Dianthus Ideal Select 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.

-Uniformity & Award-Winning Landscape Performance
-Ideal Select dianthus – containing all key colors on the market – is the most uniform series available for habit and tight flowering window.
-Extreme uniformity leads to easy production scheduling. You can ship all colors in the series at the same time from the same transplant, and have the colors your customers want when they need them.
-Proven landscape performance means your landscape clients and consumers are guaranteed longevity and satisfaction.
-Ideal Select Violet is an All-America Selections Classic Award Winner and Ideal Select Rose is a Fleuroselect Quality Mark Winner.
-Available in Red, White, Violet, Salmon, Rose, Raspberry and
-striking bicolor WhiteFire, plus a Mix.

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