Snapdragon Kim Cultural Information

Plug Production

Sowing/Media: Use a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based plug medium with pH 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <1.0 mmhos (saturated paste). Cover seed lightly with coarse vermiculite if needed.

Germination (Stages 1 and 2): Keep soil uniformly moist, not saturated. Reduce moisture once seedlings start emerging to keep from stretching and get roots to do down into the plug cell. Soil temperature should be 70 – 72°F. Light levels should be <1500 footcandles, and is not needed for germination. Allow 7 - 10 days to finish germination.

Stage 3: Soil temperature should be 65 – 68°F. Dry down soil before watering again to control stretch and improve rooting. Keep light levels 2500 – 3000 footcandles, and use HID lights with daylength extension or night-interruption lighting to speed up flowering under short days. Feed every other watering with 100 – 150 ppm N from 17-5-17, 15-5-15, or 13-2-13, depending on light levels. Rinse off feed when days are sunny to avoid burning growing tips. Keep media pH <6.5 and EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Stage 4: Soil temperature can be lowered to 60 – 62°F. Dry down between waterings, but avoid wilting. Keep light levels around 3000 footcandles, and feed as needed with 13-2-13 for better tone and control of growth. Keep media pH <6.5, and EC <2.0 mmhos (saturated paste).

Plant Growth Regulators: Use A-Rest (1 – 5 ppm), Bonzi (1 – 3 ppm), or Sumagic (1/2 – 1 ppm) as an early sprench before germination is finished to control stretch and floppiness. Spray with B-Nine (2500 ppm), A-Rest (5 - 10 ppm), Bonzi (10 – 15 ppm), or Sumagic (2 – 5 ppm) as needed. Adjust sprays and sprenches for differences in vigor between varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices by conducting your own trials to avoid overdosing.

Crop Time: 5 – 6 weeks for 512 plugs, 6 – 7 weeks for 288 plugs, depending on light levels, use of HID lights, and temperature.

Common Problems: Pythium, Downy Mildew, Rust, upper yellow leaves – high media pH and iron deficiency, loss of growing tips – high salts from feeding on sunny days.

Growing on to finish

Container Size: Cell packs to 4-inch pots.

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

Temperatures: Keep soil temperatures 65 – 68°F for rooting out, then lower to 58 – 60° F for growing on. If growing cooler than this, increase crop time accordingly.

Light: Maintain light levels 3000 – 5000 footcandles. If growing under short days and cool temps, continue lighting for faster flowering.

Irrigation and Fertilization: Practice a good wet/dry moisture cycle for best rooting and height control. Feed 1 – 2x/week with 100 – 150 ppm N from 17-5-17 or 15-5-15. If growing cooler, feed mainly with 13-2-13, keeping ammonium nitrogen levels low. Keep media pH <6.5, and EC 1.5 – 2.0 mmhos (saturated paste).

Plant Growth Regulators: Use sprays of Bonzi (10 – 15 ppm) or Sumagic (3 – 5 ppm) about 7 days after transplanting to get good stem strength. Can also use sprays of B-Nine (2500 – 5000 ppm), B-Nine (2500 ppm) + Cycocel (500 – 750 ppm), or A-Rest (5 – 10 ppm) as needed, especially under cooler conditions. Once plants up to size and starting to flower, use drenches of Bonzi (2 – 3 ppm) or Sumagic (1/2 – 1 ppm). Adjust rates and frequency of applications based on vigor of varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices. Do your own trials, especially with drenches, to avoid overdosing.

Common Problems: Pythium, Botrytis, Downy Mildew, Rust, upper yellow leaves – high media pH or iron deficiency, thrips, aphids.

Crop Time: 4 – 6 weeks, depending on plug and container size, light levels, daylength, and temperature. If growing under short days with no lighting, crop time can easily be double.