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Bedding Plant Production. By: Johnny M. Jessup Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor. Introduction. Bedding plants are herbaceous plants that are normally grown in outdoor beds to provide colorful blooms or foliage for a landscape. Bedding Plants. Fastest growing segment of floriculture
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Bedding Plant Production By: Johnny M. Jessup Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor
Introduction • Bedding plants are herbaceous plants that are normally grown in outdoor beds to provide colorful blooms or foliage for a landscape.
Bedding Plants • Fastest growing segment of floriculture • Best Sellers (% of US Market) • Impatiens (44%) • Geraniums (20%) • Petunias (14%) • Other top sellers are…. • Begonias • Marigolds • Pansies
Impatiens • Grow 6-18” high w/ succulent stems. • Lance shaped leaves.
Impatiens • Small and rounded flowers with five petals and one petal is shaped like a tube that protrudes from the underside of the flower • Pink, lavender, red, white, purple, salmon and coral.
Impatiens • Spaced 12-18” and needs partial sun or shade. • May be propagated from seeds or cuttings.
Impatiens • Time from seeding to market packs is about 8 weeks • Seeds should be placed on surface of medium and covered lightly • Germination requires light and temperature of 60-70F • Can be propagated from cuttings • Have been the number one bedding crop for years • Grow well in shade
Geraniums • Grow 12-18” • Leaves are rounded with scalloped edges. • Red, white, or pink flowers. • 2/3 of plants sold are red.
Geraniums • Need direct sunlight and 10-12” spacing. • May be propagated from seeds or cutting and transplanted.
Geraniums • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. • Seeds are large and have to be scarified because of hard seed coats (seed company).
Geraniums • Cover seeds with an 1/8” of soil. • Medium (soil mix) should be about 75oF. • Can be propagated from cuttings (bigger and more numerous flowers).
Petunias • Grow from 6-18” tall and have flowers with a tube shaped base. • Flower colors are red, pink, white, blue, and pastels. • Spaced 10-12”
Petunias • Grown from seeds and transplanted. • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 10 weeks and 11 weeks in pots. • Sow seeds on surface of medium. (285,000 seed to an ounce) • Need light and 70oF -80oF germinating medium temperature.
Petunias • Many different types and colors. • One of top five annuals in the US for over 100 years.
Begonias • Grow 6-13” high with pink, red or white flowers. • Spaced 6-10” and need direct sunlight.
Begonias • May be propagated from seeds or cuttings and then transplanted.
Begonias • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. • Small seed should be lightly pressed into surface of germinating medium. • Germination requires 65-70 F medium temperature. • Can be propagated with stem cuttings. • Plants do well in full sun to shade.
Marigolds • Grow 6” to 4’ tall with orange or yellow flowers. • Pungent aroma. • Spaced 6-12” apart . • Best in full sunlight. • Grown from seeds or transplants
Marigolds • Time from seeding to market is about 9 weeks in packs and 10 weeks in pots. • Cover seeds with ¼” of medium. • Germination medium should be 70-75oF.
Marigolds • Grow outdoors in full sun. • Plants grow 6”-4’ tall. • Few problems.
Pansies • Grow 6-8” tall and have moon shaped flowers in many colors…. • Blue, purple, yellow, white, pink, and red. • Spaced 6-8” and grown in full sun. • Grown from seeds and transplanted. • Cool season bedding plant.
Pansies • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 12 weeks and 13 weeks in pots. • Seeds should be planted on surface of medium and covered with paper to keep dark. • Media 70oF. • Grow in full sun. • Cool weather bedding plant.
Pansies • Growing Pansies in Eastern NC • BUY PLUGS!!! (It is impossible to have germination media at 70oF during August) • Seeded plants usually turn leggy and ugly.
Problems, Causes & Solutions Related with Bedding Plant Production
Cultural Problems • Caused by one of four problems: • Germination problems. • Fertilization problems. • Uneven growth. • Tall & spindly growth.
Cultural Problems – Germination • Are caused by…. • Improper temperature. • Over-watering. • Underwatering. • Chemical residues in medium. • Seed planting depth. • Low quality seeds.
Cultural Problems – Germination • Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. • Using high-quality seeds. • Planted at proper depth in medium. • Having no chemical residues. • Maintaining proper temperature. • Maintain proper moisture levels.
Cultural Problems – Fertilization • Are caused by…. • Lack of nutrients. • Root injury. • Improper pH of medium. • Excessive fertilization.
Cultural Problems – Fertilization • Problems can be solved by…. • Testing soil or media. • Applying correct amounts & kinds of nutrients and pH correcting materials.
Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth • Caused by…. • Poor mixing of medium. • Uneven moisture levels. • Unlevel flats. • Poor grading of seedlings.
Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth • Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. • Proper mixing of media. • Even watering. • Grading seedlings by size and quality. • Placing flats level.
Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth • Caused by…. • Too much nitrogen fertilizer. • Overwatering. • Low light intensity. (Too much shade) • High temperatures.
Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth • Problems can be solved by…. • Correct amount of nitrogen. • Reducing frequency of watering. • Lowering temperature. • Providing more light. • Using growth retardant. (B-Nine)
Diseases • Plant diseases cause…. • Seedlings to fall over. • Lower to turn brown, rot and dry.
Damping Off Botrytis Causes of Plant Disease • Seedlings falling over caused by either…. • Stem rot • Damping off • Lower leaves turning brown rotting & drying caused by…. • Botrytis
Controlling Plant Diseases • Controlling stem rot & damping off • Using sterilized media. • Using fungicides. • Improving air circulation around plants. • Botrytis • Increasing air temperature. • Increase circulation round plants. • Using proper fungicide.
Insects • Insects cause…. • Plants to be missing. • Holes in the leaves or plant parts to be missing.
Insects – Causes • Plants being missing caused by…. • Slugs. • Snails. • Cockroaches.
Aphids Mealy bugs Scale insects Thrips Whiteflies Flea beetles Fungus gnats Leaf miners Cutworms Caterpillars Insects – Causes • Holes in the leaves or missing plant parts are caused by….
Aphids Mealybugs Thrips Scale Insects
Whiteflies Flea Beetle Fungus Gnats Leaf Miners Insects
Cutworms Caterpillars Insects
Controlling Insects • Insects can be prevented or controlled by…. • Using baits. • Recommended insecticides.
Media • Media is the material used to start and grow plants. • The 3 main types are…. • Soil • Inorganic materials • Commercially prepared mixes.
Soil • Must be mixed with other materials such as peat moss to add organic matter and improve aeration and drainage.
Inorganic Materials • Improve aeration & drainage. • Examples include…. • Sand • Finely ground stone • Gravel
Perlite Vermiculite Inorganic Materials • Perlite • Expanded volcanic rock. • Neutral pH (7.0 – 7.5) • Sterile • Vermiculite • Expanded mica • Sterile
Commercially Prepared Mixes • Mixes that are sterile, contain no insects, weeds or diseases. • Types include…. • Jiffy-Mix • Redi-Earth • Pro-Mix • Sunshine Mix • Metro Mix • Other brands are available