Bedding Plant Production

1. Bedding Plant Production By: Johnny M. Jessup Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor

2. Introduction • Bedding plants are herbaceous plants that are normally grown in outdoor beds to provide colorful blooms or foliage for a landscape.

3. Bedding Plants • Fastest growing segment of floriculture • Best Sellers (% of US Market) • Impatiens (44%) • Geraniums (20%) • Petunias (14%) • Other top sellers are…. • Begonias • Marigolds • Pansies

4. Impatiens • Grow 6-18” high w/ succulent stems. • Lance shaped leaves.

5. Impatiens • Small and rounded flowers with five petals and one petal is shaped like a tube that protrudes from the underside of the flower • Pink, lavender, red, white, purple, salmon and coral.

6. Impatiens • Spaced 12-18” and needs partial sun or shade. • May be propagated from seeds or cuttings.

7. Impatiens • Time from seeding to market packs is about 8 weeks • Seeds should be placed on surface of medium and covered lightly • Germination requires light and temperature of 60-70F • Can be propagated from cuttings • Have been the number one bedding crop for years • Grow well in shade

8. Geraniums • Grow 12-18” • Leaves are rounded with scalloped edges. • Red, white, or pink flowers. • 2/3 of plants sold are red.

9. Geraniums • Need direct sunlight and 10-12” spacing. • May be propagated from seeds or cutting and transplanted.

10. Geraniums • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. • Seeds are large and have to be scarified because of hard seed coats (seed company).

11. Geraniums • Cover seeds with an 1/8” of soil. • Medium (soil mix) should be about 75oF. • Can be propagated from cuttings (bigger and more numerous flowers).

12. Petunias • Grow from 6-18” tall and have flowers with a tube shaped base. • Flower colors are red, pink, white, blue, and pastels. • Spaced 10-12”

13. Petunias • Grown from seeds and transplanted. • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 10 weeks and 11 weeks in pots. • Sow seeds on surface of medium. (285,000 seed to an ounce) • Need light and 70oF -80oF germinating medium temperature.

14. Petunias • Many different types and colors. • One of top five annuals in the US for over 100 years.

15. Begonias • Grow 6-13” high with pink, red or white flowers. • Spaced 6-10” and need direct sunlight.

16. Begonias • May be propagated from seeds or cuttings and then transplanted.

17. Begonias • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 14 weeks and in pots is about 16 weeks. • Small seed should be lightly pressed into surface of germinating medium. • Germination requires 65-70 F medium temperature. • Can be propagated with stem cuttings. • Plants do well in full sun to shade.

18. Marigolds • Grow 6” to 4’ tall with orange or yellow flowers. • Pungent aroma. • Spaced 6-12” apart . • Best in full sunlight. • Grown from seeds or transplants

19. Marigolds • Time from seeding to market is about 9 weeks in packs and 10 weeks in pots. • Cover seeds with ¼” of medium. • Germination medium should be 70-75oF.

20. Marigolds • Grow outdoors in full sun. • Plants grow 6”-4’ tall. • Few problems.

21. Pansies • Grow 6-8” tall and have moon shaped flowers in many colors…. • Blue, purple, yellow, white, pink, and red. • Spaced 6-8” and grown in full sun. • Grown from seeds and transplanted. • Cool season bedding plant.

22. Pansies • Time from seeding to market in packs is about 12 weeks and 13 weeks in pots. • Seeds should be planted on surface of medium and covered with paper to keep dark. • Media 70oF. • Grow in full sun. • Cool weather bedding plant.

23. Pansies • Growing Pansies in Eastern NC • BUY PLUGS!!! (It is impossible to have germination media at 70oF during August) • Seeded plants usually turn leggy and ugly.

24. Problems, Causes & Solutions Related with Bedding Plant Production

25. Cultural Problems • Caused by one of four problems: • Germination problems. • Fertilization problems. • Uneven growth. • Tall & spindly growth.

26. Cultural Problems – Germination • Are caused by…. • Improper temperature. • Over-watering. • Underwatering. • Chemical residues in medium. • Seed planting depth. • Low quality seeds.

27. Cultural Problems – Germination • Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. • Using high-quality seeds. • Planted at proper depth in medium. • Having no chemical residues. • Maintaining proper temperature. • Maintain proper moisture levels.

28. Cultural Problems – Fertilization • Are caused by…. • Lack of nutrients. • Root injury. • Improper pH of medium. • Excessive fertilization.

29. Cultural Problems – Fertilization • Problems can be solved by…. • Testing soil or media. • Applying correct amounts & kinds of nutrients and pH correcting materials.

30. Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth • Caused by…. • Poor mixing of medium. • Uneven moisture levels. • Unlevel flats. • Poor grading of seedlings.

31. Cultural Problems – Uneven Growth • Problems can be corrected or prevented by…. • Proper mixing of media. • Even watering. • Grading seedlings by size and quality. • Placing flats level.

32. Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth • Caused by…. • Too much nitrogen fertilizer. • Overwatering. • Low light intensity. (Too much shade) • High temperatures.

33. Cultural Problems – Tall & Spindly Growth • Problems can be solved by…. • Correct amount of nitrogen. • Reducing frequency of watering. • Lowering temperature. • Providing more light. • Using growth retardant. (B-Nine)

34. Diseases • Plant diseases cause…. • Seedlings to fall over. • Lower to turn brown, rot and dry.

35. Damping Off Botrytis Causes of Plant Disease • Seedlings falling over caused by either…. • Stem rot • Damping off • Lower leaves turning brown rotting & drying caused by…. • Botrytis

36. Controlling Plant Diseases • Controlling stem rot & damping off • Using sterilized media. • Using fungicides. • Improving air circulation around plants. • Botrytis • Increasing air temperature. • Increase circulation round plants. • Using proper fungicide.

37. Insects • Insects cause…. • Plants to be missing. • Holes in the leaves or plant parts to be missing.

38. Insects – Causes • Plants being missing caused by…. • Slugs. • Snails. • Cockroaches.

39. Aphids Mealy bugs Scale insects Thrips Whiteflies Flea beetles Fungus gnats Leaf miners Cutworms Caterpillars Insects – Causes • Holes in the leaves or missing plant parts are caused by….

40. Aphids Mealybugs Thrips Scale Insects

41. Whiteflies Flea Beetle Fungus Gnats Leaf Miners Insects

42. Cutworms Caterpillars Insects

43. Controlling Insects • Insects can be prevented or controlled by…. • Using baits. • Recommended insecticides.

44. Media Used in Transplanting Bedding Plants

45. Media • Media is the material used to start and grow plants. • The 3 main types are…. • Soil • Inorganic materials • Commercially prepared mixes.

46. Soil • Must be mixed with other materials such as peat moss to add organic matter and improve aeration and drainage.

47. Inorganic Materials • Improve aeration & drainage. • Examples include…. • Sand • Finely ground stone • Gravel

48. Perlite Vermiculite Inorganic Materials • Perlite • Expanded volcanic rock. • Neutral pH (7.0 – 7.5) • Sterile • Vermiculite • Expanded mica • Sterile

49. Commercially Prepared Mixes • Mixes that are sterile, contain no insects, weeds or diseases. • Types include…. • Jiffy-Mix • Redi-Earth • Pro-Mix • Sunshine Mix • Metro Mix • Other brands are available

50. Containers Used in Transplanting Bedding Plants