Z. maritime
Approximate Seed Count: 73,800 S./oz (2,600 S./g)

Plug Production
Media:Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium with a pH of 5.5 to 6.1 and a medium initial nutrient charge (EC less than 0.75 mmhos/cm with a 1:2 extraction).

Sowing:Sow seed in 400 to 288-cell trays. In Europe, it can be sown in 264-cell trays. Do not cover the seed.

Stage 1 – Germination takes about 3 days
Soil temperature: 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C)
Light: Light is beneficial to germination. Dark conditions will cause the seedlings to stretch.
Moisture: Keep soil wet (level 4) during Stage 1
Humidity: Maintain 95%+ relative humidity (RH) until radicles emerge.

Stage 2
Soil temperature: 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C)
Light: Up to 2,500 f.c. (26,900 Lux)
Moisture: Reduce soil moisture slightly (level 3) to allow the roots to penetrate into the media.
Fertilizer: Apply fertilizer at rate 1 (less than 100 ppm N/less than 0.7 mS/cm EC) from nitrate form fertilizers with low phosphorous.

Stage 3
Soil temperature: 64 to 68°F (18 to 20°C)
Light: Up to 2,500 f.c. (26,900 Lux)
Moisture: Allow media to dry until the surface becomes light brown (level 2) before watering. Do not allow the seedlings to wilt.
Fertilizer: Increase fertilizer to rate 2 (100 to 175 ppm N/0.7 to 1.2 mS/cm EC).
Growth Regulators: Not needed.

Stage 4
Soil temperature: 62 to 64°F (17 to 18°C)
Light: Up to 5,000 f.c. (53,800 Lux) if temperature can be controlled.
Moisture: Maintain moisture on the dry side, but don’t allow seedlings to wilt.
Fertilizer: Same as Stage 3.

Growing On to Finish
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: 60 to 66°F (16 to 19°C), Days: 64 to 72°F (19 to 22°C)

Light:As high as possible, if temperature can be controlled.

Irrigation:Avoid both excessive watering and drought. Do not allow plants to wilt.

Fertilizer:Apply fertilizer at rate 3 (175 to 225 ppm N/1.2 to1.5 mS/cm EC) once a week from calcium/potassium nitrate fertilizer. A balanced ammonium and nitrate form fertilizer may be applied as needed.

Growth Regulators
In North American conditions: Responds well to spray of B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) at 2,500 to 5,000 ppm (3.0 to 6.0 g/l, 85% formulation or 4.0 to7.8 g/l, 64% formulaton), starting at 2 weeks after transplant. Repeat 10 days later.

In Northern European conditions: 2 applications of a tank mix of B-Nine/Alar at 1,600 ppm (1.9 g/l, 85% formulation 2.5g/l, 64% formulation) and Cycocel at 185 ppm (1.3 ml/l, 11.8% formulation or 0.25ml/l, 75% formulation) works best.