Easy Wave Series Petunia
P. x hybrida
Seed Count (Pelleted): 33,000 S./oz. (1,200 S./g)

Plug Production
Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free seedling medium with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0 and EC about 0.75 mS/cm (1:2 extraction).

Sowing
Covering seed is not recommended. Water adequately after sowing to completely dissolve the pellet.

Stage 1 – Germination takes 4 to 5 days
Soil temperature: 72 to 76°F (22 to 24°C)
Light: Lighting is optional.
Moisture: Keep soil very wet (level 5) during Stage 1 for optimal germination.
Humidity: Maintain 100% relative humidity (RH) until radicles emerge.

Stage 2
Soil temperature: 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C)
Light: Up to 2,500 f.c. (26,900 Lux)
Moisture: Start to slightly reduce soil moisture (level 4) to allow root to penetrate into the media.
Fertilizer: Apply fertilizer at rate 1 (les than 100 ppm N/less than 0.7 mS/cm EC) from nitrate-form fertilizers with low phosphorous.

Stage 3
Soil temperature: 65 to 70°F (18 to 21°C)
Light: Up to 2,500 f.c. (26,900 Lux)
Moisture: Allow media further dry to the surface become light brown (level 2) before watering. Keep the moisture to wet-dry cycle (moisture level 4 to 2).
Fertilizer: Increase fertilizer to rate 2 (100 to 175 ppmN/0.7 to 1.2 mS/cm EC). If growth is slow, apply abalanced ammonium and nitrate-form fertilizer with every other fertilization. Maintain medium pH 5.8 to 6.2 and EC between 1.0 and 1.5 mS/cm (1:2 extraction).
Growth Regulators: Control plug growth first by environment, nutrition and irrigation management, then with chemical plant growth regulators if needed. Minimize ammonium-form nitrogen fertilizer to avoid seedling elongation. Temperature differential (DIF) can also be used to minimize height. Test all chemical plant regulators first.
In North American conditions: Apply B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) 1 to 2 applications at 5,000 ppm (6.0 g/l, 85% formulation or 7.8 g/l, 64% formulation) as a spray. The first application should be made when plugs have 2 to 3 true leaves. A second application can be made 7 days later. This treatment can improve basal branching of mature plants.
In Northern European conditions: 1 to 3 applications of B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) at 1250ppm (1.5 g/l, 85% formulation or 2.0 g/l, 64% formulation) spray has been tested and show effective if needed.

Stage 4
Soil temperature: 60 to 65°F (16 to 18°C)
Light: Up to 5,000 f.c. (53,800 Lux) if temperature can be controlled.
Moisture: Same as Stage 3.
Fertilizer: Same as Stage 3.

Growing On to Finish
Container Size
1801 flats & 306 Packs: 1 plant per cell
4-in. (10-cm) pots: 1 plant per pot
6-in. (15-cm) pots: 1 to 3 plants per pot
10-in. (25-cm) baskets: 3 to 4 plants per basket

Media
Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium with a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 and a medium initial nutrient charge.

Temperature
Nights: 57 to 65°F (14 to 18°C)
Days: 61 to 75°F (16 to 24°C)
Baby Duck Yellow spreading petunia can be grown as low as 50°F (10°C). Crop timing (time to flower) is related to average temperature when grown under proper daylength. Baby Duck Yellow plants will take longer to flower when grown in cooler conditions.

Light
Keep light levels as high as possible while maintaining temperatures.

Fertilizer
Baby Duck Yellow petunias require more fertilizer than is usually recommended for petunias. For best results, apply nitrate-form with low phosphorus fertilizer at rate 4 (225 to 300 ppm N (1.5 to 2.0 mS/cm EC) every other irrigation. Apply a balancedammonium and nitrate-form fertilizer with low phosphorus as needed to encourage growth and balance medium pH. Maintain medium pH 5.8 to 6.2.

Growth Regulators
In North American conditions: Use B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) at 5,000 ppm (5.9 g/l, 85% formulation or 7.8 g/l, 64% formulation) at 7 days after transplant. Follow these with a Bonzi drench at 3 to 5 ppm (0.8 to 1.3 ml/l, 0.4% formulation) depending on environmental conditions. If additional PGR is needed, a Bonzi (paclobutrazol) spray at 30 ppm (7.5 ml/l, 0.4% formulation) will help hold the finished crop.

In northern European conditions: Use B-Nine/Alar at 5,000 ppm (5.9 g/l, 85% formulation or 7.8 g/l, 64% formulation) at 7 days after transplant. Follow these with a Bonzi drench 6 to 8 ppm (1.5 to 2.0 ml/l, 0.4% formulation) depending on environmental conditions. If additional PGR is needed, a Bonzi spray at 30 ppm (7.5 ml/l, 0.4% formulation) will help hold the finished crop. A general guideline is to use the same (or similar) growth regulator program for Baby Duck Yellow petunias as you use for your Easy Wave petunias. To determine the best rate for your conditions, we recommend that you run an in-house trial.

Photoperiod
Baby Duck Yellow will flower successfully at 10 hours. However, the crop time at 10 hours will be about 10 to 14 days longer than at 12-hour daylength.

Crop Scheduling
Sow to transplant (400 to 288-cell plug): 4 to 6 weeks

Total Crop Time:

Common Problems
No major problems will occur if good cultural and IPM practices are used.