x Petchoa hybrida Beautical SAKATA Intergeneric hybrid with compact-medium mounding habit. Very good weather and rain tolerance Nice showy flowers till end of the Summer Mildew resistance: long lasting plant till end of the Summer Suitable for cultivation in 10.5-12cm pots and mix containers Highly suitable for patio, terrace, balcony and smaller garden beds Mix containers, bedding and hanging baskets 25-30 cm 35-45 cm Culture Guide Propagation Propagation takes 3-3,5 weeks. Stick cuttings in pre-moistened rooting media with a pH of 5.5-6.0. Use media with good drainage and be careful not to over saturate the media. Keep the temperature at approx. 18°C. Use of rooting hormone should not be required. In order to avoid stretching of young plants, start to harden off as soon as cuttings have started to root. Ideally, lower the temperature and increase light levels to ensure compact well branched young plants. If needed, a spray with a product like Alar can be applied to keep young plants compact. Pack & Pot Culture In general Plant one rooted cutting per 10,5-12 cm pot or 3 cuttings per 25 cm hanging basket. Media A light, sterile media with good drainage and aeration is best. The optimum pH range is between 5.5 and 6.0. Temperature Establish the crop at an average temperature of 16°C. After establishing, grow at 12-14°C during the day and 10-12°C at night. Low night temperatures encourage flowering. At the moment plants starts to flower keep temperature at 15-16°C. For fast cropping, establish and grow at 18°C average daily temperature. Provide continuous good air circulation and a relative humidity below 70% to prevent diseases like Botrytis (gray mold Plants should be allowed to dry thoroughly between watering. However, do not allow the plants to wilt. Watering early in the day allows the foliage to dry before nightfall. Constant liquid feed (CLF) at 250-350 ppm N with a balanced liquid fertilizer works well. An elevated pH (>6.2) suppresses iron uptake. Correct with iron sulphate (avoid contact with the foliage) or iron chelate drenches. Supplemental magnesium at 30-50 ppm is beneficial. The EC should range from 2.5-2.8 mmhos (1:2). Beautical thrive under high light. Provide a minimum of 54,000-65,000 lux (970 - 1170 pmol/s/m2). Naturaly Beautical is a long day responsive plant and naturally flowers in Spring, when the day length is greater than 12 hours. For early Spring production, provide night interruption (110 lux (1.5 pmol/s/m2) from 10 PM to 2 AM) or day length extension (14-16 hours High light and cool temperature are optimal conditions to avoid plant stretching. Alar works well to tone and control plant stretch. An initial application of 1,500 ppm/ 0.15% 2-4 weeks after transplanting also avoids stretching. Increase to 2,500 ppm/0.25% if more growth control is needed. In warm Summer climates, a Bonzi (Paclobutrazol) drench at 1 ppm can also be applied three weeks after transplanting. In general BeautyCal is not very susceptible to pest and diseases, but Botrytis (gray mold), root and stem rots and Aphids can be a problem. Crop schedule This crop schedule is based on adviced temperature in this Culture Guide Pot Size Cuttings/Pot Crop Time Fertilizer Lighting Growth regulators Pests & diseases Sakata Ornamentals Europe Odensevej 82, 5290 Marslev, Denmark, +45 63906490, fax. +45 63906499 [email protected], www.sakataornamentals.eu