Poinsettia FASTFACTS

Eckespoint^® Shimmer™ Pink & Shimmer™ Surprise

Product Description Dark green foliage Shimmer Pink displays pink bracts with white flecks while Shimmer Surprise is a red Jingle Bells type Excellent branching characteristics Outstanding post production characteristics		Cultural Tips Blooms early without the use of blackcloth Easily timed for later flowering dates with lights or temperatures Requires about 20% less fertilizer than medium green leaf cultivars

STOCK: For maximum production of good quality cuttings, maintain minimum night temperatures of 66-68°F/19-20°C throughout the production season. Use of night interruption lighting from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM is recommended through 30 May to prevent flower initiation. A minimum of 10 foot candles/107 lux is required to be effective. Provide a balanced and complete fertilizer regime to assure optimum plant growth. Light intensities of 4,500 to 5,000 foot candles/ 48,400 to 53,800 lux are ideal provided daytime greenhouse temperatures do not exceed 90°F/32°C.

Shimmer mother plants:

• produce ample cuttings although the mother plants will be more compact, similar to Freedom
• have an optimum cutting maturity characteristic of 5 to 6 weeks
• are adaptable to multiple pinch (2-3) or single pinch, fast crop programs
• may require protection from increased daytime temperatures that occur at high light intensities (5,000+ foot candles/53,800+ lux)

PROPAGATION: Cuttings root quickly under normal propagation conditions. Use of a rooting hormone containing up to 2500 ppm IBA will promote the speed and uniformity of root development. Minimum chemical growth regulator applications are needed during propagation to prevent stretching.

FINISHED PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: Shimmer is an easy poinsettia to grow. The normal flower initiation date is approximately 7 to 10 days earlier than other cultivars, influencing the early flowering characteristics of the plant. Lighting to delay flower initiation is easily accomplished with mum lighting programs. Begin lighting 5 September, in order to delay flower initiation. For a 20 November flowering, lights should be discontinued on 25 September (the approximate initiation date for other cultivars). If later flowering is required, lighting should be continued until 8 to 9 weeks prior to the desired flowering date. Under most conditions, it is not advisable to light past 5 October. Another method of delaying flowering is to grow with cool, 60-62°F/15-17°C night temperatures throughout the production. Chemical growth regulator requirements are minimal for this cultivar, however Shimmer is responsive to A-Rest®, Bonzi®, and Sumagic®, or combinations of B-Nine® and Cycocel®, if treatments are required. This cultivar is resistant to epinasty and can withstand the stress of sleeving, boxing and shipping.

CULTIVAR NOTES:

• Maintain even soil moisture levels and avoid high soluble salts.
• Bracts are susceptible to sunburn if exposed to high light intensities at finish. Provide shade to prevent damage to mature bracts.
• Exotherm Termil® may bleach the color on expanded bracts. Discontinue use of this product during bract formation.
• Shimmer is not recommended for tree production due to its susceptibility to splitting.
• Shimmer is more stable than other poinsettia ty pes, although mutation rates of up to 20% may still be observed. To assure optimum quantities of the true flower type, grow additional product to select from.
• Avoid application of Termil® on mature bracts, sensitivity to this chemical is still not known.

©1999 Paul Ecke Ranch All Rights Reserved

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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.