Plant Material - Rooted poinsettia cuttings of the cultivar 'Snowcap' (8.5 wk) and 'Freedom Bright Red' (8 wk) will be used for the 6.5" pinched crops. 'Petoy' (8.5 wk) will be used for the 6.5" single stem crop; and 'Winter Rose Dark Red' (10 wk) and 'Freedom Red' (8 wk) will be used for the 5" pinched crop.
| SUGGESTED CULTURAL SCHEDULE (Dates are not exact) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 6.5" Pinched | 6.5" Pinched & Respaced | 6.5" Single Stem | 5" Pinched |
| 8/23 | Plant & space at 14 in. x 14 in. | Plant and space at 7 in. x 7 in. | -- | -- |
| 8/30 | Light | Light | Plant & light; space at 14 in. x 14 in. | Plant & light; space at 10.5 in. x 12 in. |
| 9/6 | Pinch | Pinch | -- | -- |
| 9/13 | -- | -- | -- | Pinch |
| 9/20 | Cycocel; lights out; pull blackcloth | Cycocel; Lights out; pull blackcloth; space out to 10.5 in. x 10.5 in. | Cycocel?; Lights out; pull blackcloth | Lights out; pull blackcloth |
| 9/27 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/10 | Stop pulling blackcloth | Stop pulling blackcloth; Space out to 14 in. x 14 in. | Stop pulling blackcloth | Stop pulling blackcloth |
| 10/11 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 10/18 | -- | -- | -- | Bonzi Drench for 'Winter Rose Dark Red'? |
| 10/25 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/1 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/8 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11/15 | -- | -- | -- | Market ('Freedom Red') |
| 11/22 | Market | Market | Market | -- |
| 11/29 | -- | -- | -- | Market ('Winter Rose Dark Red') |
For a comprehensive reference on Poinsettias, see the Ecke CD Rom provided to you at the beginning of the semester.
Key points:
Containers - Use 6.5" diameter azalea and 5" diameter
azalea pots.
Substrate - Use the commercial soilless substrate, Fafard 4P.
Plant one cutting in each pot for pinched crops and 3 cuttings
for single stem crops. Cover the Oasis rooting cube slightly to
prevent excess water loss from it. Compact the substrate only
enough during planting to prevent the plant from toppling over
during the first watering. After planting the substrate should
be about 0.5 inches from the pot rim.
Fungicide Drench - A Banrot drench at the rate of 8 oz/100 gal
should be applied immediately after planting. A tank mix drench
containing 1 fl.oz. Subdue and 24 floz Cleary's 3336 should be
applied 4 weeks later. Four weeks later, reapply the Banrot drench.
Photoperiodic Control - While most poinsettia crops are flowered
under natural photoperiods, this crop will be controlled by lighting
and pulling blackcloth to target a November 22 market date for
the 6.5" crops, a November 15 market date for the 5"
'Freedom' and a November 29 market date for the 5" 'Winter
Rose' (note that cultivar timing differs with respect to number
of weeks required from start of short days until sale). Light
will be applied at a minimum intensity of 10 fc from incandescent
lamps nightly between 10 pm and 2 am beginning August 30. We must
be sure to cover the benches with black cloth at night to prevent
light from shining on other crops. This covering would not be
applied commercially, as the entire greenhouse would probably
be lit.
Temperatures - Temperatures will be held at 63 °F nights and
70-75 °F days when it is possible after the weather cools
off. We will lower the greenhouse temperature when color shows
in the bracts.
Fertilization - Fertilization will consist of constant liquid
feed using 18 oz of 20-10-20 per 100 gal alternated with 24 oz
of 15-0-15 per 100 gal beginning at planting. It should cease
two weeks before marketing. Epsom salts will be applied at the
rate of 2 lbs/100 gal if magnesium deficiency occurs. Sodium molybdate
will be sprayed on plants at the rate of 2 oz/100 gal in the event
that molybdenum deficiency occurs. A spreader-sticker will be
used in the molybdenum spray to get better contact with foliage.
Height Control - Cycocel spray at the dilution rate 1 : 60 will
be applied on the dates indicated in the previous cultural schedule.
Additional applications will be made if required by excess height
brought on by inclement weather. A Bonzi drench using 4 fl. oz.
of a 2 ppm solution will be given to 'Winter Rose Dark Red' during
mid-October for height control.
Placement in Greenhouse - One plot of each treatment will be produced
measuring 3.5 ft. x 14 ft. For each treatment using 6.5 inch pots
a total of 36 pots will be produced. Their final spacing will
be 3 pots across the bench and 12 pots down the bench (1.36 sq.ft.
per pot or 14 inches on centers). Re-space the one 6.5" pot
treatment as indicated on the cultural schedule. The 5"
pot treatment will include 56 pots of each cultivar spaced 4 across
and 14 down two benches (0.875 sq.ft. per pot or 10.5 in. x 12
in. spacing).
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Last Modified: 27 July 2000 pathomas@uga.edu