October 12, 2001

Growing the Spectacular Amaryllis


Amaryllis are popular flowering bulbs which are forced indoors for their large, spectacular blooms during the winter months. The trumpet- shaped flowers can be as large as 8 to 10 inches across. Flower colors include red, pink, orange, salmon, white, and bicolors (mostly whites with pink or red flushes). Two to six flowers (the average is four) are produced atop an 18- to 30-inch-tall flower stalk.

Canker Diseases of Conifers


Several conifer samples have been submitted to the ISU Plant Disease Clinic with the symptoms of canker diseases. The written description usually mentions individual, scattered branches suddenly dying and resin oozing from the branches or trunk.

Lady Beetle Traps


The Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis), is a common and widespread wintertime household pest across all of Iowa and most of the United States. Large numbers of these insects invade homes during the fall and remain active over the winter, especially in late winter when temperatures warm and days get longer. Ladybugs do not feed and cannot reproduce indoors; they have not multiplied indoors although it must seem that way to homeowners who have been inundated with them.

Upcoming Horticultural Meetings


Listed below are meetings that may be of interest to HHPN readers. These programs offer the

Commercial Pesticide Applicator the opportunity to fulfill their continuing instruction requirement for the year 2001. November 14, 2001 Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Participating Local Extension Offices Categories: 2, 3O, 3T, 3OT, 10 Program Information: Mark Shour Telephone: 515-294-1101 December 5, 2001 Pest Control Operators Participating Local Extension Offices Categories: 7A, 7B, 8, 10 Program Information : Donald Lewis Telephone: 515-294-1101