Combo Chef: Fluorescent shades

DeGoede Brothers in Sumner, Wash., created this bold combination for a 10-inch hanging basket.

‘Super Elfin Lipstick’ impatiens and ‘Dark Eyes’ fuchsia are at the center of the combo with ‘Panorama Scarlet’ begonia at two corners and ‘Giant White Abunda’ bacopa at the other corners.

‘Panorama Scarlet’ begonia grows best in moderate to high light levels and temperatures of 65°F-72°F.

Maintain a pH of 6.0-6.5 and feed at 150-200 parts per million. Water requirements are moderate to moist. Pinch once, two weeks after liners are planted. Plant growth regulators are not necessary. Maintain holding temperatures of 65°F-72°F. Maintain good air movement to avoid botrytis and powdery mildew.

Plant ‘Abunda Giant White’ bacopa in a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium with a pH of 5.3-5.8. Maintain night temperatures of 50°F-55°F and days at 65°F-75°F.

Keep light intensities at 4,000-8,000 footcandles. Abunda members are daylength neutral and will flower year-round.

Allow the medium to dry slightly between watering but don’t wilt plants. Don’t overwater to avoid root diseases.

Use constant feed at 200 ppm, with additional iron as needed. Controlled-release fertilizer can be used to supplement a liquid-feed program. Leach regularly to avoid the buildup of high soluble salt levels. Test soil regularly for high pH/iron deficiency.

Pinch plants 10-14 days after transplanting, as needed, to improve basal branching. Use high light and moderate temperatures to control growth. Bacopa is highly responsive to Florel (300-500 ppm) when used to improve branching and eliminate early flowering.

‘Dark Eyes’ fuchsia grows best in day temperatures of 65°F-75°F and night at 60°F-65°F. A 65°F temperature promotes the most rapid vegetative growth. Higher temperatures will promote flowering.

Keep light intensities at 1,000-2,000 footcandles to promote vegetative growth. Increase light intensity to 4,000-7,000 footcandles once plants reach desired size to promote flower initiation. Excessive high light and low relative humidity can cause leaf scorch.

Fuchsia are long-day plants at 72°F-75°F.

Keep the medium moist to avoid soluble salt problems and prevent wilting. Fuchsia dry out rapidly when in full flower.

Use a well-drained, disease-free medium with a high initial nutrient charge and a pH 5.0-5.5. Combinations of peat, bark or perlite are best.

Constant fertilization of 15-0-15 alternating with 20-10-20 provides adequate fertilization.

Pinch at planting to final container and again three weeks later. A-Rest and Bonzi are effective at controlling height.

‘Super Elfin Lipstick’ impatiens requires night temperatures of 62°F-65°F and day temperatures of 65°F-75°F.

Maintain light levels as high as possible while maintaining moderate temperatures.

Use a well-drained, disease-free soil less medium with a medium initial nutrient charge and a pH of 6.2-6.8.

Feed every other irrigation with 15-0-15, alternating with 20-0-20 at 150 ppm nitrogen.

Once plants are root out to the sides of the containers, they can be allowed to wilt prior to irrigation to provide some height control. Height can also be controlled by withholding fertilizer, especially phosphorus and ammonium-form nitrogen.

B-Nine, Bonzi and Sumagic are effective for height control, but not labeled for use in all locations. B-Nine and Bonzi can delay flowering.

Impatiens are shade plants and should not be exposed to excessive sun. If properly hardened, impatiens can handle up to four hours of morning sun.

Production

Begonia ‘Panorama Scarlet’: Moderate to high light levels; maintain temperatures of 65°F-72°F; pH of 6.0-6.5; feed at 150-200 parts per million; pinch once, two weeks after liner planting; maintain good air movement to avoid botrytis and powdery mildew.

Bacopa ‘Abunda Giant White’: Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium; pH of 5.3-5.8; maintain night temperatures of 50°F-55°F and days at 65°F-75°F; 4,000 to 8,000 footcandles; allow the medium to dry slightly between watering; use constant feed at 200 ppm; leach regularly to avoid the buildup of high soluble salt levels; pinch plants 10-14 days after transplanting; 300-500 ppm of Florel.

Fuchsia ‘Dark Eyes’: Maintain day temperatures of 65°F-75°F and night at 60°F-65°F; maintain 1,000-2,000 foot candles to promote vegetative growth then increase to 4,000-7,000 foot candles to promote flower initiation; keep soil moist; use a well-drained, disease-free medium with a high initial nutrient charge and a pH 5.0-5.5; feed with 15-0-15 alternating with 20-10-20.

Impatiens ‘Super Elfin Lipstick’: Maintain night temperatures of 62°F-65°F and day temperatures of 65°F-75°F; well-drained, disease-free soilless medium; pH of 6.2-6.8; feed every other irrigation with 15-0-15, alternating with 20-0-20 at 150 ppm nitrogen; control height by withholding fertilizer, especially phosphorus and ammonium-form nitrogen.

For more: DeGoede Brothers LLC, (800) 527-8024; www.degoedebrothers.com.

- Kelli Rodda

Specifics

a. Begonia ‘Panorama Scarlet’

b. Bacopa ‘Abunda Giant White’

c. Fuchsia ‘Dark Eyes’

d. Impatiens ‘Super Elfin Lipstick’

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June 2008