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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Begoniaceae, South America
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun (Northern Europe) to Partial shade to shade
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 8-10 weeks, Flowering pots (from sowing to flower): 18-20 weeks, Hanging baskets (from sowing to flower): 23-25 weeks
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| Sell Period: | |
April-July
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed and Pelleted Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
50000 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
November for flowering pots from April onwards, December-January for flowering bedding plants from May onwards
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| Sowing Method: | |
1-2 seeds per plug
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| Germination: | |
7-14 days at 23-25 °C with a relative humidity of 95 % or higher.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry and cultivate under long day (14 h). Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,5 EC. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III+IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 150-200 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray (4x4 - 6x6 cm) and 12 weeks later transplant 1 plant into a pot (10-12 cm) or 3-4 plants into a hanging basket (20-30 cm). Avoid cool substrate for transplantation.
Two time transplantation support root development and young plant quality.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate, pH: 5.5-6.2.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Long day plant. Keep light levels moderate (min. 550 lx) and long day (14-16 h) for flowers initiation and vegetative growth. In winter assimilation light is recommended for the good plant development and quality. The assimilation light will shorten the crop time. Night interruption is possible. Do not stop the exposure to assimilation light before March. Protect the plants in summer with a shading against high sunlight. Short days will result in tuber formation.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 16-18 °C. 10 days before selling the temperatures can be decreased to 16 °C. Temperatures below 14 °C will result in tuber formation and crop delay.
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| Fertilization: | |
Moderate fertilization levels are required. At high nitrogen levels the foliage can become very big. Avoid pH above 6.0, as high pH causes iron deficiency. Apply chelated iron, if chlorosis becomes a problem. Avoid high salt levels in substrate. It is advisable to fertilize several times with low concentrations weekly.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
For selling harden the plants at 16 °C and UV light. Do not cultivate the plants too wet, because the roots are sensitive and become severely damaged. Avoid high relative humidity in greenhouse.
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