Platycodon grandiflorus Pop Star Pink

Culture guide

Crop Time: Spring: 13-15 weks

Height: 18cm

Width: 18cm

Exposure: Sun – Partial shade

Heat Zone: 9-1

Hardiness Zone: 3b-9b

Best Uses: Bedding, Landscape

Usage
Pots, Mixed Containers and Landscape

Sow time
January – May

Germination
Optimal conditions for seedling development, beginning on the day of sowing until radical emergence Expect radicle emergence in 3-4 days.

Media
Plug Culture:
Begin with a Saturated (5) media for the first 4 days. On day 5 begin to reduce the moisture level to a Wet (4) for the next 4 -5 days. Once the cotyledons have expanded reduce further to a Moist (3). This should occur on day 11-12. Begin to alternate between a moisture level Wet (4) and a Medium (2). Let the media approach a Medium (2) before re-saturating to a Wet (4). Alternate between moisture levels Wet (4) and Medium (2). Allow the media to approach a Medium (2) before re saturating to a Wet (4). Platycodon prefer slightly drier media conditions for good root development.
Growing On:
Alternate between moisture levels Wet (4) and Medium (2). Allow the media to reach a Medium (2) before re-saturating to a Wet (4). Allowing the media moisture level to dry back will encourage good root development.

Temperature
Plug Culture:
68-70 °F (20-21 °C), after germination has occurred the temperature can be reduced slightly to 65-68 °F (18- 20 °C).
Growing On:
65-68 °F (18-20 °C) nights, 70-74 °F (21-23 °C) days for the first two weeks after transplanting. Thereafter temperatures may be lowered to 62–65 °F (16–18°C) day and night. An ADT (average daily temperature of 67˚F (19˚C) will give the fastest finished crop.

Fertilization
Plug Culture:
Maintain an EC < 1.0. Fertilized water should not exceed an EC of 0.5. Begin fertilizing early using a calcium-based feed, 14-4-14 or 15-5-15 at 50 – 60 ppm.
Growing On:
Higher rates of ammonium can now be used in the feed program. Fertilize at 150 – 200 ppm N using a 17-5-17 or 20-10-20 fertilizer. Under higher light conditions 20-10-20 can be used.

Stage I Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.

The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.