Floriculture Exam 2

What is the scientific name of cyclamen?

Cyclamen persicum

What are cyclamen primarily used for?

winter and spring potted plants; however, they can occasionally be used as a landscape plant and a cut flower

How are cyclamen produced?

they are not vegetatively produced; seeds; F1 hybrid series

Why are series of plants convenient?

select multiple colors from the same series and grow them on the same schedule and crop culture and they will finish at the same time

How often are PGRs used on cyclamen

rarely; genetics are chosen for pot size

How are cyclamen propagated?

Seed; however, division can also be done but is not used in commercial production

Are cyclamen dicots or monocots?

dicot, but looks like a monocot (pseudomonocot)

Should light be provided during germination to cyclamen?

yes, to reduce stretch

How many seedlings should be planted per container (cyclamen)?

1

How should cyclamen be spaced during productino?

pretty tightly, 10-inch centers for four-inch

What pH do cyclamen prefer?

5.0 to 6.0, but consider it general (5.8-6.2)

What EC do cyclamen prefer?

1.0 to 2.5, “moderate feeder”, sensitive to high EC

What photoperiod do cyclamen need to bloom?

Day neutral

When can is start to produce flowers?

Considered an autonomous crop; vegetative until 10-13 leaves have formed

What night temperatures do cyclamen prefer?

50 degrees F, but now cyclamen are grown warmer—68 degrees F

What temperatures should cyclamen not be grown over due to heat delay?

68 degrees F

What physiological problems do cyclamen have?

HEAT DELAY! close spacing will cause excessive petiole elongation which will cause leaf flop

What ratio of N:P:K do cyclamen prefer?

1 ½ : 1 : 3— like higher levels of potassium

Since cyclamen are grown under lower temperatures, which nitrogen (nitrate or ammonium) should be increased and why?

Under cooler temps, we want higher nitrate concentrations to prevent ammonium toxicity

What do you do with fertilizer recommendations for overhead to convert it to sub-irrigation?

Lower it. You won’t have leaching from overhead so will need a lower concentration of salts

Which two PGRs can be marginally effective for cyclamen?

Ancymidol or Daminozide

Can you use GA to hasten flower development?

Yes, not commonly done today but historically it was; don’t spray the foliage because it will stretch out the petioles of the cyclamen; just spray the leaf axils

What is the most common disease of cyclamen?

Botrytis: limited air movement through the leaf canopy; additionally they have a tight spacin

Are cyclamen sensitive to ethylene?

Yes! plants should be shipped cool and in the dark; don’t ship it wet (botrytis)

What is the scientific name of hydrangeas?

Hydrangea macrophyllaWh

What are hydrangeas used for?

flowering potted plant, landscape plant (most popular), cut flowersW

What is the definition of a response group for hydrangeas?

number of weeks forcing at ADT of 59 degrees F with the last two weeks of 52 degrees F; will induce flower buds

What are the three most common colors of hydrangeas?

blue, pink, white

How are hydrangeas induced to flower?

Flowers are formed in response to SD; after flower buds are initiated, plants must be exposed to cool/cold temps (6 weeks less than 65F ) which induces domancy; to satisfy dormancy, expose it to 6 weeks at 40-45 degree F or 8 weeks at 52 degrees F

What exactly induces flowers?

short daysW

What happens if you don’t get enough cold for hydrangeas?

Apply GA 2 to 6 ppm. After dormancy, plants get a spike in GA. This tricks the plant

How are hydrangeas propagated?

vegetatively propagated by cuttings; seed is for breeding; tissue culture for mother plantsW

What type of cuttings for hydrnageas?

stem tip cuttings

What do you do if you wnat to increase the number of blooms (hydrangea)?

pinch; more terminal growing points=more flowers

Why do you want to get rid of the leaves at the end of summer (hydrangeas)?

foliage is going dorman; dormant foliage will lead to botrytis—remove leaves that are unfolded

What is the big sale date for hydrangeas?

mother’s dayW

What is the preferred pH of hydrangeas?

5.5 for blue, 6.0-6.2 for pink

What temperature should it be when bringing hydrangeas out of dormancy?

60-62 degrees substrate and 58 degrees F air temperature; hold back the breaking of buds while increasing development of roots

What can you do to improve color and postharvest life?

lower the temperature to 54 degrees F for 1-2 weeks; have more carbohydrates available for flower usage by slowing cellular respiration

What EC do hydrangeas prefer?

1.0 to 2.5

What causes blue flowers?

aluminum uptake

What can you do to increase Al availability for blue hydrangeas?

reduce pH to increase availability, apply drenches, minimize or eliminate phosphorus which reduces aluminum uptake

What should you do for pink and white flowers (hydrangea)?

increase P and pH for pink flowers; might need more high control due to P availability

How does the concentration of N during forcing change for hydrangea color?

100-200 for blue, 200-400 for pink

What nutrient should be greater for hydrangeas?

higher N conc. 2:1:1 or 3:1:1