Plant Information
This is a guide only to assist growers with high level growing information
Ranunculus Cultural Guide
Elegance line of buttercups includes heritage with a variety of colours that include pastel-coloured ranges featuring soft and delicate contrasts. Genetic improvement through the traditional interbreeding process, has achieved flowers featuring a large-sized corolla and a circle of homogeneously structured petals. A history of years of research has led this collection to consist of varieties that are particularly highly appreciated and consolidated on the market. This line presents different varieties with some common characteristics such as early production, large-sized flowers, high productivity, strength of the plants, straight and long stems a very high general quality standards. In practice they suit all sorts of climatic conditions and different growing techniques.
Ranunculus are quite hardy they grow over a wide range of conditions from the cold of Tasmania & Victoria right through to sub tropical of South East Queensland.
On receipt of your plugs allow them to recuperate from their journey and adjust to their new climate by giving them a weak seaweed solution watering and keeping them in a shady position for a couple of days. When they have perked up, plant them in a garden bed that ideally receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and have well drained fertile loamy soil. Plant your seedlings about 15 cm apart.
While your plants are young be vigilant and ensure they are watered regularly, kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Ideally use a a drip line to water the roots keep foliage dry. If you are in area where you get freezing temperatures protect your plants with frost cloth during these times. They don't mind a light frost as long as the roots do not freeze, mulching can assist to protect the roots.
Expect flowers at the end of Winter or early Spring, it is best to pick them after they have opened a few times, picking them early in the morning before they have opened and when they feel squishy like a marshmallow. Pick your flowers down to the base to encourage more flowers. They have superb vase life lasting up to 10-12 days
Plant will start to die off as light increases and the days get warmer. Allow the plants to die fully back before considering lifting corms.
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Anemone Cultural Guide
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From the renowned Italian breeder Biancheri these Italian Anemones are bred to the highest standards, expect a high quality productive bloom bred for a cut flower.
On receipt of your plugs allow them to recuperate from their journey and adjust to their new climate by giving them a weak seaweed solution watering, dipping them in a tray of water is best to ensure all plugs are reached through bottom watering. Keep them in a shady /filtered sun position for a couple of days. When they have perked up, plant them in a garden bed that ideally receives at least 6 hours of sun light per day, partial sun is ok too in warmer areas. They require well drained fertile loamy soil. Plant your seedlings about 15 cm apart.
While your plants are young be vigilant and ensure they are watered regularly, kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Ideally use a a drip line to water the roots keep foliage dry, this can avoid foliage disease. If you are in area where you get freezing temperatures protect your plants with frost cloth during these times. They don't mind a light frost as long as the roots do not freeze, mulching can assist to protect the roots from the cold in winter and the warmth as the days heat up.
Expect flowers at the end of Winter or Early Spring, it is best to pick them after they have opened a few times, picking them early in the morning before the leaves behind the flower has folded back. Pick your flowers down to the base to encourage more flowers. They have superb vase life lasting about 10 days.
Liquid Fertilise regularly to prolong flowering season.
Plant will start to die off as light increases and the days get warmer.
Lisianthus growing notes
We love this flower because it has a long vase life. It holds well out of water, making it a top choice for installations and corsages. The shape resembles a rose. In field you don't need to pick straight away making it easier to time harvesting and usage.
On the flip side she is hard to start from seed and doesn't like the heat especially in the first few weeks of planting.
They can be overwintered but root rot (Fusarium) can be a problem. The best time to plant plugs is 6- 8 weeks before the last frost if planting in a tunnel or 2 - 4 weeks before the last frost if field planting. Plants/plugs require 2-3 weeks of cool soil and shade at time of transplant to avoid rosetting.
Each variety has different groups I, II, III, IV with different heat and light requirements. Below provides a guideline only and your specific climate needs to be considered.
LIGHT LOW - MODERATE - HIGH - MODERATE
WINTER - SPRING - SUMMER - AUTUMN
GRP I - GRP II - GRP III - GRP IV - GRP III - GRPII
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Overhead watering is recommended for the first few weeks after planting. Two layers of support netting is ideal.
To pinch or not to pinch? Pinching will create a bushier plant with more lateral stems and more flowers however you will sacrifice the size of the flower and delay the flowering by a 2 - 3 weeks. Spacing for pinched plants = 6" and if you are not pinching = 4". Once flowers start to form, pinch out the first bud to save the plants resources for the rest of the flowers. Harvest when the second tier have opened and the third tier of buds are full.
Lisianthus is susceptible to fusarium, ensuring biodynamic soil can help combat these bad guys Starting the plugs off with a soak in fungicide can give them a good start while they are establishing.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are another superb cut flower, they have the longest vase life and are still looking great after 10 days. The Mums I sell are specifically grown for cut flowers, with long stems. They have specific stopping (pinching) times to attempt to align flowering with Mothers Day. First stopping is Cup day, cut them back to a few inches leaving three sets of leaves. It may seem excessive but these plants love it. They are eager to grow and will bounce back. They will need another stopping late January, to aim for flowering in April/May once the days start getting shorter. I grow mine in 28cm pots and also in the ground. Protect them from Aphids, slugs and snails. To keep the cycle going each year cuttings should be taken each year. There are lots of resources available from your state run Chrysanthemum society that can provide detailed information.