Published December 22, 2017
Canna South Pacific OrangePhoto courtesy of Takii & Co.
This beautiful addition to the South Pacific series comes from Takii breeding in Japan. Canna South Pacific Orange’s All-America Selections (AAS) award is a testament to its winning combination of performance and beauty. It is easy to grow in large pots down to quarts, making it an easy fit into flowering pot-plant programs. Being a semi-compact canna, it is versatile and can be used as a centerpiece in combinations, on its own in a large decorative pot or in borders where controlled height is needed. Canna South Pacific Scarlet, an AAS winner, was released as a stand-alone and is now joined by Orange. Two additional varieties, Ivory and Rose, are new for 2018, and give South Pacific a well-rounded assortment to offer your retailers.
For more information, visit takii.com
Plug stage Utilizing a large cell tray such as 72-128, sow South Pacific seed deep. A minimum of a ½ inch is best to ensure the seed does not push up and out of the soil. An even, non-fluctuating temperature is preferred. Germination chambers work well as do heated concrete floors. Water in trays after sowing and keep humidity at 80 percent. Temperature is crucial and is best kept at 78-80°F (25.5 to 26.5°C) for the first 5-7 days, at which time radical emergence is visible. Depending on your environment, it could be faster or may even take a few more days at this stage. Finishing your plugs at 72-75°F (22-24°C) on the bench with a well-maintained moisture level will help even up the germination process. Finishing After sow, transplant your plugs in about 5 weeks plus or minus depending on your environment. One plant per pot in quarts to 6-inch is the most common, larger containers may also be used with multiple plugs to fill the pot out quickly. After transplant keep the containers evenly moist to promote quick growth and a healthy start. South Pacific likes to be grown at 1.8 EC. Keep in mind canna will utilize most of what you feed and can be very vigorous growers. The use of cal-mag will help keep the plants from stretching and promote healthy leaf structure. Drying out may have negative results, particularly leaf edge burn. South Pacific is tropical and can withstand high humidity temperatures, although a day temperature of 75-80°F is best. PGRs South Pacific is genetically a semi-compact plant, however if growing in quarts to 6-inch, you may find it necessary to apply Bonzi as a drench at a rate of ½ to 1 ppm 2 to 3 weeks after transplant into final container. If growing for early spring sales, cool temperatures will slow the crop and keep the plants more compact. Pest & Disease A consistent spray program will help control pests. Scout for fungal and bacteria hot spots and focus on a spray program targeting these pests. Keep a lookout for insects; spider mites and thrips are the most common. Avoid overhead watering by using drip lines or flood floors.
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