We are growing straight ups using Red Splendor. We have used this variety before with a few split bracts. This year, probably 75% of the bracts are split. We did not use growth retardants last year and they came out just right. This year, we followed the same schedule and some of the splendors are 24" high.

Some more information about your schedule would be good here.....

When did you plant?
From rooted or unrooted cuttings?

Please get back to us with the schedule for your crop. Thanks!

We received the cuttings the first week in September. All cuttings were planted by September 8. We used natural light to induce flowering. No growth retardents were used. Temperatures set from 65 at night to 72 during the day. The fall was unusually warm which may have changed the parameters during the day. I would say that quite a few days the daytime temperatures approached 85F. Not only did the bracts split, the plant added about 12" above their normal height. I was out of the country for six weeks during this time and only have my caretakers to tell what happened.

I failed to mention that the cuttings were rooted.