poinsettias COMPLETE CULTURE GUIDE

Transcription

1 poinsettias 2015 COMPLETE CULTURE GUIDE PAGE 24

2 Regional RecommeNdations STRESS-FREE SELECTION. Selecta poinsettias have been trialed over the past four years in every region of North America. From those results, we ve determined what your regional requirements are and selected the varieties to solve the challenges you face. These varieties feature strong roots and a long shelf life, because that s the key to satisfied customers: repeat sales and increased growth. You ll also find easy-to-follow growing instructions in our comprehensive Culture Guide on page 24. It has all the information you need to have a successful growing season in Gary Vollmer, Selecta Technical Support Manager North Christmas Day Red Christmas Joy Series Christmas Feelings Series MW / SE Christmas Day Red NEW Christmas Morning Christmas Joy Series SOUTHWEST Christmas Beauty Red Christmas Joy Series Christmas Feelings Series DEEP SOUTH Christmas Beauty Red Christmas Feelings Series Christmas Eve Red

3 NORTH Keys to Success: Ability to finish under cooler temperatures Full bract expansion under low light conditions Long-lasting cyathia when finishing in low light Christmas Day Red (p 2) 8 weeks Market-loving deep red color it s the top seller in Canada! Fits lowenergy, cool-growing regimes in pots from 4 to 14 in. Christmas Joy Series (p 8) 7.5 weeks High yield, mid vigor, early season, cool finish hits the mark for Thanksgiving (U.S.) week sales. Christmas Feelings Series (p 10) weeks 6 colors, perfectly matched in mid-season pots and color combos. Great track record in northern conditions. SOUTHWEST Keys to Success: Reds that don t fade in high light Branching under low humidity, excessive temperatures and high light Christmas Beauty TM Red (p 6) 8 weeks A Southern California favorite! Rich, no-fade color; very uniform presentation; a winner in any size pot. Finish cool to save energy. Christmas Joy Series (p 8) 7.5 weeks The perfect early-season point for Thanksgiving (U.S.) week: highyielding, medium vigor and great in cool finishes. Christmas Feelings Series (p 10) weeks Full-color series gives SW growers a modest-vigor, cool-finish solution. Perfectly matched in mid-season pots and color combos. DEEP SOUTH Keys to Success: Cultivars that do not heat delay Avoid varieties prone to late stretch Christmas Beauty Red (p 6) 8 weeks Proven in Florida and Texas for superb mid-season performance. Rich, no-fade color and very uniform shows in every pot size. Christmas Feelings Series (p 10) weeks Grower-friendly, full-color family for color combos and mid-season pots. Well-branched, modest vigor and best of all, no heat delay. Christmas Eve Red (p 15) weeks Top choice for an early season red. Strong upright habit and no heat delay. Midwest / SouthEaST Keys to Success: Reduce heating costs during bract expansion Natural season selections for Black Friday promotions Christmas Day Red (p 2) 8 weeks Count on strong roots that hold up under stressful Summer growing conditions and long shelf life. Deep red color is a winner! New Christmas Morning (p 4) 7.5 weeks Bract shape and deep red color of Christmas Day. Timed for early Black Friday sales. Christmas Joy Series (p 8) 7.5 weeks Slot it into your Thanksgiving (U.S.) week sales mid vigor, early season, cool finish and long shelf life. SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 1

4 CHRiSTMAS Day Red Christmas Day Red This classic red is a top choice for the mid-season market. A super-fast growing cycle and long shelf life make this proven greenhouse performer the greatest treasure you ll grow this season. A Harmonious Blend. Make the most of Christmas Day Red and Candlelight White by combining them in one planter. They are a good match in vigor, timing and habit, so you ll find this a crowd-pleasing arrangement. 2 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

5 Christmas Day Red Response Time - 8 weeks Long-lasting cyathia for holdability on the bench Timing won t be delayed when grown cool to save energy V-shaped habit resists breakage Strong root system is proven to withstand flood-floor irrigation Versatile for a range of pot sizes Medium vigor is easy to control with minimal PGRs North MW / SE A Regional Recommendation variety. (p 1) CandleLight White Response Time - 8 weeks Grow it alongside or in combos with Christmas Day Red a good match in vigor, timing and habit Large bracts with cyathia that do not drop assure the best retail shelf life among white varieties Versatile white is perfect for mid-season markets SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 3

6 BLACk FriDAy Favorites Start the poinsettia season right by sending these sure-fire sellers to market. They re economical to produce and perfectly timed for Black Friday. And their long shelf life will keep them looking good all through the Christmas season. NEW CHRISTMAS MORNING Response Time weeks Ideal for Black Friday, this early-season medium-to-compact grower will look fresh and festive in a variety of pot sizes Features the leaf shape, color and upright branching look of Christmas Day Red, with an earlier season for quicker market delivery North MW / SE A Regional Recommendation variety. (p 1) Christmas Glory Response Time weeks Compact habit perfect for 6-in. and smaller pots Thrives in cool temperatures saves energy Uniform variety shows even branching, with all bracts on top Bright, non-fading red bracts For additional Black Friday Favorites, see Christmas Joy Series (p 8) 4 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

7 CHRISTMAS PARty Festive in color and ideal for Black Friday, this is the best standalone pink on the market. NEW CHRISTMAS PARTY Response Time weeks A show-stopper with early flowering for Black Friday sales Unique fluorescent pink color is a knockout Exceptional uniformity Low-medium vigor SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 5

8 ChriSTMAS Beauty Maximize space, realize profit. NEW Queen Christmas Beauty Series Response Time - 8 weeks Saves space with a mid-season finish Controlled, V-shaped habit for excellent sleeveability Bred for maximum space efficiency Performs well under cool finishing conditions Strong roots for long-lasting plants and less shrink NEW Queen offers good matching time with Christmas Beauty Red, but with a slightly lower vigor 6 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

9 Red SOUTHWEST DEEP SOUTH A Regional Recommendation variety. (p 1) Pink NEW Queen Nostalgia NORTH Pole SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 7

10 ChriSTMAS Joy Better blends, early sales. Red Christmas Joy Series Response Time weeks Ideal Black Friday timing in a full range of container sizes Medium vigor and upright, V-shaped habit makes it to retail intact Hits the early market without black cloth Less shrink, so you can send more plants to retail Uniform at every stage all plants are exactly the same Grows cool to save energy and money North SOUTHWEST A Regional Recommendation variety. (p 1) MW / SE 8 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

11 Red NEW pink NEW white SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 9

12 ChriSTMAS Feelings Top grade, totally uniform. White 14 Christmas Feelings Series Response Time weeks Best-selling series is reliably uniform across an impressive color range Space-efficient and easy to grow Low energy input and low PGR requirements save time and money No late-season stretch, so you send better-looking plants to market Strong habit for more saleable plants and excellent post-harvest characteristics Dependable timing to finish for peak shipping SOUTHWEST DEEP SOUTH A Regional Recommendation variety. (p 1) 10 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

13 MerlOT Red Red Cinnamon Pink MARBLE White 14 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 11

14 ChriSTMAS Season Big pots, big sales. White 13 Christmas Season Series Response Time - 7 weeks Very early-season, energy-efficient series for 6-in. pot programs and larger Thick cyathia and sturdy stems help extend shelf life Big, showy bracts and dark green foliage entice customers 12 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

15 Red pink marble white 13 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 13

16 STAR Sellers CHRISTMAS WISH Strong plant Response Time - 8 weeks Long-lasting cyathia for extended life on the bench and on the shelf Ships and shows strong, thanks to the break-resistant V-shaped habit High-quality root system for higher yield and lower shrink Bright red color won't fade in the heat of the South NEW ChriSTMas Aurora Strong finish Response Time weeks An attractive mid-season red that s a reliable performer Low to medium vigor Upright branching and medium rounded bracts draw in shoppers Later finish guarantees life through the Christmas season 14 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

17 Perfect performance and pizzazz! These noteworthy varieties offer consistency, excellent plant structure and efficiency. Add in striking good looks and you have a collection that really makes a statement at retail! Christmas Eve Red Early vigor Response Time weeks Combines early finish with energy and space efficiency and great shelf life Displays symmetrical, mid-sized red bracts Upright, V-shaped habit is easy to control DEEP SOUTH A Regional Recommendation variety. (p 1) CHRISTMAS TRADITION Church-timed Response Time weeks Timed for late-season church and fundraiser use Elegant dark red color bracts don t fade, even in high light Excellent indoor shelf life keeps it beautiful for the entire Christmas season Dramatic Red Massive bracts Response Time weeks Straight-up production grows easy, early and efficiently for a striking retail display Also ideal for big pot finishing NOel REd Florist-grade Response Time weeks Energy-efficient variety finishes early Perfect for high-quality, larger plant formats Upright branching and beautiful, round habit Valentine Rose-shaped bracts Response Time - 8 weeks Romantic look adds eye-catching appeal to your program Huge, long-lasting cyathia for extended shelf life Adaptable to pot and cut flower use Wintersun White Our best early white Response Time weeks Well-branched and upright variety Features sturdy stems and oak-shaped foliage Great post-harvest performance SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 15

18 early novelties Christmas Glamour Response Time weeks Vibrant novelty is the perfect choice for that in-demand watermelon pink color Performs and times better than others on the market A sure standout at retail Great for growing side by side with Christmas Ribbons Pink Candy Response Time weeks Early, easy-to-grow variety Upright habit and sturdy stems ship well Rose pink with cream-speckled bracts ideal for painting 16 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

19 Pretty in pink. Dress up your traditional early-season program with this engaging group, sure to inspire shoppers searching for something lighter and brighter. Christmas Ribbons Response Time weeks Upscale novelty is a great addition to your early program Subtle cream background is enhanced with elegant pink speckles Grower-friendly with excellent branching and medium vigor Perfect match to Christmas Glamour Marbella Response Time weeks Top-selling novelty Exceptional pink and white color contrast intensifies with cool finishing, but stays stable in warmer temps A great addition to large pot programs SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 17

20 Foundation for Selection Every Selecta poinsettia promises you the most efficient production. Christmas Wish every selecta poinsettia is bred for: V-shaped and wellbranched habits. Less prone to breakage, Selecta poinsettias sleeve and ship beautifully, arriving at retail in excellent condition. Long-lasting cyathia. Provides outstanding shelf life on the bench and at retail, and more weeks of enjoyment for consumers. Strong roots. These plants stand up to any watering method, including floodfloor irrigation, for lower shrink and higher yield. 18 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

21 Your Product, Your Schedule Selecta s extensive supply chain network offers you reliable delivery of exactly what you need, when you need it. Vivero Production Farm We partner with Vivero, an experienced production farm in Cuernavaca, Morales, Mexico, to provide our North American market with fast, reliable delivery of unrooted product. Our experienced team grows every cutting for consistent quality and optimal size for rooting, then ships your poinsettias in one convenient shipment. With frequent flights from Mexico to the U.S. and Canada, you get the cuttings you need quickly and in excellent condition. Our network of suppliers in Uganda and Las Limas, Nicaragua, provide the same full selection of product and can provide unrooted cuttings to North America at any time. And, new for 2015, our Las Limas facility will be supplying callused cuttings for the program. Unrooted Cuttings (URC) Variety minimum/multiples: 100 Order minimum: 2,000 Unrooted cuttings are shipped with 1.6-in. (4-cm) stem length, 4 to 5-mm stem diameter and 3 to 4 mature leaves. Callused Cuttings (CC) Variety minimum/multiples: 100 Order minimum: 2,000 Callused cuttings are harvested to the same specifications as our unrooted cuttings and shipped with a solid callus just prior to root formation. Rooted Cuttings (RC) Our Root & Sell Stations produce superb quality, ready-to-go rooted cuttings. Find the complete list on the back cover of this catalog. Contact your preferred distributor for more details. Order your Unrooted and Callused Cuttings through WebTrack at ballseed.com/webtrack 24/7, or contact your Ball Seed sales rep. Selecta Clean & Field Tested Varieties Every Selecta Poinsettia variety is rigorously tested before entering our program and is subject to the same testing annually. Our Selecta Clean stock program follows strict, internationally recognized protocols and is based on 54 years of experience. Clean stock starts in the Selecta clean stock facility in Stuttgart, Germany. Our Field Tested varieties are trialed extensively for both grower and consumer performance. For more information, visit SelectaNorthAmerica.com or call BALL. SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 19

22 Selecta Poinsettia Growing Recommendations Variety Page Foliage Natural Flower (first pollen) Very Early Season Christmas Season Series Response Time in Weeks (first pollen) Vigor Christmas Season Marble NPCW10196 Christmas Season Pink NPCW10160 Christmas Season Red NPCW08135 Christmas Season White 13 NPCW dark green Nov high 13 dark green Nov high 13 dark green Nov high 13 dark green Nov high Early Season Christmas Eve Red NPCW08153 Christmas Glamour NPCW14227 Christmas Glory NPCW dark green Nov medium 16 medium green Nov medium 4 dark green Nov medium-low Christmas Joy Series New Christmas Joy Pink NPCW15244 Christmas Joy Red NPCW12197 New Christmas Joy White NPCW15245 New Christmas Morning NPCW15237 New Christmas Party NPCW15238 Christmas Ribbons NPCW14228 Dramatic Red NPCW12198 Marbella NPCW10184 Noel Red NPCW10167 Pink Candy NPCW09154 Wintersun White NPCW dark green Nov medium 9 dark green Nov medium 9 dark green Nov medium 4 dark green Nov low 5 medium green Nov medium 17 medium green Nov medium 15 dark green Nov medium-high 17 dark green Nov medium-high 15 dark green Nov medium-high 16 dark green Nov medium 15 dark green Nov medium 20 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

23 Average Bract Size Post Harvest Energy Efficient 1 Cool Finish 2 (24 hrs avg.) Space Efficient 1 Recommended Spacing for 6" 2.5" Mini 4 5" 6" 8" 10" Tree/ Pyramid very good 63 F / 17 C 14.5"x14.5" very good 63 F / 17 C 14.5"x14.5" very good 63 F / 17 C 14.5"x14.5" very good 63 F / 17 C 14.5"x14.5" medium, round medium, round medium, round very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" medium, round medium, round medium, medium, round medium, oak-shaped very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 14.5"x14.5" good 65 F / 18 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 14.5"x14.5" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 21

24 Selecta Poinsettia Growing Recommendations Mid-Season Variety Page Foliage Natural Flower (first pollen) Response Time in Weeks (first pollen) Vigor Candlelight White NPCW12202' New Christmas Aurora NPCW dark green Nov medium 14 dark green Nov medium Christmas Beauty Series Christmas Beauty North Pole NPCW14225 Christmas Beauty Nostalgia NPCW11204 Christmas Beauty Pink NPCW11203' Christmas Beauty Red NPCW10158 New Christmas Beauty Queen NPCW14233 Christmas Day Red NPCW dark green Nov low-medium 7 dark green Nov low 7 dark green Nov low-medium 7 dark green Nov low-medium 7 dark green Nov low-medium 3 dark green Nov medium Christmas Feelings Series Christmas Feelings Marble NPCW09173 Christmas Feelings Merlot NPCW09170 Christmas Feelings Pink NPCW07120 Christmas Feelings Red NPCW02044 Christmas Feelings Red Cinnamon NPCW10194 Christmas Feelings White 14 NPCW13211 Christmas Wish NPCW13218 Valentine NPCW dark green Nov low-medium 11 dark green Nov low 11 dark green Nov low-medium 11 dark green Nov low-medium 11 dark green Nov low-medium 11 dark green Nov low-medium 14 dark green Nov medium 15 dark green Nov medium-high Late Season Christmas Tradition NPCW dark green Dec medium 1 Energy Efficient/Space Efficient: Varieties are rated from most ( ) to least ( ) efficient. Contact us for guides. 2 Cool Finish: Indicates minimum temperature starting 2 weeks after the beginning of short days. Please note that a crop grown cooler requires more time to finish (4 to 7 days), and will have smaller bracts and darker color (for example, white may turn cream-yellow). Toward the end of the crop (2 weeks prior to shipping), slowly lower the temperature for green-leafed varieties to 65 F (18 C) day/night and dark green-leafed varieties to 63 F (17 C) day/night. 22 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

25 Average Bract Size Post Harvest Energy Efficient 1 Cool Finish 2 (24 hrs avg.) Space Efficient 1 Recommended Spacing for 6" 2.5" Mini 4 5" 6" 8" 10" Tree/ Pyramid medium, round excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" medium, round medium, round medium, round medium, round medium, round very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" very good 63 F / 17 C 13"x13" rose-shaped excellent 65 F / 18 C 13"x13" excellent 63 F / 17 C 14"x14" SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 23

26 Keys to Producing Picture-PeRFect Poinsettias NEW Christmas Aurora This year, we re including easy-to-use culture information and handy production tips in our catalog so be sure to keep it nearby as you plan and plant your perfect poinsettia crop. 24 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

27 Culture Guide Propagation Guide Unrooted Cuttings Open boxes upon arrival and check the temperature inside the box. Unpack the cuttings in a cooler at 50 F/10 C and monitor temperatures throughout the unpacking, storing and sticking process. If temperature is greater than 70 F/21 C, allow cuttings to cool down before sticking. Keep the cuttings moist and turgid while handling, and avoid letting them get too warm. Stick cuttings in media-filled liner trays, preferably using a stabilized media such as Ellepot or Oasis. Note: It's preferable to stick unrooted cuttings right away. But if you must store cuttings, keep them cool (50 F/10 C) for no more than 24 hours. Infrared thermometers help you keep a close eye on temperatures. (Left) cool unrooted cuttings (Right) allowed to warm A single application of a low-dose Capsil in the first 24 hours can help maximize efficiency of misting and reduce stress on cuttings. High doses and/or repeated applications will cause distortion of new growth. Use Capsil at a rate of 1 to 3 oz./100 gal. to break the surface tension of water on the leaf. Growers should use the information presented in this guide as a starting point. Crop times will vary depending on the climate, location, time of year and greenhouse environmental conditions. Chemical and PGR recommendations are only guidelines. It is the responsibility of the applicator to read and follow all the current label directions for the specific chemical being used in accordance with all regulations. COMPleTE CULTure GuiDE SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 25

28 Culture Guide Stage 1: Callus (First 7 days) Apply rooting hormone to base of cuttings. Stick and mist cuttings as soon as possible to avoid wilt. Keep humidity up and keep mist levels high, including some at night, from Day 1 through Day 4. Optimal air temperature is 72 to 80 F/22 to 26 C. Optimal light level is 1,000 to 2,000 f.c. Increase shading to maintain temperatures below 90 F/32 C. Callus will start to form 5 to 7 days after sticking. Broad spectrum fungicide can be applied a few days after sticking as a preventative treatment to reduce disease pressure. Soil temperatures of 72 to 77 F/22 to 25 C are best for callus formation. A nice white callus 8 days after sticking Stage 2: Root Out (Days 8 to 14) Reduce mist to force root growth. After reducing mist frequency, spray with a broad spectrum fungicide and/or bactericide in the evening, allowing the chemical to adhere to the plant. Avoid saturated media to speed up root initiation. Once rooting has begun, start reducing soil moisture to build root system. Begin fertilizing at this stage with 150 ppm N of a balanced fertilizer that contains Ca and Mg. Visible roots will appear by Day 10. Eliminate mist by Day 14. Avoid foliar fertilizers with phosphorus. Watch for fungus gnats and treat preventatively! Stage 3: Finished Propagation (Days 15 to 28) Continue feeding every other irrigation with 150 ppm N in a balanced soluble fertilizer. Continue to spray with a broad spectrum fungicide every 7 to 10 days. If plants are growing too quickly, you can apply PGRs around Day 16 and again at Day 22. We recommend Cycocel 750 ppm spray. For more control on fast-growing varieties, you can increase the Cycocel rate to 1,000 ppm and/or decrease the time between applications to 4 days. If you don t get enough control with Cycocel alone, try a tank mix of B-Nine 1,000 ppm/cycocel 500 ppm. Cuttings are ready to plant by Days 23 to 28. Days 23 to 28: All grown out and ready to plant 26 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

29 Finishing Guide Finishing Environment Day temperatures: 68 to 78 F/20 to 25 C Night temperatures: 65 to 70 F/18 to 21 C Keep humidity high during early finishing stages by wetting floors and minimizing air movement. We recommend drip irrigation and high-porous potting plant media with ph adjusted with limestone. Be sure media is well-drained, with a maintained ph of 5.7 to 6.2. Avoid ph of 6.6 and higher at finish, as high ph and reduced fertility levels can contribute to bract edge burn and magnesium deficiencies. Negative DIP works well for height control 1 hour before sunrise until 3 hours after. Water and Fertilizer Maintain media moisture, avoiding dramatic swings from wet to dry, as this may damage roots and contribute to Pythium root rot. Good moisture management can reduce or eliminate the need for fungicide drenches to control root diseases, but a preventative soil drench every 4 to 5 weeks after transplant is a good practice. Be sure to avoid Thiophanate-methyl applications when temperatures are high, as this can lead to some phytotoxicity on the lower leaves. Poinsettias require calcium, as well as an increased level of molybdenum. Maintain a media EC of 1.5 to 2.0. Keep media ph below 6.7, especially late in the crop cycle, and maintain availability of nutrients during bract development. Apply 200 to 250 ppm N constant feed from balanced feed during the active growth phase, reducing to 75 to 125 ppm N as the crop begins to color, and continue feeding through finish. Reduce feed to lower levels as the crop finishes in November. Pinching Pinch plants about 12 to 14 days after transplant they don t need to be rooted out fully to the pot edge, just actively growing roots and tip. Pinch to leaf count based on finished specs for example, 6 to 7 leaves below the pinch to produce a plant with 6 primary bracts. Don t leave too many nodes below the pinch! This can lead to excess branching, wider plants and smaller bracts. Removing 1 to 2 leaves just below the pinch will increase light penetration, promoting stronger and more uniform branching. (Above) before pinching (Below) after pinching Branch development after 7 days SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 27

30 Culture Guide Early PGR Application To reduce internode length, encourage even branching and produce a plant better suited for pinching, apply Cycocel 750 to 1,200 ppm spray or B-Nine 1,000 ppm/cycocel 750 ppm tank mix spray prior to pinch. Start applications in propagation and continue after transplant as needed. Apply after pinching when new shoots measure at least 0.75 in./2 cm, and repeat. This will even out the branches and reduce apical dominance. Flower Induction Most varieties will begin to induce flowers between September 10 and 25. Light pollution and excessive heat can delay flowering. Blackout and long-day lighting can be used to manipulate maturity dates. Avoid warm nights (above 72 F/22 C) from 1 week prior to initiation through October 10. Growing On PGRs Use only PGR sprays, no drenches, until shoots are 2 in./5 cm in length. Use Cycocel 750 to 1,200 ppm spray or B-Nine 1,000 ppm/ Cycocel 750 ppm tank mix spray early in the crop cycle to reduce stress and even out the branching. Avoid PGR applications within 1 week of initiation. Stop PGR applications by October 10 (natural season crop), except for micro-drenches of Bonzi. Use only very low rates (1/10 to 1/20 ppm) during the bract expansion period in October and early November (natural season crop). You may use late applications of Bonzi drench at 0.5 ppm to improve shelf life. This is best done at full bract coloration, just before pollen shed. Do not apply prior to full color. Time for late applications of Bonzi drench Be sure to stop B-Nine applications by September 14! Spacing and Target Height Control Crop specifications typically include height, width and bract count. A 6-in./15-cm poinsettia is typically spaced 13 to 14 in./33 to 35 cm on center, with a finished height of 14 to 16 in./35 to 40 cm and a primary bract count of 5 to 6. Establish final spacing before the leaf canopy fully closes. Track height progress through the crop cycle to ensure you're meeting your specifications and apply PGRs as needed. For larger finished plant height, transplant earlier, providing a longer crop time from pinch to initiation. 28 SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL

31 Insects and Diseases Common insects: Whitefly (several species and bio-types), fungus gnats and thrips Common diseases: Pythium root rot, Rhizoctonia stem rot, Botrytis (leaves, bracts, stems), Powdery Mildew (leaves) and Bacterial Leaf Spot Whitefly Thrip damage (Left) Pythium root rot (Right) healthy roots Scheduling Your Poinsettia Crop Here are two simple steps to help you determine when to order your cuttings. First, do the math. Phase 1: Allow 2 weeks from transplant to pinch. Phase 2: See the chart below to determine your weeks from pinch to flower initiation. Note that we ve based our timelines on a medium-vigor variety. Varieties with higher or lower vigor may move the pinch dates ahead or behind by 1 week. Average weeks from pinch to flower initiation: NORTH 0 WEEKS 2" or Mini 1 plant/pot 1 WEEK 2 WEEKS 3 WEEKS 4 WEEKS 5 WEEKS 6 WEEKS 7 WEEKS 8 WEEKS 4" pot 1 plant/pot 6" pot 1 plant/pot 6.5 7" pot 1 2 plants/ pot 10" pot 8 8.5" pot 3 5 plants/ 3 plants/pot pot 12"+ pot 4+ plants/ pot CENTRAL 2" or Mini 1 plant/pot 4" pot 1 plant/pot 6" pot 1 plant/pot 6.5 7" pot 1 2 plants/ pot 10" pot 8 8.5" pot 3 5 plants/ 3 plants/pot pot 12"+ pot 4+ plants/ pot SOUTH 2" or Mini 1 plant/pot 4" pot 1 plant/pot 6" pot 1 plant/pot 6.5 7" pot 1 2 plants/ pot 10" pot 8 8.5" pot 3 5 plants/ 3 plants/pot pot 12"+ pot 4+ plants/ pot Phase 3: Refer to the charts on pages 20 to 23 to find your weeks from flower initiation to retail-ready crop. Now, based on your retail-ready date, count backwards to determine at what week you need to order your cuttings. SelectaNorthAmerica.com or BALL 29

32 On the cover: Christmas Party, new for Rooted Cuttings (RC) Selecta varieties are available as rooted cuttings from Selecta licensed Root & Sell Stations. Contact your favorite broker for ordering details. U.S. Root & Sell Stations Ball Tagawa Growers 819 Zenon Way Arroyo Grande, CA (805) Broussard Greenhouses 109 Pillette Road Lafayette, LA (337) C. Raker & Sons, Inc Rainey Road Litchfield, MI (517) CK Greenhouses, Inc. 200 Schoolhouse Road Cheshire, CT (800) Davis Floral Company, Inc Bowman Highway Dewy Rose, GA (706) Esbenshade s Greenhouses, Inc. 546 A East 28th Division Highway Lititz, PA (717) Greenstreet Growers, Inc. 391 West Bay Front Road Lothian, MD (410) Hardy Starts by Welby Gardens 2761 East 74th Avenue Denver, CO (303) Knox Nursery, Inc. 940 Avalon Road Winter Garden, FL (800) Lucas Greenhouses 214 Whig Lane Road Monroeville, NJ (856) Mast Young Plants, Inc Peach Ridge Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI (800) Millstadt Greenhouses 6627 Route 158 Millstadt, IL (618) Peterson Brothers, Inc Creekview Drive San Antonio, TX (210) Plantpeddler, Inc nd Avenue SW Cresco, IA (800) The Plug Connection 2627 Ramona Drive Vista, CA (760) Van de Wetering Greenhouses Inc Sound Avenue Jamesport, NY (631) Canada Root & Sell Stations Burnaby Lake Greenhouses Ltd th Avenue Surrey, BC V4N 3G4 (604) Les Serres Frank Zyromski 1853 Chemin Laliberté Rivière-Rouge, QC J0T 1T0 (819) Linwell Gardens Ltd Lincoln Avenue Beamsville, ON L0R 1B3 (905) Unrooted Cuttings (URC) & CALLUSED CUTTINGS (CC) All Selecta varieties are available as unrooted cuttings and callused cuttings exclusively through Ball Seed. Order at ballseed.com/webtrack. Talk to us. Ball Seed: BALL Ball ColorLink : Visit ballseed.com for current Terms & Conditions of Sale Ball Horticultural Company denotes a trademark of and denotes a registered trademark of Ball Horticultural Company in the U.S., unless otherwise noted. It may also be registered in other countries.