With spring production underway, I can't think of a better way to start off than to open with a diagnostic challenge. Are you ready? Here we go.

Check out the symptoms on the leucanthemum above. Does this look familiar? You may already know exactly what it is or perhaps you've seen it before but never knew what was causing these symptoms.

Let's see, are there any clues that I can pass along that won't give away the answer? Ah, here's one—these symptoms most commonly occur in the spring. Yeah, I think that's spot on and perhaps even somewhat vague at the same time. I bet many of you already know what it is. Read on to see if you nailed this diagnosis.

The saying, "The best things in life are worth waiting for," is absolutely true when it comes to the plant growth regulator Concise. Concise contains uniconazole-p, which is one of the most effective active ingredients for managing the plant size of numerous perennials.

Concise is now registered in Canada for use on numerous perennials, bedding plants, potted plants (flower/foliage), bulbs, woody ornamentals and others. It's available in 2 liter jugs and can be applied as foliar sprays, drenches, bulb/liner dips or media sprays.

Concise is most commonly used to reduce plant size, allowing growers to produce more desirable, compact, high-quality plants. However, there are several additional benefits such as improved plant coloration, stronger stems, improved water retention and decreased disease pressure many growers observe when using Concise during production. An additional benefit of producing more compact, high-quality plants is growers can improve their shipping efficiencies by fitting more plants on each rack (more plants per load!).

As you can see, Concise provides many benefits, and now growers in Canada can use this great tool. In Canada, Concise is currently available from Kam's Growers Supply. For more information about Concise, visit www.fine-americas.com.

Did you miss Laura Robles' "Perennial Production Pitfalls" webinar last week? No worries if you weren't able to attend, I've got your back. Actually it's not me at all, my Ball Publishing colleagues have archived the webinar and now you can see it when and as often as you'd like. Best of all, it's still FREE.
 
 

Laura discussed several common issues perennial growers face. She covered numerous diseases and other issues, why they occur and methods of preventing or managing them. Good stuff. Laura, thank you for sharing this information with us.

Click here to view the archived webinar. Feel free to check out any or all of the archived webinars at www.growertalks.com/webinars.

Each year, Proven Winners selects a perennial from its brand to be their National Perennial Plant of the Year. PW selects these plants for their proven performance and ability to be used successfully nationwide by growers and gardeners alike. Here's the 2019 and 2020 PW Perennial of the Year winners.

2019—Hibiscus Berry Awesome

The 2019 PW Perennial of the Year is none other than Hibiscus Berry Awesome. Give this one a try and you'll see how awesome it really is. Berry Awesome has huge 7 to 8 inch lavender pink flowers with red eyes. If the appearance of the flowers wasn't enough, Berry Awesome has contrasting deep midnight green foliage. This Zone 4 hardy hibiscus has an attractive 4 ft. rounded habit and is perfect as a centerpiece or backdrop in the landscape.

2020—Perovskia Denim 'n Lace

The 2020 PW Perennial of the Year, Perovskia Denim 'n Lace, is also a reliable performer. This great Perovskia atriplicifolia selection doesn't grow too tall (about 30 inches), has stronger stems and a more upright habit than many of the older cultivars on the market. Denim 'n Lace produces lacy-like, bright sky blue flowers held on amethyst calyxes in the mid-summer. Hardy to Zone 4. 

At the top of the newsletter, I showed this image and asked you to ponder the possibilities and come up with what you think caused the symptoms on the leucanthemum. I often wonder the range of answers y'all come up with. Unfortunately, I'll never know what ideas you dreamed up; however, I do know it's time to share the answer to this leucanthemum dilemma. 

If you answered calcium deficiency, you nailed it. Calcium deficiency often appears as upward cupping of newly developed leaves. Other calcium deficiency symptoms include tip burn or browning of the leaf tips, leaf crinkling and curling, poor leaf expansion or distortion of the leaves. These symptoms first appear near the top of the plant in the newest growth.

Many perennials are susceptible to calcium deficiencies. Here are several perennials I've observed calcium deficiency on: anemone, bergenia, coreopsis, echinacea, leucanthemum, Oriental lilies, rudbeckia and silene. 

Why do calcium deficiencies occur?

Calcium is moved up the plant through transpiration and is immobile once inside the plant and can't move from one plant part to another. Calcium deficiencies often occur after periods of cloudy weather and high humidity. These conditions reduce the transpiration rate of plants, reducing the amount of calcium taken up to the growing points where it is needed. This lack of uptake even occurs when there are ample amounts of calcium in the root zone. Keep in mind that the uptake of calcium can also be limited when the conditions are warm and humid—it's not just limited to the darker spring months.

What can be done to prevent calcium deficiencies?

 
Here's how calcium deficiency typically looks on rudbeckia.

If possible, decrease the humidity in the production area. This can be done with humidity purges inside environmentally controlled greenhouses. The transpiration rates can be increased by increasing the air movement using horizontal air flow fans. Unfortunately, we can't always provide the ideal environments.

Many growers make foliar applications of calcium at least once per week when the conditions are favorable for reduced calcium uptake (namely cloudy, humid weather). There are calcium products available for foliar applications. I'm aware of growers using 300 to 400 ppm sprays of calcium chloride or 32 oz. per 100 gallons Cal-Tech 9% from Growth Products.

Regardless, the key is to anticipate an upcoming calcium deficiency rather than reacting to one. Applying foliar calcium applications more preventatively will result in less severe or no deficiency symptoms whereas physical damage is likely already present by the time you apply calcium reactively.

World Floral Expo

The World Floral Expo is slated to occur March 20 to 22, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. If you market cut flowers, this event is for you. The main mission of World Floral Expo is to promote the consumption of fresh cut flowers (whether imported or home-grown). Visit http://www.worldfloralexpo.com/ to learn more about this event.

Botany Lane Greenhouse Open House

Botany Lane Greenhouse is hosting an Open House on Thursday, March 21, 2019. On the first day of spring, attendees will be able to preview new introductions from Proven Winners, enjoy presentations from Plant Select, Botany Lane Greenhouse and Proven Winners, enjoy tours of the greenhouses and take a stroll through the spring gardens. You can RSVP at sales@botanylane.com.
 

California Spring Trials

If you're looking for new perennials or even new bedding plant cultivars, the California Spring Trials is the place to be. The trial locations are spread out across much of Central and Northern California March 23 to 27, 2019. Many companies including 2Plant International, Ernst Benary of America, Danziger, Darwin Perennials, Dümmen Orange, GreenFuse Botanicals, Kieft Seed, Pacific Plug & Liner, Plant Haven, Proven Winners, Skagit Horticulture, Star Roses and Plants, Syngenta Flowers, and Terra Nova Nurseries will have their new perennials on display. Click here for information on this year's Spring Trials.

If you see me there, don't be a stranger—be sure to say hello and let me know what new perennials caught your eye.