August 2020 - 43

CULTURE REPORT
sufficient. A hormone dip is beneficial or a K-IBA foliar application at the
rate of 350 ppm. Bench heat of 70 to 72° F. Mist feed is advised at a rate
of 50- to 65-ppm nitrogen. Root emergence will occur day 14 to 16 and
may then be moved from bench to hardening and held at 60 to 65° F.
TRANSPLANT TEMPERATURE
REQUIREMENT:
Recommended temperature is 68 to 72° F
days and 60 to 65° F nights.
Cooler nights once established enhances
finished quality. Game Changer is hardy to
Zone 5. These hydrangea will continuously
flower all spring and summer in containers
and landscape the first year of production
from stock.
FERTILIZATION
While hydrangeas are heavy feeders, they
can be damaged with too much feed in the
early stages of development. Normally, one
application of 20-20-20 at the rate of 250
ppm will suffice. For Pink varieties, high
levels of phosphorus and low levels of potassium are required; aluminum is
less available with this ratio. The pH level needs to be maintained between
5.8 to 6.2.
For all colors, a constant fertilization of 20-10-20 can be applied at a
rate of 100 to 150 ppm. For 'Game Changer Blue', apply aluminum sulfate
at the rate of 7½ pounds per 100 gallons of water weekly for three weeks
at time of flower initiation. This is to be done approximately three times to
insure a good blue color. Drench only the growing media with this solution.
Avoid getting any aluminum sulfate on the leaves or damage will occur;
immediately wash off the leaves if the aluminum sulfate gets on them.
As with fertilization, never apply aluminum sulfate to a dry root ball
because it will burn the root hairs. Aluminum sulfate will help lower
the pH; maintain blue pH between 5.0 to
5.5. Blue is a light feeder that will need high
potassium and low phosphorous levels to
keep the aluminum available to the plants. If
the root hairs are damaged or the pH is too
high, interveinal chlorosis can occur. Leach the
root ball thoroughly two to three times, then
start reforming the root hairs. The chlorosis
will disappear, and health green leaves will
start forming. To reduce the pH, apply an acid
forming fertilizer and/or inject the water with
phosphoric acid.
PINCHING REQUIREMENTS
It is recommended to pinch at time
of transplant.
GROWTH REGULATORS
Apply B-Nine at a rate of 2,500 to 3,500 ppm. A paclobutrazol drench
may also be applied post flower initiation at a rate of 2 to 3 ppm. This will
hold the plant without noticeable flower size decrease.
Jim Devereux is vice president of Green Fuse Botanicals. He can be reached at
jdevereux@green-fuse.com.
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August 2020

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