- Uniform and compact habit
Culture guide
Usage
Plants for rock garden and baskets, pot plants
Sow time
Indoor: Mid May-End July for flowering pots in February; Outdoors: March-April for flowering pots in April
Sowing method
2-3 seeds per plug
Germination
14-21 days at 72-77 °F (22-25 °C), in media with low soluble salt levels below 0.5 and a pH of 5.8-6.2 Maintain uniformly moist soils and humidity levels above 95%. Lights aid in germination.
Growing on
Transplant into a well drained media with a pH of 5.5 to 6.2. Two weeks after transplant begin feeding at 150 to 200 ppm N in well balanced fertilizer mix. Keep EC levels below 1.0. Flowers initiate when mature plants are grown below 50 °F (10 °C) or plugs are treated with temperatures below 40 °F (5 °C). Vernalization requirements vary by variety and plant maturity. Plant growth is optimum between 60-68 °F (15-18 °C) nights. Temperatures below 55 °F (13 °C) slow plant development and extend bloom time and intensify flower color.
Media
Use a well-drained, perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 0-15 % organic parts (e.g. wood fibres, bark), 1-1,5 kg /m³, complete balanced fertilizer, 1-2 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.2.
Temperature
Grow at 14-16 °C. After the roots are developed decrease the temperature to 8-10 °C. The temperature change will support the plant quality. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. In spring the plants start to grow for 6-7 weeks at 15-18 °C. Cold temperatures at 10-12 °C will increase the cultivation time. Avoid high temperatures combined with low light levels. A. flabellata needs for vernalization a chilling period (outdoors or refrigerator) of at least 4 weeks at 0-5 °C. The foliage of the plants has to be well developed for the chilling period.
Fertilization
Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 130 -150 ppm nitrogen (at 2 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K₂O-ratio: 1:1,5). Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Don’t fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen of a complete balance fertilizer.
