Horticulture 429

Synopsis- In this weeks lab we took home our tomatoes, cosmos, alyssum, and basil. Two basil cells we were required to transplant into 4.5″ pots.

Pests- There were a total of 59 thrips and 21 fungus gnats. This meant an increase of 2 thrips.

Nutrition- We were not required to take EC/pH this week.

Growth- We continued measurements on our four crop portfolio plants. The ‘Tango Dark Red’ zonal geranium was measured at 16cm x 27cm with a 1cm increase in width, the ‘Sophie Cascade’ ivy geranium was measured at 24cm x 57cm with an increase by 1cm x 4cm, the ‘Miramar’ mum was measured at 23cm x 32cm with an increase of 2cm x 2cm, and finally the snapdragon was measured at 78cm x 33cm with an increase of 17cm in height.

 Cultural Treatments- We trimmed the Ipomoea from out of the center of the mixed container so that it want impede growth on the other plants. We thinned the peppers to 1 seedling per cell and the petunias to 3 seedlings per cell. The fertilizer stayed the same this week. The zinnias, ivy geranium, zonal geraniums, and snapdragons were all fertilized with  200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The ferns and mums are to be watered with di-inoized water.

Synopsis- This week we planted nothing new, but observed the growth that occured over spring break. All of the plants had grown several centimeters including all of the seedlings. The growth was very healthy and vigorous.

Pests- Now that it has gotten warmer outside more pests are emerging. My sticky card had a total of 57 thrips and 21 fungus gnats. The thrips incresed by 15 and the fungus gnats increased by 8.

Nutrition- This weeks EC/pH readings came from the ‘Tango’ zonal geranium and the ‘Roanoke’ mum. The zonal geranium had  an average EC of 2.8 and an average pH of 6.13. The mum had an average EC of 2.97 and an average pH of 6.

Growth- We continued measurements on our four crop portfolio plants. The ‘Tango Dark Red’ zonal geranium was measured at 16cm x 26cm with a 2cm decrease in width, the ‘Sophie Cascade’ ivy geranium was measured at 23cm x 53cm with an increase by 7cm x 5cm, the ‘Miramar’ mum was measured at 21cm x 30cm with an increase of 4cm x 2cm, and finally the snapdragon was measured at 61cm x 33cm with an increase of 19cm in height.

Cultural Treatments- All the mums had the center bud removed except one plant which had all but the center bud removed to compare methods when flowers are open. The Heliotrope in the mixed container garden was disbudded. The marigolds were thinned a second time if needed and B-nine was sprayed on them to reduce internode elongation for a more compact uniform crop. The other seedlings were again thinned with tomatoes, peppers, and cosmos thinned to 1 seedling per cell; basil and petunias thinned to 3 seedlings per cell; and the alyssum thinned to 5 seedlings per cell. The zinnias were disbudded a second time to allow further vegetative growth. We got to take home the Easter lilies, azaleas, and chives.  The zinnias, ivy geranium, zonal geraniums, and snapdragons were all fertilized with  200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The ferns are still to be watered with di-inoized water. Fertilization of the mums was terminated this week. They will be watered now with di-ionized water.  

Synopsis- In this weeks lab we planted Rudbeckia ‘Indian Summer’ and potted up a vegetative annual mixed container. The rudbeckia was planted in 1-qt nursery container with each student getting a total of four pots with one plug per pot. The mixed annuals were potted up in a 10″ decorative terracota colored pot. It contained one each of Ipomea ‘Margarita’, Calibachoa ‘Superbelss Tequila Sunrise’, Heliotropium ‘Nagano’, Angelonia ‘Angelface Blue’, and Coleus ‘Rustic Orange’. All the plants were potted using Sunshine #1 media.

Pests- There was an increase of 3 thrips and 1 fungus gnat so a total of 42 thirps and 13 fungus gnats.

Nutrition- This week I measured the EC/pH of the ‘Miramar’ mum and ‘Avendia’ geranium. The mum had an average EC of .8 and an average pH of 7.1. The geranium had an average EC of 1.1 and an average pH of 6.97. No corrective measures were taken.

Growth- We continued measurements on our four crop portfolio plants. The ‘Tango Dark Red’ zonal geranium was measured at 16cm x 25cm with a 2cm x 1cm increase, the ‘Sophie Cascade’ ivy geranium was measured at 16cm x 48cm with an increase by 1cm x 1cm, the ‘Miramar’ mum was measured at 17cm x 28cm with an increase of 1cm in height, and finally the snapdragon was measured at 42cm x 33cm with an increase of 8cm in height. The initial rudbeckia height and width is 6cm x 14cm.

Cultural Treatments- The zinnia were watered with 200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The chives, ivy geranium, zonal geraniums, rudbeckia, and snapdragons were all changed to 200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The Easter lily fertilizer was not changed. The ferns and azaleas are still to be watered with di-inoized water.  Another grid was tied onto the tomato cage to give added support to the tall snapdragons. Disbud all geraniums for the last time, remove any dead leaves on geraniums, remove the blind shoots from the azaleas, and measure the Easter lily buds to make sure that there is under 14days til flowering. My largest bud was measured at 13cm so it had only 3 days til it began opening.  Two pots are to be placed on my bench to receive regular light and two pots are to be place on the night interruption The zinnia were watered with 200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The chives, ivy geranium, zonal geraniums, and snapdragons were all changed to 200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The Easter lily fertilizer was not changed. The ferns and azaleas are still to be watered with di-inoized water.  bench. The seedlings were thinned to one plant per cell and placed on our regular bench.  

Synopsis- In this weeks lab we planted ‘Profusion White’ zinnia in four 5″ pots. Each pot had one zinnia plant. We were also given one seed flat to plant either ’Durango Tangerine’ or ‘Durango Bolero’ marigolds in. The choice of variety was up to the watering partners. I chose to plant ’ Durango Tangerine’ in my flat. We planted two seeds per cell to ensure atleast one of them germinated into a healthy plant. We were also given a second seed tray to plant various types of seeds that the instructors found while cleaning out the seed bin. There were six types of seeds which included tomato, cosmos, basil, petunia, ornamental pepper, and alyssum. The seeds were planted in one six pack cell within the flat. Each cell were planted with 2 to 3 seeds to ensure germination of a healthy plant.

Pests- There was one new fungus gnat and seven new thrips on my sticky card. I did not see any insects on my plants which is wonderful!

Nutrition- The EC and pH were measured this week for the ‘Sophie Cascade’ ivy geranium which had an average EC of 1.3 and an average pH of 6.5, and Easter lily which had an average EC of .56 and an average pH of 6.45. No changes were made to either crop.

Growth- The zinnia plugs were measured for an initial measurement to compare at harvesting time. The height x width are 3cm x 6cm. We continued measurements on our four crop portfolio plants. The ‘Tango Dark Red’ zonal geranium was measured at 14cm x 24cm with a 4cm x 3cm increase, the ‘Sophie Cascade’ ivy geranium was measured at 15cm x 47cm with an increase by 1cm in width, the ‘Miramar’ mum was measured at 16cm x 28cm with an increase of 2cm x 2cm, and finally the snapdragon was measured at 34cm x 33cm with an increase of 4cm in height. There was an decrease of 1cm in width on the snapdragons.

Cultural Treatments- The ivy and zonal geraniums had the buds and dead leaves removed if there were any. The azaleas had the blind shoots removed in anticipation of flowering. The snapdragons had another string grid tied on 3 inches above the second grid for added support. The sow seeds and the marigolds had the media watered before sowing of the seeds so that they were not uncovered once planted. Up until germination they will be misted during the week. The petunia, ornamental pepper, and alyssum seeds need to be left uncovered because of their high requirement of light for germination. All the newly planted seeds were watered with de-ionized water. The zinnia were watered with 200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The chives, ivy geranium, zonal geraniums, and snapdragons were all changed to 200ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer. The Easter lily fertilizer was not changed. The ferns and azaleas are still to be watered with di-inoized water.