Verbascum Phoeniceum Grower Fact TECHNICAL INFORMATION   Life Cycle:   Perennial / first year flowering Familiy, Origin:   Scrophulariaceae, South- East to East Europe, Asia Minor Sitelocation:   Full sun Garden Height:   150 cm   59,06 inch Natural flowertime:   May - August Crop Time:   Plug crop: 6-7 weeks; Green pots: 9-11 weeks; Flowering pots: 14-16 weeks, annual production is possible (FastraX Perennial), 10-12 months, including wintering Sell Period:   July-October Seed Form:   Raw Seed Seed Count:   6993 K/g Sowing Method:   1 seed per plug, sowing directly into final pots is recommended Germination:   4-7 days at 21-22 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-7.0. 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, the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 15-18 °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 up to 150-200 ppm. Growing On:   4-6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (10-18 cm) and 1-3 into a container (3-5 l). For flowering pot production ensure good pot size, to encourage root growth, thus improving plant quality. After late sowing at V. phoeniceum transplant several plants into a pot, because the formation of leaf rosettes does not take place at long day conditions. Media:   Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. bark, perlite, sand), 1-2 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, 0-3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-7.0. Photoperiod / Light:   Long day plant. Long days are required for flower initiation and development. Short days are required for formation of leaf rosettes. For vegetative growth cultivate first in short day and afterwards start with long day when the leaf rosettes are formed. In winter and in early spring additional assimilation light and long day (at least 14 h) is recommended. Temperature:   Grow at 10-15 °C or outdoors. Avoid temperatures above 25 °C. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow at 15-18 °C and long day. Cold temperatures at 5 °C will increase the cultivation time by 2-4 weeks. For flower initiation a chilling period (vernalization) for at least 4 weeks at 0-5 °C is recommended for V. phoeniceum. This treatment improves the leaf rosette, improves the branching and a higher quantity of flower stems are formed. The chilling period is recommended for annual production, too. Cultivation at warm temperatures will require high light levels. At low light levels cold temperatures are required for a good plant and stem quality. Fertilization:   High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen (at 3 kg/m3 slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium levels. Don't fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen of a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K2O-ratio: 1:1,5). Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Nutrition and water deficiency is a cause for yellow leaves and necrosis on leaf edges. Cultural Hints:   Cultivate the plants constantly moist. After the faded flowers from V. phoeniceum are cut, the second flowering is formed in 4-5 weeks. In annual production without chilling period transplant several plants into pot, because otherwise only one-two flowers will be achieved per pot.