Armeria Dreameria

Published July 27, 2017

The new Dreameria series from Darwin Perennials is a breakthrough in Armeria breeding. It provides frost-to-frost flowering in containers or in the garden, is very heat tolerant, plus it attracts important pollinators to home gardens. Dreameria offers entirely new and unique opportunities for Armeria pseudarmeria; it moves the genus from a strictly early-spring and late-fall, cool-season perennial to season-long flowering. Dreameria is hardy in Zones 6 to 9 and is available in two pastel colors of pink and lavender for retail 2018 sales.

For more: darwinperennials.com

Propagation

Choose a well-drained medium with an EC of 0.75–0.80 mmhos and a pH of 5.8–6.2. Stick cuttings the day of arrival if possible, otherwise, store at 45°F for not more than 18 hours before sticking.

Temperature: Soil temperature should be maintained at 70–72°F (21–24°C) until roots are visible. A rooting hormone basal dip containing 1,500-2,500ppm IBA should be applied to promote early, uniform rooting. An average daily temperature of 62–65°F (15–18°C) is optimal, but plants will tolerate a wide range of temperatures and are very heat tolerant. No vernalization required to flower.

Tip: Dreameria will perform best under moderate to high light levels of 3,000–5,000 f.c. (30,000–50,000 Lux). This series is day neutral in flower response. No pinching is required, and it does not require growth regulator treatments.

Water: The media should be allowed to dry moderately between watering and never saturated. However, plants should not be allowed to wilt at any time. Leach regularly to avoid the buildup of high soluble salt levels.

Tip: Average days with mist 10–12 days. Begin fertilization with 50–75 ppm N 12–14 days after sticking. During root development maintain moderate moisture levels in the soil. Avoid saturation of media.

Fertilizer: Use a balanced fertilizer at a rate of 150–175 ppm. Periodic use of a calcium-based fertilizer should help optimize the nutrient levels. Discontinue fertilizing during the dark winter months to avoid excessive EC buildup.

Tip: Rooted cuttings should be ready for transplanting 6–7 weeks after sticking. Do not stick cuttings too deep. Although roots may take 15–18 days to form, mist should be used only to reduce excess wilting. Overmisting and excessive soil moisture will delay root development.

Growing on to finish: Use media with good aeration and drainage. Dreameria prefers a medium that is high in organic matter. A pH of 5.8–6.2 is optimum.

Crop time

(Crop schedule in weeks – summer/fall planting is recommended.)

1 PPP* 1qt. (10-cm) Pot Unrooted cutting: 16–18 weeks; Rooted cutting: 10–12 weeks

1 PPP* 1gal. (15-cm) Pots Unrooted cutting: 20–22 weeks; Rooted cutting: 14–16 weeks

3 PPP* 2–3gal. (25–30-cm) Pots Unrooted cutting: 22–24 weeks; Rooted cutting: 18–20 weeks

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