Pansy Sparkler Cultural Information

Plug production

Sowing/Media: Use a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based plug medium with a pH of 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <0.75 mmhos (saturated paste). Cover seed with coarse vermiculite after sowing.

Germination (Stages 1 and 2): Keep medium uniformly moist until seedlings are just hooking above covering, then dry down covering to control floppiness and improve rooting. Soil temperature should be 65 – 70°F, but avoid higher temperatures as germination will decrease. Keep light levels <1500 footcandles until cotyledons are open. Germination time is 7 – 10 days.

Stage 3: Soil temperature should be 65 – 68°F. Practice good wet/dry moisture cycle, but avoid wilting. Light levels should be around 3000 footcandles, with shading needed during hotter weather. Feed every other watering with 100 – 150 ppm N from 15-5-15, 17-5-17, or 13-2-13. Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8, definitely <6.5, and media EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Stage 4: Soil temperature can be lowered to 60 – 62°F. Keep on the drier side, with light levels 3000 – 4000 footcandles if possible. Use low NH4 feeds, but monitor media pH closely to keep <6.5.

Plant Growth Regulators: Use sprays of B-Nine (1500 – 2500 ppm), A-Rest (2 – 7 ppm), B-Nine (1000 – 2500 ppm) + Cycocel (500 – 1500 ppm), or B-Nine (1000 – 2500 ppm) + A-Rest (1 – 5 ppm). Viola seedlings are naturally compact and stretch less than pansies. Use plant growth regulators sparingly. Do your own trials to avoid overdosing, as vigor of varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices directly affect how much growth regulators to use.

Crop Time: 4 – 5 weeks for 512 plugs, 5 – 6 weeks for 288 plugs, depending on temperature and light levels. Keep plug crop time short during hotter weather to avoid budding in plug trays, which results in too early flowering and not enough plant growth after transplanting.

Common Problems: Pythium, Thielaviopsis (media pH > 6.2 favors disease), fungal leafspots, upper yellow leaves -- high media pH and iron deficiency, aborted growing tip with stunting and leaf curling -- boron deficiency and high media pH.

Growing on to finish

Container Size: Cell packs to 4-inch pots, can be finished in 12 inch baskets, 3 per basket

Media: Transplant into a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based growing mix with pH of 5.5 – 5.8 and EC<1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Temperatures: Keep soil temperatures 63 - 65°F to root out, then lower to 55 - 60°F to grow on. Violas grow better with cooler temperatures, but will take longer crop time if grown cooler than indicated.

Light: Keep light levels 3000 – 4000 footcandles. Shade if light levels are higher in order to keep cooler temperatures.

Irrigation and Fertilization: Practice a good wet/dry moisture cycle for best rooting and height control. Feed 1x/week with 150 ppm N from 15-5-15, 17-5-17, or 13-2-13, but keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8, definitely <6.5, and media EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste), no higher.

Plant Growth Regulators: Use sprays of B-Nine (2500 – 5000 ppm), A-Rest (3 – 10 ppm), B-Nine (1500 – 2500 ppm) + Cycocel (750 – 1500 ppm), or B-Nine (1500 – 2500 ppm) + A-Rest (3 – 7 ppm) as needed. Violas do not need as much plant growth regulators as pansies. Do your own trials to avoid overdosing, as vigor of varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices directly affect how much growth regulator to use.

Common Problems: Pythium, Thielaviopsis, Botrytis, fungal leafspots, Downy mildew, upper yellow leaves – media pH >6.5 and iron deficiency, aborted growing tip with stunting and leaf curling – media pH >6.5 and boron deficiency, aphids, thrips.

Crop Time: 4 – 8 weeks, depending on plug and container size, temperature, and light levels.