<i>Fuchsia</i>

'Diva Cherry & White'

'Diva White & Lilac'

'Windchimes Dark Eyes'

'Windchimes White & White'

Green Fuse Botanicals offers two series of vegetatively-produced fuchsia. The Diva series consists of eight cultivars that have an upright, tidy habit. The plants are early to flower and more heat tolerant and floriferous than non-patented varieties.

The Windchimes series consists of four cultivars that have an upright, mounding habit that is well-suited for hanging baskets. The plants are floriferous and much earlier to flower than non-patented varieties.

These naturally branching plants can be used in 4- to 8-inch containers, hanging baskets and combination planters.

Plant 105-cell plugs in a well-drained growing medium with a pH of 6-6.5 and an electrical conductivity of 0.8-1.0. Plant one plug in 4- to 6-inch pots, three in 8-inch containers and four to five plugs in 10- to 12-inch pots or hanging baskets.

Maintain a temperature range of 60°F-75°F during the day and 62°F-68°F at night and light levels of 4,000-6,000 footcandles. In warm regions, additional shade may be required to lower leaf temperatures.

These series are very responsive to day length. Plan production during eight to 10 hours of day length or apply black cloth to build size before flower initiation and development. For hanging baskets and larger container sizes, do not plant rooted liners later than Feb. 15 in California and southern regions, and March 15 in Midwest, northeast and northwest regions.

Both series flower under short days for finishing in late April in most regions. Group 1 is the earliest to bloom under short days and Group 3 is the latest. The difference between Group 1 to 3 is 14 days from first to last flower.

Diva series

• Group 1: Neon & White, Rose & Purple and Midnight
• Group 2: Bridal Pink, Rose & Blue and Cherry & White
• Group 3: Red & White and White & Lilac

Windchimes series

• Group 1: Dark Eyes, Rose & Purple and Neon & White
• Group 2: Red & White and White & White

Apply 100-200 parts per million nitrogen on a constant basis using a balanced fertilizer that includes minor elements.

If cuttings are being rooted in-house, allow five weeks of crop time in the liner. Pinch at week 3 which allows lateral shoots to be established at transplanting.

Rooted liners in 105-cell trays are pinched before shipping from the propagator. An additional pinch is recommended after transplanting when finishing plants in 12-inch or larger containers to encourage fuller growth.
Under warm, low-light conditions, B-Nine at a rate of 1,250-2,500 ppm is effective in controlling stem stretch. A Bonzi drench or Sumagic (spray or drench application) at labeled rates control unwanted stretch on finished plants. Trial growth regulators on a small group of plants before treating the entire crop.

Aphid, whitefly, and spider mite can be pest problems. Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Pythium are common disease problems. Proper handling can limit Rhizoctonia losses. Be cautious not to plant plugs below the existing medium of the plugs. Damage to stems can also create entry for disease pathogens. Keep the medium evenly moist to control Pythium and Phytophthora. Apply preventive root rot fungicides at labeled rates.

Apply foliar fungicides, specifically for Botrytis. Proper cultural practices can control disease as well. Avoid watering late in the day. Always maintain good air movement around plants to keep leaves dry.

For more: Green Fuse Botanicals Inc., (310) 458-3580; www.green-fuse.com.