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V1090 - SANVITALIA SPECIOSA,
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2010/2011 'Million Suns'
easy cultivation from seed, masses of blooms compact habit with basal branching
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun-partial shade
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 4-5 weeks; Flowering pots: 12-14 weeks (from sowing to flowering 95-100 days); Hanging baskets: 16-20 weeks
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed and Treated Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
0 K/g
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| Sowing Method: | |
5-7 seeds per plug, can be multiple sown directly into pots or packs
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| Germination: | |
Stage I: 7-12 days at 18-21 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH 5.5-6.0. Before sowing treat substrate with fungicide. Requires light for germination.
Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading after sowing. Upon emergence, provide a cover of vermiculite.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce
the temperature to 16 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0.5 EC, as roots are sensitive to high salt levels. Start fertilization at 50-75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage
III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150-200 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
4-5 weeks after germination transplant 1 plug (5-7 seeds) per pot (8-12 cm) or 3-5 plugs into a hanging basket (20-30 cm)
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. perlite, coconut fibres), 1-1,5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH 5.5-6.0. For hanging basket production the application of a slow release fertilizer is recommended.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Day length neutral plant. For the vegetative growth and for flowering Sanvitalia requires high light levels. For flowering pots and for hanging basket production in winter and in early spring additional assimilation light and long day (14 h) will improve the plant quality and reduce crop time by 8-12 days. Avoid light deficiency, as it may cause stretching.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 12-16 °C. Higher temperatures are possible at high light intensity. Sanvitalia
does tolerate temperatures below 8 °C for short periods, but the growth is inhibited. To harden the plants for early sales temperatures can be lowered to 10-12 °C. Sanvitalia does not tolerate frost.
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| Fertilization: | |
Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with
200-300 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Avoid pH above 6.0, as high pH causes iron deficiency. Apply chelated iron, if chlorosis becomes a problem. To prevent
magnesium deficiency, apply magnesium sulphate (0,025 %) 1-2 times.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Avoid fluctuations in soil moisture. Sanvitalia are sensitive to drying out and to
over watering. Pinch the plant tops after 3rd leaf pair for a better branching and compact plant habit, but this will increase the cultivation time by 2 weeks.
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* Germination Stages (from seed to finished young plant)
| Stage I: | Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons. |
| Stage II: | Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair. |
| Stage III: | Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable. |
| Stage IV: | All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days. |
Hint
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
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