In this presentation, Ball Senior Technical Manager Dr. Will Healy shares strategies for moving Fall and Spring Pansies from transplant to establishment with the goal of helping you grow your best crop ever.
2. Plug Receiving
• Unpack and space out key to maintain plant quality
• Light intensity <4,000 Ftc – High light => flower induction!
• Keep off the floor – disease transmission, root development
• Water to drip [~1400 g]
• Keep night temperatures as low as possible
• Avoid high RH ‘dead air’ A
B
3. Extended Plug Holding >7 days
• Light intensity <4,000 Ftc – High light => flower induction!
• Water to 1-drip [~1400 g]
• Fertilize with 50-75 ppm N + micro-P or 0-7-5+micros 2-3x per week
• Avoid high RH ‘dead air’
• Keep night temperatures as low as possible
• Consult with producer on ‘last spray’ – apply Thielaviopsis controls
• Apply PGRs when planting during high temp periods
4. Prior to Transplanting
• Thoroughly clean production area
• Avoid high temperature and RH stress conditions during transplant
• Prior to planting, fertilize with NH4 based fertilizer [20-10-20 @200+ppm]
• Add 50-100 ppm B if >90% nighttime RH conditions exist
• Provide full irrigation [~1500g] to fully load soil ball with fertilizer
• Apply fungicide drenches and foliar sprays to protect plants
5. After Transplanting
• Water-in to firm soil around plug! Don’t saturate!
• Rapidly move into production area
• Apply light irrigation to settle plugs Don’t saturate!
• Maintain soil below plug at a L4 to help draw down the roots
• Avoid a perched water table at bottom of container prior to roots down
• By 7 DAT, roots should be at bottom of container
• Resume full irrigation cycle of L4+ -> L2
• Apply 50-100 ppm N with every watering if no slow-release fertilizer
6. In the Break Room
Pansy Transplant to
Establishment
For more resources:
https://www.ballseed.com/QuickCulture/ProductionGuides/
Tech On Demand Podcast:
https://www.growertalks.com/TechOnDemand/