Spring Magic® White

Flowering Type: Early spring flowering perennial; vernalization is required. Facultative long day plant. A day length > 13 hours with high light levels will result in flower initiation.

Flowering Mechanism: Flowering is affected by day length. High light intensity and warmer temperatures shorten the total crop time.

Germination: Provide optimum conditions for seedling development beginning on the day of sowing until radicle emergence. Expect radicle emergence in 7–10 days.

Cover: Lightly covering the seeds with vermiculite promotes germination.

Sowing Method: 2–3 seeds per plug.

Media: pH 5.8–6.2; EC < 0.5.

Temperature: Maintain 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) until radicle emergence. From stage 2, reduce to 16–18 °C (58–64 °F).

Moisture: Keep the substrate wet (4) for the first 10 days. After radicle emergence, alternate between moist (3) and medium (2), allowing the media to dry back before watering.

Humidity: 95–100% until radicle emergence, then reduce to 40–60%. Provide proper ventilation and horizontal airflow to improve oxygen levels in the media.

Light: Long days and high light levels are required during the plug stage. After radicle emergence, provide 1,000–2,500 ft. candles (10,000–25,000 lx), increasing to 3,000–5,000 ft. candles (30,000–50,000 lx) during the final stage of plug production.

Fertilizer: Maintain EC < 0.75. Fertilized water should not exceed an EC of 0.5. Begin fertilizing early to improve seedling quality. Start after radicle emergence at 50–100 ppm nitrogen and gradually increase to 100–175 ppm.

Plug Bulking and Flower Initiation: After 6–7 weeks plug time, transplant seedlings. Aquilegia requires 6–8 weeks of vernalization, which can be done in large plugs or the final pot. Ensure foliage is well established before the chilling period begins. Plants will then grow faster in spring and initiate many flowers.

Growth Regulators: If necessary, B-Nine (daminozide) sprays at 1,500–3,000 ppm are effective for toning and growth control during the plug stage. A wetting agent is required for adhesion. Pinching is not required.

Media: pH 5.8–6.2; EC 1.5–2.0.

Light: High light levels and long days > 13 hours will produce high-quality, uniform plants and promote flower initiation. Light levels of 3,000–4,500 ft. candles (30,000–45,000 lx) are recommended. The shorter the day length, the longer the crop time.

Temperature: After transplanting, plants require 6–8 weeks of vernalization at 2–5 °C (36–41 °F). Frost must be strictly avoided; for outdoor cultivation, fleece covering is necessary. Afterwards, increase temperatures to 12–14 °C (54–57 °F) to stimulate growth and initiate flowering. Gradually raise temperatures until an average daily temperature of 16–18 °C (61–64 °F) is reached for finishing.

Moisture: Alternate between moist (3) and medium (2). Allow the media to reach medium (2) before re-saturating. Avoid waterlogging and do not water from above.

Humidity: 40–60% humidity is ideal. Provide good ventilation and horizontal airflow to reduce humidity and dry back the media, improving root oxygenation.

Fertilizer: High fertilization levels are required. Feed weekly with 150 ppm nitrogen using a complete balanced fertilizer. Once buds occur, increase to 200 ppm nitrogen to prevent older leaves from becoming necrotic.

Growth Regulators: With proper temperature and moisture management, growth regulators are generally not required. If necessary, apply B-Nine (daminozide) early in the crop cycle as a spray at 2,500–5,000 ppm. A wetting agent is required for adhesion. Apply PGRs only before flower initiation. Pinching is not recommended or needed.

Fungicides: Apply fungicides during extended periods of low light, cool temperatures, and high humidity. A wetting agent is required, otherwise fungicides will not adhere to the leaves.

Common Diseases: Powdery mildew, Alternaria leaf spot, Pythium.

Pests: Primarily aphids, thrips, and leaf miners.

Plug Time
288 tray: 6-7 weeks
128 tray: 7-8 weeks

Vernalization Time: 6-8 weeks

Finished Time (from 288 tray)
12-15 cm (5-6") pots (1*): 9-10 weeks
17-19 cm (7-8") pots (3*): 11-13 weeks

*plants per pot