August 2019 Culture, Variety Info

Culture Report: Impatiens SunStanding Series By Chris Berg

A true innovation in breeding, SunStanding hybrid impatiens from Dümmen Orange feature families that are reliably uniform and predictable. This superior uniformity has been achieved through fresh breeding techniques using radiation therapy, which allows expression of new colors and other novel traits on genetically identical plants. Essentially, the technique forces the original plant to sport several different colored blooms while keeping everything else exactly as-is.

Since the breeding relies on the original plant’s genetic make-up, horticultural characteristics like size, flower count and time to flower remain the same across all colors within the family. For growers and landscapers, this equates to a very strong value proposition: all varieties within the SunStanding families are all genetically matched for size, flower magnitude and timing.

FOUR DISTINCT FAMILIES

Apollo is the most adaptable family, suitable for landscape use to retail packs and combination containers. This family has the widest range of colors and boasts excellent vigor, making it appropriate for professional landscapers. The innovative Quick Turn cutting product form allows growers to produce packs of
smaller plants with full color in five to seven weeks for instant landscape gratification. Genetically matched varieties make seasonal color combinations easy; no more guessing heights and vigor within a series.

Helios is a compact family — an easy grower input for smaller retail containers. The potential for great color combinations is endless, especially with the inclusion of several bicolor varieties. This family is 20% smaller than the Apollo family in plant habit, flower and leaf size, but has more prolific flowers for maximum garden showmanship. Helios is ideal for mixed combination
containers which consumers can place in sun or shade with equal success.

Spot•On is the most vigorous family with a mounding, spreading habit, producing large plants that easily fill landscape beds or large combination planters. The glowing pastel colors of this series are accented by a rich burgundy spot in the centers, making them eye catching during the day and illuminated in the evening and moonlight, perfect for homeowner yards or restaurant patios with evening traffic.

Jazzy adds a drama to the program by bringing show-stopping excitement to the retail bench and large combination planters. Its bright, tropical look stands out with intense neon-colored flowers on top of bright lemon-lime variegated foliage. Jazzy varieties pair well with Apollo in vigor, adding a strong tropical flair and impulse appeal with a unique leaf pattern and color.

PRODUCT FORMS TO SUIT EVERY GROWER

SunStanding is delivered in multiple product forms suitable for any growing situation, including traditional unrooted cuttings, Quick Turn URC, AutoStix, Basewell and rooted liners. SunStanding is a versatile product that’s excellent for low-input, space-saving programs.

Quick Turn cuttings are delivered as a more mature cutting that is initiated and ready to bloom. This product form shortens crop times because plants are flowering at a younger stage, eliminating the need for growth regulators before point of sale. Quick Turn cuttings can be finished in five to seven weeks from direct stick in packs and six to eight weeks in quarts, depending on location, light levels and temperature.

Basewell cuttings offer a fast finish with the fewest steps. These cuttings arrive pre-rooted without growing media, and can be directly planted into packs and pots, eliminating the need to transplant liners at a later date. All Basewell cuttings are also pretreated through the Quick Turn system, allowing them to both root and finish fast. SunStanding packs using Basewell cuttings can be finished in four to six weeks from direct planting of the cutting depending on location, light levels and temperature. Basewell is offered as both single units for hand planting or packed in AutoStix strips for automatic planting.

CULTURE NOTES

Propagation. Stick SunStanding and mist moderately for the first five to seven days, then only as needed to keep the cuttings turgid. Water stress in propagation can delay flowering and compromise quality of the liner, so be sure to maintain even moisture. Total propagation time from stick to finished liner is three weeks. SunStanding also does great as a direct stick into the final container. Soil temperature should be kept 70 to 75° F and the air temperature 68 to 72° F.

Growing on. Transplant on time to minimize stretch into a well-drained media within the pH range 5.6 to 6.2. Maintain moderately moist conditions allowing for mild dry cycles. Good media aeration is imperative for preventing root rot
type diseases. Try to water early in the day to so foliage is allowed to dry; coupling this with good air circulation and humidity control is essential for Botrytis management. Monitor consistently for thrips, aphids and mites.

Temperature and light. Day temperatures of 65 to 73° F and night temperatures of 68 to 75° F, along with high light, are recommended for producing a high-quality product. Cooler temperatures, 65° F day and 55° F night, when finishing can be used to tone plants. Temperatures below 55° F will delay flowering
considerably.

Fertilization. Feed with a balanced fertilizer at a rate of 50- to 100-ppm nitrogen maintaining a moderate EC of 2.0 to 3.5 measured with saturated Media Extract (SME).

Plant growth regulation. SunStanding is naturally compact, and when produced under high light coupled with mild dry cycles, plant height should be naturally
controlled. Do not pinch as it may ruin the habit and will delay flowering. Use 1,000 to 1,500-ppm B-Nine (85% daminozide) spray or 2-ppm A-Rest (0.0264%
ancymidol) to reduce stretch if needed. Avoid Florel (3.9% ethephon) as it will significantly delay flowering.