All handouts will be available at

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

Tracey CortezLanier High School

Austin, Texas

Growing Poinsettias: A First Timers Guide

Background InformationSouth American

nativeBrought 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

Current Trends Red was the primary

color up until the 1990’s Novelties

Rose FormsColorsLeaf Shapes

Stronger stem architecture

Free branching characteristics

Timing Forms

Poinsettias in a School GreenhousePoinsettias 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

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 plantingBleachZerotol*Green ShieldTriathlon*

Growing Media Use a high porosity peat

based growing mediaPro-Mix BX* or HPSunshine #4Add vermiculite or perlite

to current mediaTry adding compost to

the media Do not use bark based

mixes Add a biological fungicide

if availableRoot ShieldActinovate*

Containers6.5” Azalea Pot

1 ppp10” Azalea Pot

3-4 ppp10” Hanging Baskets

3-4 pppSupport Cages

Will save you $$$Use only dark

colored pots

RedPrestige Early RedPrestige Red - #1

Poinsettia in the world

Enduring Red - Series

Classic Red - Series

WhitePolar Bear - New SnowcapEnduring White -

SeriesClassic White - Series

JingleShimmer Surprise -

RWShimmer Pink - PWSonora White Glitter

- RWIce Punch - New

NoveltiesPrestige MaroonWinter RoseOrange SpicePolly’s Pink

TimingEarly Season

6 – 8.5 Week Response TimesThanksgiving Sales

Mid Season8.5 – 9 Week Response TimesDecember 1st Sales

Late Season9 – 9.5 Week Response TimesDecember 7th and Beyond Sales

Rooted CuttingsOrder rooted cuttings

by the end of FebruaryIf you haven’t ordered

yet you still canArrive early, mid, or

late AugustUsually sold in 100’sBrokers:

Ellison's GreenhousesPaul Ecke RanchPark Seed WholesaleJolly Farmer

PlantingFill 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

Care Before PinchingWater the newly planted

rooted cuttings with clear water for 2 days

Begin Fertilizing on day 3Peters EXCEL Cal-Mag 15-

5-15200 ppm Nitrogen

Try incorporating compost tea into your fertilizer rotation

Soak the floors with water to cool the greenhouse by evaporation

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

PinchingShould 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

Spacing and IrrigationSpace on minimum

12” centersIrrigation 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

Growth RegulatorsShould be used to

keep internode length to approximately 1 inch

Cycocel/B-9Follow the labelsCut off before flower

initiationBonzi*

Micro drench of .10 ppm every 7-10 days

1 ml per 10 gallons 1oz of drench per 1”

of pot

Monitoring HeightProduce a 14”-16”

plantEcke On Target

available at www.ecke.com

Use a yard stick with a slider made out of paper

Height should be recorded weekly along with notes

Height Control Example

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

First ColorShould 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

Color Progression

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

Poinsettia Sale6.5” pots

$6.00 - $8.0010” pots and baskets

$12.00 - $15.001-day sale on a

SaturdayUse Craig’s listSchool emailFFA website

ResourcesEcke WebsiteEcke Tech Help

Bulletin BoardsPoinsettia Height

ControlEcke Poinsettia

Manual

Other IdeasPansies

288 PlugsWhitton

GreenhousesHoliday Cactus

North Carolina Plant FarmsVegetative Annuals

Contact InfoTracey Corteztcortez@austinisd.o

rg(512) 414-7429www.lanier.ffanow.

org