Culture Report: New Guinea Impations SunStanding Series
SunStanding New Guinea impatiens hybrids are outstanding landscape performers with unmatched color options to brighten both sun and shade garden locations. This naturally compact and uniform series is suitable for pots and packs, allowing growers to optimize their greenhouse capacity with high-density, minimal-input production.
SunStanding unrooted cuttings are produced at Oro Farms in Guatemala, an industry leader in supplying high-quality New Guinea impatiens cuttings. Protocols set for the Dümmen Orange Green Care program ensure that SunStanding are produced under strict phytosanitary protocols. Recurring MPS- GAP certification ensure Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are followed by a team of respected employees.
These factors allow our production team to focus on delivering the best quality product every time. SunStanding unrooted cuttings are available in a standard or Quick Turn form, and rooted cuttings are available from our North American rooting stations or root-n-sell partners.
Quick Turn Cuttings
New for the 2017 production season, Dümmen Orange introduced Quick Turn cuttings. Blooming more quickly than a standard unrooted cutting, they are ideal for direct stick in packs and small containers. They allow growers faster crop turns, particularly in pack production, where they can finish two weeks faster than standard SunStanding cuttings. For growers who want to maximize profits, Quick Turn cuttings are the perfect way to speed up production of retail-ready, direct-stick plants.
Standard Cuttings
The tried-and-true standard cutting that growers normally receive from Oro Farms is perfect for crops destined to finish in pot sizes 6 inches and up. The longer production time that growers are accustomed to allows plants to size up and put more energy towards vegetative growth before coming into bloom — a more reliable approach when finishing in larger pots.
Propagation
Sticking. We recommend growers direct-stick Quick Turn cuttings in packs or 4-inch pots. For standard cuttings, use 50, 72, 84 and 105 trays to allow transplant into larger containers when rooted. A typical well-drained, peat-based media is preferred for both cutting types and no rooting hormone is required for either.
Moisture. After sticking, mist cuttings for five to six days, then mist only as needed to keep cuttings turgid. SunStanding impatiens root quickly, so limit long periods of heavy mist to avoid waterlogged media. Water stress in propagation can significantly delay flowering and compromise overall plant quality. Therefore, keep moisture even until transplant.
Fertilizer and pH. Fertilize at 50- to 100-ppm nitrogen once roots emerge. EC levels should be maintained around 0.75 to 1.0 by saturated media extraction (SME) to ensure proper feeding while limiting the risk of burn. SunStanding can be grown in pH ranges of 5.8 to 6.5 but prefer a tighter range of 5.9 to 6.1 during propagation.
Temperature and light. During rooting, avoid drastic changes in light and temperature. This can inhibit or delay rooting and reduce overall crop quality. The ideal media temperature is 75 to 80° F during the day and 68 to 70° F at night. Light levels and root development have a direct relationship; as rooting increases, so should light.
Pinching and PGR applications. A propagation pinch is not recommended for this series. It delays the crop significantly and reduces plant habit quality. When conditions are ideal, PGRs are not needed during propagation. Certain PGRs may be applied at transplant to achieve the desired product form. A spray application of B-Nine/ Dazide (daminozide) at 1,500 to 2,000 ppm or 2 ppm A-Rest/Abide (ancymidol) may be applied if the crop is grown under less-than-ideal conditions.
Timing. Quick Turn cuttings usually finish in five to seven weeks in packs and 4-inch pots. Standard SunStanding cuttings are usually ready to transplant three weeks after stick.
Finishing Standard Cuttings After Transplant
Temperature. Once transplants are established, temperatures should be maintained between 73 and 80° F during the day and 60 to 68° F at night. Cool temperatures of 65° F days and 55° F nights when finishing can be used to tone SunStanding impatiens but may result in a delayed crop. Temperatures below 55° F will delay the finish time considerably.
Light. So named for their sun tolerance, SunStanding should be grown under high light conditions during the finishing phase of production to ensure a superb flower set and desired growth habit.
Watering. An even moisture level with lightly pronounced wet-dry cycles is ideal for SunStanding New Guineas to tone the plant and promote root development. Water early in the day to allow foliage to dry. Good circulation and humidity control is important for Botrytis and root-rot management and helps to manage Rhizoctonia, Pythium, fungus gnats and shoreflies during production.
Fertilizer and pH. Fertilizer rates should be maintained around 50- to 100-ppm nitrogen with an EC range between 1.0 and 2.0 (SME). A finishing pH range of 5.6 to 6.2 is preferred.
Pinching and growth regulators. SunStanding should not be pinched during the finishing phase; this will ruin the habit and delay flowering. No PGRs are required in the finishing phase of production.
Pot sizes & timing.
Dümmen Orange recently released all new grower guides for annual products, including SunStanding. It is available at www.na.dummenorange.com/tools-for-you. New guides for perennials, poinsettias, mums, potted crops and succulents are coming soon.