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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
