Hipster™ Blue
Item no.: LS3104R- Intense flower colors on dark, dense growing leaves
- Optimal for pot and container production
- Suitable usage as cut and dried flower
- Crop Time
- Spring: 14 - 16 weeks
- Height ∅
- 24 ″ / 60 cm
- Width ∅
- 14 ″ / 35 cm
- Exposure
- Sun - Partial shade
- Seed Form
- Raw Seed
- Product Use
- Pots, Containers, Landscape, Cutflower
- Family, Origin
- Plumbaginaceae, Mediterranean area
- Minimum Germ. Rate
- 85%
Technical Guide
Flowering Type: Facultative long day plant. A day length > 12 hours will result in flower initiation.
Flowering Mechanism: High light intensity and warm temperatures shorten the total crop time. Cooler temperatures after transplanting improve the uniformity of flowering.
Germination: Optimum conditions for seedling development, beginning on the day of sowing until radicle emergence. Expect radicle emergence in 4-7 days.
Sowing method: 1-2 seed/plug, depending on the pot size.
Media: pH 5.8-6.2; EC 0.5-0.7.
Cover: Cover the seed with vermiculite or substrate after sowing.
Temperature: 18-21 °C (64-70 °F) on days 1-7. For irrigation use warm water (above 18 °C/ 64 °F) only.
Moisture: Begin with a wet (4) for the first 7 days. On day 8 begin to alternate between a wet (4) and a moist (3). On the long term, a moist (3) is optimum for the seedlings. Good ventilation and horizontal airflow will always help.
Humidity: 95-100 % until day 7; then reduce to 40-60 %.
Fertilizer: In the early plug stage, maintain an EC < 0,7. Fertilize the crop with less than 100 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer.
Flower Initiation: The plants flower more rapidly and grow more uniform and stable if subjected to a cold treatment of 10-13 °C (50-56 °F) for 3-5 weeks after germination.
Media: pH 5.8-6.2; EC 0.7-1.2.
Light: Protect the seedlings from direct sunlight until they are well established. Afterwards the light levels can be raised to 1,000-2,500 ft. candles or 11,000-27,000 lx.
Temperature: 16-18 °C ( 60-64 °F) during night and day. When the roots reach the bottom of the cell, the temperature can be lowered to 13-16 °C (56-60 °F). Cooler temperatures promote uniformatiy and compactness of the plants and avoid long stems.
Fertilizer: Begin fertilizing early to improve seedling quality. When the plants are well established, maintain an EC of 0.7-1.2 with fertilization of 100-175 ppm nitrogren by using a balanced fertilizer.
Growth Regulators: No growth regulators should be necessary since growth can be controlled by temperature and moisture management. If seedlings are uneven a very light application of B-Nine (daminozide) or Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) can be applied weekly. Keep in mind that Yellow is the most vigorous variety in the series.
Fungicides: Scout for botrytis, powdery mildew and fusarium during the plug stage.
Media: pH 5.8-6.2; EC 1.2-1.5.
Temperature: 13-16 °C (56-60 °F) during days, 10-13 °C (50-56 °F) during nights. Do not grow the plants at higher temperatures. This will keep the plants toned and prevent excessively large leaves. Temperatures below 8 °C (46 °F) result in red leaves in the center and extend the crop time. Depending on the time, outdoor production is also possible.
Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels moist (3) and medium (2). Let plants dry back before re-saturating. Avoid overwatering.
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: Limonium requires high levels of fertilization, especially nitrogen, in the first few weeks to build a healthly, stable plant structure. Fertilize the crop weekly with 175-225 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer.
Growth Regulators: With proper moisture and temperature management, there should not be a need for growth regulators. Approximately two weeks after transplanting a plug, when plants are established in the final container, a very light application of Cycocel can be applied. For cut flower production, no growth regulators are required at all. Pinch the first floral stem to induce more stems to develop. For pot production, pinching is not necessary.
Fungicide: Apply fungicides during long periods of low light and high humidity. Outdoor productions under rainy conditions can be affected by botrytis or downy mildew.
Common Diseases: Botrytis, powdery mildew, fusarium.
Pests: Primarily aphids.
Post harvest: For cut flower production, the stems are ready to be harvested when 40-50% of the flowers are showing color. Store in clear water or water treated with a floral preservative solution. The stems will have to be recut later.
Moisture Codes
| Saturated (5) | Water is easily observed when finger is pressed on cell. Water moves freely from the top of the plug to the bottom. |
| Wet (4) | Media looks black and is not glistening. The media feels wet to the touch but there is very little water movement. |
| Moist (3) | Water is not easily visible. When finger is pressed on the cell there is very little movement from top to bottom. |
| Medium (2) | Media is not black, but now looks medium brown. There is no water movement when pressed with finger. |
| Dry (1) | Media has changed color to a very light brown and is dry to the touch. |
All information in our technical guide is based on our own trials and would therefore be as guideline only. Detailed cultivation aspects vary depending on climate, location, time of year and environmental conditions. Benary expressly disclaims any responsibility for the content of such data/information and makes no representation or warranty for the cultivation of any products listed. It is recommended that growers conduct a trial of products under their own conditions.
