Pearl

Flower initiation: Beginning from the initial sowing. Flower initiation occurs approximately days 42-48 when 6-8 true leaves are present unless kept under short days.

Flowering Type: FastraX perennial – first year flowering plants without vernalization. Obligate long day plant requiring a day length > 13 hrs. to initiate flowering.

Flowering Mechanism: Day length > 13 hrs. is required to initiate flowering. Supplemental lighting during germination will be beneficial but is not necessary.

Germination: Maintain optimal conditions for seedling development, should begin on the day of sowing until root emergence. Expect radicle emergence in 10-12 days.

Cover: No cover is necessary.

Sowing method: Raw seed – sow 6-8 seeds/ plug; single pelleted seed-sow 2-3 pellets/plug.

Media: pH 5.5-6.2; EC 0.5 Sensitive to high salt levels during germination.

Temperature: Maintain 20-22 °C (68-72 °F) day temperature, 18 °C (64 °F ) night temperature. The fluctuation between day and night temperatures will aid in the germination. By day 14 the temperature can be maintained at 17-20 °C (63-68 °F).

Moisture: Begin with a moisture level wet (4) for the first 8-9 days. On day 10, after radicle emergence reduce to a moist (3). On day 10 begin to alternate between a media moisture level moist (3) and a medium (2). Allow the media to approach a medium (2) before re-saturating to a moist (3). Never allow the media to dry out completely.

Humidity: 95-100 % until day 12, then reduce to 40-60 %. Provide proper ventilation and horizontal airflow to improve oxygen levels in the media.

Light: Requires light for germination. Supplemental lighting during germination will improve speed of germination and uniformity. During germination, and the first three weeks after germination provide a day length of 10-12 hrs.

Fertilizer: Sensitive to high EC in the early stages so maintain and EC less than 0.5 for the first 10-14 days until germination is complete.

Plug Bulking and Flower Initiation: Maintain optimal conditions during the vegetative stage from cotyledon expansion to flower initiation. This stage is when the seedling root to the edge of the plug and reach the 6-8 true leaf stage where flower initiation occurs.

Media: pH 5.5-6.2; EC 0.5-1.0 Use a well-drained media low in soluble salts.

Light: Supplemental lightling is beneficial but keep the day length to 10-12 hr. to bulk the plants. Continue to keep the plants under short days for the duration of the plug production.

Temperature: Maintain 17-20 °C (63-68 °F) until roots are well established then lower the temperature to 16-8 °C (60-46 °F). In the last two weeks of plug production the temperature can be lowered further to 14-16 °C (57-60 °F) nights and 18-21 °C (64-70 °F) days.

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Allow the media to approach a medium (2) before re-saturating to a wet (4). Try to maintain the moisture level at a moist (3) as much as possible. Never allow the plugs to dry out completely.

Fertilizer: Moderate fertilizer requirements using a regime that supplies slightly higher levels of potassium. Use a balanced fertilizer low in ammonium to prevent high nitrogen levels. If possible use a potassium based fertilizer (N: K2 O-ratio: 1:1.5). Blended fertilizers that can be used are 11-7-23, 17-5-17 and 14-4-14. Begin feeding with low rates on approximately day 14-16 using 40-50 ppm nitrogen. As the plants develop further the rate can be increased to fertilizing weekly at 100 ppm nitrogen.

Growth Regulators: Sprays of B-Nine (daminozide) at 1,500-2,500 ppm are very effective in toning the plants and controling grown. Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) spays at 300-500 ppm can also be used effectively. Campanula are sensitve to Bonzi (paclobutrazol and uniconazol).

Fungicides: Apply fungicides during long periods of low light and high humidity. Especially for soil born diseases.

Media: pH 5.5-6.2; EC 1.0.

Light: In spring production after the plants are established in the final container, approximately 3-4 weeks after transplanting they can be given long days to bring them into flower. Continue to grow newly transplanted plants under short days until the plants fill approximately ¾ of the pot for 10 cm (4”) pots or approximately 3-4 weeks after transplanting depending on the temperature. Supplemental lightling is beneficial but only use a 10-12 hrs. photoperiod. Campanula can also be grown in the summer and in the fall when the day length is becoming short (less than 12 hrs.). They can be moved into a greenhouse and use a long day treatment to bring them into flower. In this case provide a day length of 14-16 hrs. Either use day length extension or night interruption, lighting from 10 pm-2 am. They only require 10 ft. candles (100 lx) to initiate flowering. In spring production once flower buds are visable the long day treatment can be discontinued.

Temperature: Maintain 13-18 °C (56-64 °F). Once established in the final container the temperature can be lowered to 13-15 °C (56-58 °F) but the cooler growing temperatures will lengthen the overall crop time. Plants grown at the lower temperatures will have larger flowers. For the fasted finish grow at 18-19 °C (64-66 °F).

Moisture: The best approach is to water plants thoroughly to a wet (4) and then let them dry back alternating between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Allow the media to approach a medium (2) before re-saturating to a wet (4). Avoid drying the media out completely since root damage can occur.

Humidity: 40-60 % humidity is ideal. Providing good ventilation and horizontal airflow will help lower the humidity and dry back the media, providing oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizer: Campanula require a light to moderate fertilization program. Use a balanced fertilizer low in ammonium to prevent high nitrogen levels. If possible use a potassium based fertilizer (N: K2 O-ratio: 1:1.5). Blended fertilizers that can be used are 11-7-23; 17-5-17; 14-4-14. Either use a constant feed program at 50-75 ppm nitrogen or fertilize weekly at 150- 200 ppm N. During finishing in the fall do not fertilize after mid-September.

Growth Regulators: Sprays of B-Nine (daminozide) at 1,500-2,500 ppm are very effective in toning the plants and controlling growth. Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) spays at 500-750 ppm can also be used effectively. 

Fungicide: Apply fungicides during long periods of low light and high humidity. The most common problems are with soil born diseases and later with botrytis.

Common Diseases: Botrytis, pythium and rhizoctonia.

Pests: Primarily aphids, thrips and spider mites.

Post Harvest: Fertilize with potassium nitrate at 100 ppm 1-2 weeks prior to shipping.