December 2019 - 29

PLANT HEALTH
A4+A7 [GA4+7] and 1.8% benzyladenine [6-BA].
GA stimulates intermodal elongation, while BA
enhances the growth of axillary or lateral shoots.
So Fresco is used to encourage growth in plants
in two ways. Gibberellins (GA) are hormones in
plants that cause the cells to elongate, resulting
in the plants growing taller or stretching. Fresco
also contains cytokinins, in the form of 6BA, which
stimulate plant growth and branching through cell
division. These two components, by acting on both
cell elongation and cell division, help promote a more
uniform/better structured growth, rather than just
causing rank uncontrolled growth.
So, together these two actives are helping to
elongate stems while also helping plants grow fuller
and more marketable. This dual action wakes the
pathways in the plants to help push plants out of
stalls caused by overapplication or other factors.
Together, they stimulate plant growth in a very
controlled manner.
HOW TO USE FRESCO DRENCHES
Who would have thought to use a PGR to rescue
plants from a PGR? If you or one of your growers
applies a growth-inhibiting PGR such as paclobutrazol
at a too-high concentration, you may see delayed
flowering. Or, more seriously, plant growth may slow or
even stop. While researching effective PGR techniques,
Fine Americas found that a drench with Fresco can
help pull plants out of a stall, sometimes in as little
as one application. (Foliar sprays to leaves of stalled
plants won't transport Fresco easily through the plant.)
Typically, we suggest applying 2 to 5 ppm, then
waiting five to seven days. Crop, variety and the
severity of the situation will all impact your approach.
You might try a test area first, if you have time. How
ever you decide to proceed, start with the lower rate.
Media should not be wet, but merely moist. Be sure
to cover root systems thoroughly - look for very little
run through out of the container bottom. This makes
it important to use a sufficient amount of water, and
increase the volume proportionately with pot size. For
example, you'd use 3 fluid ounces for a 5-inch pot,
but when you jump to an 8-inch pot you'll need 10
fluid ounces. Sub-irrigation may require a different
level. If you are applying via sub-irrigation, you may
want to reduce the rate by as much as half.
You don't want to go too high with the rate or
reapply too quickly and end up with too much
stretch. So wait at least five to seven days after the
first drench; check the crop thoroughly, and assess
for stem elongation and expanding leaves. If it isn't
where you want it, reapply again at 2 to 5 ppm.
Fresco is registered for most ornamentals, such as
chrysanthemums, gardenias, azaleas, hydrangeas,
poinsettias, petunias, marigolds and others. Always
read and follow label directions.
Dudley Dabbs is eastern regional manager for Fine
Americas. He can be reached at dudleyd@fine-americas.com.
When Harry met Lou...
2. At the time, Lou, an immigrant
from Germany and entrepreneur, was
making plastic fishing bobbers in
the basement of his hardware store
using injection molding. He called
his company MasterFloat.
Lou Schmidt
Harry Weesies
1
1. It all began in 1949 when a grower
in Montague, Michigan named Harry
Weesies approached his friend Lou Schmidt
who ran the hardware store in town.
4
4. Harry
asked Lou
if he could
use his
knowledge
of plastic
injection
molding to
create a
plant tag
from
plastic.
2
6
6. Since then, the tag quickly became the
primary source of information for gardeners
when shopping for plants.
In service to a friend,
Lou Schmidt created that
first plant tag.
5
5. Lou agreed, and with that act of service to
a friend, the industry of care tags was born.
We have built our
business on trusted
relationships that have
lasted for generations.
mastertag.com
3
3. Before
1950, the
plant tag
was primarily
a wooden
stake that
could be
written on
with a pencil.
http://www.mastertag.com
December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2019
