It is hard to believe that the first poinsettias will be shipped to retail stores in just 4–5 weeks and dispatch will continue until near December 20 . Life becomes feverish in Christmas star greenhouses as the time of year progresses so it is prudent to constitute handling and shipping practices now that will control that quality poinsettias are shipped , and quality Mexican flameleaf are received .

By Dr. Terril Nell , American Floral Endowment

In the past , grower would ‘ harden off ’ harvest to prepare them for the entire manipulation , cargo ships , and handling platform by reduce lachrymation and fertilizer and lowering temperatures . Today , lobster plant operation is best when plant are grown with secure root systems and are grow thin in the final four weeks just as flora were ‘ indurate - off in the yesteryear . In this ‘ How - to ” clause , I am going to summarize the best management practices into four element . Let us seem at the primary factors leading to successful treatment and shipping .

Prevent Bract Edge Burn   – This devastating disintegration of bracts must be preclude because it is almost impossible to cure once it becomes seeable . Bract Edge Burn is stimulate by calcium insufficiency just like tomato bloom end rot . Calcium want have a small necrotic , disgraceful smear on the edge of the bracts . The problem is worse when plants are spring up the final 4 weeks with high plant food , a generous supply of water , quick temperature , and high humidness . In many casing , it is best to lower the day and night temperatures several point during the final four hebdomad . ‘ sybaritic usance ’ of water system and fertilizer promotes speedy bract expansion . Calcium is translocate very poorly from the roots to the bracts that ensue in calcium deficiency and with speedy bract enlargement sufficient calcium is not useable in the bracts .   The serious job begin when the burn provides an entry stop for Botrytis spores . Botrytis maturation is rapid in in high spirits humidity once the spore taint the bract . intact bract may be destroy in 2–3 24-hour interval . It is ripe to pee plants the day before sleeving and boxing to avoid high moisture level in the sleeves and shipping boxful .

The result to preventing bract edge burn :   spray atomic number 20 weekly beginning at the first sign of bract color delivers calcium directly to the bracts and prevents the occurrence of necrotic dapple . It is best to use calcium chloride , Ca chelates , or a cal - mag fertilizer . The usance of calcium nitrate is discourage since the plants do not need nitrogen at this stage of growth . utilise calcium at 400 parts per million Ca weekly with a broadcaster paster from the beginning of bract color to transport .

Packaging / Sleeving – It is sound to sleeve plants for as short a period of time as possible . water supply plant the sidereal day before sleeving and packing or placement on racks . Moist soil will rear the humidity within the sleeves and boost the outgrowth of Botrytis .

transport – Poinsettias need to be ship at temperature of 53–57 F. temp below 50 F will make scary damage . If atomic number 20 atomizer have been used , boxing , storage , and shipping can be 3–4 days . Some diversity may be sensitive to lengthened repositing and merchant vessels period and the plant may develop white-livered leaves and drop leaves and cyathia prematurely .

Provide Display Instructions to Retailers – percentage treat educational activity with the retailer since some store - stratum employee may not have handled poinsettias in the past . The key elements for retail treatment are :

Source : endowment.org