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S7520 - PELARGONIUM ZONALE, GERANIUM
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'Red Elite'
Large flower size, early flowering, compact well-branched habit, virus-free.
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Not available in North Amercia
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Geraniaceae, South Africa
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun
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| Garden Height: | |
30 cm
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11,81 inch
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 4-6 weeks; Flowering Pots:
14-16 weeks, depending on season;
Hanging basket: 16-17 weeks
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| Sell Period: | |
April-June
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| Seed Form: | |
Treated Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
192 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
January-March for flowering in pots from April onwards; Mid May-June for flowering in pots from July onwards; Early November for flowering in hanging basket
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| Sowing Method: | |
1-3 seeds per plug, can be sown directly into final pot
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| Germination: | |
5-10 days at 21-25 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.5. Requires light for germination. Before sowing treat the substrate with fungicide. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seed after sowing.
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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 75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 200-250 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
2-3 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pack or pot (10-12 cm) and 3-4 plants into a container (3-5 l) or hanging basket (25-30 cm).
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 20-30 % clay, 0-20 % parts (e. g. perlite, coconut fibres), 2-3 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-5 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.5. for container or hanging basket production the application of a slow release fertilizer is recommended.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Day length neutral plant. Pelargonium are light accumulator. Keep the light level high, because high light intensity and long day improve the flowering and decrease the cultivation time. In winter and in early spring supplemental lighting will improve the growth and plant quality. The light intensity should be at least 5000 lx for a good growth while 10-35 klx are considered as an optimum. Avoid light deficiency during the time of root development in pot and of flowering. Light deficiency is a cause for shoot stretching and increasing leaf size. In summer protect the plants against very high light intensity (> 50 klx), because this can cause growth inhibition, too.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 18-20 °C. The average day temperature should be around 18 °C and the difference between the day and night temperature not more than 4 °C. If the average day temperature is below 16 °C or the day temperature is below 15 °C, the cultivation time will be increased. Temperatures below 10 °C will result in red coloured foliages and temperatures above 30 °C will result in chlorosis on foliages. High temperatures decrease the cultivation time, but in this case the application of growth regulators is required. The plants for early selling should be hardened slowly at 12-15 °C for 14 days. Pelargonium does not tolerate frost.
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| Fertilization: | |
High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 250-300 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. When the buds are visible alternate the fertilization and use a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). Take care of a good potassium level in substrate. A good potassium nutrition decreases the risk of fungi infection, because the plant tissues get a high stability and the colour of the foliage and flowers is improved . Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Avoid high fertilizer concentrations, it is advisable to fertilize several times weekly with low concentrations. This will ensure a constant growth. Pelargonium tolerates high salt level in substrate, but the salt level should not be above 3 g/l.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Cultivate plants slightly moist but not wet. Avoid to dry out the substrates, because drought stress combined with high salt levels can be a cause that the root hairs are burned. After planting treat pot with fungicide against Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Pythium. Pelargonium from seeds have a good branching and do not require pinching of the tops. Avoid overhead irrigation and high relative humidity in greenhouse, because this result in corking on the leaves.
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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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