Limonium Elegant

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Plumbaginaceae, Mediterranean

Sitelocation:Full sun

Garden Height:70 cm,27,56 inch

Natural flowertime:July - September

Crop Time:Plug crop: 4-6 weeks; Flowering pots: 16 weeks, including vernalization; Cut flower production: 5-8 months, depending on pre-culture and season

Sell Period:May-June, pot plants: June-September

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:1515 K/g

Sowing Method:3-5 seeds per plug, tap roots, can be sown in final pots or field

Germination:5-14 days at 20-24 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.5. Requires light for germination. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.

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:4-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1-3 plants into packs or a pot (8-15 cm). Limonium develops a tap root. Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 25-30 x 25-30 cm space. Use nets to keep the stems upright for high growing species.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % parts (e.g. perlite, coconut fibres), 1-1,5 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 1-2 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-6 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.5. Field: sandy lightly loamy soils with good drainage. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m2 of a slow release fertilizer. Cover soil with mulch or fleece.

Photoperiod / Light:Day length neutral plant. Keep light level high, because high light intensity and long day improve the flowering. In winter and early spring additional assimilation light is required. Night interruption is possible. If cultivated at short day, cold temperatures will be required for a good stem quality.

Temperature:Grow at 12-15 °C or outdoors. A chilling period at 10-12 °C for 4-6 weeks is required for flower initiation. Temperatures above 25 °C will inhibit the flower development and will increase the risk of infects with diseases. In winter indoors frost free at 1-3 °C. In spring the plants start to grow for 8-10 weeks at 12-15 °C. Warm temperatures will decrease the cultivation time, but this way of cultivation requires high light intensity and long day.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). 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 (above pH 6.0) apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Limonium tolerate high salt levels in substrate or soil. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 80-100 g/m2 of a slow release fertilizer, applied in several portions. N min soil value: approximately 130 g N/m2.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when a lot of flowers are just open. Vase life: 12-18 days. Cold storage is possible, but not necessary. Stems for dried flower production can be harvested, when the flowers are fully open.

Cultural Hints:Cultivate rather dry, because the roots are very sensitive to wet substrates or soils. Avoid overhead irrigation and high relative humidity in greenhouse during the flowering. Treat substrate and soil with fungicide against Botrytis after planting and in spring.