Cool Wave pansies

The first non-petunia to wear the Wave brand name, Cool Wave pansies from PanAmerican Seed are vigorous, spreading and can help extend the selling season. True to its name, the pansy has a great over-wintering hardiness and returns early in the spring. Trailing up to 30 inches, Cool Wave works as a spiller in mixed combos or for cool-season baskets, with blooms that can stand the rain and weather better than large-flowered types. Cool Wave comes in four colors — frost, violet wing, white, yellow — and a mixture.

Production:

• Use a well-drained media. EC should be less than .75 mmhos/cm. Keep the pH level as low as possible to avoid initial stretch.
   
• Maintain a pH range of 5.4 to 5.8 throughout production.
   
• Pansies best grow in a larger plug cell size, such as a 128-cell tray, to promote early branching, a stronger lateral growth and a shorter crop time with more flowers.
   
• For better germination, a medium covering of coarse-grade vermiculite is recommended to help maintain humidity.
   
• Relative humidity should be maintained between 95 and 97 percent until cotyledons appear.
   
• Daytime temperature should be kept between 65°F and 70°F during stages one and three. In stage two, temperature can be as high as 72°F. Keep it between 62°F and 67°F during stage four, and 62°F to 70°F for finishing. Keep nighttime temperature at 60°F for stages two and three, 55°F for stage four, and between 55°F and 60°F when finishing.
   
• Keep media moisture between levels three and four during stage two, and at level three during stages three and four.
   
• Light can be up to 2,500 foot-candles in the second and third stages, and up to 5,000 foot-candles during stage four. Light levels should be as high as possible during finishing.
   
• In the second stage, apply a nitrate-form fertilizer with low phosphorous at rate 1. During the third and fourth stages, increase the rate to 2. Keep EC between 0.7 and 1.0 mS/cm.

Did you know?
Cool Wave requires more fertilizers than a standard pansy to support its spreading nature.