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A3980 - AGERATUM HOUSTONIANUM, FLOSS FLOWER
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'White Bouquet'
large pure white flower heads on long sturdy stems, vigorous growth
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Asteraceae, Southern America, Middle America
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun - partial shade
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| Garden Height: | |
60 cm
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23,62 inch
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 8-9 weeks; Flowering pots: 12-16 weeks; Cut flower production: 16-20 weeks
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
6250 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
Mid December-March
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| Sowing Method: | |
3-5 seeds per plug
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| Germination: | |
Stage I: 2-4 days at 24-25 °C; Stage II: 5-7 days at 22-24 °C; Stage III-IV: 18-20 °C in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.0-5.8. Requires light for germination. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry out. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50-75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 100-150 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 3-5 plants into a pack or pot (8-9 cm). Plant cut flowers in 20-25 x 20-25 cm space.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 20-30 % clay, 1-1,5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.0-5.8
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Optional long day plant. Keep light levels high. Start the long day (14-16 h) after the 2rd -3rd pair of true leaves appears to avoid the plants being too small. Night interruption for 2-3 h is possible. Cut flower production in winter and spring only with additional assimilation light. Short day treatments increase stem length for cut flower production.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 16-20 °C. Temperatures below
16 °C delay flowering and below 10 °C cause chlorosis. Ageratum does not tolerate frost.
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| Fertilization: | |
Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100 -150 ppm nitrogen (at 2 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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| Cut Flowers: | |
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when 50-75 % of the flowers are open. The flowers are sensitive to ethylene gas. Vase life: 10-12 days. Cold storage is possible.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Drought stress causes leaf burn. Remove dead flowers.
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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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