Erinus Alpinus

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial

Familiy, Origin:Scrophulariaceae, Alps, Pyrenees, Carpates, Balkan

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:15 cm,5,91 inch

Natural flowertime:June - July

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6 weeks; Green pots: 14-16 weeks; Flowering pots: 7-10 months, including vernalization

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:14925 K/g

Sowing Method:3-5 seeds per plug, can be multiple sown directly into pots or packs

Germination:20-25 days at 18-24 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 6.0-6.5. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 16-18 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,50 EC. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 80-100 ppm.

Growing On:3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant per plug tray (4x4 cm) and 4 weeks later transplant 3-5 plants into a pot (5-13 cm). Two time transplantation is recommended, when except for multiple sowing in final pot.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. wood fibres, bark, perlite, sand), 1-1,5 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 6.0-6.5.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plants. Keep light levels high. Start in spring with supplemental lighting when the temperature rises above 15 °C for good plant quality. With supplemental lighting the cultivation time is decreased down to 3 weeks. Light deficiency is a cause for stretching the shoots.

Temperature:Grow at 12-15 °C or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. Outdoors fleece cover needed. For the vernalization 8-10 weeks are needed. In spring the plants start to grow (from week 51 possible) for 8-10 weeks at 10-15 °C or for 5-6 weeks at 15-18 °C.

Fertilization:Low fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 80-100 ppm nitrogen (at 2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using alternating a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5) and calcium nitrate fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-130 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer.