Culture Information

iCandy Begonia

Begonia x hybrida

Product form: Vegetative

Containers: Quarts, Gallons, Hanging Baskets

Habit: Mounded

Garden Specifications 

Garden height: 10–14” (25–35 cm) tall

Garden width: 12–16” (25–35 cm) wide

Exposure: Part Sun

USDA zone: 9–11

AHS zone: 1–10

Product use: Containers, Hanging Baskets, Patio Pots, Combos

Propagation of Unrooted Cuttings

Root emergence: 10–12 days

Rooting hormone: Not recommended.

Bottom heat temperature: 72–75 °F (22–24 °C) for the first three weeks. After roots are well developed, temperatures can be lowered to hold and tone the cuttings.

Misting: Mist schedules vary depending on light and temperature conditions. Apply just enough moisture to rehydrate the cuttings and keep them from wilting. Cuttings should be hydrated and in a non-wilted stage within 24 hours after sticking. Cuttings that continue to wilt heavily after 24 hours will callus unevenly and will be delayed in rooting. CapSil® (spray adjuvant) can be sprayed on the cuttings at a rate of 2–4 oz/100 gal within 1–2 days after sticking to help in rehydration of the cuttings. Misting should be significantly reduced after 3–4 days and after cuttings become fully hydrated. Applying too much mist early on can lead to foliar disease and tissue breakdown. Maintain higher humidity levels during later stages of propagation.

Recommended tray size: 72-cell (35 mm) Propagation timing: 6 weeks for a 72-cell tray; add more rooting time for significantly larger cell sizes.

Temperature Day: 72–74 °F (22–23 °C) Night: 72–74 °F (22–23 °C)

Lighting

Day extension lighting: Necessary to 14 hours to prevent tuberization and premature flowering.

Light intensity: 200–250 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ for the first two weeks after sticking or until root development occurs. Light levels can be increased up to 600 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ as rooting increases and the cutting matures.

Day length response: Facultative short day

Daily light integral (DLI): 4–6 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹ for the first two weeks after sticking or until root development occurs. DLI can be increased to greater than 12 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹ after root formation.

Media pH: 5.6–6.0

Media EC: SME EC: 0.9–1.3 mS/cm, Press/Squeeze Method EC: 1.4–2.0 mS/cm

Fertilizer: Begin fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen when roots become visible. Rates can be increased up to 100 ppm nitrogen after roots become well developed. Use primarily Cal-Mag® Plus (calcium nitrate + magnesium nitrate) fertilizers in propagation to prevent unwanted stretch.

Pinching: Recommended in finish

Plant growth regulators (PGRs): Sprays of Florel® at 200 ppm 25 to 28 days after stick can help control leaf size and reduce premature flowering. To control height use, sprays of B-Nine® WSG at 1,250- 2,500 ppm, Altercel™ at 500-1,000, or A-Rest® at 5 ppm. This treatment also promotes branching.

Finishing

Temperature

Day: 72–74 °F (22–23 °C)

Night: 72–74 °F (22–23 °C)

Average daily temperature: 73 °F (22.5 °C)

Lighting

Day extension lighting: Beneficial to 14 hours

Light intensity: 800–1,000 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹

Day length response: Facultative short day

Daily light integral (DLI): 16–18 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹

Transplanting: Transplant liners on time. Liners that are held too long can become non-branching (blind) due to stress.

Media pH: 5.8–6.2

Media EC: SME EC: 1.5–2.1 mS/cm, PourThru EC: 2.3–3.2 mS/cm 

Fertilizer: 200–250 ppm N 

Pinching: Yes, 1 soft pinch is recommend 7–10 days after transplant.

Plant growth regulators (PGRs): PGRs are not usually required. However, if needed, iCandy™ Begonias during finishing respond well to sprays of B-Nine® WSG at 2,500 ppm, Altercel™ at 500–1,000 ppm, or A-Rest® at 5 ppm. iCandy™ XL has higher vigor and is well suited for large containers and hanging baskets. Additional PGR applications may be needed to control growth during production.

Tech tip: In propagation, stick cuttings with leaf tips out so not to overlap with neighboring cuttings. Day extension lighting to 14 hours is recommended for the first weeks of finished production to bulk plant size. Lighting should be discontinued at least four weeks prior to shipping flowering plants. Maintain higher humidity levels during finish production. Begonias are a preferred host for broad mites. Take extra care in scouting this crop. Most hand lenses are not powerful enough to see broad mites; 100x magnification is needed to see this pest. Use a preventative spray rotation of miticides that includes translaminar products. If an infestation occurs, we recommend two applications of Avid^® 7 days apart followed by an application of a miticide with a different mode of action than Avid^® such as Savate^®, Floramite SC^®, or Pylon^®.

Moisture level: Media should be allowed to dry between irrigations. Alternate between moisture level 2 and 3.

2 - MEDIUM: Soil is light brown in color, no water can be extracted from soil, and soil will crumble apart.

3 - MOIST: Soil is brown in color, strongly squeezing the soil will extract a few drops of water, and trays are light with no visible bend.

Common pests: Thrips, broad mites

Common diseases: Botrytis, Tospovirus, Xanthomonas

Scheduling

Estimated finish crop time is from transplant of a 72-cell tray and

finished at an average daily temperature (ADT) of 73 °F (22.5 °C).

Example crop schedule for a 2.5 quart