Euphorbia Snow On The Mountain

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Euphorbiaceae, America (Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, New-Mexico)

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:110 cm,43,31 inch

Natural flowertime:August - October

Crop Time:Plug crop: 8 weeks; Cut flower production: Indoor forcing (spring): 14-16 weeks; Outdoor forcing (summer): 12-14 weeks

Sell Period:May-October

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:57 K/g

Sowing Method:1-2 seeds per plug, sowing in final pots/field is recommended (tape root formation)

Germination:10-14 days at 18-20 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 6.0-7.0. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate 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 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50-75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150-200 ppm.

Growing On:6-8 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (10-15 cm). Plant cut flowers in 25-35 x 25-35 cm space and use nets to keep the stems upright.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 10-20 % clay, 0-15 % parts (coconut fibres, perlite), 1-2 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 6.0-7.0. Use a sterile medium and sterile pots/containers as preventative measures against Botrytis and Pythium. Avoid root damage. Field: humus, sandy loam to loamy sand soils with good drainage. Standard fertilization: 60-80 g/m2 of a slow release fertilizer.

Temperature:Grow at 15-18 °C. E. marginata does not tolerate frost.

Fertilization:Low-moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the bracts show good colour. Very young leaves fade rapidly. Put the stems 1 cm in hot water (100 °C) immediately, because the flow of latex must to be stopped. Vase life: 12-18 days. Cold storage is possible.

Cultural Hints:The latex from E. marginata is poisonous and irritating to the skin. In locations with heavy rainfalls cultivate in greenhouse or in foil tunnel, because the roots are very sensitive to wet soils. For cultivation allow for to dry thoroughly between irrigations. After planting treat substrate and soil with fungicide against Botrytis and Pythium. In warm locations the pigmentation of the bracts outdoors at high light intensities is better than in greenhouse.