Lisianthus–Cut Flower

Plug Culture (60 days)
Stage One - (days 1-14) Single sow pelleted seeds carefully in deep plug trays filled with a well-drained media. Do not cover the seed and never allow it to dry out during germination. Sufficient moisture must be provided to melt the pellet. Maintain a soil temperature of 70 °F / 21 °C and keep the media moist throughout the entire germination period by using a mist system. A pH between 6.5 -7.2 is recommended to provide sufficient calcium levels. Placing the seed flats on capillary mats or plastic helps to keep the media moist and encourages a very uniform emergence. Note: 100 to 300 foot candles/1,000-3,000 lux of light is needed for germination.
Stage Two - (days 14 - 21) After seedlings emerge, remove the seedling flats from the germination area and place them in a location with good air circulation. Lower the temperature to 60-70 °F/15-20 °C and provide a light feed between 100 - 150 ppm of nitrogen from a well-balanced calcium nitrate based fertilizer. Be careful not to allow the night temperature to exceed 72 °F/22 °C to prevent rosette problems, (induced resting stage), which is difficult to cure.*
Stage Three - (days 21 - 56) The young seedlings are very slow in growth and should not be exposed to high night temperatures which induce rosetting. Other factors to avoid are low light levels and excessive humidity, which will invite both disease and overgrowth of the seedlings. Since Lisianthus is native to the alkaline soils of West Texas, Arizona, and Southern Colorado, calcium based feeds promote strong and healthy seedlings. Fertilize the seedlings with 150 ppm of nitrogen as needed and maintain the media E..C. level between 0.7 to 1.0 mmhos (2:1 slurry).
Stage Four - (days 57 - 60) The seedlings should have 4 true leaves at this stage and are now ready to transplant into the cut flower bed. Lisianthus has a sensitive root system and one must be careful to avoid checking the plugs. Timely transplanting will ensure that the root system stays active and takes hold in the cut flower bed. Older plugs will have twisted root systems and the transition into the cut flower bed will be more difficult. Also, older plugs will flower earlier on shorter stems; especially under long day conditions.
* To avoid resetting in warm areas one should apply the following temperature regime. After the seed germinates, keep cool temperatures at night 59-63 °F/ 15-17 °C and days between 75-80 °F/25-27 °C until transplant. The key point is to grow cool at night for 12 hours. This “cool system” will help avoid forming rosettes under warmer non-optimum temperature conditions.

Cut flower Production (60 - 90 days)
Bed Preparation: Choose a flower bed with a rich organic soil that is pest and pathogen free. A soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8 is recommended. Cultivate it to a depth of 18 inches (45 cm). Covering the bed with black plastic will increase soil temperature in winter and reduce crop time. For summer production, silver plastic will keep the soil temperature lower by reflecting the hot summer sun. Maintain a minimum soil temperature of 55 °F13 °C and a maximum of 73 °F/23 °C for optimum results.
Transplanting: Transplant seedlings when they are young and actively growing, (around the fourth true leaf stage). In order to avoid stem rot, take care not to bury the plants too deep. Setting the plugs a little “high” in the flower bed will help to guard against rhizoctonia. To ensure a healthy start, maintain high relative humidity for 10 days after transplanting and do not let the soil dry out.
Spacing: Spacing will depend on whether one is growing a pinched crop or a single stem crop. In general, space 4 x 6 inches /10 x 15 cm., apart and arrange plants to enhance air movement to minimize disease prevention. Irrigation: Since Lisianthus is native to low humidity areas, Botrytis is a major disease problem. The use of drip irrigation is best to reduce free moisture on the plants. Some growers bury the irrigation lines 2-3 inches /5-8 cm. under the soil, which imitates the natural habitat of Lisianthus and helps promote a deep and strong root system.
Fertilization: Lisianthus does not require high fertilizer levels like Chrysanthemums. Maintain a soil EC level around 1.2 to 1.4 mmhos, (2 to 1 slurry). The use of calcium nitrate-based fertilizer is recommended to build strong stems and reduce soft growth. Lisianthus requires higher moisture levels in the early stage of development. As the plants begin to mature and show flower buds, watering should be reduced to tone the crop and prepare it for harvest.
Support: Support wires are necessary to support the plants as they grow.
Lighting: Since Lisianthus is a long day response plant, extending the day gradually over a period of 8 weeks from 15-20 hours with lighting, (approximately 600-900 foot candles / 6,500-9,700 lux), beginning at the 6th true leaf stage during the short days of winter will reduce flowering time. Be sure to maintain at least 55 °F/13 °C soil temperature.
Flowering: During periods of high light and warm temperatures, a light shade on the greenhouse roof is recommended to avoid flower scorch. Stems are usually harvested when one or more flowers are open. There is a longer period of time between the opening of the first and second flower than from the opening of the second and third flower. Therefore, some growers remove the first flower and sell it for small bud vases or corsages and then harvest the stems when the second and third flowers open.
Post Harvest: After cutting, place in tepid water, around 68 oF/20 oC, and store in a refrigerator at 39 oF/4 oC. The use of floral preservative after cutting is recommended and increases vase life by 40-50%.

Variety Selection:
Group 0 Winter Fioretti (spray single micro flower)
November-March Ruffle (single fringed flower)
Borealis (quadruple flower)
Group 1 Spring Piccolo 1 (spray single flower)
March - June Wonderous (single flower)
Rosita (spray double flower)
Echo (double flower)
Group 2 Mid Summer Piccolo 2 (spray single flower) June-August Excalibur (double flower)
Mariachi (quadruple flower) .
*Culture Watch Points: Ultra violet light intensifies flower color. High night temperature (>73 °F/23 °C) excess fertilizer/nitrogen or keeping the media too moist will reduce intensity.