NOTE: Geraniums are very susceptible to ethylene damage which results in mild to severe yellowing. This can occur when cuttings are in transit more than 48 hours or exposed to high temperatures while boxed. However, even severely affected plants generally recover and produce quality finished plants with a normal delay of 7 to 10 days.

Media

• Use a light, well-drained, soil-based or soilless medium with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
• Test the medium before it is used to pot the cuttings.

Potting

• Plant liner with top of Oasis cube 1/4 to 1/2 in. (.6 to 1 cm) below the surface of media.
• Water in plants thoroughly with clear water.
• Follow initial watering with 200 ppm of a balanced liquid feed later that day or the next morning.
• Check the soluble salts to make sure the salts are less than 1.2 mmhos using a 2:1 extraction.

Temperature

• Night temperature of 65°F (18°C) is ideal for quickest finish while maintaining best quality.
• Lower night temperatures significantly increase crop time.
• High night temperatures result in excessive stretch, softness of the crop and chlorotic foliage.

Light

• Zonal geraniums require high amounts of light and grow best at 4,000 to 5,000 f.c. (40,000 to 50,000 lux).
• Lower light intensities can cause stretch.
• Do not put hanging baskets over zonal geraniums.
• Glass greenhouses usually provide the most light for the best crop. Clean polyethylene, exolite, polycarbonate and fiberglass coverings also produce a good geranium crop.

Watering

• Keep plants evenly moist.
• Water thoroughly, leaching every fifth watering to prevent salt buildup.
• On cloudy, dark days reduce watering to help control Botrytis and stretch.

Fertilizer

• Use a balanced liquid feed, such as 14-0-14 and 20-10-20, at a rate of 200 ppm N on a constant feed basis.
• Maintain a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5.
• Be sure to monitor soil salts and flush pots with clear water periodically to prevent damage from excessive salt levels.

Pinching & Disbudding

• Pinching is not needed for 'Designer,' 'Fantasia,' 'Starburst' or 'Showcase' geraniums.
• For specimen plants in larger pots, a soft pinch will encourage better branching and more flowers, but will delay finish at least 4 weeks.
• Ball FloraPlant geraniums are produced in high-light areas and initiate flowers quickly. For the best vegetative growth, remove any flower buds when potting rooted cuttings.

Growth Regulators

• For 'Designer,' 'Starburst' and 'Fantasia' varieties, Cycocel at 1,500 ppm may be needed to control stretch under low light conditions.
• Growth regulators are not recommended for use on 'Showcase' varieties.

Spacing

Space plants 6 in. (15 cm) on center or 4 pots per sq. ft. for optimum quality.

Disease & Pest Control

• Geranium production areas should always be thoroughly sanitized prior to beginning your growing season and between crops.
• Because of the devastating potential of bacterial disease, use cuttings which are produced from indexed stock through the Ball Certified Plants® Program.
• Keep benches and floors free of plant debris, and avoid any unnecessary handling of plants.

  Ball FloraPlant geraniums should be grown drier in the first few weeks to encourage root growth and prevent Pythium problems. We recommend a drench of Banrot or Cleary’s 3336-Subdue after potting geraniums as a preventative for Pythium and Rhizoctonia. If you mix your own growing media, pasteurization is recommended to eliminate potential soil-borne disease and pest problems.

  Control Botrytis by good air movement and late afternoon venting to reduce humidity. Weekly applications of a labeled fungicide are highly recommended. Under very humid/wet conditions, no fungicide alone can prevent the spread of Botrytis. Air movement and venting of excess moisture, combined with chemical controls, provide the best control.
  
  Avoid geranium rust problems with weekly preventative applications of Dithane or Systhane.

Handy Tips For Retailers

• Display zonal geraniums in filtered sunlight -- in direct sun, the plants dry out quickly and require more watering.
• Keep zonal geraniums well-watered. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
• In the display, space zonal geraniums so the leaves are just touching between plants to allow for air circulation and light penetration.
• Feed the plants weekly with a liquid fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label.
• Remember to tell home gardeners that zonal geraniums are a perfect choice for sunny landscapes and containers.

Home Gardener "Green Thumb" Tips

Zonal geraniums are right at home in landscapes and containers. Choose a location which receives full sun -- 6 hrs. or more each day -- and plant your geraniums about 9 in. (23 cm) apart. Water thoroughly after planting, then keep the soil moist. Apply a well-balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Keep your 'Designer,' 'Fantasia,' 'Starburst' and 'Showcase' geraniums filled with flowers all season by removing any faded flower heads. 'Showcase' grows to a garden height of 8 to 10 in. (20 to 25 cm), while 'Designer,' 'Fantasia' and 'Starburst' reach 10 to 12 in. (25 to 30 cm).

Zonal Geranium Crop Schedule and Uses

Pots (Crop schedule in weeks) Form	4 in. (10 cm) 1 PP*	6 in. (15 cm) 1 PP*	8 in. (20 cm) 1 PP*	10 in. (25 cm) 1 PP*
Unrooted cutting	11	13	--	--
Callused cutting for direct sticking	10	12	13	17
Rooted cutting	8	10	11	15

Hanging basket (Crop schedule in weeks) Form	8 in. (20 cm) 3 PP*	10 in. (25 cm) 3 PP*	12 in. (30 cm) 4 PP*
Callused cutting for direct sticking	12	14	15
Rooted cutting	10	12	13

Geranium tree in tub (Crop schedule in weeks) Form	10 in. (25 cm) **
Rooted cutting	20

*PP: Plants per pot or basket
**For 'Fantasia,' 'Designer,' 'Showcase' and 'Starburst' series, use 250 ppm GA to produce geranium trees.

NOTE: Crop times may vary depending on the climate, location, time of year and greenhouse environmental conditions. We recommend using only rooted cuttings for baskets or larger containers to ensure uniform growth.

 

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