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U1050 - PHYSALIS ALKEKENGI, GROUND CHERRY, WINTER CHERRY, CHINESE LANTERN
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'Pysalis alkekengi'
Attractive plant with decorative fruits, inconspicucous whitish flowers and brilliant orange baloons (inflated calyxes) that surround the red fruits, for cutting and dried flower arrangements, first year flowering.
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Perennial
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Solanaceae, Japan, Korea, North - China
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun - partial shade
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| Garden Height: | |
90 cm
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35,43 inch
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| Natural flowertime: | |
August - September
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 5-6 weeks; Green pots: 10-12 weeks; Flowering pots: 16-18 weeks, annual production is possible; Flowering pots: 12-14 months, including vernalization;
Cut flower production: 3-4 years
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| Sell Period: | |
May-September
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
561 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
February-May for flowering in pots from July onwards; August-September for flowering in pots the following year
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| Sowing Method: | |
1-3 seeds per plug
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| Germination: | |
7-14 days at 15-22 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-7.0. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 15-18 °C. 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 to 150-200 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
4-6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (10-15 cm) and 2-3 plants into a container (3-5 l). For flowering pot production ensure good pot size, to encourage root growth, thus improving plant quality. Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 15-20 x 15-20 cm.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % organic parts (e.g. bark, perlite),1-3 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 0-3 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-7.0. Field: loamy, sandy, humus to humus sandy soils with good drainage. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer.
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| Photoperiod / Light: | |
Long day plants. The long day (14 h) supports the flower initiation and the flower development. In winter and in early spring additional assimilation light is required.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 12-18 °C or outdoors. Prefer cold temperatures for a compact pant growth. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow for 8-9 weeks at 12-15 °C. A chilling period (vernalization) for flower initiation is not required.
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| Fertilization: | |
Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 200-250 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels, because at high nitrogen levels the stems are getting soft. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize 100-150 ppm nitrogen of a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate 1-2 times. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer, applied in several portions.
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| Cut Flowers: | |
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the lantern-like husks of berry are showing color. Transport the stems upright and not wet. Vase life: 20 days. Cold storage is not required. For dried flower production stems can be harvested, when the berries are green. Dry stems only in upright position,
so that the lanterns hang down.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Physalis are poisonous. For pot production cultivate rather dry and avoid over watering in order to promote a compact plant habit. Cut flower production: Physalis have a spacious root system (rhizomatous roots) from which new shoots will form in the following spring. Take care of a constant water supply, because water deficiency can be a cause for short flower stems.
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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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