Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a comprehensive approach to solving pest and disease problems.  Instead of simply trying to destroy a pest, an IPM approach considers all of the information and experience available, considers the needs of the client, the plant, and the technician, and considers all available preventive and curative options.  Based on that foundation, informed decisions are applied to achieve the best results.  What those results are varies with each individual’s preferences.  However, in general terms, the goal of IPM is to provide safe, effective, economical, environmentally sound, and socially sensitive outcomes.

IPM can be used wherever pest damage occurs. Among the more common types of pests we encounter are insects, mites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria. The IPM approach has been applied to pest problems in situations as diverse as houses and apartments, food handling facilities, golf courses, storage areas, and farms.

There are four steps in this loop.

• Monitor plant health.
• Identify the problem.
• Evaluate the damage.
• Determine and apply control measures.

Monitor Plant Health

• Know what a healthy plant looks like.
• Know what conditions the plant likes.
• Learn the problems associated with the plant and species.
• Be aware of pest seasonality.
• Examine your plants frequently by:
• looking at leaf undersides
• checking new tip growth
• checking lower older leaves
• Look for changes
• growth declining
• leaf color changes
• leaf damage and pattern of damage

Identify the Problem

• Look for important clues in the pattern and timing of the damage, such as: time of day or year, a high light or low light situation, is the top or bottom of the plant or leaf affected.
• in the plant or plant care history.  Always look for changes in the environment.
• in the plant species/pest link.
• Make a positive identification of the problem instead of treating a problem by guessing at its cause or treating only one symptom.
• Beware of the quick conclusion – look two or three times to be sure.
• Check your resources:
• Interior landscape experts
• tropical plant books, magazines, handouts
• Practical Knowledge
• Most pests and biological controls have several life stages.
• If you know there’s been a release of ladybugs, expect to see eggs and larvae of ladybugs in the coming weeks.
• When one pest weakens a plant, other pests can invade.

Evaluate the Damage

• What part of the plant is involved: leaf, wood, root?
• How much leaf surface is lost or in danger of being lost?  Also, is it cosmetic or life-threatening?
• Damage just starting or has it been going on for some time?  (How long?)
• Is it likely to expand to include other plants?

Determine and Take Control Measures

• Insects:  interrupt its life cycle at its most vulnerable stage.
• Fungus, mold and bacteria:  correct the environment to interrupt reproduction
• source of many plant diseases
• 90 percent attributable to poor gardening practices
• maintaining cleanliness and moisture levels critical