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- Growing Media
- Use well drained and well aerated (coarse)
potting mix, pH 6.0 - 7.0.
- Temperature
- Night: 55 - 60° F (13 - 16° C) Day: 65
- 75° F (18 - 24° C) (Night temperatures are crucial for optimal
crop-time. Short days with cool temperatures will extend crop-time.
Long days with warm temperatures will shorten crop-time.)
- Humidity
- 60 - 80% relative humidity. Keep foliage
dry at night. Provide sufficient air circulation
- Light
- Grow in full sun. Insufficient light (under
4500 foot - candles) will add croptime and can cause poor branching.
Daytime HID lighting is helpful.
- Irrigation
- All types of drip irrigation, ebb and flow
or capillary mats are recommended. Overhead watering may be
used until buds are forming. Water on the flowers can cause
sleepy blooms and also promote botrytis. Keep media moist.
Avoid excessive drying of media.
- Fertilization
- From time of planting, constant light feeding
with every watering is recommended. At early stage, a source
of ammonium - N is required to induce more breaks. At middle
stage, use calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate to harden
up the plant. At finishing stage, reduce - N - level as excessive
nitrogen can cause by-pass vegetative growth over the flowers.
Always use 1 - 2 PPM of boron for proper bud and flower development.
Water adequately to cause some leaching and prevent excess
nitrate and soluble salt buildup.
- Pinching
- No pinching is required. Grooming may be
necessary to remove some premature lateral buds.
- Spacing
- Space and finish at 6" x 6". Romance series
varieties may require more space.
- Week 1
- 20 - 20 - 20 (100 - 150 PPM - N, 1 PPM
boron, with minor elements) on every watering, or 20 - 20 -
20 (200 - 300 PPM - N, 1 PPM - boron, with minor elements)
on every other watering
- Week 2 - 6
- Calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate mix
with 1 PPM of boron, (100 - 150 PPM - N) on every watering,
or (200 - 300 PPM - N) on every other watering.
- Week 7
- 10 - 30 - 20 (with minor elements, and
1 PPM - boron) Feed 2 - 3 times.
- Week 8 - 11
- Back to calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate.
Mix with 1 PPM of boron, (100 - 150 PPM - N) on every other
watering or (200 - 300 PPM - N) on every third watering.
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