Commercial horticulturists producing crops and those providing landscape and interiorscape services with a plant problem can take their samples to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, room 175, for free examination by regional county Extension faculty and state specialists. The informal clinic is conducted Thursday afternoons between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 PM. Industry members are encouraged to bring their plant problem samples to the clinic at that time, but samples may be delivered at any time during working hours with a completed submission form. Persons bringing commercial plant problem samples to the center when the clinic is not in operation are asked to complete the "Plant Diagnostic Clinic Form" on a self-service basis and leave the form with each sample. Self-service samples will be held until the next regularly scheduled clinic. When filling out the form, please give as much information about symptoms and cultural conditions as possible and don't forget to circle the desired form of notification. In most cases, diagnosis will be made within one week, unless the identification procedure is more complex.

Each problem sample submitted to the clinic must be accompanied by a completed "Plant Diagnostic Clinic Form” which can be obtained at the clinic or on the web. Problems that can be properly diagnosed visually from symptoms and background information supplied from the form will be handled during clinic hours. When additional diagnostic procedures are required, the client will be notified within 7 days of any results, or if further analysis is required. If samples need to be sent to Gainesville for further analysis, such as in the case of virus or complete soil analysis, appropriate forms will be provided and growers will be notified of any fees required for these specialized services

Commercial horticulturists who need to speak to one of the research faculty at the center should make an appointment with that person prior to their visit to the center. The county Extension horticulturist operating the clinic will network with the center faculty during clinic hours on an as-available basis.

If you have further questions, please contact Juanita Popenoe at (352) 343-4101 for consultations.