Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage

1. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage Chapter 23

2. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Unit 10 Objectives: • Identify types of flower/foliage plants people buy in different times of the year • Time from planting to income production • Understand watering precautions • Transplanting indoor flowers/foliage to the outdoors • The greenhouse environment

3. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Flower Business • People buy flowers at different times of the year for different reasons

5. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Floriculture contributes $3 b to the economy each yr • Herbaceous Perennials • Classified as herbaceous if the top dies back to the ground each winter, grows new stems each yr • Classified as woody if the top persists • Advantages • Don’t have to replant each yr • The flower bed can change colors as one variety flowers, then another

6. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Not as necessary to deadhead • Disadvantages • Only bloom 2-3 wks • Require pruning • May require transplanting every 2-3 yrs • Growing Perennials • Keys • Proper soil preparation • Planning • Occasional maintenance

7. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Selection • Site influences the species grown • What might be an example? • Most prefer 6-8 hrs sun/d • May have to consider wind protection for taller varieties • Planning • Color combinations • Height coordination • Bloom sequencing • Plan on graph paper carefully

8. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Properly planned perennial gardens will have flowers that bloom in each season • Spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer/fall • Plant in drifts • Taller varieties to the back to act as a border • Spacing • 6-12” for dwarf plants • 12-18” for medium sizes • 18-36” for tall plants • Soil Preparation • Good drainage necessary • Don’t want it excessively moist during winter dormancy

9. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Incorporate organic matter or peat moss to improve drainage • Prepare in the fall • Especially good in raised beds • Planting • Usually planted in the spring (Apr – May) • Mail order nurseries will often ship bare-rooted • Plant ASAP • Potted perennials • Plant throughout the growing season • If exposed to the outside temps through the winter – can be planted in early spring • Greenhouse grown – after last frost

10. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Cover exposed crowns after planting to protect • Weed-free bed • Grow best if planted before Oct 1 to ensure good rooting • Watering • Most need supplemental water until well established • 1”/wk • Once established – only water during dry periods • Water preferred over the soil rather than overhead to prevent disease and shallow rooting • Fertilization • Incorporate a 4-12-4 or 5-10-5 @ 2-3 lbs/100 sq ft before planting

11. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Established plants • Bone meal, superphosphate (0-19-0) in spring will be most beneficial • Maintenance • May have to stake taller varieties • Pinching back will produce bushier growth • Mulch helps control weeds • Not too much mulch around the crown – will hold too much moisture, results in disease • Winter protection • Most injured by heaving, not cold temps • Mulch will help protect

12. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Make sure the mulch isn’t too tight or thick • Dividing & transplanting • Maintains plant vigor & maximum flower production • Usually every 3-4 yrs • Some should never be divided • Timing is critical • Midsummer to fall bloom – divide in early spring before too much growth • Spring to early summer – divide in the fall, after foliage dies • Procedure • Dig hole large enough to catch all the roots • Carefully avoid root damage

13. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Divide outside off first – more vigorous new growth • Clean off all other soil • May want to cut top back to 6” • Break apart by hand, or with sharp knife • Replant ASAP • Diseases & Insects • Usually very healthy plants • Remove any dead plant material • Propagation • From tips • Root cuttings

14. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Flowering Annuals • Will only persist if they reseed themselves • Must be planted each yr • Advantages • Versatile • Sturdy • Cheap • Easy to grow • Produce instant color

15. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Bloom for most of the growing season • Allow for experimentation • Color • Height • Texture • Form • Disadvantages • Replant each yr • Constant deadheading to maintain flowering • May begin to look worn out by late summer

16. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Uses • Fill spaces until permanent plantings are prepared • Extending perennial beds • Fill holes • Cover spring blooming bulbs • Fill planters, window boxes, hanging baskets • Plant along fences, walkways • Create seasonal color

17. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Site Selection & Preparation • Different species have different environmental preferences • Fall soil preparation is best • Ensure good drainage • Incorporate organic matter • Use proper fertilizer • Seed Selection • Buy good, viable seed • Old seed is less vigorous, reduced germination

18. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Buy hybrid varieties • More uniform size • Increased plant vigor • Better quality flowers • Starting Plants Indoors • Use clean containers • Fill to 2/3 capacity • Plant at proper depth • Bottom heat is helpful • 60-75º ideal • Use mild fertilizer after plants begin growth • Low nutrient content is best at planting

19. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Planting Times • Wait till after last frost • <60º soil temp will reduce germination & growth • Sowing Seed Outdoors • Sow in vermiculite filled furrows • Germination is often reduced • Soil crusting reduces water presence • 1/2” depth • Easy to overwater

20. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Setting out Transplants • Can have flowers sooner than growing from seeds • Buy only healthy plants • Harden off properly • Plant in a hole that will hold all the roots comfortably • Setting Plants • Remove paper from a fiber pot and plant • Remove upper part to conserve moisture to around the plant • Will create a wick effect

21. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Thinning • Thin to recommended spacing for best results • Especially in outdoor-grown plants • 8-12” general recommended spacing • Ensures proper amounts of: • Light • Water • Nutrients • Space • Watering • Water enough to keep soil moist (don’t get soggy) • Drip systems are ideal

22. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Don’t want to wet flowers or foliage • More susceptible to disease • Mulching • Keeps soil surface from crusting • Prevents weeds • Cultivation • Keep soil surface from crusting • Pull weeds by hand • Feeder roots from flower to flower may be injured if you mechanically cultivate

23. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Stirs and uncovers weed seeds • Deadheading • Remove spent flowers and seeds pods • Ageratum, calendula, cosmos, marigolds, pansy, zinnia, petunias, etc • Staking • Support for bad weather for tall plants • 6” shorter than the mature plant • Begin when they are 1/3 of mature height

24. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Fertilizing • Ensure proper soil nutrients • Soil testing • Prior knowledge • Add to damp soil • Apply w/ watering • Bulbs • Contain embryonic plant & stored food

25. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Site Selection & Soil • Well-drained loam • Use organic matter • Planting • Bulb planter, hand trowel, or nursery spade • Planted in fall/spring (depending on variety) • Follow depth recommendations for each variety • Fertilizing • Small amount of fertilizer covered w/ soil on bottom of bed before planting (5-10-5) • Small amount in the spring

26. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Care & Flowering • Dig up after foliage turns yellow & dies • Some must be dug each yr to maintain the best flowers • Tulips, hyacinths • Others only need to be dug every 3-5 yrs • Daffodil, crocus, lilly • Dust w/ a pesticide to prevent infestation • Store in peat moss or sawdust • Bulb Pest & Diseases • Keep bed weed and trash free

27. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Use chemicals only if necessary • Forcing Bulbs • Artificially breaking dormancy • Pot & store at 40-50º for 10-12 wks • Bring into a cool room w/ partial light • Will then bloom after taken from cool storage w/in 5 wks • Flowering House Plants • Several keys to growing good flowering house plants

28. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Light • Know proper light requirements • 5 categories • Full sun: >5 hrs direct sun/d • Some direct sun: brightly lit, <5 hrs direct sun/d • Bright indirect light: considerable light, no direct sun • Partial shade: indirect light, various intensities/durations • Shade: poorly lit, away from windows • Temperature • Constant temps are best • 60-68º ideal

29. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Water/Humidity • Water requirements are not as high as we think • Many die from overwatering • Water only when they are a little dry • Must have good drainage • Can bottom or top water • General Care • 5-5-5 fertilizer will usually provide ample nutrients • Slow release will eliminate risk for burning • Don’t fertilize a dormant or overly dry plant • Collect dead leaves • Loosen crusted soil

30. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Repotting • Repot no more than 2” greater than previous pot • Only after flowers have faded • Remove damaged/unhealthy roots • Propagation • Depends on type of plant • Generally leaf/stem cuttings

31. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • The Greenhouse Environment • 3 purposes • Controlled environment for plants grown on large scale • Grow plants when not possible outdoors • Extend growing season for plants that would go dormant • Should receive maximum amount of sunlight • Should control: • Temp • Moisture • Ventilation • Climate

32. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • Humidity is important to help maintain shape & nutrient transport • Ventilation • Exchanging air is crucial for optimal growth • Ensures proper temp & humidity • Climate affects heating/cooling systems • Features • Various base materials • Covers • Glass, soft plastic, acrylic panels, poly panels

33. Unit 10: Flowers & Foliage • No homework on this unit! • Exam 3 next time • Open notes/book • Units 6-10 • Mustmake arrangements for notes before you leave!