Top 3 Tapien Varieties 1 Blue Violet 2 Pink 3 Pure White
Tips for Producing
Tapien and
Temari Verbenas
S UNTORY created a revolution when it introduced the Tapien and Temari verbenas, the first two major series of vegetatively propagated verbenas. The Tapien series is a groundcover type that produces a carpet of blooms with fine foliage from April through November. Vigorous plants are versatile for pots, baskets, window boxes and landscapes. Tapiens continue to be refined and are available in six colors: Blue-Violet, Lilac, Pink, Pink Improved, Purple and Salmon. Soon after Tapien came Suntory’s Temari series, which became the model for large-flowered verbenas in even more colors, including Burgundy, Magenta and Cherry Red. Temaris are available in seven trailing colors and five patio types with a mounding habit that is more upright. One hot new novelty is Candy Stripe, a striking bicolor in the trailing group.
General Culture Verbenas are day neutral but tend to flower more rapidly under warm temperatures and the long days of spring. Rooted cuttings should be potted up as soon as possible. Use a well-drained peat/perlite mix with a pH of 5.5-6.2. Water with a constant feed of 200 ppm with a complete water-soluble fertilizer. The crop is best kept on the dry side to aid root development.
Verbenas prefer cool temperatures and high light levels, which reduce stretching. Grow plants at 60-75˚F during the day and 60-72˚F at night. Plant Growth Regulators The use of plant growth regulators is very successful in plug produc- tion because verbenas will stretch quickly in propagation. B-Nine (daminozide) is most effective for growth control. Apply sprays of
1,500-2,500 ppm 15-20 days after sticking. Florel can be used at rates of 300-500 ppm to encourage auxiliary shoots and stop stem elongation. Sumagic can be ap- plied at 5-10 ppm as needed. Crop Timing • 4-inch pots – four to six weeks with one liner and one or two pinches • 6-inch pots – seven to 10 weeks
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Suntory Spring Production Guide
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