Perennial management: Fusarium and Phytophthora

Q: Dear BASF, What products can I use to prevent and/or suppress soilborne diseases like Fusarium and Phytophthora in my perennial varieties?

A – Jen Browning, BASF Technical Service Representative: The organisms that cause these diseases are present in the natural environment, and young plants are susceptible to four common soilborne diseases: Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia. Whether you are starting seeds, sticking cuttings, transplanting plugs, or finishing, young plants don’t have a huge store of reserves or a large root system to fight off diseases.

Young perennials will face pressure from disease in the nursery growing environment, but also at the garden center, and the garden after they are planted. This is why plants are commonly treated with broad spectrum fungicides that protect against these common diseases as well as disease pressure that may come later. Empress^® Intrinsic^® fungicide protects plants from soilborne diseases with a drench application that provides excellent root protection and plant health benefits. Pageant^® Intrinsic fungicide protects plants top and bottom, with over 26 foliar and root diseases on the label. Our newest disease control solution, Orkestra™ Intrinsic brand fungicide, provides preventive, early curative and residual control of key ornamental diseases.

The Intrinsic family of fungicides from BASF including Orkestra, Empress, and Pageant, deliver excellent protection from disease and plant health benefits to help speed recovery from stressors like cold, heat, drought and shipping.