Combo Chef: Hibiscus charm

This ample combo from Yoder Brothers uses Pinot Noir hibiscus from its Splash series as the main focus, surrounded by scaevola Fan Dancer, bacopa ‘Blue Showers,’ verbena ‘Taylortown Red’ and a cultivar from the Stained Glassworks coleus series.

Pinot Noir requires a growing medium pH of 5.5-6.2. Do not allow plants to wilt. Overhead watering is not recommended. Feed with 150-200 parts per million nitrogen from a nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus fertilizer with the majority of the nitrogen in nitrate form.

Long days are required for flowering, and the minimum daylength is 12 hours. ‘Splash Pinot Noir’ needs a minimum of 68°F night temperatures for finishing.

Grow bacopa ‘Blue Showers’ in a sterile, well-aerated medium with a pH between 5.5-6.3. Avoid excessive irrigation throughout production.

Feed with a constant liquid feed of 200-250 ppm nitrogen. Mature plants will die if allowed to dry out.

Establish plants at 65°F, then maintain day temperatures between 60°F-70°F and 55°F-60°F at night. Provide good air circulation at all times. Provide a minimum of 4,000-6,000 footcandles.

Scaevola Fan Dancer requires a growing medium with 5-15 percent porosity and a pH of 5.5-6.3. Avoid excess irrigation and fertilization while plants are establishing. Do not allow mature plants to dry excessively. Apply 200-250 ppm constant liquid feed with a fertilizer low in phosphorus.

Maintain day temperatures at 70°F-85°F and 55°F-70°F at night. Provide bright light at 4,000-6,000 footcandles.

Verbena ‘Taylortown Red’ needs a well-drained, soilless medium with a pH of 5.8-6.2. Keep temperatures between 70°F-80°F during the day and 62°F-65°F at night. Light intensities should be higher than 5,000 footcandles. Low light levels promote stem stretch and poor flowering.

During the first 10 to 14 days, water sparingly and never saturate the medium. Allow the medium to dry somewhat between waterings. Feed at 200-250 ppm every watering.

Coleus Stained Glassworks series members require a medium pH of 5.5-6.3 and a constant liquid feed of 150-200 ppm. Maintain temperatures of 75°F-85°F during the day and 55°F-65°F at night. For more intense foliage color provide 1,500-3,000 footcandles. Pinch once after plants have established and again as needed for shape or height control.

For more: Yoder Brothers, (800) 232-9557; www.yoder.com.

- Kelli Rodda

Recipe

a. Verbena ‘Taylortown Red’

b. Bacopa ‘Blue Showers’

c. Scaevola Fan Dancer

d. Coleus Stained Glassworks

e. Hibiscus ‘Splash Pinot Noir’

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July 2008