GGSPro Technical Services Team, Email: ggsprotech@griffinmail.com, 800-888-0054 x 89129
Many growers dealt with the aftermath of a bacterial blight of geraniums this spring and summer. While that is the focus of this article, the sanitation procedures described below would be equally useful in reducing the incidence of other plant pathogens, algae, moss and other greenhouse contaminants.
Bacterial blight on geraniums, Xanthomonas hortorum pv. pelargonii, (Xhp, formerly Xcp) is a serious disease. The bacterial ooze spreads through geranium crops rapidly as it is moved from plant to plant by overhead irrigation and normal cultural practices such as spacing and cleaning.
To be certain that Xhp will not persist, it is important that every potential host (all types of geraniums) are removed from the production facilities. Sanitation efforts need to include a two-step process of first cleaning and then disinfesting all surfaces.
The cleaning process start with the physical removal of crop debris from floors, bench tops, carts, tools, etc., and disposing of this material offsite. The next step is to use a powerful cleaning agent such as Strip-it Pro or GreenClean Acid Cleaner to treat these surfaces. These products include acids, detergents, and surfactants to remove remaining organic and mineral deposits in order to prepare treated surfaces for the disinfesting step. These products should be used when the greenhouse contains no plant material. If emptying the growing area is not an option, use Horti-Klor or GreenClean Alkaline Cleaner as the cleaning agents. Once cleaned, surfaces should be sanitized with KleenGrow, Green-Shield II, SaniDate 5.0/12.0, ZeroTol 2.0, or another approved disinfectant. Please contact GGSPro with any questions you have about bacterial blight of geraniums, or sanitation in general. Read and follow all label directions. Products other than those mentioned may also be safe, legal and effective.
| Products | Item # | Spray or Foam oz/gal | Contact Wet Time |
| Strip-it Pro | 74-2125 | 5.0 | 3-5 min, rinse before drying |
| GreenClean Acid Cleaner | 74-2040 | 5.0 | 3-5 min, rinse before drying |
| Green-Shield II | 74-36602 | 0.3 | 10 min |
| Horti-Klor | 74-2105 | 5.0 | 3-5 min |
| KleenGrow | 74-21101 | 1.0 | 10 min |
| SaniDate 5.0 | 71-35001 | 0.5 | 10 min |
| SaniDate 12 | 71-3530 | 0.2 | 10 min |
| ZeroTol 2.0 | 71-35501 | 2.5 | 10 min |