1. All handouts will be available at www.lanier.ffanow.org

2. Tracey Cortez Lanier High School Austin, Texas Growing Poinsettias: A First Timers Guide

3. Background Information South American native Brought to the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett In 1909 the Ecke Family began specializing in Poinsettias Ecke is now the premier breeder of poinsettias

4. Current Trends Red was the primary color up until the 1990’s Novelties Rose Forms Colors Leaf Shapes Stronger stem architecture Free branching characteristics Timing Forms

5. Poinsettias in a School Greenhouse Poinsettias are easy to grow and only require a little patience and luck to be successful Easy after the first year Can be very profitable and educational

6. Greenhouse Environment Must have a greenhouse that is able to cool and is semi automated Greenhouse should be free of weeds and insects The entire greenhouse should be sterilized before planting Bleach Zerotol* Green Shield Triathlon*

7. Growing Media Use a high porosity peat based growing media Pro-Mix BX* or HP Sunshine #4 Add vermiculite or perlite to current media Try adding compost to the media Do not use bark based mixes Add a biological fungicide if available Root Shield Actinovate*

8. Containers 6.5” Azalea Pot 1 ppp 10” Azalea Pot 3-4 ppp 10” Hanging Baskets 3-4 ppp Support Cages Will save you $$$ Use only dark colored pots

9. Red Prestige Early Red Prestige Red - #1 Poinsettia in the world Enduring Red - Series Classic Red - Series

10. White Polar Bear - New Snowcap Enduring White - Series Classic White - Series

11. Jingle Shimmer Surprise - RW Shimmer Pink - PW Sonora White Glitter - RW Ice Punch - New

12. Novelties Prestige Maroon Winter Rose Orange Spice Polly’s Pink

13. Timing Early Season 6 – 8.5 Week Response Times Thanksgiving Sales Mid Season 8.5 – 9 Week Response Times December 1 st Sales Late Season 9 – 9.5 Week Response Times December 7 th and Beyond Sales

14. Rooted Cuttings Order rooted cuttings by the end of February If you haven’t ordered yet you still can Arrive early, mid, or late August Usually sold in 100’s Brokers: Ellison's Greenhouses Paul Ecke Ranch Park Seed Wholesale Jolly Farmer

15. Planting Fill all pots with moist soil and place in the greenhouse 12 hours prior to planting Plant rooted cutting even with the soil line Plant in the early morning hours Water in well with clear water Drench fungicide if possible

16. Care Before Pinching Water the newly planted rooted cuttings with clear water for 2 days Begin Fertilizing on day 3 Peters EXCEL Cal-Mag 15-5- 15 200 ppm Nitrogen Try incorporating compost tea into your fertilizer rotation Soak the floors with water to cool the greenhouse by evaporation

17. Florel – Sandwich Technique 3 Days before your pinch 5 Days after you pinch 50 ml per gallon Will make the plants look like they are stressed This will increase and even the number of breaks that the plant produces See information on the Ecke Website

18. Pinching Should be performed approximately 2 weeks after planting Roots should reach the sides of the pot Leave 5-6 nodes should be left on the plant Install support cages

19. Spacing and Irrigation Space on minimum 12” centers Irrigation is best done by a drip system Continuous liquid feeding system Flush with clear water once a week Let plants dry out slightly between watering

20. Growth Regulators Should be used to keep internode length to approximately 1 inch Cycocel/B-9 Follow the labels Cut off before flower initiation Bonzi* Micro drench of.10 ppm every 7-10 days 1 ml per 10 gallons 1oz of drench per 1” of pot

21. Monitoring Height Produce a 14”-16” plant Ecke On Target available at www.ecke.com www.ecke.com Use a yard stick with a slider made out of paper Height should be recorded weekly along with notes

22. Height Control Example

23. Insecticides Follow label instructions Tristar 30 SG* Systemic 30 day residual Talstar* Quick knock down Marathon Granular Tame/Orthene Aerosol (Kills Adults)* Only in early stages of growth Preclude Aerosol (Kills Eggs)* Only in early stages of growth Safari New and expensive

24. First Color Should begin seeing color around the last week of October Begin spraying with calcium chloride weekly to prevent foliar diseases Calcium Chloride available from Sargent Welch See Ecke Technical Bulletin on the Ecke Website

25. Color Progression

26. Finishing Water with clear water 10 days prior to sale Day temperature - 75º Night temperature - 66º Continue calcium sprays Make sure that you have visible pollen before selling plants Make sure that your order shipping sleeves and pot covers in October

27. Poinsettia Sale 6.5” pots $6.00 - $8.00 10” pots and baskets $12.00 - $15.00 1-day sale on a Saturday Use Craig’s list School email FFA website

28. Resources Ecke Website Ecke Tech Help Bulletin Boards Ecke Tech Help Bulletin Boards Poinsettia Height Control Ecke Poinsettia Manual

29. Other Ideas Pansies 288 Plugs Whitton Greenhouses Holiday Cactus North Carolina Plant Farms North Carolina Plant Farms Vegetative Annuals

30. Contact Info Tracey Cortez tcortez@austinisd.org (512) 414-7429 www.lanier.ffanow.org