Petunia Dbl Cascade Orchid Mist Seedling Tray

For best results with Dbl Cascade Orchid Mist, grow one seedling plug per 4-inch container or two to three per 6-inch container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-6.3, EC of 1.5-2.0 mS/cm (2:1), and light feed (100-175 ppm N). Provide temperatures of 65-72 daytime and 60-62 nighttime. This plant requires long days and does best under high light conditions (4,000-7,000 fc). Cultural controls will regulate height, but Petunias respond to B-Nine and Bonzi if needed. Watch for thrips, aphids, fungus gnats, shore flies, botrytis, rhizoctonia, and pythium.

Pink and white variegated double flowers 3-3.5" in diameter bloom from spring through late summer.

This plant doesn't require pinching.

Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. We recommend spacing 4-inch pots 8" apart and 10-inch baskets 24" apart.

This plant responds to a few methods of height control. 

1. Allow them to wilt slightly between watering once they are well-rooted.

2. Withold phosphorus and ammonium-based nitrogen fertilizer to prevent stretching and rapid growth.

3. Use day/night temperature differential (DIF) with a negative DIF to keep Petunias short.

Florel promotes branching in established plants, and a drench of Bonzi once is also effective.

Scout for thrips, aphids, fungus gnats, and shore flies as part of your commercial greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management plan. 

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.

Fungus Gnats are small, dark flies that lay eggs in damp soil where larvae feed on plant roots, causing damage and death. Watch for adult gnats flying around the plants and check for larvae in the soil. Prevent infestations by allowing the soil to dry between waterings and controlling humidity in the greenhouse. Fungus Gnats thrive in moist conditions. Catch adult gnats with sticky traps to prevent them from laying eggs. Use beneficial nematodes or apply Bacillus thuringiensis.

Shore Flies are small black flies attracted to algae and organic matter. Watch for adult flies around plants and larvae in the soil. Sanitize surfaces and prevent algae growth in your greenhouse. Remove any extraneous organic matter, use sticky traps to catch adult flies, and use beneficial nematodes to kill larvae.

Thrips are tiny insects that eat plant tissue and can transmit viruses. Watch for silvery-white streaks or black spots on foliage and distorted growth. Use natural predators (like predatory mites), insecticidal soap, neem oil, and sticky traps to control infestations and prevent spread.

Watch for signs of Botrytis and Rhizoctonia, especially during short days and under low light or high humidity. Use preventative measures in your commercial greenhouse. Practice good sanitation, water at the base of each plant and allow the soil to dry between waterings, and provide good airflow in your greenhouse. Space containers for adequate circulation and sunlight penetration around the base of each plant.

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.

Pythium and Rhizoctonia are fungal diseases that cause stunted growth, yellowed leaves, and plant death by eating away at the plant's roots. Use well-draining planting media and provide good airflow and spacing in your greenhouse. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings and apply fungicides with active ingredients abamectin, spinosad, or imidacloprid to combat these diseases.

We recommend planting one seedling plug per 4-inch container or two to three per 6-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot centered or evenly spaced in the container. Six-inch containers finish in 8-9 weeks.