Geranium Tornado

This ivy geranium series available from seed offers an economical, disease-free alternative to cuttings. Earlier to flower than any other seed ivy, Tornado is very compact, requiring little or no growth regulator treatments. Naturally branching, no pinch is needed. Tornado is available in separate colors and a formula mix.

GERMINATION

Media: Use a well-drained medium pH: 6.0-6.2 Temperature: 70-72°F (21-22°C) Moisture: Keep medium evenly moist, but not overly wet Light: Cover the seed lightly with media or vermiculite. Tornado can tolerate slightly higher light levels than cutting type ivies. However, excessive light levels will cause yellowing or a bleached-out appearance of new leaves. Provide a light shade (about 20%) if you see these symptoms.

Fertilization: Use a standard feed program that you would use for Geranium hortorum or other pot crops. Begin to fertilize plugs as first true leaves emerge from cotyledons. Any well-balanced fertilizer containing minor elements should work well. It is generally preferable to use nitrate forms of nitrogen, such as 14-0-14, to ammoniacal forms in order to avoid soft tissue development and stretching. If used on a constant feed basis, in a soilless media, a nitrogen concentration of 50-70 ppm is sufficient.

Plug Stages: a plug size of approximately 100 cells or less is suggested due to the spreading habit of this plant. Stage 1: 73-76°F (22-24°C), moderate moisture, cover seed (sowing to radicle emergence) Stage 2: 70-74°F (21-23°C), moderate moisture (stem and cotyledon emergence) Stage 3: 65-70°F (18-21°C), soil moisture may fluctuate between wet and dry, fertilize at 100-150 ppm N (seedling growth, development of true leaves). Stage 4: 62-68°F (16-20°C), soil moisture may fluctuate between wet and dry, fertilize at 100-150 ppm N (plug reaches transplant or ship stage).

TRANSPLANTING

Media: Any well-drained sterile growing media

pH: 6.0-6.2

Temperature: The same temperature regime you use to finish other ivy or standard geraniums should work well, 65-68°F(18-20°C). In our trials, we have found the Tornado gerani­ums are able to handle heat much better than the cutting propagated ivy geraniums.

Light: Tornado can tolerate slightly higher light levels than cutting type ivies. However, evidence of excessive levels will be yellowing or a bleached-out appearance of new leaves. Provide a light shade (about 20%) if you see these symptoms.

Fertilization: Use the standard feed program that you use for geraniums. Generally, in a soilless media a constant feed program produces good results, such as 150 - 200 ppm of 20-10-20 or 14-0-14. Leach with clear water every third watering.

Growth Regulator: Tornados are extremely responsive to Cycocel. And since they are naturally self-branching, very little chemical growth control is needed. Cycocel applications at recommended geranium rates of 1500 ppm will cause severe stunting and foliar damage. If temperature and fertilization cause stretching on these cultivars, use Cycocel at no higher than 300 ppm. Evidence of Cycocel damage on this variety is dead foliage at all spray contact points. If you feel the need to repeat these applications, do so at two-week intervals. Stop once buds appear or bud abortion or reduced flower size will occur. Read and follow all chemical label directions.

Pinch: Plants are naturally branching; no pinching is required

COMMON DISEASES/INSECTS

Diseases and insects have been very minimal with Tornado.

Oedema: In grower trials, Tornado seems to be highly tolerant to oedema, even in very humid regions of the United States. As always, provide good air circulation and keep plants drier during cool, cloudy conditions.

Damping-off: Commonly caused by Pythium and Rhizoctonia, occasionally appears in seedling geranium crops — usually when seeds are not germinated under the proper temperature regime. Keep the temperature high enough to allow for rapid and even germination. Fungicides may help counter damping-off problems; however, seedling geraniums can be somewhat sensitive to fungicides applied as soil drenches. It is better to control damping-off with cultural rather than with chemical methods.

Botrytis: This fungus begins growing on petals and then invades leaf tissues, causing a lesion or a blighted leaf. Falling petals provide good infection sites for Botrytis fungus. Botrytis can cause a crown rot on young seedling geraniums in greenhouses, especially under abnormally cool and damp growing conditions. Control by using clean media and growing containers, rogueing diseased plants and growing plants in low relative humidity (<85%). Water in the morning to allow the foliage to dry by evening. Use a protectant fungicide when necessary.

Rhizoctonia Root and Crown Rot: Appears to be worse in greenhouses where the crop is subject to drought or salt stress. When water is withheld to check plant growth is when Rhizoctonia attacks. The disease will move up the stem, collapsing the plant from the crown upward. Prevent Rhizoctonia by making sure the crop is not subject to excessive drought or salt stresses. Chemical drenches can assist in control. Read and follow all chemical label directions.

Pythium Black Leg: This is generally a problem resulting from too cool growing termperatures combined with too much moisture surrounding the roots. It occurs on seedling geranium crops where condensed water drops from inside the greenhouse onto flats or pots. The resulting wet spots are often sites of the infection. The disease then spreads from these spots and causes considerable loss when crop matures. Prevention programs must be integrated. Improve drainage; don't allow water to stand around roots; keep the soil and root temperature above 60-65°F (15.5-18°C). Fungicides help combat the problem. Read and follow all label directions.

Xanthomonas: While not inherent in seed propagated geraniums, the plants may be infected by diseased stock in the greenhouse. Bacterial blight symptoms vary depending on cultivar and greenhouse environmental and cultural conditions. Symptoms alone are not sufficient for making a diagnosis of bacterial blight — a laboratory diagnosis is necessary. There is no chemical control of Xanthomonas. Strict adherence to good sanitation practices is ideal. Grow geraniums from seed in houses separate from geraniums from cuttings. Don't place ivy geranium baskets directly above bench or floor level geranium crops.

CROP TIME

Sowing to first flower

4-inch pot (1 plant/pot) 15-16 weeks

10-inch basket (3-4 plants/basket) 18-19 weeks