Heliotropium Marine

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Borginaceae, Peru

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:50 cm,19,69 inch

Natural flowertime:July - October

Crop Time:Plug crop: 9-11 weeks; Flowering Pots: 13-16 weeks, depending on season

Sell Period:May-June

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:1587 K/g

Sowing Method:2-3 seeds per plug

Germination:5-10 days at 21-24 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-5.8. Requires light for germination. Before sowing treat the substrate with fungicide. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seed after sowing.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 18-20 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 150-200 ppm.

Growing On:3-4 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pack or pot (8-15 cm) and 3 plants into a container (3-5 l).

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % parts (e. g. perlite, coconut fibres), 1-3 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 0-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-5.8. for container production the application of a slow release fertilizer is recommended.

Temperature:Grow at 16-18 °C. Higher temperatures in combination with high light intensities are possible without decreasing the plant quality. High temperatures decrease the cultivation time, but then the application of growth regulators is required. Temperatures below 10 °C inhibit the plant growth and can be a cause for iron deficiency. The plants for early selling should be hardened at 12-15 °C. Helioptropium does not tolerate frost.

Fertilization:High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen (at 3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), 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. After iron-chelate fertilization rinse the leafs with water. Control the pH in substrate regularly.

Cultural Hints:Cultivate plants slightly moist but not wet. Avoid to dry out the substrates, because drought stress combined with high salt level can be a cause for leaf necrosis. After planting treat pot with fungicide against Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Pythium. Remove the plant tops after transplanting for better branching and good plant quality, but this will increase the cultivation time.