Culture Groups

Proven Winners^® Annuals and Graceful Grasses^®

Fertilizer: 150-200 Constant Liquid Feed (CLF)
*100-150 CLF8
† 200-300 CLF
•Tender Perennial

Proven Winners^® Perennials

Fertilizer: 150-200 Constant Liquid Feed (CLF)
*100-150 CLF
•Tender Perennial

Culture Notes and Groups:

pH:
A:  pH 5.5-5.8
B:  pH 5.8-6.2
C:  pH 6.2-6.5

EC:
A:  <.6
B:  .6 - .9
C:  1.0 - 2.0

Well Balanced Fertilizer:
N-P-K, 2:1:1.5 with adequate  amounts of micro-nutrients
Low:  100-150 ppm Constant Liquid Feed
Medium: 150-200 ppm Constant Liquid Feed
High: 200-300 ppm Constant Liquid Feed

Fertilizer Disclaimer:
It is a good practice to clear water leach once every 3-4 times you water to lower soluble salt levels in the media. EC should also be monitored using weekly EC measurements.

Growing Temperatures:
(Growing roots to edge of pot/growing on and bulking  plants)
A:  65-72º / 55-65º
B:  65-72º / 65-72º
C:  65-72º / 70-75º
Night temperatures should be run 5º F lower than day temperature

Holding Temperatures:
(For toning crops and /or for when you have to hold the crop when it is ready to go)
A:  40-50º (outdoors)
B:  50-60º
C:  Maintain Growing Temperatures

Light Levels:
High:          Full sun crops need very high, bright light 
Moderate:  Sun to Partial Shade crops, High to Moderate light
Low:           Partial to Full Shade crops, Moderate to low light

Moisture Regimes:
Transplant:
Water lightly to maintain moisture level within root zone until roots reach the side of the finished container.  Once roots are developed to the side of the pot see finishing watering regime.

Finish Watering Regimes:

Plants Per Pot (PPP):

Standard:

Soil Mix for container growing
Use a high quality professional grade soil mix that is adjusted to work with your water quality and growing style to help manage pH and water control.

Use a well-drained, high quality professional grade soil mix. A peat-lite based soil or equivalent that give you 60% organic matter and 40% secondary aggregates such as per-lite, rock-wool, coir, and/or bark will provide proper soil porosity (well-drained soil).

Growth Regulator Disclaimer:
All PGR rates should be trialed by each individual grower before applications are made to entire crop to ensure desired results.  All rates are given as a spray unless otherwise stated.  Summer production may require higher PGR rates when crops are grown indoors.  Proven Winners and its affiliates are not responsible for misapplication or misuse of these products.  Check manufacturers labels for approved rates and usage recommendations.

Pest Management:
A weekly scouting program is suggested. Monitor for common greenhouse pests. Treat accordingly, using label instructions. Be sure to rotate chemical classes to guard against development of resistance to chemicals.

Disease Management:
Treat with preventative broad spectrum fungicidal drench at transplant. Scout crops regularly (at least once a week) for disease development.  Good air circulation, control of humidity, and good sanitation practices are critical. Good sanitation practices include keeping greenhouses clean at all times, eliminating weeds and debris, disinfecting equipment and greenhouses as often as possible, and keeping hose ends of the floor.  Good water management practices are critical to healthy plant growth.

Day Neutral:
Ability of plants to flower freely regardless of day-length.

Vernalization:
Vernalization is not necessary for most Proven Winners Perennials (PWP), however, crop quality and flower number and presentation often will be improved with a cold treatment.  PWP varieties that are listed as NO for vernalization will not be harmed and may be improved with cold treatment.

Spring Outdoor Finish:
Many Proven Winners crops can be finished outdoors under cool temperatures.  Finishing under cool temperatures will allow you to expand production area, allows additional spacing inside greenhouse, allows additional turns, and improves quality of the product.  Those plants finished outdoors will need additional time to finish.  Specific finishing times are difficult to predict due to variability in weather patterns.  Outdoor MUM productions areas are perfect to use as spring cold temperatures finishing space.

Before plants are moved outside they should be acclimated to colder temperatures using holding temperatures stated above.

Ideally plants should be moved outdoors on a overcast day, with moderate temperatures, little wind, and no server cold (freezing temperatures) forecasted for the next 24 hours. Often a full moon will mean clear skies which will allow temperatures to drop more than expected.  To maintain proper nutrition after a heavy rain a light water application with 400-500 ppm N can be used on the already wet plants (this high fertilizer application on dry plants will result in burn). 

Plants vary in ability to withstand cold temperature finishing.  To help you manage when crops can be place outdoors we have split our plant material into 3 groups (not all crops can be finished outdoors and will be noted as NO).  In the case of unusually cold temperatures you should have frost protection measures ready (frost cloth, sprinklers, or ability to move plants under cover).

It is generally too cold for insects and disease to prosper. You should continue to scout for problems, however, chemical control measures probably won't be needed.  Plant growth regulators will not be needed to control growth.

Growers who wish to try this method of finishing plants should trial a small portion of their plants material the first year to gain experience and comfort. Each year will differ and growers need to be prepared to adapt as conditions change.

Product Specific Information

Additional information about specific products may be required for optimal use of our plants. Please review the follow to see if they match your needs:

• Superbells and Supertuna Timing Charts