Helpful Hints from Danny Takao Takao Nursery, Fresno, California
Angel Earrings fuchsias have the ability to keep flowering even in our warmer weather, and in Fresno, we get quite warm. They have a higher flower count and are self-cleaning, making maintenance for gardeners a breeze. They come in a nice array of colors and habits. Angel Earrings look best in 1-gallon pots to larger sizes and hang- ing baskets, depending on the habit you choose – upright, trail- ing or semi-trailing. They are also more compact than traditional fuchsias, which makes them easier to ship. For pots, use the up- rights such as Dainty, Double Red, Mauve and Preciosa. For baskets or combos, use Cascading, Snowfire or White, because they have more of a trailing habit.
Pinching the crop is important to achieve a nice, compact breaking plant. Light and space also are impor- tant to achieve the required habit. If the cutting received a pinch at propa- gation and a further one is needed, it is best to pinch at four nodes. The use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is not necessary, but grow- ers have achieved good results with daminozide and paclobutrazol. Various PGRs can be used to control internode elongation, including ancymidol and daminozide. Drenches of paclobutra- zol or uniconazole can be used. DIF (the mathematical difference between day and night temperatures) will also control height. Lighting Fuchsias are generally long-day plants and prefer moderate to low light. Plants are easily brought into flower by night interruption for two weeks. Levels should be moderate to low during production to help reduce stretching. Photoperiod management can induce earlier flowering by hav- ing daylight extension to 13 hours or using a four-hour night interruption before weeks 13/14 to promote flow- ering, especially if your daylength at that time of year is less than 13 hours. Keep temperatures at 65-75˚F during the day and 55-60˚F at night.
Experience the Suntory Difference! ✓ Heat tolerant ✓ Vigorous but more compact ✓ No pruning necessary
Pests & Diseases Insects to monitor for include whiteflies, thrips, aphids, leaf miners, red spider mites, snails and slugs. Key diseases to prevent include Botrytis, Thielaviopsis, Powdery Mildew, Phytophthora and Pythium. Botrytis is more of an issue on finished flowers and foliage. Broad- spectrum fungicides are recommended to prevent and control diseases.
weeks with one liner and one pinch. • 6-inch pots finish in seven to 10 weeks with one liner and two pinches. •10-inch pots finish in 10-12 weeks with three liners and two to three pinches.
Crop Timing • 4-inch pots finish in six to eight
Less pinching is required when plants are grown cool.
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