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Copyright 2005, Board of Trustees, University
of Florida

s

/ UNIVERSITY OF Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
TFL RD 5007 60th Street East, Bradenton, FL 34203
Bradenton GCREC Research Report BRA-1993-22
September 1993
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

NOVELTY POINSETTIA PRODUCTION

G. J. Wilfreti

Most production of poinsettia plants for the Christmas holidays consists

of a single pinched plant grown in a 6 or 6.5 inch container with 5 to 8

inflorescences. Specialty growers also plant three cuttings per 6 or 6.5 inch

pot and grow them unpinched, which makes a larger inflorescence and floral

display. Unfortunately, an abundance of the plants grown in 6 or 6.5 inch pots

has saturated some local markets, forcing growers to seek novel ways to grow

poinsettias to increase their sales. Some of these "novelty items" are hanging

baskets, hanging gardens, 4 to 4.5 inch pots, mini-trees and standard trees.

Growing poinsettias as trees was made possible with the introduction of

Gutbier's 'V-14 Glory' in 1980 and Gross's 'Supjibi' in 1985. These cultivars

were adapted to tree culture because of their strong lateral branches, large

bracts, and earliness to flower. Previous attempts to use the Annette Hegg or

Mikkelson cultivars as trees failed, either because of their weak laterals or

lateness of flowering. Research at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

at Bradenton (Univ. of Fla.) has modified the tree production methods of Paul

Ecke Poinsettia (CA) and developed a technique to produce poinsettia trees of

various sizes in Florida. Research has also shown how to produce quality novel

plants in other size containers. Listed below are guidelines for production of

these novelty poinsettia plants.

'Professor and Geneticist.

Table 1. Tall Poinsettia Trees.

A. Cultivars:

B. Cuttings:

C. Lateral Removal:

D. Transplanting:

E. Lateral Removal:

F. First Pinch:

G. Second Pinch:

H. Growth Retardant:

I. Leaf Removal:

J. Market:

K. Finished Height
(including pot):

* Gutbier V-14 Glory (and color mutants)
* Gross Supjibi

* Stick unrooted cutting in 4 inch pot April 15 (in
mist house)
* Plant Oasise cutting May 1

* Space on 6 inch centers
* Remove any lower laterals that develop prior to
transplanting.

* To 10 inch pots on June 20 and space on 20 inch
centers.

* June 20 to August 10

* August 20 @ 24" and leave top 8 laterals.

* September 10 and leave 2 nodes per laterals.
* Space on 30 inch centers.

* Applied approximately October 2
A-Rest Drench @ 2 mg ai/pot
Bonzi Drench @ 2 mg ai/pot
Sumagic Drench @ 0.5 mg ai/pot
Cycocel @ 200$ ppm + B-nine @ 1000 ppm spray
(2 qts/100 ft )

* Remove old basal leaves November 15

* Starting December 5-10

*

42-44 inches

Table 2. Intermediate Poinsettia Trees.

A. Cultivars:

B. Cuttings:

C. Lateral Removal:

D. Transplanting:

E. Lateral Removal:

F. First Pinch:

G. Second Pinch:

H. Growth Retardant:

I. Leaf Removal:

J. Market:

K. Finished Height
(including pot):

* Gutbier V-14 Glory (and color mutants)
* Gross Supjibi

* Stick unrooted cutting in 4 inch pot April 25
(in mist house)
* Plant Oasise cutting May 15

* Space plants on 6 inch centers
* Remove any lower laterals that develop prior to
transplanting.

* To 8 inch pots on June 20 and space on 20 inch
centers.

* June 20 to August 10

* August 20 @ 20 inches and leave top 8 laterals.

* September 10 and leave 3 nodes per lateral.
* Space on 24 inch centers.

* Applied approximately October 2
A-Rest Drench @ 2 mg ai/pot
Bonzi Drench @ 2 mg ai/pot
Sumagic Drench @ 0.5 mg ai/pot
Cycocel @ 2000 ppm + B-Nine @ 1000 ppm spray
(2 qts/100 ft )

* Remove old basal leaves November 15

* Starting December 2-5

*0

36-38 inches

Table 3. Mini Poinsettia Trees.

A. Cultivars:

B. Cuttings:

C. Lateral Removal:

* Gutbier V-14 Glory (and color mutants)
* Gross Supjibi

* Stick unrooted cutting in 6 inch pot July 25
(in mist house)
* Plant Oasise cutting August 10

* Space plants on 9 inch centers
* Remove lower laterals prior to pinching.

D. Pinch:

* September 15 @ 10 inches and leave
* Space on 15 inch centers

5 laterals.

E. Growth Retardant:

F. Market:

G. Finished Height
(including pot):

* Applied approximately October 1
Bonzi spray 0 60 ppm (2 qts/100 gals)
Sumagic spray @ 10 ppm (2 qts/100 gals)
Cycocel @ 2000 ppm + B-Nine @ 1000 ppm
(2 qts/100 gals)

* November 28 December 2

*

22-24 inches

5

Table 4. Poinsettias in a Belden Hanging Garden (10" Basket).

A. Cultivars:
*
*
*

Gutbier V-14 Glory
Eckespoint Freedom
Gross Supjibi
Gutbier V-10 Amy

(and color mutants)

B. Cuttings:

Plant Oasis cutting September 10
Six cuttings on side
Three cuttings on top
Space on 26 inch centers

C. Pinch: September 25 (to 6 nodes)

D. Growth Retardant: Applied approximately October 10 (2 qts/100 gal)
Sumagic @ 10 ppm spray
Bonzi @ 60 ppm spray
Cycocel @ 2000 ppm + B-Nine @ 1000 ppm spray
A-Rest @ 0.5 mg ai/basket drench

E. Market: November 25 December 5

F. Size:

* Height:
* Diameter:

18-20" tall
24-26" wide

Table 5. Poinsettias in a 4" Pot.

A. Cultivars:

Eckespoint Freedom
Gutbier V-14 Glory
Gross Supjibi
Gutbier V-10 Amy

B. Cuttings: Stick unrooted cutting in 4" pot September 1
(mist house with long day lighting)
Plant Oasise cutting September 20 (long day lighting)
Space on 9 inch centers
C. Pinch: October 1 (to 5 nodes)
Initiate short days
D. Growth Retardant: Applied approximately October 20 (2 qts/100 gal)
Sumagic @ 5 ppm spray
Bonzi @ 30 ppm spray
Cycocel @ 2000 ppm + B-Nine @ 1000 ppm spray
A-Rest @ 0.125 mg ai/pot drench
E. Market: November 25 December 5

F. Finished Height:

*10-12" tall