Indiana Horticulture Congress Starting a Greenhouse Business
Ornamental Potted Crops Allen Hammer Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Purdue University
Poinsettia Number 1 potted plant in U.S.
Potted Chrysanthemums
Easter lilies
Consumers are asking for something different we can provide something different?
Gerbera Some examples African violet, Gloxinia, Streptocarpus Begonia Cineraria Hydrangea Kalanchoe
Gerbera Daisy flower - consumers love them Great postharvest life Large selection of colors and forms
Production Start with plantlets Seed Seed or tissue culture plantlets available Growing temperature 63-65 F F night 70-75 F F day Positive DIF increases peduncle length high light and high temperature hasten flowering
fertility 200-225 ppm N and K + P on a constant feed program low low ammonium Iron and Magnesium deficiency common Apply Apply iron denches (2oz Sprint 330/100 gal) Apply Apply magnesium drenches (Epsom salt 1 lb/100 gal)
Pests Fungus gnats Thrips White flies Mealy bugs Leaf miners Cyclamen mites Aphids Slugs Crown rots Powdery mildew Botrytis
Greatest problem Uneven flowering Insect control
African Violet Popular houseplant Thrive under common household environments Large selection of cultivars
Production Start with plantlets Higher night temperature 68/70 68/70 night 75/80 75/80 day Temperature can be used for timing 800-1,200 foot candles of light
Fertility Low fertility 100 100 ppm N and K + P on a constant feed program low low ammonium Newly potted plants should not be fertilized until established Do not water overhead with cool water
Scheduling Pot Pot to pot for 5-6 weeks Final Final spacing for 5-6 weeks There There are some helpful growth/timing models
Pests Foliar nematodes Mealy bugs Cyclamen mites Thrips Aphids Slugs Crown rots Powdery mildew Botrytis
Gloxinia Seed or tuber 65 F night/75 F day 2000-2500 foot candles of light (3500 ft c in winter) 150-200 ppm N & K + P Overhead water temperature should be above 50 F
Production 10-14 10-14 weeks production time Remove Remove first flower Remove Remove center leaves
Pests Aphids Cyclamen mites Spider mites Thrips Worms/loopers Crown rots Root rots Botrytis INSV/TSWV
Problems Large leaves Difficult to handle, sleeve, ship Do not ship below 60 F
Streptocarpus Start Start with plantlets Seed Seed or leaf cuttings 100 100-125 ppm N & K + P 1000-2000 foot candles 65 F/ 75 F Cold Cold water leaf spots First First flower buds are sometimes removed
Pests AphidsAphids Cyclamen mites ThripsThrips White White flies Botrytis Root Root rots Crown Crown rots
Problems Long leaves, asymmetrical plants Ship above 50 F and below 61 F Highly sensitive to ethylene
Begonia Begonia, Hiemalis Stem Stem and leaf cuttings Begonia, Tuberous TuberTuber Seed (light required for germination) Seed
Daylength Begonia, Hiemalis short short day plant (temperature) Begonia, Tuberous Leaf Leaf and flower initiation cease and tubers form at photoperiods less than 12 hours
Production Schedule Begonia, Hiemalis 10-12 10-12 wks June-Dec 13-16 13-16 wks Jan-May (2-3 weeks of short days) Begonia, Tuberous 8-10 8-10 weeks
Production 62-64 F 2000-4000 foot candles 100-125 ppm N & K +P Avoid Avoid high ammonium Sometimes stop in middle of SD treatment Cycocel at 500 ppm 1-2 times can be used for height control and toning if needed
Pests AphidsAphids Cyclamen mites ThripsThrips Foliar Foliar nematodes Powdery mildew Bacterial blight Botrytis Root Root rots INSVINSV
Cineraria
Cineraria Daisy-type flowers Bright colors Varying color patterns Grandiflora Fewer, Fewer, larger flowers Multiflora Greater Greater number, smaller flowers Smaller Smaller plants
Propagation Seed Seed propagated 65-68ºF Light Light is required Germination requires 10-14 days
Fertility Low fertility 100 ppm N and K + P on a constant feed program Avoid ammonium Toxicity Excessively large foliage Root medium ph is important Iron chlorisis Magnesium deficiency - apply Epsom salts
Scheduling Require Require a cold treatment 6 6 wks 50-55ºF Long Long days have been used plant plant quality is poor Higher Higher forcing temperature (65ºF) result in reduced plant quality
Night Temp o F 70 68 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 50 48 46 seed transplant to flats or 3-inch pots transplant to 6-inch pots begin cold treatment 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 2 4 6 8 10 Week begin forcing & until flowering
Height Control Generally not required B-Nine WSG at 2,500-5,000 ppm can be used before flower color
Pests Aphids Whiteflies Spider mites Thrips Caterpillars Root rots Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) Mosaic virus Streak virus
Greatest Problem Watering Both Both in greenhouse and postharvest Large leaves Diseases
Greatest Attribute Colors New plant - to consumer Cool production???
Hydrangea dormant, precooled hydrangeas plants plants should be allowed to initiate active root growth (2 weeks) prior to transplanting
Hydrangea ideal ideal for starting 60 to 62 F F root temperature cooler air temperatures (58 F) No fertilizer until root activity and after potting
Flower Color clear clear pink or blue color order order plants programmed to develop the desired color continue the color program throughout forcing
Pink Flowers Avoid Avoid aluminum high high phosphorus root root medium ph of 6.0 to 6.2 moderate potassium
Blue Flowers apply apply aluminum sulfate immediately after transplanting and every 10 to 14 days low low phosphorus root root medium ph 5.2 to 5.5 high high potassium
Height Control B-Nine sprays at 2500 to 5000 ppm Bonzi sprays at 50 ppm Apply at first new 3 to 5 leaf pairs
Temperature and Timing timing is related to average daily temperature forced in 80 to 100 days using 60 F nights/70 F F cloudy day/75 F F sunny day At start of color, the temperature should be dropped to 54 F F night/65 F day to intensify flower color At visible color, reduce fertilizer by one half
Pests Aphids Thrips White flies Spider mites Slugs Botrytis Powdery mildew Root rot Viruses
Post-Production Handling Hydrangeas have long post-harvest life in the home if kept moist out out of direct light relatively cool Hydrangeas will never fully recover if allowed to dry out.
Kalanchoe Succulent Vegetative cuttings Stock plants need long days
Production Short day plant light in winter for vegetative growth 65-68 F F nights/70-75 F F day 4500 foot candles 200 ppm N & K + P reduce fertilizer and temp prior to selling
Scheduling mid Sept - late March light for LD mid Oct - mid March ND for flowering 9-13 week response group 0-2 weeks of LD vegetative growth Most new cultivars do not require pinching PGR s are sometimes applied for height control and toning
Pests Aphids Thrips Cyclamen mites Spider mites Slugs Botrytis Powdery mildew Crown rot Stem blight/canker INSV/TSWV