4/28/2017
Bidens Pretty in Pink
Mike Fernandez
The Bidens category has always sizzled in shades of yellows and orange, but now breeders like Danziger are taking it up a notch with bright new colors like Pretty in Pink. New color developments are opening the door for bidens to become a major player in the vegetative plant world.
Like its predecessors, Pretty in Pink loves full sun or even partial shade, but offers the added bonus of a new hue to appeal. An upright, compact variety, Pretty in Pink is decorated with an abundance of pink flowers with purple stripes. It grows in a mounding habit to approximately 12- to 14-in. tall, spreading about the same. Medium vigor makes it suitable for growing on in a 4-in. pot.
Fast-growing and early-blooming, Pretty in Pink excels as a single plant in a pot and can also be used as a tall element in mixed plantings with low and cascading plants. It works well as a foundation plant, border plant, or in beds or patio pots. Pretty in Pink flowers from early spring through summer.
In patio pots and combinations, pair it with plants such as New Guinea impatiens, petunia, calibrachoa, ivy, vinca vine and ornamental grasses.
Companion colors for Pretty in Pink include gold, white, yellow, and gold and orange bicolors. But color isn’t the only feature that takes the new bidens more mainstream—the refined habit will make Pretty in Pink a top choice for gallons, quarts and even combo planters.
The new colors also carry on the tough bidens tradition of good weather tolerance—these new varieties not only handle the cold, but the heat as well. This versatility gives it even more appeal and makes it a great candidate for fall production, for growers wanting to increase the variety of their fall season.
Rooting
Stick one Pretty in Pink liner per cell. pH should be at approximately 5.8 to 6.2, while electrical conductivity (EC) should stay about 0.80 mS/m in Week 1 and increase slightly to 0.8 to 0.9 mS/m in Weeks 2 and 3, and up to 1.0 to 1.2 mS/m in Week 4.
Greenhouse temperature should be about 74F (23C) in Week 1. As rooting progresses, decrease temperatures to 68 to 74F (20 to 23C) in Week 3 and to 64 to 68F (18 to 20C) in Week 4.
Apply a fungicide, like Daconil, at the recommended rate on the day of sticking and a B-Nine spray (approximately 3,750 ppm) the day after sticking. Do a second application of Daconil at the recommended rate in Week 2. In Week 3, follow with another B-Nine application if needed.
At sticking and throughout Weeks 1 and 2, feed 50 ppm nitrogen by mist. Increase feed to 65 to 80 ppm nitrogen in Week 2 and 100 to 150 ppm nitrogen in Week 4. All as part of a balanced fertilizer.
Like all bidens, Pretty in Pink grows best in high light—5,000 foot candles or more.
Growing on
Transplant in Week 5, planting one plant per 4-in. (10- to 12-cm) pot. Pretty in Pink should be ready for spring sale in approximately 10 to 12 weeks.
pH
Maintain pH at approximately 5.8 to 6.2 throughout growing on and finished production.
EC
By transplant, EC should be steady at 1.0 to 1.2 mS/m. Maintain that level throughout the remainder of production.
Fertilization
From transplant through Week 10 or 12, feed 100 to 150 ppm nitrogen in a balanced fertilizer.
PGRs
While Pretty in Pink shouldn’t require PGRs after about Week 3, some of the other companion colors, such as White Delight, may need it—especially if grown in a small pot.
Pinching
Pretty in Pink generally doesn’t need pinching.
Light
Provide high light—a minimum of 5,000 foot candles.
Irrigation
Keep Pretty in Pink evenly moist. Overwatering may delay root development.
Pests & diseases
With a good preventive program in place—moderate humidity levels, good air circulation—pests and diseases shouldn’t be a concern when producing Pretty in Pink. Be vigilant in scouting and monitoring to
prevent any insect or disease activity.
GT
Mike Fernandez is North American Product Manager for Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm. He can be reached at mike@danziger.co.il.