|
|
More news |
| Cultivation of Diascia | |
Diascia (and Nemesia) are increasingly important floricultural crops. (see coverage “Clamer Informa”). Diascia is mist propagated from cuttings. Soil temperature of 20-24°C and air temperatures of 22-25°C (daytime) and 18-20°C nights) are required. Light values should be between 5380-10760 lux. The settings on the mist should ensure that the cuttings do not wilt while rooting and the mist should be at room temperature. The substrate is kept uniformly moist. An NPK fertilizer (15-0-15) at 50-75ppm is applied as soon as the foliage begins to loose any colour. The substrate should be maintained at a pH of 5.5-5.8. Once 50% of the cuttings have started to form roots the substrate is allowed to dry out slightly but the relative humidity is kept high by adjusting the misting. Light values can gradually be increased to 16000 lux. An NPK foliar feed is applied at 100ppm (alternating the NPK formulation between 15-0-15 and 20-10-20). The feed is then increased to 200ppm as the roots develop further over a period of 9-14 days. These rooted cuttings are then hardened off for 7 days. They are removed from the mist area, the air temperature is reduced to 20-24°C (daytime) and 17-18°C (nights). The substrate is allowed to dry between each watering. Light values are gradually increased to between 10000 and 20000 lux. Plants are fed once with NPK at 15-0-15 at 150-200ppm. Plants are gown-on in a soilless medium with a pH of 5.5-5.8. It is important not to bury the crown of the plant. Temperatures of 20-24°C (daytime) and 17-18°C (nights) under full sun (43000 – 86000 lux) should be provided. Diascia is not day length sensitive although flowering increases as light levels increase. Feeding rate is now 200-250ppm NPK (alternating 20-10-20 with 15-0-15). Pinch the plants lightly once the roots reach the wall of the pot; once in the case of 15cm pots (usually 2 plants per pot), twice for a 25cm pots (usually 3-4 plants per pot)). Plants in 10cm pots should not need pinching. To increase branching growth regulators can be used. Poor branching might be caused by low fertilizer levels. Keep plants uniformly moist but not wet. Avoid spraying pesticides when plants start to flower. Jennifer Duffield White in “Grower Talks”. Edited from 17th Edition of the Ball RedBook. www.growertalks.com, www.ballpublishing.com |
|