Production of Poinsettiasby Paul Thomas

Teaching Curriculum Review

Summer 2004

Markets Retail

Garden centers Florists Mass markets Farmer’s markets Tents Mail order/internet

Markets Wholesalers Auctions Brokers

Potted Flowering Plants Poinsettias $247 million 3% All other species $201 Orchids $106 Chrysanthemums $77 Azaleas $53 Bulbs $52 Easter lilies $37 Roses $30 African violets $20

Poinsettias Poinsettia, Christmas

flower Euphorbia

pulcherrima Euphorbiaceae Native to S. Mexico

and N. Guatemala

Number one potted flowering plant in the US.

Major crop in Europe and Australia, minor elsewhere.

Also, hanging basket plant, cut flower, and landscape shrub.

Terminology Bracts Transition bracts Cyathia Nectaries ‘Flowers’

Cultivars Free-branching vs.

restricted-branching Bract color

Cultivars Foliage color Height/vigor Response group (6.5 to 10) Postharvest life/leaf retention Series

Cut Flowers Renaissance Red

Propagation Seed only for breeding purposes. Terminal cutting propagation. Purchase cuttings vs. grow your own. Thick (1/4 in. thick), 2-3 in. long cuttings

with one mature leaf and several immature leaves.

Don’t forget about stock plants. LD

Propagation Sanitation 75 to 77oF media Less than 2000 fc light Foam vs. direct stick Rooting hormone (0.1% IBA) Tenting vs. misting

Propagation Cutting tips uncovered. 100-150 ppm N weekly, starting 10 days

after propagation. PGR may be applied prior to cutting

harvest or during propagation. Cuttings ready to plant in 3.5 to 5 weeks.

Flowering Control SD plants 11.75 hr critical night length Artificial SD often from 5 pm to 7 am, 14 hrs Sept. 25 natural date of flower initiation Night temps above 70oF may delay flower

initiation, above 75oF may delay development Continue SD until pollen shows

Temperature Propagation 75 to 77oF media After propagation* 65 to 68oF After pinch* 62 to 65oF End of crop# 55 to 60oF

*Use of DIF may determine day temperature*Warm weather often results in higher temps than

indicated#Multiple crops often prevents lowing temps

Temperature Maximum temperatures: below 70F night

and 90F day. Minimum: 55F anytime.

Light Maximum light

• 3500 to 4500 fc for dark leaved cultivars• 5000 to 6000 fc for light leaved cultivars• Full sun most of the time

Shade for 1-2 weeks after planting if high temperature and/or low humidity

Specific cultivars may need shading during production or at finish

Water Don’t allow to wilt, especially during hot

sunny days.

Carbon Dioxide Not proven to be beneficial.

Nutrition Requires overall high rates. Nitrogen (CLF)

• 225 to 300 ppm N overhead irrigation.• 100 to 225 ppm N subirrigation.• 25% less for dark-leaved cultivars.• Keep ammonium below 30% of N and

eliminate the last 3-4 weeks.

Nutrition Phosphorus – 40 ppm Potassium – equal to

or 25-50% less than nitrogen

Nutrition Calcium – low levels cause several

problems. Leaf edge burn Bract edge burn Keep media pH 5.5 or higher and spray 200

to 400 ppm calcium chloride starting with first bract color.

Nutrition Magnesium - High requirement of 40 to 50

ppm CLF or monthly drenches of 8-16 oz./100 gal. of magnesium sulfate.

Boron – Sensitive to toxic and deficiencies. Molybdenum – high requirement of 0.1

ppm CLF or one drench of sodium molybdate.

Nutrition – B and Mg Deficiency

Nutrition – Fe Deficiency

Soluble Salts Pourthru

1.9-2.6 dS/m during establishment 2.8-4.1 during growing phase 1.9-2.7 during finishing

1:2 dilution – 0.75 to 1.5 dS/m. Lower EC with dark-leaved cultivars.

Low EC Problems

High pH problems

Media Well-drained, yet retain water. pH 5.8 to 6.3.

Height Control Cultivar Culture

or days from pinch to start of short days. Nutrition ‘Dry’ or ‘wet’ growers

DIF/DROP Chemicals – apply starting approx. 2 weeks after

pinch, stop by early Oct. in NC, one last opportunity in early Nov.

Chemical Height Control Cycocel – 1000 to 1500 ppm, occ. phytotoxic B-Nine – rarely used alone – not effective, used

as tank mix with Cycocel, 750-2500 ppm B-Nine/1000-1500 Cycocel

Bonzi – 5-20 ppm spray, 0.5 to 3 ppm drench, only PGR acceptable for late-season control in early Nov.

Sumagic – 2-5 ppm spray

Spacing Maximum space possible. Delayed spacing will increase height. 12 x 12 inches now common for 6 or 6 ½

inch pots

Pinching Pinched vs unpinched plants Plants pinched when roots are visible at the

edge of the media, typically 10 to 14 days after potting.

Premature or delayed pinching – poor branching

Number of shoots = nodes – 1

Pinching Soft pinch – apex removed above

immature leaf. Hard pinch – apex removed above most

recently mature leaf. Soft pinch with leaf removal – remove leaf

blades of immature leaves.

Support Rings commonly used for higher quality

crops. Support rarely used for mass market crops.

Marketing Periods Pre-Thanksgiving – most rapidly Thanksgiving to Dec. 10 – primary Dec. 10 to Dec. 25

ScheduleCultural Step Weeks Date

Prop. cuttings 3.5-5 mid July

Pot cuttings 1.5-2 late Aug.

Pinch plants 1.5-2 Early/mid Sept.

Start SD 8-12

Finish 13.5-21 mid Nov. – early Dec.

Schedule Select proper response group Use LD or SD to manipulate schedule

Insects Whiteflies

Often shipped in with cuttings

Fungus gnats Others: Lewis mites,

thrips, spider mites, mealybugs, caterpillars

Diseases Stem and root rot Botrytis blight Bacterial stem and

leaf rot Powdery mildew Fungal blight and leaf

spots Viruses

Diseases

Physiological Disorders Bract necrosis Leaf edge burn Stem breakage Cycocel damage

Physiological Disorders Leaf drop Splitting Leaf distortion Center bud drop

Postharvest Increase by reducing temperature to 55F last 1-3

weeks. Do not use ammonium or urea after mid-late Oct. Harvest when at least one cyathium shows pollen. Keep storage and shipping as short as possible

and temps above 50F. Unpack, unsleeve, and water as soon as possible

Dressing A Poinsettia

Allow them to select a poinsettia

After the selection….. Remove all dead leaves or debris from the

top of the pot If soil is moist, do not water- if dry, water

it lightly Allow customer to select foil, bow, and

ribbon colors Suggest something if they don’t know what

colors look best together.

Check Water & Be Careful

Carefully, Cut the foil…. You need 13 inches Be sure to measure it Cut it on the INSIDE Fold 1/4 of the all

edge areas to the inside.

If you rip the foil or put a hole in it, get another one.

Place the poinsettia on the foil Make sure the pot is in

the center of the foil Carefully pull up one

corner and DO NOT TUCK IT.

Tuck the foil between the corners.

Fold it gently over the edge of the pot.

Foil the edges... Bring the foil up on all

sides of the plant BE VERY CAREFUL Crease and turn, crease

and turn Lift the leaves, do not

smash them against the pot.

Be PATIENT

Add the bow Select the ribbon

color Cut it to length and

follow the book directions for a pinch bow.

Add the pick Wrap the wire around

the wooden part

Bow with wooden pick

The ribbon around the pot Select the ribbon

color Cut 24-25 inches of

ribbon Diagonally cut the

edges of the ribbon Wrap it around the

pot and foil to be sure it is long enough

Inserting the Bow Put the pot ribbon on the

pot Pull the two ends

together Cross the ends at the top

between two corners -forms an “X”

Push the bow with pick through the ribbon.

Add the care tag Tells them how to

care for the poinsettia Contains name of

purchaser Advertises the Craig

FFA Allows for easy

removal of prices

Protect the poinsettia Ask when it will be

taken home They will not tolerate

more than a few hours of chill

Sever chill = death in minutes

Put a plastic bag with air around the plant

SAY “THANK YOU!” Be sure the thank them for the sale Collect the funds Record the sale and issue a receipt Ask if you can take it out to the car for

them Be polite and helpful as if your paycheck depended upon it!