Brachycome Bravo

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Asteraceae, Australia

Sitelocation:Full sun

Garden Height:25 cm,9,84 inch

Crop Time:Plug crop: 8-9 weeks; Flowering pots: 12-16 weeks

Sell Period:June-August

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:6667 K/g

Sowing Method:5-7 seeds per plug, can be multiple sown directly into pots or packs

Germination:10-14 days at 20-22 °C in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-5.8. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. When cotyledons expand then the seeds need light. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry out. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,5 EC. The roots are sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 100-150 ppm.

Growing On:2 weeks after sowing transplant 5-7 plants per pot (5-8 cm) and 2-4 weeks later 3-5 plants into a bigger pot (8-12 cm). Transplant the plant deep in substrate in order to increase the plants stability.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. perlite, coconut fibre), 1,5-3 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), Fe-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-5.8.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plant. For the vegetative growth and flowering Brachycome need high light levels. Flowering pots production in winter and early spring with additional assimilation light will improve the plant quality and decrease the cultivation time for 8-12 days.

Temperature:Grow at 18 °C, later decrease the temperature to 12-16°C. Higher temperatures at high light intensity are possible, too. Brachycome does tolerate temperatures to 10 °C, but no frost.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Avoid pH above 6.0, as high pH causes iron deficiency. Apply chelated iron, if chlorosis becomes a problem. To prevent magnesium deficiency, apply magnesium sulphate (0,025 %) 1-2 times.