Bedding Plant Production By Johnny M Jessup Agriculture
Bedding Plant Production By: Johnny M. Jessup Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor
Introduction • Bedding plants are herbaceous plants that are normally grown in outdoor beds to provide colorful blooms or foliage for a landscape.
Bedding Plants • Fastest growing segment of floriculture • Best Sellers (% of US Market) • Impatiens (44%) • Geraniums (20%) • Petunias (14%) • Other top sellers are…. • Begonias • Marigolds • Pansies
Impatiens • Grow 6 -18” high w/ succulent stems. • Lance shaped leaves.
Impatiens • Small and rounded flowers with five petals and one petal is shaped like a tube that protrudes from the underside of the flower • Pink, lavender, red, white, purple, salmon and coral.
Impatiens • Spaced 12 -18” and needs partial sun or shade. • May be propagated from seeds or cuttings.
Impatiens • Time from seeding to market packs is about 8 weeks • Seeds should be placed on surface of medium and covered lightly • Germination requires light and temperature of 60 -70 F • Can be propagated from cuttings • Have been the number one bedding crop for years • Grow well in shade
Geraniums • Grow 12 -18” • Leaves are rounded with scalloped edges. • Red, white, or pink flowers. • 2/3 of plants sold are red.
Geraniums • Need direct sunlight and 10 -12” spacing. • May be propagated from seeds or cutting and transplanted.
Geraniums • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. • Seeds are large and have to be scarified because of hard seed coats (seed company).
Geraniums • Cover seeds with an 1/8” of soil. • Medium (soil mix) should be about 75 o. F. • Can be propagated from cuttings (bigger and more numerous flowers).
Petunias • Grow from 6 -18” tall and have flowers with a tube shaped base. • Flower colors are red, pink, white, blue, and pastels. • Spaced 10 -12”
Petunias • Grown from seeds and transplanted. • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 10 weeks and 11 weeks in pots. • Sow seeds on surface of medium. (285, 000 seed to an ounce) • Need light and 70 o. F -80 o. F germinating medium temperature.
Petunias • Many different types and colors. • One of top five annuals in the US for over 100 years.
Begonias • Grow 6 -13” high with pink, red or white flowers. • Spaced 6 -10” and need direct sunlight.
Begonias • May be propagated from seeds or cuttings and then transplanted.
Begonias • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. • Small seed should be lightly pressed into surface of germinating medium. • Germination requires 65 -70 F medium temperature. • Can be propagated with stem cuttings. • Plants do well in full sun to shade.
Marigolds • Grow 6” to 4’ tall with orange or yellow flowers. • Pungent aroma. • Spaced 6 -12” apart. • Best in full sunlight. • Grown from seeds or transplants
Marigolds • Time from seeding to market is about 9 weeks in packs and 10 weeks in pots. • Cover seeds with ¼” of medium. • Germination medium should be 70 -75 o. F.
Marigolds • Grow outdoors in full sun. • Plants grow 6”-4’ tall. • Few problems.
Pansies • Grow 6 -8” tall and have moon shaped flowers in many colors…. • Blue, purple, yellow, white, pink, and red. • Spaced 6 -8” and grown in full sun. • Grown from seeds and transplanted. • Cool season bedding plant.
Pansies • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 12 weeks and 13 weeks in pots. • Seeds should be planted on surface of medium and covered with paper to keep dark. • Media 70 o. F. • Grow in full sun. • Cool weather bedding plant.
Pansies • Growing Pansies in Eastern NC • BUY PLUGS!!! (It is impossible to have germination media at 70 o. F during August) • Seeded plants usually turn leggy and ugly.
Problems, Causes & Solutions Related with Bedding Plant Production
Cultural Problems • Caused by one of four problems: • • Germination problems. Fertilization problems. Uneven growth. Tall & spindly growth.
Cultural Problems – Germination • Are caused by…. • Improper temperature. • Over-watering. • Underwatering. • Chemical residues in medium. • Seed planting depth. • Low quality seeds.
Cultural Problems – Germination • Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. • • • Using high-quality seeds. Planted at proper depth in medium. Having no chemical residues. Maintaining proper temperature. Maintain proper moisture levels.
Cultural Problems – Fertilization • Are caused by…. • Lack of nutrients. • Root injury. • Improper p. H of medium. • Excessive fertilization.
Cultural Problems – Fertilization • Problems can be solved by…. • Testing soil or media. • Applying correct amounts & kinds of nutrients and p. H correcting materials.
Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth • Caused by…. • Poor mixing of medium. • Uneven moisture levels. • Unlevel flats. • Poor grading of seedlings.
Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth • Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. • Proper mixing of media. • Even watering. • Grading seedlings by size and quality. • Placing flats level.
Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth • Caused by…. • Too much nitrogen fertilizer. • Overwatering. • Low light intensity. (Too much shade) • High temperatures.
Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth • Problems can be solved by…. • Correct amount of nitrogen. • Reducing frequency of watering. • Lowering temperature. • Providing more light. • Using growth retardant. (B-Nine)
Diseases • Plant diseases cause…. • Seedlings to fall over. • Lower to turn brown, rot and dry.
Causes of Plant Disease • Seedlings falling over caused by either…. • Stem rot • Damping off Damping Off • Lower leaves turning brown rotting & drying caused by…. • Botrytis
Controlling Plant Diseases • Controlling stem rot & damping off • Using sterilized media. • Using fungicides. • Improving air circulation around plants. • Botrytis • Increasing air temperature. • Increase circulation round plants. • Using proper fungicide.
Insects • Insects cause…. • Plants to be missing. • Holes in the leaves or plant parts to be missing.
Insects – Causes • Plants being missing caused by…. • Slugs. • Snails. • Cockroaches.
Insects – Causes • Holes in the leaves or missing plant parts are caused by…. • • • Aphids Mealy bugs Scale insects Thrips Whiteflies • • • Flea beetles Fungus gnats Leaf miners Cutworms Caterpillars
Insects Aphids Mealybugs Scale Thrips
Insects Whiteflies Flea Beetle Fungus Gnats Leaf Miners
Insects Cutworms Caterpillars
Controlling Insects • Insects can be prevented or controlled by…. • Using baits. • Recommended insecticides.
Media Used in Transplanting Bedding Plants
Media • Media is the material used to start and grow plants. • The 3 main types are…. • Soil • Inorganic materials • Commercially prepared mixes.
Soil • Must be mixed with other materials such as peat moss to add organic matter and improve aeration and drainage.
Inorganic Materials • Improve aeration & drainage. • Examples include…. • Sand • Finely ground stone • Gravel
Inorganic Materials • Perlite • Expanded volcanic rock. • Neutral p. H (7. 0 – 7. 5) • Sterile Perlite • Vermiculite • Expanded mica • Sterile Vermiculite
Commercially Prepared Mixes • Mixes that are sterile, contain no insects, weeds or diseases. • Types include…. • • • Jiffy-Mix Redi-Earth Pro-Mix Sunshine Mix Metro Mix Other brands are available
Containers Used in Transplanting Bedding Plants
Containers • Flat • Plastic tray usually used for planting seeds. • Cell packs • Several small cell-like pots of plastic molded together used for planting one or two seeds per cell and selling without transplanting to another container. Seed Flat Cell Packs
Containers • Peat pots • Can be planted directly in the soil. • Jiffy 7 pellet • Can be panted directly in the soil. Peat Pots Jiffy 7 Pellets
Containers • Plastic, Clay, & Styrofoam Pots • Come in various sizes & shapes. Plastic Pots Styrofoam Pots Clay Pots
Containers • Hanging Baskets • Used to hang plants. Hanging Baskets
Containers • Standard Pots • The same size width at the top as it is high. • Azalea Pots • ¾ as high as its top diameter or width. Standard Pots Azalea Pots
Transplanting Bedding Plants
Transplanting Bedding Plants • Seedlings should have true leaves…. • Not just seed leaves or cotyledons. • Waiting too long causes transplant shock. • Hold plants by their leaves: • Holding by the stem will bruise the stem causing plant death.
Transplanting Bedding Plants • Media may need to be loosened with a pot label to keep from breaking stem & roots. • Do not shake medium off roots.
Transplanting Bedding Plants • Use dibble or other means to make a hole for the transplanting seedling. • Plant seedling in the media in the new container slightly deeper than it grew in the flat and gently press media around roots.
Transplanting Bedding Plants • Water gently to settle media around roots. • Keep moist for a few days to prevent wilting & drying. • Grow and harden-off before selling.
Designed By: • Johnny M. Jessup; FFA Advisor • Hobbton High School
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