Graffiti®
The Unbeatable Series on the Market!
- Profit from the widest range of colors in a Pentas series:
17 intense colors & 2 mixes to choose from! - Uniformity in height and flower timing
- Well-branched plants with dense flowers for maximum color at retail
- Excellent heat tolerance and garden performance
- First bicolor tones in seed Pentas
Technical Guide: Click here
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.
- Crop Time
- Spring: 13 - 16 weeks
- Height ∅
- 12 ″ / 30 cm
- Width ∅
- 11 ″ / 28 cm
- Exposure
- Sun
- Seed Form
- Pelleted Seed
- Best Uses
- Bedding, Landscape, Pot Plant
Culture guide
Usage
Pots, Mixed Containers, Mass Plantings and Landscape
Sow time
January-April
Sowing method
1 pellet per plug. No cover is necessary.
Germination
Maintain optimal conditions for seedling development beginning on the day of sowing until radical emergence. Expect radical emergence in 7-10 days. Humidity should be between 95-100% until day 10; then reduce to 40-60%.
Growing on
Day neutral plant, will flower regardless of day length. Very responsive to irradiance and additional lighting. Providing a 14-16 hrs. day length, especially in the seedling stages, will shorten the crop significantly. In addition, growing at warmer temperatures will shorten the crop time.
Media
Plug culture: pH 6.2-6.5 Starting with the proper pH of the media will improve the performance of the seedlings. Pentas can exhibit iron toxicity at lower pH levels, below 5.5. Pentas require close attention to the proper media pH. If the pH is too high, a micro nutrient deficiency may occur and if too low, an iron toxicity can occur. EC < 0.5.
Temperature
Plug culture: 23-26 °C (74-78 °F). Once germination is completed with fully expanded cotyledons, on day 14 the temperature can be lowered slightly to 22 °C (72 °F). Water trays using tempered water with a minimum temperature of 18 °C (64 °F). Media temperatures below 16 °C (60 °F) will inhibit the germination and growth. 20-21 °C (68-70 °F). As plants become more mature the temperature can be lowered to 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) nights and 22-23 °C (72-73 °F) days. Warmer temperatures will benefit and shorten the finish time.
Growing on: 20-21 °C (68-70 °F) nights, 22-23 °C (72-73 °F) days for the first 14 days or until the roots reach the bottom of the container. Thereafter temperatures may be lowered to 16-18 °C (60-64 °F) nights and 20-23°C (68-74°F) days. Higher temperatures are beneficial and will shorten the crop time. Pentas do not seem to have a maximum temperature that will inhibit growth and flowering.
Fertilization
Plug culture: Maintain an EC < 0.75. At this stage fertilized water should not exceed an EC of 0.5 Begin feeding on day 10 with 50 ppm 14-2-14, 14-4-14 or 17-5-17. Keep phosphorous levels < 8 ppm, iron levels at 2-3 ppm. Maintain the EC levels below 1.2. Under lower light conditions fertilize with a calcium based fertilizer, 14-4-14 at 100 ppm. Under higher light use a 17-5-17 feed at 100 ppm.
Growing on: : Under low light conditions fertilize with a 14-4-14 fertilizer at 100-150 ppm and under high light conditions use a 17-5-17 fertilizer at 100-150 ppm. Watch for calcium and magnesium deficiencies which can cause stunted plants.
Tip
Graffiti® is the earliest, most uniform and compact Pentas series on the market. It has the broadest color range and garden performance that lives up to the Graffiti® brand name growers and landscapers trust.
Stage I Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.
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.
