Success With Pansies In The Winter Landscape

1. Success With Pansies In The Winter Landscape By Paul A. Thomas, The University of Georgia

2. Objectives: Review Critical Purchasing Decision Points Establish A Growth Control Strategy Review A Nitrate-Based Nutrition Program Review Common Pansy Maladies

3. Factors That Affect Pansy Scheduling Plug Size – 288 trays finish in 4-5 weeks, whereas 406’s and 512’s finish in 6 to 7 weeks. Outdoor Production - can delay crop schedules 2 to 3 weeks, however, quality of the plant is often superior and consumer satisfaction higher. Staggered Plug Arrivals - are more efficient that one crop shipment. Having a continuous supply in different stages of growth ensures you will have what your customer wants. Try to minimize plug tray holding time.

4. Containers 1801’s – Allows a larger root system, best for landscapers and pansies scheduled for color bowl construction. 606 Deep Cell - Allows 36 plants per tray, but with a greater root system. A hybrid container for upscale garden centers and landscapers looking for reduced prices. 1203’s - are more efficient that one crop shipment. Having a continuous supply in different stages of growth ensures you will have what your customer wants. Slim Line 1203’s - 10% to 20% smaller than a standard 1203, and used in mass merchandizing outlets.

5. Fall Scheduling Turn-1 Turn -2 Turn-3 1801’s 4 wks 4 - 5 wks 5-6 wks 1203’s Slims 4 wks 5 - 6 wks 6-7 wks 606 - Deep 6 wks 7 - 8 wks 8-9 wks 4” pots 6 wks 7 - 8 wks 8-9 wks Cooler than normal temperatures, over-watering and drought stress will lengthen production schedules. Application of some plant growth regulators may delay production schedules.

6. Crop Diversification Is Essential Violas, Ornamental Cabbage Flowering Kale Snapdragons Mustards Swiss Chard Dianthus

7. Light and Photoperiod Annals of Botany 80: 107-112 1997 The Effects of Temperature, Photoperiod and Light Integral on the Time to Flowering of Pansy cv. Universal Violet (Viola wittrockiana Gams.) S. R. ADAMS, S. PEARSON and P. HADLEY The Department of Horticulture, School of Plant Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AS, UK. Pansies are Quantitative Long Day Plants!

8. High Temperature Is An Issue! An average daily air temperature above 85 F and/or ADT of soil above 75 F is a big problem. Pansies undergo high respiration. Photosynthate is used up. Pansies will stretch and decline. Flowering will be reduced. MULCH! Preferred night air temperature is 55oF. Soil temperature is best between 55 and 65oF. Planting early is a big risk.

9. Low Temperature Is An Issue Soil temperatures below 45oF causes slow growth due to low uptake of nutrients. Frozen soil transmits “ZERO” fertility! Plants stop flowering and appear starving even if swimming in high fertility! Leaves may turn purple during extended cold periods. Mulch helps!

10. Controlling Growth Keep soil temperatures cool, especially at night. Keep airflow high by avoiding crowding! Grow plants on the dry side of moist. Early morning irrigation ( brief ) can be used to reduce soil temperatures in early morning…..only! Mulch to reduce heat load!

11. Plant Growth Regulators B-Nine ...............…..... 2500 ppm to 5000 ppm. B-Nine + Cycocel....... 1000 ppm B9 & 1000 ppm Cyc. Arest .......................... 5 - 10 ppm Sumagic ..................... 1.0 - 3 ppm Bonzi .......................... 3 - 20 ppm Florel .........……......... 500 ppm (Northeast/Midwest) Growers in the South should use LESS Florel……..Start at 100 ppm and do repeated applications.

12. Shipping And Handling Handle trays as little as possible to prevent ethylene. Have plants shipped dry if locally grown, and be sure to deadhead spent flowers upon receipt. Avoid excess heat build up if holding or staging. Too Much Handling Ethylene Damage

13. Managing Nitrogen Hot Weather: Use high nitrate fertilizers such as 15-2-20. Cool Weather: Use balanced ammoniacal/nitrate fertilizers such as 20-10-20. Stalled Growth: Use 20-20-20 sparingly…usually one application stimulates growth in Spring. Supplement with calcium-nitrate and monitor boron levels after 4 weeks. Be sure to keep phosphorus levels low. Verify!

14. Form Of Nitrogen

15. As Temperature Increases, The Negative Effects of Ammoniacal Nitrogen Increases All Plants Received 100ppm Nitrogen

16. High Temperature Effect 100 ppm 90oF

17. Fertility Management Keep soil pH above 4.8 and below 5.8. Thielaviopsis ! Maintain EC below 1.5 mmhos … never any higher! Record rainfall – It strongly affects fertility levels. Consider Continuous vs. Pulse Fertilization Adopt Pour-Thru sampling and stick to it. Purchase a High Quality pH and EC meter Record pH, EC and Growth Observations

18. Soil Test Recommendations Peat-based media incorporation is best. Use highest porosity soils available. Pre-test pH drift prior to planting to test lime REQ’s! Do lab-tests for trace elements - all should be low. Test in August, November and February!!!!!

19. Soil Test Guidelines Nitrogen NO3 @ 100 ppm, Nh4 @ >20ppm Phosphorus P2O5 @ 5 - 10 ppm Potassium K20 @ 100-120 ppm Magnesium Mg @ 60 -80 ppm Calcium Ca @ 100 - 120 Iron Fe @ 100 - 130 ppm Manganese Mn @ 70 -100ppm Boron B@ 25-30 ppm Copper Cu @ 5 - 10 ppm Zinc Zn @ 35 - 85 ppm Sulfur/Sulfates S @ <80 ppm, Sodium Na @> 50 ppm Chlorides Cl @< 30 ppm,

20. Foliar Guidelines Total N @ 3.5 - 4.5 % P @ 0.3 - 1.0 % K @ 3.0 - 4.5 % Ca @ 0.6 - 1.2 % Mg @ 0.3 - 0.6 % Na @ 0.1 - 0.4 % B @ 20 - 50 ppm Cu @ 5 - 15 ppm Fe @ 100 - 300 ppm Mn @ 100 - 300 ppm Zn @ 35 - 100 ppm

21. Nutrient Deficiencies Purpling of Lower leaves - Phosphorus deficiency Can be caused by high light levels and keeping plants too dry. Use 15-5-15 fertilizer, do not direct supplement! Yellow Tip Growth - Iron deficiency Elevated media pH over 6.5, high alkalinity, or excessive applications of CaNo3. Iron sulfate can be added in increments to reduce pH. Tip abortion / Stunting - Boron deficiency Frequent applications of CaNo3, or a soil pH over 6.5 Use Solubor or borax - be very careful!

22. Cold Weather Starvation Symptoms: Leaf Purpling Few Flowers Chorotic Centers

23. Boron Deficiency Symptoms: Thick, Irregular Leaves Tightly Bunched Centers Split Leaves w/ Holes Deep Green-greyish Tint Growth Stops No Flowering Re-growth Takes Forever

24. Pansies … The Dark Side

25. Disease Management 1. Make every effort to maximize sanitation. 2. Have a management plan in place before planting. Plan for common diseases. Timing is essential. 3. Make every effort to maximize air flow across crop 4. Minimize the splashing between flats. Remove dead or dying plants immediately. Thielaviopsis

26. Diseases Thielaviopsis - Maintain an acidic soil pH! Pythium Rhizoctonia Cercospora Botrytis Anthracnose Powdery Mildew

27. Pests Western Flower Thrips Aphids White flies Fungus Gnats Pansy Worms Black Cutworm Spider Mites Slugs Cut Worms Are The Worst

28. Mottle Pansy Syndrome

29. Horticultural Oils Symptoms: Tissue Clearing Tissue Collapse Necrosis Disease if not cleaned up Horticultural Oil

30. Overdose Of Triazole PGR Symptoms: Bunched leaves Leaf cupping Slow growth Absent flowering Triazole

31. Dishwashing Soap Symptoms: Immediate Cleared Tissue Leaf Death Symptoms: Delayed Chlorosis Growth Stunting

32. Heat Shock / Stretch Symptoms: Rapid elongation Smaller Flowers Fewer Flowers Lower Leaf Chlorosis Root Decline

33. Over- Fertilization Symptoms: Marginal Chlorosis Entire Leaf Yellowing Basal Leaf Yellowing No New Blooms Necrosis / Death Root Damage

34. Pansy Production Handbook And Web Site* * Project funded by the Gloeckner Foundation

35. Publications • Success with Pansies in the Winter Landscape: A Guide for Landscape Professionals B 1359. Newly Revised! • Whipker, B., T.J. Cavins, and J.L. Gibson. 2002. Managing Fall Pansy Fertilization. NCSU Extension