Usage
Baskets
Sowing method
1 seed per plug. Cover lightly with a thin layer of coarse vermiculite.
Growing on
Viola overall is a day length neutral plant that will flower regardless of day length. Highflyer™ also flowers under short day conditions below 8 hours, allowing for later sowings and a continuous flowering all winter and spring long.
Media
Plug culture: pH 5.5-5.8; EC 0.5. Begin with saturated (5) for days 1-5 and then reduce to a moist (3) on day 6. As the seedlings become fully developed with expanded cotyledons the moisture level can be decreased further to a medium (2) on day 9. At this point alternate between a wet (4) and a medium (2) watering.
Growing on: pH 5.5-5.8; keep the pH in the lower range; EC 1.25-1.5. Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2).
Temperature
18-20 °C until root emergence, then lower the temperature gradually to 17-18 °C. After transplanting, maintain 18 °C nights, 18-21 °C days. When seedlings are well established the night temperature can be lowered to 15 °C to tone the plants as flower initiation occurs.
Fertilization
Plug culture: Begin feeding early using a calcium based fertilizer at lower rates to keep an adequate amount of calcium and nitrogen supplied to the seedlings. On days 5-7 begin feeding with a calcium-based fertilizer (14-2-14; 13-2-13; 15-5-15 or 17-5-17) at 50-60 ppm. Maintain the EC between 0.5 and 0.75.
Growing on: Fertilize with a calcium-based feed 14-4-14, 15-5-15 or 17-5-15 at 100-150 ppm as needed. Keeping the EC below 1.5 will help prevent root problems.