GrowerFacts
Trachelium Lake
(Trachelium caeruleum)
Germination
• Time of radicle emergence (5-7 days)
• Soil temperature 62-70°F (16-21°C).
• Keep media evenly moist but not saturated.
• Do not cover or bury the seed.
• Light at 100-500 foot-candles may be beneficial for germination.
• Soil pH 6.0 and soluble salts (EC) less than 1.0 mmhos/cm (2:1 extraction).
• Trachelium is very sensitive to high salts, particularly high ammonium, during germination.
• Keep ammonium levels less than 10 ppm.
Plug Production
STAGE 1 Time of radicle emergence (5-7 days)
• Soil temperature 62-70°F (16-21°C).
• Keep media evenly moist but not saturated.
• Do not cover or bury the seed.
• Light at 100-500 foot-candles may be beneficial for germination.
• Soil pH 6.0 and soluble salts (EC) less than 1.0 mmhos/cm (2:1 extraction).
• Trachelium is very sensitive to high salts, particularly high ammonium, during germination.
• Keep ammonium levels less than 10 ppm.
STAGE 2 Stem and cotyledon emergence (7-10 days)
• Soil temperature 62-70°F (16-21°C).
• Reduce moisture levels once radicle emergence occurs! Allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering for best germination and rooting.
• Keep soil pH 6.0 and EC less than 1.0 mmhos/cm.
• Keep ammonium levels less than 10 ppm.
• Begin fertilizing with 50 75 ppm N from 15 0 15 or a calcium/potassium nitrate feed once cotyledons are fully expanded.
• Alternate feed with clear water.
• Irrigate early in the day so foliage is dry by nightfall to prevent diseases.
STAGE 3 Growth and development of true leaves
(7 days)
• Night temperature 62°F (16°C)
• Day temperature 70°F (21°C)
• Allow the soil to dry between irrigations but avoid permanent wilting to promote root growth and control shoot growth.
• Maintain soil pH 6.0 and EC less than 1.0 mmhos/cm.
• Increase feed to 75-100 ppm N from 20 10 20 alternating with 15 0 15 or other calcium/ potassium nitrate fertilizer.
• Fertilize once a week.
• Use DIF whenever possible, especially the first 2 hours after sunrise, to control plant height.
STAGE 4 Plants ready for transplanting or shipping (7 days)
• Soil temperature 62°F (16°C).
• Allow soil to dry between irrigations.
• Maintain soil pH 6.0 and EC less than 1.0 mmhos/cm.
• Fertilize with 15 0 15 or calcium/potassium nitrate feed at 100 150 ppm N as needed.
Growing On to Finish
TRANSPLANTING
• Transplant when the second true leaves unfold.
• When buying in seedlings or plugs, allow seedlings 24 hours to acclimate to the greenhouse conditions, then transplant promptly.
• Delayed flowering and loss of final product quality occurs when seedlings are kept too long in plug trays.
• If holding is unavoidable, store plugs at 36-39°F (2-4°C) under fluorescent lights at 250 foot- candles 14 hours per day.
• Treat with a fungicide prior to storage to prevent botrytis.
SPACING
• When grown in pots, space pot to pot.
• If grown in the field, rows are 6-9 inches apart.
SUPPORT
Support material is not necessary.
TEMPERATURE
• Autumn and winter cultivation – 52-55°F (11-13°C) first 3 weeks then average 55°F night and 60°F days.
• February-April (high light intensity) – 60°F (15°C) nights, 65°F (18°C) days.
• Late spring-summer – 60-68°F (15-20°C) nights, max. 78°F (25°C) days.
WATER
Keep soil moist. Water frequently to leach soil.
LIGHT
• Maintain light levels below 3500 ftc. while maintaining moderate temperatures.
• Flowering is hastened in winter by increasing day length to initiate buds.
MEDIA
• The growing medium should allow adequate aeration to the roots yet hold a steady supply of moisture.
• The greater the aeration of the medium, the more forgiving the medium is to overwatering.
• Growing media in benches must be better aerated than media used to grow stocks directly in the ground, because the bench bottom creates a “perched water table” which limits water drainage.
• Ground beds in locations with sandy loam soils may be suitable for growing stocks without any amendments.
• Heavy soils should be improved prior to planting by tilling in organic material such as peat moss, rice hulls, compost, or decomposed manure.
• Growing medium for raised benches should consist of less than 50 percent field soil, with the remaining percentage consisting of a mixture of more than one of the following: vermiculite, perlite, peat moss, composted bark, or rice hulls.
• Medium must be free of disease-causing organisms.
• If using soil, it will be necessary to disinfect the media.
• Perform a soil test of the growing medium before planting.
• EC should be between 2.0-2.25 mmhos.
• Ammonium-based nitrogen less than 10 ppm.
• pH 6.0.
FERTILIZATION
• Feed at 200 ppm of 20-10-20 once every other irrigation until buds form.
• Switch to potassium chloride for the last four weeks of crop when buds have formed. EC can be 2.0-2.25 mmhos/cm.
• Water with clear water to rinse foliage and to leach soil frequently.
Post Production Care
HARVESTING
• The best quality flowers for the consumer are those cut with 75% of the flowers open.
• Premature harvesting leads to poor color development and reduced flower size as flowers continue to open.
WATER
• For maximum vase life, place trachelium stems in water as soon as possible after cutting.
• Remove foliage on the lower third of the stems, then grade and bunch.
• To condition for immediate use or shipping, place the flowers in warm water (70-75°F, 21-24°C) containing floral preservatives.
• Select a floral preservative which contains sucrose as well as 8-HQC (8-hydroxyquinoline citrate) or other bactericide to facilitate water uptake and inhibit stem plugging.
TEMPERATURE
Hold at 45-50°F (7-10°C) at least 6 to 8 hours or overnight.
LIGHT
Color development in enhanced by holding the stems in approximately 200 foot-candles light.
STORAGE AND SHIPPING
• Trachelium can be shipped dry if precooled at 33° F (1°C).
• If stored dry, rehydrate and condition in cool water.
• Trachelium can be shipped horizontally, but best quality is kept when trachelium is shipped in buckets of water.
• Trachelium are not sensitive to ethylene.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Insects: Aphids, Leaf rollers, Thrips
Diseases: Bacterial Blight, Pythium, Phytopthora, Rhizoctonia
“Information copied from the breeder.
Muller will not accept any liability for failure and/or damage as a consequence of incorrect and/or inexpert cultivation by or on behalf of the Buyer.”