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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
- Pinch 2 - 3 weeks after planting (from
the top). Pinch just below the first vegetative shoot. Leave
most of the vegetative shoots on the plants. Grooming may be
necessary to remove lateral buds.
- Spacing
- For up to 8 weeks grow pot to pot, then
space and finish at 6" x 6". Romance series varieties may require
more space.
- Week 1 - 3
- 20 - 20 - 20 (with minor elements and 1
PPM - boron) on every watering (100 - 150 PPM - N) or (200
- 300 PPM - N) on every other watering.
- Week 4 - 10
- Mix of calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate
with 1 PPM of boron. (100 - 150 PPM - N) on every watering
or (200 - 300 PPM - N) on every other watering.
- Week 11
- 10 - 30 - 20 (with minor elements and 1
PPM of boron) feed 2 - 3 times. (100 - 150 PPM - N)
- Week 12 - 16
- Back to calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate.
Mix with 1 PPM of boron. Feed every other watering (100 - 150
PPM - N) or every third watering (200 - 300 PPM - N).
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