Joey®

Flowering Type: Day neutral plant, will flower regardless of day length.

Flowering Mechanism: Higher irradiance and warmer temperatures will promote earlier flowering. Supplemental lighting during germination is beneficial but not necessary.

Germination: Expect radicle emergence in 5 days with complete germination in 7 days.

Cover: Requires light for germination. Cover the seed very lightly with vermiculite. The seeds should be visible when watered in.

Sowing method: 1 seed per plug.

Media: Use a well drained media, pH 5.5-5.8; EC 0.5

Temperature: Maintain 23-26 °C (74-78 °F) for the first 7 days, then lower the temperature to 21-24 °C (70-76 °F).

Moisture: Begin with a saturated (5) for the first 3-4 days and then begin to dry them back to a wet (4) on day 5-6. On day 7 begin to alternate between a wet (4) and a medium (2). Allow the moisture level to approach a medium (2) before re-saturating to a wet (4).

Humidity: 95-100 % until day 5, then lower it to 40-60 %.

Light: Requires light for germination. If germinating in a chamber supply 10-100 ft. candles (100-1,000 lx); (50 Watt/m²) to prevent seedling stretch. Protect seedlings from direct light when moving to Stage II. Once established in Stage II the light levels can be increased. On days 7-10 the light levels can be increased to 6-8 mol/m² /day (2,000-2,500 ft. candles or 20,000-25,000 lx). Providing a day length > 12 hrs. will promote earlier flowering.

Fertilizer: Maintain an EC < 1.0. Fertilized water should not exceed an EC of 0.5. Initial feeding should be with a balanced fertilizer low in ammonium and phosphorous. Begin feeding on day 7 with a 14-4-14; 14-2-14 or 17-5-17 fertilizer at 50 ppm.

Plug Bulking and Flower Initiation: Maintain optimal conditions during the vegetative stage from cotyledon expansion to flower initiation. When the seedlings root to the edge of the plug and reach the 4-6 true leaf stage flower initiation will occur.

Media: pH 5.5-5.8; EC 1.25-1.5.

Light: Continue to protect from direct sunlight until seedlings are well established. On day 21-22 the light levels can be raised to 10-12 mol/m² / day or 3,000-3,500 ft. candles (30,000-35,000 lx). Higher light levels will facilitate early flowering and sturdy plants with large flowers. 

Temperature: Maintain 20-21 °C (68-70 °F) night and day. When the roots reach the bottom of the cell the temperature can be lowered to 19.5 °C (67 °F).

Moisture: Begin alternating between a wet (4) and a medium (2) on day 7. To prevent algae it is important to begin a good wet to dry cycle on day 12 where the media will dry back within a 24 hr. period. Good ventilation and horizontal airflow will create such an environment. Avoid watering late in the day and never allow plants to stay in a saturated state for a 24 hr. period. Over watered plants will develop yellow lower leaves.

Fertilizer: Begin fertilizing early to improve seedling quality. Under high light conditions slightly higher levels of ammonium can be used. Under high light conditions fertilize with a 17-5-17 feed and under low light use a calcium-based fertilizer 14-2-14 or 14-4-14. Initial feeding should start at 50 ppm and gradually work up to 100-150 ppm.

Growth Regulators: There are several growth regulators that can be used. B-Nine (daminozide) can be applied as a spray at 2,500-5,000 ppm. The higher rates are used under higher temperature and humidity levels. Cycocel (chlormequat chloride) can be applied as a spray at 750-1,000 ppm. Sprays using combinations of B-Nine (daminozide) + A-Rest are also effective. Combine B-Nine at 2,500 ppm + A-Rest at 4 ppm and apply as a spray. Combinations of B-Nine and Cycocel can be used as a spray with 2,500 ppm B-Nine + 500 ppm Cycocel. Bonzi (paclobutrazol) does not seem to be very effective as a growth regulator. Sumagic (uniconazol) sprays at 5 ppm can also be used.

Fungicides: Scout for botrytis and phytophthora during the plug stage and apply specific fungicides per the recommended rate.

Media: pH 5.5-5.8; EC 1.2-1.5.

Light: Provide 12-14 mol/m² /day (3,500-4,000 ft. candles or 35,000-40,000 lx). Well established plants can be grown at 16-20 mol/m2 /day (4,500-5,500 ft. candles or 45,000-55,000 lx).

Temperature: Maintain 20-21 °C (68-70 °F) for the first 14 days or until the roots reach the bottom of the container. Thereafter temperatures may be lowered to 19 °C (66 °F). An ADT (average daily temperature) of 19 °C (66 °F) will give the fastest finished crop.

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Let plants dry back to a medium (2) before re-saturating to a wet (4). The drying back of the plants will help force the roots to the bottom of the pot.

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: Moderate to high fertilization levels are required. Avoid high levels of ammonium and high levels of nitrogen. Also keep phosphorous levels lower. Feed with a complete balance fertilizer 14-4-14 or 17-5-17 at 100-150 ppm.

Growth Regulators: Additional growth regulators may be required approximately two weeks after transplanting. Apply the same growth regulator rates as those used in the plug stages as needed.

Fungicide: Apply fungicides during long periods of low light and high humidity. Fungicides against soil borne diseases and foliar diseases are recommended.

Common Diseases: Botrytis and phytopthora.

Pests: Primarily aphids and thrips.

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