Ageratum High Tide Grower Fact
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Ageratum High Tide
Ageratum houstonianum

These Well-Branched Plants Stand Above the Rest in Strength & Garden Performance!

-A Fantastic Flowers selection¡­. a premium bedding plant for landscape or containers.
-High Tide Ageratum grows taller and is more vigorous in the landscape than others on the market.
-This series is excellent in the garden and fills out a small pot nicely.
-Each plant is self-cleaning and easy to grow.
-The bright, eye-catching colors of High Tide Ageratum are well suited to mixed containers, pot plant and landscape programs.
-Supplied with a 90% Yield Potential rating.
-Available as pelleted seed and plugs.


Germination
Can be germinated at 72 to 75¡ãF (22 to 24¡ãC). Maintain 95 to 97% relative humidity at germination. Takes about approximately 3 days to germinate. Light is not required for germination.

Plug Production

Plug Tray Size
Can be produced in 392 or 406-cell type plug trays. The average plug production time is 4 weeks.

Sowing
Use a well-drained, disease-free plug media with a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 and EC of 0.50 to 0.75 mmhos/cm.
Vermiculite covering is not required at sowing.

Germination
Can be germinated at 72 to 75¡ãF (22 to 24¡ãC). Maintain 95 to 97% relative humidity at germination.

Days to Germ
Takes about approximately 3 days to germinate.

Temperature
Stage 2 (cotyledon stage): 68 to 75¡ãF (20 to 24¡ãC)
Stage 3 (true leaf stage): 65 to 72¡ãF (18 to 22¡ãC)
Stage 4 (finishing/holding stage): 60 to 68¡ãF (15 to 20¡ãC).

Light
Light is not required for germination.

Humidity
Maintain 95 to 97% relative humidity during germination.

Fertilizer
Beginning at Stage 3, start fertilizing the seedlings twice a week with 50 ppm N, using a complete balanced plug fertilizer. Increase the nitrogen concentration to 100 ppm after a week and continue this regime until finishing the plugs. Maintain an EC of 0.5 to 0.75 mmhos/cm and a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 at Stage 2. At Stage 3 and 4, EC and pH values can be at 1.0 and 5.5 to 6.2, respectively.

Plant Growth Regulators
Not required during the plug production.

Growing On to Finish

Container Size
Finish in 306-premium packs and 4 to 6-in. (10 to 15-cm) pots.

Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless growing media with a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 and a medium initial nutrient charge.

Temperature
Days can be set at 70 to 80¡ãF (21 to 27¡ãC) and nights at 58 to 62¡ãF (14 to 17¡ãC). Light Keep light levels high. Provide adequate crop spacing early on in the production to facilitate movement of light into the canopy. This will help in producing a well-branched crop.

Irrigation & Fertilization
Irrigate plants as needed. Do not allow plants to wilt severely since drought stress can cause leaf burn. Ageratum is salt sensitive, and therefore, are light feeders. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150 to 200 ppm N with a complete balanced fertilizer, maintaining a pH of 5.8 to 6.2. EC of the media can be at 1.5 to 2.5 mmhos/cm (SME). Also, a constant low feed program can be a good option without having any salt accumulation in the growing media.

Plant Growth Regulators
Growth regulators can be used to produce a quality finished crop. Use foliar sprays of B-Nine at 2,500 to 3,500 ppm applied twice after transplant. First application can be done a week after transplant, followed by a second application 7 to 10 days later. Ageratums respond very well to PGR applications, so be cautious not to overdose the crop. Trials grown in Northern Europe have responded favorably to tank mix foliar sprays of Bnine at 3,200 ppm and Cycocel at 400 ppm, applied 1 to 2 times after transplant. The timing of these applications was same as that of the B-Nine regime.

Crop Scheduling
Sow to transplant: 4 weeks in a 392 or 406 plug tray

Transplant to finish: 7 to 9 weeks seasonally

Total crop time to flower from sowing: 11 to 13 weeks seasonally

Common Problems:Scout regularly for common greenhouse pests, such as Thrips, Aphids, & Whiteflies.