1. Bedding Plant Production By: Johnny M. Jessup Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor

2. Introduction Bedding plants are herbaceous plants that are normally grown in outdoor beds to provide colorful blooms or foliage for a landscape.

3. Bedding Plants Fastest growing segment of floriculture Best Sellers (% of US Market) Impatiens (44%) Geraniums (20%) Petunias (14%) Other top sellers are…. Begonias Marigolds Pansies

4. Impatiens Grow 6-18” high w/ succulent stems. Lance shaped leaves.

5. Impatiens Small and rounded flowers with five petals and one petal is shaped like a tube that protrudes from the underside of the flower Pink, lavender, red, white, purple, salmon and coral.

6. Impatiens Spaced 12-18” and needs partial sun or shade. May be propagated from seeds or cuttings.

7. Impatiens Time from seeding to market packs is about 8 weeks Seeds should be placed on surface of medium and covered lightly Germination requires light and temperature of 60-70F Can be propagated from cuttings Have been the number one bedding crop for years Grow well in shade

8. Geraniums Grow 12-18” Leaves are rounded with scalloped edges. Red, white, or pink flowers. 2/3 of plants sold are red.

9. Geraniums Need direct sunlight and 10-12” spacing. May be propagated from seeds or cutting and transplanted.

10. Geraniums Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. Seeds are large and have to be scarified because of hard seed coats (seed company).

11. Geraniums Cover seeds with an 1/8” of soil. Medium (soil mix) should be about 75 o F. Can be propagated from cuttings (bigger and more numerous flowers).

12. Petunias Grow from 6-18” tall and have flowers with a tube shaped base. Flower colors are red, pink, white, blue, and pastels. Spaced 10-12”

13. Petunias Grown from seeds and transplanted. Time from seeding to market in packs is about 10 weeks and 11 weeks in pots. Sow seeds on surface of medium. (285,000 seed to an ounce) Need light and 70 o F -80 o F germinating medium temperature.

14. Petunias Many different types and colors. One of top five annuals in the US for over 100 years.

15. Begonias Grow 6-13” high with pink, red or white flowers. Spaced 6-10” and need direct sunlight.

16. Begonias May be propagated from seeds or cuttings and then transplanted.

17. Begonias Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. Small seed should be lightly pressed into surface of germinating medium. Germination requires 65-70 F medium temperature. Can be propagated with stem cuttings. Plants do well in full sun to shade.

18. Marigolds Grow 6” to 4’ tall with orange or yellow flowers. Pungent aroma. Spaced 6-12” apart. Best in full sunlight. Grown from seeds or transplants

19. Marigolds Time from seeding to market is about 9 weeks in packs and 10 weeks in pots. Cover seeds with ¼” of medium. Germination medium should be 70-75 o F.

20. Marigolds Grow outdoors in full sun. Plants grow 6”-4’ tall. Few problems.

21. Pansies Grow 6-8” tall and have moon shaped flowers in many colors…. Blue, purple, yellow, white, pink, and red. Spaced 6-8” and grown in full sun. Grown from seeds and transplanted. Cool season bedding plant.

22. Pansies Time from seeding to market in packs is about 12 weeks and 13 weeks in pots. Seeds should be planted on surface of medium and covered with paper to keep dark. Media 70 o F. Grow in full sun. Cool weather bedding plant.

23. Pansies Growing Pansies in Eastern NC BUY PLUGS!!! (It is impossible to have germination media at 70 o F during August) Seeded plants usually turn leggy and ugly.

24. Problems, Causes & Solutions Related with Bedding Plant Production

25. Cultural Problems Caused by one of four problems: Germination problems. Fertilization problems. Uneven growth. Tall & spindly growth.

26. Cultural Problems – Germination Are caused by…. Improper temperature. Over-watering. Underwatering. Chemical residues in medium. Seed planting depth. Low quality seeds.

27. Cultural Problems – Germination Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. Using high-quality seeds. Planted at proper depth in medium. Having no chemical residues. Maintaining proper temperature. Maintain proper moisture levels.

28. Cultural Problems – Fertilization Are caused by…. Lack of nutrients. Root injury. Improper pH of medium. Excessive fertilization.

29. Cultural Problems – Fertilization Problems can be solved by…. Testing soil or media. Applying correct amounts & kinds of nutrients and pH correcting materials.

30. Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth Caused by…. Poor mixing of medium. Uneven moisture levels. Unlevel flats. Poor grading of seedlings.

31. Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. Proper mixing of media. Even watering. Grading seedlings by size and quality. Placing flats level.

32. Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth Caused by…. Too much nitrogen fertilizer. Overwatering. Low light intensity. (Too much shade) High temperatures.

33. Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth Problems can be solved by…. Correct amount of nitrogen. Reducing frequency of watering. Lowering temperature. Providing more light. Using growth retardant. (B-Nine)

34. Diseases Plant diseases cause…. Seedlings to fall over. Lower to turn brown, rot and dry.

35. Causes of Plant Disease Seedlings falling over caused by either…. Stem rot Damping off Lower leaves turning brown rotting & drying caused by…. Botrytis Damping OffBotrytis

36. Controlling Plant Diseases Controlling stem rot & damping off Using sterilized media. Using fungicides. Improving air circulation around plants. Botrytis Increasing air temperature. Increase circulation round plants. Using proper fungicide.

37. Insects Insects cause…. Plants to be missing. Holes in the leaves or plant parts to be missing.

38. Insects – Causes Plants being missing caused by…. Slugs. Snails. Cockroaches.

39. Insects – Causes Aphids Mealy bugs Scale insects Thrips Whiteflies Flea beetles Fungus gnats Leaf miners Cutworms Caterpillars Holes in the leaves or missing plant parts are caused by….

40. Insects AphidsMealybugs Scale Thrips

41. Whiteflies Flea Beetle Fungus Gnats Leaf Miners

42. Insects CutwormsCaterpillars

43. Controlling Insects Insects can be prevented or controlled by…. Using baits. Recommended insecticides.

44. Media Used in Transplanting Bedding Plants

45. Media Media is the material used to start and grow plants. The 3 main types are…. Soil Inorganic materials Commercially prepared mixes.

46. Soil Must be mixed with other materials such as peat moss to add organic matter and improve aeration and drainage.

47. Inorganic Materials Improve aeration & drainage. Examples include…. Sand Finely ground stone Gravel

48. Inorganic Materials Perlite Expanded volcanic rock. Neutral pH (7.0 – 7.5) Sterile Vermiculite Expanded mica Sterile Perlite Vermiculite

49. Commercially Prepared Mixes Mixes that are sterile, contain no insects, weeds or diseases. Types include…. Jiffy-Mix Redi-Earth Pro-Mix Sunshine Mix Metro Mix Other brands are available

50. Containers Used in Transplanting Bedding Plants

51. Containers Flat Plastic tray usually used for planting seeds. Cell packs Several small cell-like pots of plastic molded together used for planting one or two seeds per cell and selling without transplanting to another container. Seed Flat Cell Packs

52. Containers Peat pots Can be planted directly in the soil. Jiffy 7 pellet Can be panted directly in the soil. Peat Pots Jiffy 7 Pellets

53. Containers Plastic, Clay, & Styrofoam Pots Come in various sizes & shapes. Clay Pots Styrofoam Pots Plastic Pots

54. Containers Hanging Baskets Used to hang plants. Hanging Baskets

55. Standard Pots Containers Standard Pots The same size width at the top as it is high. Azalea Pots ¾ as high as its top diameter or width. Azalea Pots

56. Transplanting Bedding Plants

57. Seedlings should have true leaves…. Not just seed leaves or cotyledons. Waiting too long causes transplant shock. Hold plants by their leaves: Holding by the stem will bruise the stem causing plant death.

58. Transplanting Bedding Plants Media may need to be loosened with a pot label to keep from breaking stem & roots. Do not shake medium off roots.

59. Transplanting Bedding Plants Use dibble or other means to make a hole for the transplanting seedling. Plant seedling in the media in the new container slightly deeper than it grew in the flat and gently press media around roots.

60. Transplanting Bedding Plants Water gently to settle media around roots. Keep moist for a few days to prevent wilting & drying. Grow and harden-off before selling.

61. Designed By: Johnny M. Jessup; FFA Advisor Hobbton High School