Figure 1. Visible Bud Set
Cultural Notes for Euphorbia Interspecific Hybrid: “Dulce Rosa”
Cultural requirements are similar to poinsettias. Recommended growing temperatures are 65-68 F/18-20 C night and 75-80 F/23-26 C days. Soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 and Soluble Salt levels of 1.5 to 2.0 (saturated media extract, SME) are ideal. Fertilize with a complete, balanced formulation that includes calcium, magnesium and minor nutrients in addition to N, P and K. The major insect pests are similar to poinsettia. Preventive soil drenches of fungicides are recommended for root and stem rot disease control.
Propagation of cuttings is similar to poinsettias. Cuttings can be rooted in any suitable rooting medium. Rooting hormone is not required, but will help with uniformity. Light levels should not exceed 2000 ft candles/20,400 lux initially, until cuttings begin to root. After this, increase to 4000 ft candles/40,800 lux. Night temperatures of 68-72 F/20-22 C are desirable to encourage rooting. Cuttings should be well rooted in 3-4 weeks and ready for transplanting. Growth regulators B-9 + Cycocel at the rate of ½ oz B-9 + 1 ½ oz Cycocel per gallon should be applied 1 week after planting. If needed, a second application 3 weeks after planting at the rate of ¼ oz B-9 + 1 ½ oz Cycocel may be applied. Cycocel sprays applied alone have not proven to be very effective for this variety at any stage of development. Drench treatments may be more effective, but further evaluation is required before this procedure can be recommended. It is important to anticipate stretch with this hybrid and react quickly to growth spurts!
Transplant rooted cuttings into desired pot size. For 4” /10 cm pots, pinch cuttings 1-2 week after transplant. For 6” /15cm pots, pinch cuttings 2 weeks after transplant and for larger pots (8”/20 cm pots) cuttings should be pinched about 3 weeks after transplant (see schedule chart included in this document).
Place plants under short days 1-3 weeks after pinching, depending upon finished pot size and desired finished height. Under a 10-hour daylength (14 hour night) plants will be in full bloom in 6-7 weeks after initiation of short day conditions, depending upon growing location and temperatures. If plants start to stretch, a Bonzi drench at ½ ml per gallon and appropriate volume per pot (based on total soil volume per pot, similar to application rates/volumes provided for poinsettia culture) can be applied up to the time when plants begin short days. Applications of Bonzi a week or more after short days begin or if growing under natural daylengths, Bonzi application after pinch date, can delay the bloom time.
Average Temperature below 65 F/18 C inhibits growth of plants significantly. Even under inductive short days, bud set is also delayed when plants are grown under66- 68 F/ 20 C night temperatures. Bract color however, is more vibrant when plants are grown cool, 60-64 F/15-17 C night and 70-75 F/ 21-23 C day temperatures. Growing plants under warm conditions, 68 F/20 C night and 80-85 F/26-30 C day temperatures until visible bud then growing under cool conditions (average temperatures of less than 65 F/18 C provides the best color with little or no delay in flower timing.
Note for all schedules presented below:
1). Suggested Schedule for Fall (blackcloth required) Blooming:
Activity |
4"/10 cm |
6"/15 cm |
8"/20 cm |
|
Receive
cuttings (URC) |
Week
28 |
Week
26 |
Week
23 |
|
Apply
PGR’s (B-9/CCC) |
Week
29 |
Week
28 |
Week
24 |
|
Transplant
RC |
Week
32 |
Week
30 |
Week
27 |
|
#
cuttings/pot |
1 |
1
– 2 |
3 |
|
Pinch |
Week
34 |
Week
32-33 |
Week
29-30 |
|
Move
to final space and begin blackcloth (SD) |
Week
35 |
Week
35 |
Week
35 |
|
PGR’s |
Sprays
as needed or Bonzi
drenches can be effective |
Sprays
as needed or Bonzi
drenches can be effective |
Sprays
as needed or Bonzi
drenches can be effective |
|
Visible
Bud, reduce temperatures |
Week
38 |
Week
38 |
Week
38 |
|
Sale
Date |
Week
41 |
Week
41 |
Week
41 |
Activity |
4"/10 cm |
6"/15 cm |
8"/20 cm |
|
Receive
cuttings (URC) |
Week
31 |
Week
29 |
Week
26 |
|
Apply
PGR’s (B-9/CCC) |
Week
34 |
Week
32 |
Week
29 |
|
Transplant
RC |
Week
35 |
Week
33 |
Week
30 |
|
#
cuttings/pot |
1 |
1
- 2 |
3 |
|
Pinch |
Week
37 |
Week
35-36 |
Week
33-34 |
|
Move
to final space |
Week
39 |
Week
37 |
as
canopy closes |
|
Natural
short days |
~
Week 40 |
~
Week 40 |
~
Week 40 |
|
PGR’s |
as
needed |
as
needed |
as
needed |
|
Visible
Bud, reduce temperatures |
Week
43 |
Week
43 |
Week
43 |
|
Sale
Date |
Week
47 |
Week
47 |
Week
47 |
3). Suggested Schedule for Valentines Day (lights plus
natural daylength) Blooming:
Activity |
4"/10 cm |
6"/15 cm |
8"/20 cm |
|
Receive
cuttings (URC) Lights
required |
Week
41 |
Week
39 |
Week
36 |
|
Apply
PGR’s (B-9/CCC) |
Week
44 |
Week
42 |
Week
39 |
|
Transplant
RC |
Week
45 |
Week
43 |
Week
40 |
|
#
cuttings/pot |
1 |
1
- 2 |
3 |
|
Pinch |
Week
47 |
Week
45-46 |
Week
43-44 |
|
Move
to final space, still under lights |
Week
49 |
Week
47-48 |
as
canopy closes |
|
Lights
off (begin natural short day conditions) |
Week
50 |
Week
50 |
Week
50 |
|
PGR’s |
as
needed |
as
needed |
as
needed |
|
Visible
Bud, reduce temperatures |
Week
1 |
Week
1 |
Week
1 |
|
Sale
Date |
Week
4-5 |
Week
4-5 |
Week
4-5 |
NOTE: Crops through this period of production and
sales can be accomplished using lighting and natural day length (no blackcloth
required) conditions. If growing in
proximity with other short day crops, use of blackcloth may be required to
prevent light penetration to crops that could result in delayed flowering.
4). Suggested Schedule for Easter (lighting
and blackclothing required) Blooming:
Activity |
4"/10 cm |
6"/15 cm |
8"/20 cm |
|
Receive
cuttings (URC) Lights
Required! |
Week
48 |
Week
46 |
Week
43 |
|
Apply
PGR’s (B-9/CCC) |
Week
49 |
Week
37 |
Week
44 |
|
Transplant
RC |
Week
52 |
Week
50 |
Week
47 |
|
#
cuttings/pot |
1 |
1
- 2 |
3 |
|
Pinch |
Week
2 |
Week
52 |
Week
50-51 |
|
Move
to final space |
Week
4 |
Week
2-3 |
as
canopy closes |
|
Lights
Off / Begin Short Days (begin blackcloth) |
Week
5 |
Week
5 |
Week
5 |
|
PGR’s |
as
needed |
as
needed |
as
needed |
|
Visible
Bud, reduce temperatures |
Week
8 |
Week
8 |
Week
8 |
|
Sale
Date |
Week
12 |
Week
12 |
Week
12 |
Note: Remember that Easter is not always the same date.
This schedule can be used as a guideline but schedules should be adjusted
accordingly depending on Easter’s date each particular year.
5). Suggested Schedule for Mothers Day (lighting and
blackclothing required) Blooming:
Activity |
4"/10 cm |
6"/15 cm |
8"/20 cm |
|
Receive
cuttings (URC) Lights
Required |
Week
1 |
Week
51 |
Week
48 |
|
Apply
PGR’s (B-9/CCC) |
Week
2 |
Week
52 |
Week
49 |
|
Transplant
RC |
Week
5 |
Week
3 |
Week
52 |
|
#
cuttings/pot |
1 |
1
– 2 |
3 |
|
Pinch |
Week
7 |
Week
3-4 |
Week
1-2 |
|
Move
to final space |
Week
8 |
Week
6-7 |
as
canopy closes |
|
Lights
Off / Begin Short Days (begin blackcloth) |
Week
9 |
Week
9 |
Week
9 |
|
PGR’s |
as
needed |
as
needed |
as
needed |
|
Visible
Bud, reduce temperatures |
Week
12-13 |
Week
12-13 |
Week
12-13 |
|
Sale
Date |
Week
16 |
Week
16 |
Week
16 |
Time from start of blackcloth to sale varies with temperature and total daylight available in various regions of North America. It is better to allow the longer (7 weeks) response time in the schedule and control sale date by manipulating temperatures once visible bud is reached than to depend on the shorter response times.
Figure 1. Visible Bud Set
Figure 2. Full bloom. Top row: plants finished warm. Bottom row: plants finished cool.
|
©1999 Paul Ecke Ranch All Rights Reserved |
 . |
| Fast Faxes are one of many forms
of technical assistance provided by the Ecke Ranch. For additional information
on Poinsettias, please consult our website www.ecke.com
or for technical assistance, log on to www.ecke.com/techhelp. We hope the information provided will be helpful. It is based upon and knowledge (including information provided by the recipient) considered to be true and accurate, but without independent investigation and is offered for the recipient's consideration, investigation and verification, but we do not warrant the results to be obtained. Please read all statement, recommendations, or suggestions in conjunction with any conditions of sale or use which apply to any products, or systems recommended by us. No statement, recommendation, or suggestion is intended for any use which would infringe any patent/copyright. |
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