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Cut flower fields present unique pest management challenges due to their exposure to environmental conditions and the high cosmetic standards required for marketable blooms. Insects such as aphids, thrips, caterpillars, and leafminers can quickly reduce flower quality, making chemical-free pest control essential for preserving visual appeal and extending vase life. Biological control offers an ideal solution, using beneficial insects like lacewings, nematodes, and parasitic wasps to target specific pests without harming the flowers or leaving behind residues. Because cut flowers are often harvested shortly after pest issues arise, biocontrol provides fast-acting, residue-free protection that supports both sustainability and market readiness. This approach allows growers to maintain healthy crops while meeting consumer and retailer demand for environmentally responsible production.
Cut Flower & Pest Control
Monitoring & Mass Trapping
Weekly monitoring is the most important component of any outdoor pest management program, especially in cut flower fields where early detection is key to effective biocontrol. While Horiver sticky cards and roller tape are useful for monitoring pest presence, they are not suited for mass trapping outdoors due to the chance of them capturing natural insects. Instead, growers should rely on pest-specific tools such as pheromone traps and lure-based delta or bucket traps, which are designed for targeted mass trapping of species like moths, weevils, or flies. These traps use species-specific attractants to draw in large numbers of pests, helping to reduce population pressure while providing accurate data on pest trends. Regular weekly scouting combined with the strategic use of specialized traps allows for timely intervention and ensures biocontrol programs stay aligned with actual pest activity in the field.
Incorporating flowering plants into and around cut flower fields is a powerful way to attract and support natural insect allies. Nectar- and pollen-rich species such as alyssum, dill, yarrow, and buckwheat provide essential food sources for beneficial insects like hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and lacewings—many of which are important natural enemies of aphids, thrips, and caterpillars. These supportive plantings help build local populations of beneficials and increase their activity and effectiveness within the crop. By creating a more biodiverse environment, growers can enhance natural pest suppression and improve the overall resilience of their integrated pest management (IPM) program. Choosing flower species that bloom throughout the season ensures a steady supply of resources for beneficial insects, encouraging them to stay and reproduce near the crop where their impact is needed most.
Thrips Control Products
| Thrips Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| 300 predatory mites per square meter | 500 predatory mites per square meter | Bi-weekly or as needed | Feeds on 1st instar thrips larvae. Apply weekly until plants are sold or the first frost has hit the flowers in the field. Best applied using the Mini Air Bug applicator. | |
| n/a | 50 insects per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Aphids are extremely difficult to eradicate using biologicals only. | |
| n/a | 500,000 per meter square | Bi-weekly or as needed | For fast results, use in conjunction with Entomite. Works thrips pupae. Apply once the plants are planted out in the field. | |
| 300 mites per square meter | 400 mites per square meter | Once per crop cycle
| Feeds on thrips pupae. Apply after plants have been planted in the field |
Whitefly Control Products
| Whitefly Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| n/a | 300 predatory mites per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Swirski only feeds on eggs and larvae of whiteflies. | |
| n/a | 1 sachet per plant | Every 4 weeks until sold | Swirski only feeds on eggs and larvae of whiteflies. |
Spider Mite Control Products
| Spider Mite Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| 100 per square meter | n/a | Bi-weekly or as needed | Feeds on all stages of spider mites, but does not do well in webbing. | |
| One sachet per meter square | n/a | Every 4 weeks until sold | Feeds on all stages of spider mites, but does not do well in webbing. | |
| n/a | 100-150 predatory mites per square meter | Bi-weekly or as needed | This product feeds on all stages of spider mites. Apply directly into the spider mite hot spot.
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Aphid Control Products
| Aphid Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| n/a | 50 insects per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Aphids are extremely difficult to eradicate using biologicals only. |
Caterpillar Control Products
| Caterpillar Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| n/a | 500,000 per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Ony apply once you see the caterpillars on the leaves. |
Growth Promotion & Root Disease Products
| Growth Promotion & Root Disease Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| Start treatment with two applications 14 days apart | Apply every 14 days during periods of unfavourable conditions | Every 14-28 days, depending on crop conditions | Microflora PRO enhances plant growth by improving the availability of plant nutrients through the root system. | |
| Trianum-P competes for space and nutrients on roots, reducing pathogen establishment. Must have a pesticide license to purchase. |