Cut Flower Culture:
Media: Select a well drained sterile cut flower bed in full sun with a pH of 5.8-6.2 and a low nutrient charge.
Watering: Initially, keep the plants wellmoistened and then water as needed. Growing too drymay result in red-edged or yellow leaves.
Fertilizer: Well balanced calciumnitrate based formulations workwell to build strong and healthy plants. OptimumEC is
0.7- 1.0mmhos. Excess nitrogen promotes overgrowth,
invites disease and reduces vase life.
Temperature: Optimumtemperature is 60-70 °F/16-21 °C. For winter productionmaintain 60°F/15°Cmaximum. Temperature ismore important than day length for winter flowering. Under low light conditions do not grow too warm, (above 60°F/15°C), or else the stemqualitywill be reduced and tissue too soft.
Insects: Aphids,White Fly, Thrips,Mites
Single Stemmed Culture: Space plants 4 x 4 inches/10 x 10 cm. apart in beds and provide support netting. Raise netting as the plants grow. Do not pinch the plants.
Multiple Stemmed Culture: Space plants 8 x 8 inches/20 x
20 cm. apart and pinch the growing tip to induce side branching. Thiswill result in a heavy crop of high quality cut flowers.
Harvesting: For summer production allow 12 weeks from sowing and 15weeks forwinter production. The first flower is usually removed to create a flush of flowers. The flowers should bewell-colored before cutting.
Container Culture:
Pots: For green sales in 4 inch/10 cm. pots place one plant per pot and plan on 4 weeks fromtransplant to shipping. Larger containers in color require 6-7 weeks fromtransplant.
Media: Select a well drained sterilemixturewith a pH of
5.8-6.2 and a low nutrient charge.
Growth regulation: B-Nine is effective at 2,500 ppm/0.25%.
Culture watch points: Avoid using Kelthane or Ortocides on the crop. Ronilan damage seedlings.
Do not apply plant growth regulators during bud formation.
SAKATA ORNAMENTALS