GROWING GUIDELINES
PROPAGATION
• Choose a well-drained medium with an EC of 0.75 to 0.80 mmhos and a pH of 5.5 to 5.8. • Dianthus cuttings should be stuck on the day of arrival. Cuttings can be stored overnight at 39 to 45�F (4 to 7�C). Soaking the cuttings in water for 1-4 hours, cut end down, "asparagus style," can help prevent cuttings from drying out. Cuttings arrive bundled to make this easy. • A rooting hormone is recommended to promote early, uniform rooting. IBA at 1,000 ppm dip is preferred. • Soil temperature should be maintained at 68 to 72�F (20 to 22�C) until roots are visible. • Mist heavily in the first few days to prevent desiccation. Reduce mist after 4-5 days to prevent excess water in the media. Too wet media will result in heavy callus and slow rooting. • Begin fertilization when roots become visible with 75 to 100 ppm N. Increase to 150 to 200 ppm N as roots develop. • Pinching is used to remove the first bloom, and to increase fill for larger containers. It is not needed with some varieties. Configure can be applied to enhance branching in no-pinch scenarios. • Dianthus rooted cuttings should be ready for transplanting 28 to 33 days after sticking.
Easy, bundled cuttings
Configure
Pinching
3 Weeks After Stick
GROWING ON TO FINISH
• Use media with good aeration, drainage and water-holding capacity. Maintain pH 5.8-6.4. • Dianthus should be grown cool or cold, depending on the type of production. See scheduling chart on page 19. • For cold season production, grow in high light conditions. • Feed regularly at 200-300 ppm N from a complete 17-5-17 cal-mag formula fertilizer. • Avoid dramatic swings in media moisture to avoid root rot and other diseases.
• Watch for Alternaria leaf spot. This fungal pathogen is the most common disease. • When grown cool, Dianthus will need little or no PGR. When needed from warm temperatures and/or vigorous varieties, PGR options include paclobutrazol sprays at 1-2 ppm, B-Nine at 2,500 ppm or Cycocel at 500-750 ppm.
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