GERANIUMS IN 6 WEEKS
Subject:
Pennsylvania Flower Growers #193
Abstract:
From a rooted cutting, it should not take more than 6 to S weeks to produce a 4-inch geranium. If a longer growing period is required, greenhouse temperatures are too cold or the plants are not receiving adequate quantities of water and fertilizer. This geranium which can be grown in only 6 to 8 weeks is a full sized 4-inch plant with at least one flower cluster in full bloom and several other clusters showing color. The plants are not tall and leggy, neither are they single stemmed and unbranched. The leaves are dark green in color, of good size without being excessively large. When planted out into the garden or planter box, they hold up well under outdoor conditions. The 6 to 8 week geraniums were produced as fol lows: Rooted cuttings of Irene and Improved Ricard were donated for these experiments by Robert Oqlevee, Oglevee Floral Co., Connellsville, Pa. The cuttings were obtained from culture-indexed stock plants grown in a greenhouse with a strict sanitation program. For this experiment, one group of cuttings were shipped for arrival on April 1; a second group arrived on April 15. They were delivered about 30 hours after packing, but remained in the shipping carton until they were potted the following day. Yellowing of leaves can be held to a minimum by potting immediately after arrival. A delay in planting, especially when cuttings remain in the dark at relatively high temperatures, increases the extent of foliage yellowing in geraniums that are shipped.
Keywords: temperatures Single stemmed high moisture and fertility Bacterial stem rot cost
Libraries: Floriculture Ornamentals