Flowers & Pest Control

Biological pest control is a highly effective strategy for managing pests across a variety of flower-growing environments, including indoor bedding plant production, outdoor cut flower fields, and balcony flower gardens. Each of these settings presents unique challenges—and opportunities—for integrating biological solutions.

Indoor bedding plants, typically grown in greenhouses or high tunnels, are especially sensitive to pesticide residues due to their dense planting and close consumer proximity. In these environments, beneficial organisms such as predatory mites (e.g., Neoseiulus cucumeris) and predatory insects can be introduced to control common pests like thrips, whiteflies, and aphids without harming blooms or foliage. The controlled environment supports consistent application and establishment of beneficials, making them a dependable part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program.

In outdoor cut flower fields, pest pressure can vary dramatically with weather, crop type, and surrounding landscape. Here, beneficial insects such as nematodes, green lacewings, and parasitoid wasps offer broad-spectrum control of soft-bodied pests like white grubgs, aphids and caterpillars. Since cut flowers must remain visually flawless and residue-free for the floriculture market, biologicals are an ideal tool to reduce chemical inputs while preserving stem quality and bloom appearance.

Flower balconies—typically smaller-scale container gardens managed by home growers or urban gardeners—benefit from the simplicity and safety of biological controls. These growers often look for low-maintenance, environmentally friendly solutions that won't interfere with pollinators or personal use of the space. Products like beneficial nematodes for fungus gnat control or sachets of predatory mites offer targeted pest suppression without the need for synthetic sprays, making them accessible and effective for this segment.

Across all three growing contexts, biological pest control offers a sustainable, residue-free approach that protects the health, beauty, and marketability of flowering plants.