Page 5 - Griffin Gazette Issue 1 - 2018

Plugs should be pull-able at 4 weeks with pots or larger patio containers. Use 1-2 Preventative fungicide treatments for
80% root mass. Sunfinity is a facultative plugs per 6- to 8-inch pot, 2-3 plugs per powdery mildew and downy mildew
long-day plant. Given 13-hour days 10- to 12-inch pot, and 3-4 plugs per 14- are recommended, especially in high-
or longer throughout plug production, inch and larger pots. humidity environments. Follow the
Sunfinity will finish in 7-8 weeks after The next important step is the big pinch. detailed culture provided by Syngenta
transplant regardless of finish daylengths. Flowers on their website or via your Griffin
If you’re starting with plugs that were Pinching is required to improve branching sales representative.
produced under short days, finish plants and control vigor. After the plant has
in long days and add two weeks to your developed six to seven nodes (1-2 weeks Call me by my name
production time. after transplant), hard pinch the plant Sunfinity is so special, we want consumers
to four nodes. Four nodes will produce to know it by name. Sunfinity tags are
Two sowing tips: an evenly branched finished plant. A required, one tag per finished container.
1. Don’t bury the seed. Doing so can video on the Syngenta Flowers website Please specify the number of planned
result in uneven germination. A light (www.syngentaflowers-us.com) will show finished containers when ordering your
cover of media or coarse vermiculite is you how it’s done. seeds or plugs to assure the right number
recommended. of tags is provided.
Sometimes, rogue shoots will develop
2. Protect your seeded trays from between the cotyledon and the first Sunfinity branded pots are optional
rodents and birds. Sunfinity seed is a node. Removing these shoots at the time and can be purchased from your
tempting treat and one you cannot afford of pinching will improve the plant’s Griffin sales representative in 2.5-quart
to feed to these unwanted guests. finished quality. and 1.5-gallon sizes.
Not set up for plug production? No Apply a 2-3 ppm Bonzi drench 1-2 weeks MySunfinity.com is a consumer-facing
problem. Plugs are available from plug after pinching. Apply a second 2-3 ppm website that provides home gardeners
specialists in Griffin’s vendor network. Bonzi drench at the first sign of visible with loads of information on Sunfinity,
buds. To hold the plant for finish, apply including care instructions, uses and a
Watch it grow a third Bonzi drench (2 ppm) when the store locator. Contact your Griffin sales
I mean that literally. Sunfinity is a big, flowers start cracking color. Higher rates representative to have your retail store
beautiful plant that you must sculpt into may be necessary under higher light listed at MySunfinity.com.
a retail-friendly final form. A well-timed
hard pinch and adequate PGRs will result and temperature conditions. If you’re
producing through the summer for late
in a beautiful, branching plant covered August or early September sales, that More to see online
in sunflowers. See the digital Gazette on our website for more
could mean doubling the recommended
Transplant your plugs into 6- to 12-inch rates for spring production. information on Sunfinity.

Sunfinity Sunflower :

4 Ps for Production Success

By Dr. Alicain Carlson, Technical Trial Manager, Syngenta Flowers

For successful Sunfinity production, remember these 4 Ps and you’ll be good to go:

1. Photoperiod 3. Pinch
For a speedy and efficient finish, it’s important that Sunfinity Sunfinity needs to be pinched to show off its unique
plugs be propagated under long days (greater than 13 branching qualities and to control vigor. Pinching to four
hours). After transplant, photoperiod control isn’t necessary. nodes will make sure it’s a well-branched, full plant with
several flowers in the first flush.
2. PGRs

PGR applications must be well-timed during propagation 4. Pot size
and finish; PGR rates are also critical. Our published crop Sunfinity is stunning in spring and fall plantings alike.
culture has guidelines for this, but it’s all about watching No matter the season, the smallest container size we
the plants. recommend is one gallon. The sky’s the limit from there!

Griffin Gazette 2018 | 5