June 2015 Variety Info

Crop Culture Report: Euphorbia ‘Glitz’ and ‘Glamour’ By Mary O’Connor

‘Glamour’ euphorbia can tolerate cooler temperatures for seasonal landscape use.

PanAmerican Seed recently introduced the first Euphorbia graminea from seed. The variety ‘Glitz’ offers growers a great opportunity to use this delicate appearing but durable euphorbia in combination mixes and quart programs. It blends well with other summer annuals, adding a frothy, soft texture similar to a florist’s gypsophila. All with the ease of seed.

‘Glitz’ brings a highly competitive performance, with a medium compact and well-branched habit. No pinching is necessary, and crop timing is comparable to vegetative forms. Euphorbia graminea is day neutral, so it can be a go-to addition for any combination, including your larger poinsettia containers for a truly premium product.

Last year’s introduction, ‘Glamour’, is the first landscape Euphorbia graminea from seed. ‘Glamour’ brings the fine textural element of euphorbia in an extra vigorous landscape habit. It forms a soft “hedge” in the landscape or plays well intermingled with other vigorous annuals like petunia ‘Tidal Wave Red Velour’.

‘Glamour’ may look dainty, but it is tough as nails. It can take cooler weather for seasonal landscape installations, and its summer performance is outstanding in heat, humidity and drought. ‘Glamour’ has a final in-ground height of 18-24 inches. The plants prefer full sun exposure, but can take part shade. ‘Glamour’ blooms all summer long!

‘Glitz’ combines performance with medium compact and a well-branched habit (Left) ‘Glamour’ boasts fine texture and extra vigor (Right)
Growing Guidelines

Most of the culture recommendations for ‘Glitz’ and ‘Glamour’ are the same. The difference is primarily the PGR applications.

Two culture tips are essential to remember for a successful crop:

• Temperature. Glitz prefers temperatures above 62° F. Lower temps will slow or stop development and can cause foliage yellowing and leaf drop.

• PGR. Monitor for PGR applications starting in the plug stage. Stocky, well-branched and non-stretched, mature plants start with correct application(s) to the plugs. Finish PGR is simple but should not be overlooked. How much PGR and exactly when to apply will be best adjusted for your facility conditions, but start with the successful guidelines below.

Sowing. Sow one seed per cell in 288 and two seeds per cell in larger cell sizes. A 105, 72 or 50 cell liner is a great size for those wanting quick finish for combinations, or for landscape sales.

Germination. Seeds will take three to six days to germ. An optional light cover of vermiculite will help keep relative humidity up. Keep temperature at 65-72° F, and maintain level 4 moisture. Euphorbia graminea can be germinated at 62-65° F as well, but will take longer so remember to add time to your production schedule.

Plug finishing. As the plug progresses through stage 2 and 3, introduce low rate fertilizer (nitrate form, low phosphorous) and gradually start to reduce moisture level. Do not allow seedlings to wilt. In stage 4, late plug finishing prior to transplant, moisture level should be medium to medium dry. Maintain temperatures above 62° F to avoid any leaf yellowing.

Plug PGR. In early stage 3, at first true leaf, an application of daminozide at 2,500 ppm will help reduce stretching. This PGR may be repeated in seven to 10 days. Alternatively, if your plug grower prefers paclobutrazol, in stage 1 a low rate paclobutrazol sprench (0.25-.5ppm) or spray (1-2 ppm) can be used, especially if hypocotyl stretch is a concern. This would be followed by a daminozide 2,500 ppm application in stage 4 if necessary.

Timing. About four to five weeks in the plug stage.

Transplant. For ‘Glitz’, one plant per pot in 4 and 5 inch and quart, two plants per pot for gallons or 6 inch, three plants per pot for 10-inch hanging baskets. ‘Glamour’ is best in quarts or larger, same recommended plants per pot as ‘Glitz’. If plugs are stretched then plugs can be planted to the depth of the first node, to stabilize the plant and give a better quality product. Pinching is not recommended.

Finishing. Plants prefer high light. Allow soil to dry between watering, but not to the point of wilt. Keep a pH of 5.8 to 6.2. Fertilize at 175- to 225-ppm nitrogen once a week using a nitrate-form fertilizer. Continue to keep night temps above 62-64° F. Maintain night temperature at 65-68° F and days temperature at 65-77° F. Cold can cause yellowing and leaf drop.

Finish PGR. For ‘Glitz’, applications of daminozide at 2,500-5,000 ppm have been shown to be effective. Start the first application one week after transplant. Daminozide may slightly delay full flowering, but ‘Glitz’ will build the desired plant structure well. Note that low rate paclobutrazol (0.5-1.5 ppm) is also an effective PGR and will not delay flowering, but plants’ body may be smaller. Repeat PGR as needed.

For ‘Glamour’, daminozide at 2,500-5,000 ppm sprays weekly will control vigor. Alternatively, a paclobutrazol drench of 0.5-3 ppm applied one week after transplant is effective. Repeat PGR as needed.

Euphorbia is sensitive to ethylene. Avoid exposure to ethylene, as this also may lead to bright yellow leaf color and leaf drop. Florel is not recommended.

Crop Timing. ‘Glitz’ will finish nine to 13 weeks from sow. ‘Glamour’ is more vigorous and will finish faster.