2002 Freedom Red - 6.5"
Growth Regulators Applied / Height graph
Graph shows projected plant heights during production of the crop. Dots are plotted actual height each week. Arrows indicate when PGRs are applied with details in the weekly notes. We use the “late” graphical tracking curve and heights are from bench to height of growing tip. Heights are plotted from date of pinching to projected date of finish.
Notes
11/20
Week 47 - After a very warm fall, it appears we will have good cool, clear weather to finish the crop. Due to the early high temperatures, we were not able to have this Freedom crop below the curve in mid to late Oct. as planned. The Oct. 16 Bonzi spray affected growth more than we anticipated. However, the two GA sprays has gotten the crop up to size. Notice in the picture that the GA also has caused the expanding bracts to stick up, but these will lay down as they expand. The plants are about 1 week late in development, which is due to a combination of the delay in initiation by to the warm early temperatures and the amount of growth regulators used.
11/13
Week 46 - We are coming to the end of a difficult year for poinsettia height control. The abnormally warm temperatures have resulted in a large amount of growth regulators being used and some crops like this Freedom crop were hit too hard. We sprayed Bonzi on either Oct. 9 or 16th to stop rapid growth in five crops and this is the only one that is ending up too short. The 5 ppm ProGibb sprayed last week did not give the effect we wanted. This week we are using ProGibb at 10 ppm.
11/06
Week 45 - Our temperatures are continuing above normal for the date. It now appears that this Freedom crop is not going to make the desired size and will finish at about 13 inches. If we had them in a separate greenhouse we could use positive dif (increasing the temperature about five degrees just before sunrise) to promote a little more elongation. The other option would be to spray ProGibb to increase elongation. If we do nothing the plants will be saleable but short. If we apply too much ProGibb the crop could be a loss. We will take the risk and spray ProGibb at 5 ppm.
10/30
Week 44 - This past week temperatures were slightly above normal, for this date. The next seven days should be below normal with mostly clear skies. The spray two weeks ago is still holding the Freedom back. We would like them to grow ½ to 1 inch this week.
10/23
Week 43 - Temperatures for the past week did cool off and we were near normal for this time of the year. The upcoming week is predicted to be at or slightly above normal temperatures. For this Freedom crop, the combined effects of the lower temperatures and the 10 ppm Bonzi spray last week was a little greater than anticipated, but the plants look good. Now, we will see how long this holds. First bract color is showing this week on schedule for the crop to finish by 11/20.
10/16
Week 42 - Finally, we are cooling off and the temperatures are predicted to be about average this next week. We will be keeping temperatures in the greenhouse at 65-67 at night and 75-80 during the day. The 1.5 inches of growth this past week was more than we wanted on this Freedom crop. If we stop them with a strong spray there will be considerable effects on bract development. It is now certain that we will need to apply a drench, but we want to delay it until 11-6, if possible. So, we will slow them down some this week by spraying Bonzi at 10 ppm, which is a low rate.
10/09
Week 41 - Over the next week, the weather is predicted to continue at 3-4 degrees above normal for this time of the year. This Freedom crop is under good control. The appearance of the shoot tips and the expanding leaves and internodes shows that the growth regulators are still holding elongation back. We are not spraying this week and will see where the crop is next week.
10/02
Week 40 - Our temperatures have decreased some but will continue warmer than average this week. The new growth in most of the crops is showing the effects of the growth regulators. We are getting enough chemical in the plants that there is a potential for them to stop growing if the weather turns cooler than normal. We want this Freedom crop to slow even more to put it below the curve at the end of October. We are applying the low rate of B-Nine/Cycocel at 1,000/1,000 ppm this week.
9/25
Week 39 - Temperatures were above average this week, but not as hot as the previous week. This coming week is predicted to continue warmer than normal. Last week's spray reduced the amount of growth on this crop. Looking at the plants and the expansion of the new leaves and internodes indicates that the effect of the spray is still working. To achieve a little more control we are spraying them this week with B-Nine/Cycocel at the low concentrations of 1,000/1,000 ppm.
9/18
Week 38 - Our greenhouse temperatures have been running 3-5 degrees above normal the past couple of weeks and we had some very cloudy days this week. The weather conditions are reflected in the rapid elongation that has occurred on most of the crops. The weather for the next week is not predicted to cool off and we again may have several cloudy days. These Freedom are being sprayed with a tank mix of B-Nine at 1,500 ppm and Cycocel at 1,250 ppm. This is our standard, strong concentration used for most varieties.
9/11
Week 37 - Growth regulator is not needed this early on Freedom.
9/04
Week 36 - Freedom normally starts growing slowly after the pinch, but then elongates rapidly through the last half of the crop. We will probably make the first spray at 3 weeks after pinching, and then we will want the height well below the curve in mid to late October to allow for the late stretch.
