Ctenanthe Compact Star Rooted Cutting Liner

For best results with Compact Star, plant one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil with good drainage and aeration, a pH of 6.1-7.3, and medium feed (200 ppm of a 10-10-10 fertilizer). Provide temperatures between 60-80 degrees and humidity between 40-60%. This plant doesn't require PGRs or pinching but grows best with high levels of bright indirect light. Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, root rot, leaf spot, botrytis, and powdery mildew.

This plant is grown for its foliage.

This plant doesn't require pinching.

Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant.

This plant doesn't require PGRs. Provide adequate amounts of bright light to encourage healthy growth.

Scout for spider mites and mealybugs as part of your Integrated Pest Managment program.

Mealybugs are small, white, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap. They are covered in powdery wax, which gives them a cottony appearance. They reproduce and spread rapidly. Inspect plants regularly for signs of an infestation, including white, cottony masses on foliage. Always check new plants before bringing them into the greenhouse. Remove any highly infested plants from the greenhouse for quarantine or disposal. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps as biological controls for mealybug populations and apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oils to disrupt lifecycles and feeding. Maintaining a sanitary greenhouse and eliminating debris can deter pest infestations. Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.

Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.

Watch for signs of root rot, leaf spot, botrytis, and powdery mildew. Always take preventative measures in your commercial greenhouse, including sanitizing tools, using sanitary media and containers, watering at the base of each plant, allowing the soil to dry between waterings, providing good airflow, and spacing containers appropriately. 

Root Rot occurs in poorly drained or overly wet soil, which becomes the host for several types of fungi. It causes stunted growth, wilting, and root system decay. Prevention is the best treatment, and you will avoid most root rot problems by using clean, well-draining media, appropriate containers, and good watering practices for finishing seedling plugs. Inspect plants for signs of disease regularly. Repot infected plants in well-draining soil, adjust your watering schedule, provide better airflow, and use a fungicide if needed.

Fungal Leaf Spot is a fungus-borne disease that causes water-soaked yellow or brown lesions on foliage, leading to defoliation and death. Fungal infection spreads via insects, splashing water, and contaminated equipment. Humid conditions create an inviting environment. Practice sanitation and good hygiene, water at the base of each plant, and space plants for adequate circulation and light penetration. At the first signs of infection, remove the affected leaves and treat the remaining plants with a copper-based fungicide like hydroxide, sulfate, oxychloride, or octanoate. Use fungicides carefully according to the label's instructions, and be aware that applying copper-based fungicides at high rates or during hot, dry weather can lead to phytotoxicity.

Botrytis is a common fungal disease that causes brown spots on stems, leaves, and flowers. Remove and destroy affected plants, maintain appropriate humidity levels, and apply fungicides with boscalid, fenhexamid, or iprodione to control the spread. Water plants in the morning and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that thrives in humid conditions, appearing as a white or gray coating on foliage and flowers. Provide good airflow in your greenhouse. We recommend horizontal airflow fans to help control humidity levels alongside a dehumidifier or manual venting. Remove and destroy infected plants and apply fungicides as needed or preventatively. Look for the active ingredients myclobutanil, trifloxystrobin, or potassium bicarbonate to combat Powdery Mildew threatening your seedling plugs.

We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil with perlite and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the pot. This plant takes several months to be ready for retail sale.