias have been pinched, once the plants have rooted in their container. When applied as a drench, Mainspring GNL is taken up through the roots into the plant canopy, providing 10 weeks or more of protection. For best results, make sure the drench solution wets three-fourths of the potting media and apply no later than the first week of October. Get your drench on!

Download our poinsettia agronomic program to learn more about shielding poinsettias from whiteflies and other pests.

*Survey of 110 nursery and greenhouse growers in the U.S. conducted via TechValidate in Dec. 2021.

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.

© 2022 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state-specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. Avid®, GreenCast®, Mainspring® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective third-party owners.

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