Suntory_Spring Production Guide

of B-Nine (2,500-5,000 ppm) or Sumagic (5-20 ppm). Another option is a Bonzi drench (2-3 ppm) Pests & Diseases Insect pests to monitor include whitefly, western flower thrips, aphids and red spider mites. Million Bells Trailing Yellow – 2012 Top Performing Plants , The Ohio State University Million Bells Trailing Magenta – 2012 Prairie Star Winner , Kansas State University Million Bells Bouquet Brilliant Pink – 2012 Top Ten Performer , University of Minnesota

Experience the Suntory Difference! ✓ Easy to grow, self-cleaning ✓ Impervious to heat and rain ✓ Blooms all season

pots, using using a well- drained peat/perlite mix. Keep pH at 5.2 to 6.0 to prevent disease and nutritional problems. Temperatures of the crop

Crop Timing • 4-inch production – four to six weeks with one liner and one or two pinches • 6-inch production – six to eight weeks with one liner and two pinches • 10-inch production – 10-12 weeks with three liners and two or three pinches Growth Regulators Million Bells responds to sprays

at this stage should be 65-70˚F for the first couple of weeks. This will enhance root development. After two weeks, the crop is best grown at 60-65˚F. Avoid overwatering Million Bells. Watering is a key issue. High levels will encourage root rot, so a little- and-often regime is encouraged when plants are young to provide as much air to the crop as possible.

Diseases to prevent include Botrytis, Powdery Mildew, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Pythium and Thielaviopsis.

Helpful Hints from John Barone Barone Garden Cicero, New York

When working with Million Bells calibrachoas, start them warm in a well-drained soil mix, then finish cool after they are well established. The key is to keep the pH down to help prevent Thielaviopsis root rot, which is less persistent in media with a lower pH. We will use an acid feed with added iron based on a soil test to accomplish this. Calibrachoas respond well to added iron. We’ve found an aggressive, preventative fungicide drench to be worthwhile in establishing this crop and maintaining it. As the plants are established, plant growth regulator treatments of Florel or B-Nine are used. We pinch as needed to shape. Bonzi drench treatments are used later in the season and we like to use multiple lower-dose applications. For combination plantings, I love the trailing Million Bells. Blue ’09 with Yellow and Magenta is an outstanding one.

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