Dianthus Floral Lace Lilac Dianthus chinensis x barbatus Build your Autumn profits with these Pansy Pals?! Bring in these high-performance dianthus to grow alongside your pansies under the same temperature conditions and crop time to fill your benches with shopper-stopping color. -Large Blooms in a Big Color Palette! -Floral Lace produces the largest flowers in the interspecific dianthus market plus the widest color range available. -Bright, beautiful colors and interesting bicolor patterns let you provide your clientele with exactly the colors they are looking for to decorate their landscape. -Floral Lace stands up to PGRs and the stress of Autumn -production, maintaining an acceptable flower size for sales.

Germination
Light is required for germination. Use a well-drained, disease-free medium with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2, and EC about 0.75 mmhos/cm. Cover the seed with a medium layer of coarse grade vermiculite at sowing. It takes about 3 to 4 days to germinate.

Plug Production
Plug Tray Size
Best produced in 406-cell size plug trays.

Sowing
Use a well-drained, disease-free medium with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2, and EC about 0.75 mmhos/cm. Cover the seed with a medium layer of coarse grade vermiculite at sowing. It takes about 3 to 4 days to germinate.

Temperature
Germination: 64 to 68°F (18 to 20°C)
Cotyledon emergence: 65 to 70°F (18 to 21°C) days, 60°F (15°C) nights
True leaf expansion: 60°F (15°C) days, 55°F (13°C) nights

Light
Light is required for germination.

Humidity
Maintain 95 to 97% relative humidity during germination until the cotyledons emerge.

Fertilization
Beginning at Stage 3, fertilize 2 times per week with 50 ppm N. Increase the nitrogen concentration to 100 ppm after 1 week, and continue this program until the plugs are finished. Maintain the EC at 0.5 to 0.75 mmhos/cm and increase to 1.0 mmhos/cm at Stages 3 and 4. Maintain pH at 5.8 to 6.2 throughout.

Growth Regulators
Treat 3 week-old plugs with a foliar spray of Bonzi at 6 ppm for toning. One application in the plug stage is sufficient.

Plug Production Time

Allow 4 to 5 weeks in 406-cell plug trays.

Growing On to Finish
Container Size
Best grown in packs and 6-in. (15-cm) pots or gallons with 3 plants per pot.

Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free soilless medium with a medium initial nutrient charge and a pH of 5.8 to 6.5.

Temperature
Provide 60 to 75°F (15 to 24°C) days and 50 to 60°F (11 to 15°C) nights.

Fertilization
After plants are established, apply a calcium-based fertilizer or 15-5-15 at 150 ppm, 1 to 2 times per week.Dianthus require adequate calcium in their fertilization program.

Growth Regulators
Foliar sprays of 20 ppm Bonzi can be applied 2 to 3 times to control height. The frequency of application is determined by the rate of plant growth, time of the year and location. First application can be done 2 weeks after transplant, followed by subsequent applications at weekly interval.

Crop Scheduling (from sow to flower)
Late Spring/Early Summer: 9 to 10 weeks
Late Summer/Winter: 12 to 13 weeks