| Upon Arrival - Water as needed and keep in a full sun location until you are ready to plant. If you are
holding them for more than a day or two, constant liquid feed at 200 ppm. Avoid holding rooted aster
cuttings in the tray for more than a week so they do not "harden up". This could reduce branching or make
it uneven. |
| Potting Media - Mums can be successfully produced in a number of different soil-less media. Peat-lite,
pine bark and/or coir mixes can be used, however mums grown in peat-lite mixes are more likely to blow
over in the fields because they have a lower bulk density. The pH must be adjusted after wet-out to
between 5.7 and 6.2. |
| Planting - Plant at the same level the cuttings were in the cell pack. Water in immediately, preferably
with liquid feed (see Fertilization section). One cutting per pot is generally used up through 9"x 6" mum
pans. |
| Watering - Avoiding extremes is important; constantly waterlogged soil invites root rots and poor root
performance, underwatering can check the plant, and even encourage premature budding in the early
production stages. Drip irrigation avoids wetting the foliage and is preferable to overhead irrigation
systems. Several foliar diseases are encouraged by leaf wetting and open flowers can also be damaged by
overhead irrigation. |
| Fertilization - Water quality is important; have it tested before choosing a fertilizer program. Griffin
tests the water pH, soluble salts, and alkalinity, at no charge. Fertilizer and acid injection (if needed)
recommendations are provided with the results. |
Fertilizer Rates:
| |
Liquid Only |
Half Liquid/Half Controlled Release |
Controlled Release Only |
| At Planting |
250-300 ppm constant feed |
200 ppm constant feed |
300 ppm once per week |
| After 2 Weeks |
200 ppm constant feed |
300 ppm once per week |
Clear water |
| From 1st Color until Sale |
100 ppm constant feed |
Clear water |
Clear water |
|
| Use 20-20-20 during the first 2 weeks, including, when possible, those given the full rate of controlled
release fertilizer. This encourages soft growth that branches freely.After that, rotate 20-10-20 (3-4 times)
and a calcium nitrate based fertilizer such as 15-0-15 (1 time), at the rates indicated, except those with the
full rate of controlled release fertilizer. The alkalinity of your water will dictate the best rotation of
fertilizers. |
Controlled Release Rates for Different Size Containers:
| |
8 x 5 Pan
Half Liquid/
Half Cont. Release |
8 x 5 Pan
Controlled
Release Only |
9 x 6 Pan
Half Liquid/
Half Cont. Release |
9 x 6 Pan
Controlled Release Only |
Nutricote
13-13-13
(100 Days) |
1 Tablespoon
(1513 pots/bag) |
5 teaspoons
(908 pots/bag) |
4 teaspoons
(1132 pots/bag) |
2 Tablespoons
(756 pots/bag) |
Osmocote Plus
15-9-12
(8 - 9 months) |
1 Tablespoon
(1513 pots/bag) |
4 teaspoons
(1132 pots/bag) |
4 teaspoons
(1132 pots/bag) |
2 Tablespoons
(756 pots/bag) |
|
| Asters also benefit from additional Epsom salts being added to the irrigation water. Epsom salts
provides magnesium, which can help keep the foliage a dark green color. Use 2 oz of Epsom salts per 100
gallons along with your non-calcium based fertilizer on a constant basis, or pulse treatments of 8 oz per
100 gallons can be made every week or two as needed. Magnesium deficiency appears as interveinal
chlorosis of the lowest leaves. |
| Spacing - 8"x 5" Mum pans are grown on 18" centers, with 9"x 6" mum pans requiring up to 24". Fast crop 6" can be grown on 12" to 15" centers. |
| Scheduling/Pinching - The second or third week of June is the ideal time to plant pinched aster cuttings from cell packs for 8"x 5" or 9"x 6" pans. Pinch 2 or 3 times total at 14 day intervals. Pinching for the last time 2 weeks after the last pinch on mums helps the two crops bloom around the same time. (See Chemical Pinching below for an alternative to hand pinching.) |
| Fast Crop Scheduling - Some growers plant 2 pinched plants per 8"x 5" or 6"x9" pan during the first 2 weeks of July, and do not provide any additional pinches. Fast crop 6" pots can be planted at the same time, with one plant per pot. |
| Chemical Pinching - Florel can be used to replace mechanical pinching when applied as a thorough
foliar spray at 500 PPM (1.6 oz./gal.). Typically this is done one week before you would hand pinch. Even if your cell pack asters are pinched when you receive them they will benefit from an application of Florel applied as soon as possible after they arrive. This early treatment helps by getting the plants under the influence of Florel as early as possible. Repeated at two week intervals, Florel helps to keep plants
vegetative as well as providing more breaks per plant when compared to hand pinching. Florel also reduces internode elongation, reducing or eliminating the need for other growth regulators later in the
season. Labor savings are significant and greatly appreciated! Using more than 1 pinch and 3 Florel
treatments (counting the one applied when you received the pinched cuttings) is not usually desirable. So many branches are produced that stem strength is reduced and the plants may pull apart at flowering.
Most growers report great results from one application upon arrival, and one more 14 days later. You can also "time" your crop with Florel, since it delays flowering. Make your last Florel application before July 15th to avoid delaying the natural season flower date. CAUTION: Highly alkaline water may need to be
treated in order for Florel to be effective. When Florel is added to your spray tank it must be able to drop the pH of that solution to between 4.0 and 5.0 to work properly. Distilled or acidified water may be needed in some cases. Using pHase5 to adjust the pH of the spray water to between 5.5 and 6.0 before adding the Florel will allow the final solution to be in the correct range. Call Griffin Technical Support for more details on the use of Florel or pHase5. |
| Insects - Aphids, caterpillars, thrips and Powdery Mildew are common pests on garden asters. |
| Consult the "Insecticide and Fungicide Options for 2005" bulletin for current control options, available in PDF format. |
Back to Technical Bulletins
