The Ecke catalog recommends that Cascadia Petunias be pinched & floreled. Is this necessary in Montgomery, AL or is florel only sufficient to make a quality HB?
Posts: 1 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: Mon March 06 2006
Our Florel recommendations in the catalog are only to suggest that Florel can be used on that particular Genus. We are not suggesting that it must be used on the crops listed for a successful crop.
Cascadias branch nicely, especially in your environment, without the use of Florel. However, an application will enhance branching and help push out the breaks. With hanging baskets where good branching is essential, a Florel application certainly won't hurt. It is important to remember though that it will delay flowering by about 6 weeks so an application should be timed accordingly to fit the growers schedule. Florel is often used in propagation for growth regulating and to zero out the flowering effect (abort buds) on cuttigs that are budded. Vegetative cuttings root more easily because energy is not being spent on reproductive functions. This technique will contribute to a more uniform flower display later in the crop. Applications at pinch are the most effective to enhance branching. Florel also offers some mild growth regulator effects so a grower's PGR schedule should be adjusted accordingly. It is also important to note that if this is the first time working with Florel on petunias, applications should be tested on each variety as varieties responses may be different.
Pinching is also not necessary on fastcrops or smaller containers. On hanging baskets the growing tip should be pinched out 1-2 weeks after transplant. Additional pruning or shearing can be done to correct for stretch or to shape the basket but this will delay flowering by 3-5 weeks.
