Gerbera Micro Revolution

Description
Micro Revolution is created for those growers that really want to grow high density in pack or small pots(6-9 cm/3-3,5”). The very compact, round-shaped plants form 3-7 small flowers appearing from the center of the rosette.

-For high density production, suited for 6-9 cm/3-3,5"containers
-Ideal for growing in packs
-Very compact round shaped plants
-3 to 7 (micro)flowered stems
-Very short crop time

General
-colours: Micro Revolution Irish Eyes is 100% green-centered and has a wide range of colours, including many pastel shades and bicolors.
It contains more than 50% double and semi-double flowers.

-height: 20-25 cm/8-10" (incl. pot)
-life cycle: annual
-sowing - harvesting: 15-17 weeks (depending on sowing date)
-seedcount: 350-450 seeds per gram
-family: Asteraceae

Sowing instruction
-method: 1 seed per cell, preferably star-shaped cells. Use a light soil with 5,5-6,5 pH; cover lightly
-time: yearround. When natural daylength shortens, culture time increases to 16 weeks.
-temperature: 18-20°C (64-68°F) during germination. High percentage of usable plants
-germination time: 4-6 days after sowing

Growing on
-transplanting: grade the young seedlings in two sizes; pot directly in end pot. The two sizes will develop into uniform plants. Potting 4-5 weeks after sowing
-potting soil: use a light, well-balanced and well-draining potting soil
-pot size: 9-10 cm /3,5-4 "
-irrigation: ebb/flow well possible; also standard overhead watering until flowerbuds grow over the leaves
-density: from potting to spacing; approx. 90 pl/m2. After spacing in end position : between 35 and 45 pl/m2.
-culture temperature: best results with 19-19°C (66-66°F).
This may vary with your experience and/or local differences.
-diseases/pests: should diseases/pests emerge, treatment with pesticides known from the cutflower culture can be applied. Gerbera issusceptible to white fly and thrips
-fertilization: see special advice at the end of this culture info
-light: Gerbera likes to be grown under high light conditions. During the darker period of the year, additional lighting is recommended
-croptime: depending on sowing date (location),
the culture will take 15-17 weeks from sowing. Total crop reaping time:
2 weeks in Spring and Summer; 3 weeks in Autumn.

General advice
-wrapping : special wrapping sleeves are available in most countries. Do not use plastic. Paper or polypropylene is preferred.
-culture scheme : in weeks
sowing - 0
potting - 5
spacing - 8
start flowering - 12
50% - 13
100% - 15

-Humidity strategy. It is very well possible to sow Gerbera without covering the seed. Keep the climate in the germination chamber as humid as possible. First day after sowing, mist + propamocarb up to 25 litres of water per 100 m2. Plug and seed must be saturated. Use water with EC-0. Keep this climate for 6-7 days
From day 8: start lowering the RH towards 80% by opening the germination beds. From day 14: remove cover (plastic); reduce watering.
From day 21: remove fleece cover; watering (overhead) if plants need it.
(In this stage plants need approx. 1/3 of the amount of water of the start).
Mistakes made in this part of the culture of Gerbera are :

-Mist: drip size too large -> cotyledon damage.
-Water is too cold: hard and brittle plants.
-No propamocarb: plants wilt and die off.
-Old plastic cover or infected boxes: plants wilt and die off.
-Unperforated cover: lack of oxygene -> plants die.
From day 28 : start watering and add a little fertilizer (EC 0.8).