Falling Star™ PentasCulture GuidePentas lanceolata

Falling Star™ pentas series was bred for a unique trailing habit and large, richly colored fl ower clusters. They are best-suited for hanging baskets and mixes and perform best under warm temperatures.

Container size: 6-inch pots, gallons, baskets

Habit: Trailing

Garden Specifi cationsGarden height: 10"–12"

Garden width: 18"–24"

Light: Full sun

USDA Hardiness Zone: 11

AHS Heat zone: 12–1

Product use: Containers, hanging baskets, mixed combinations

Propagation of UnrootedCuttings (URCs)Root emergence: 12–14 days

Rooting hormone: Yes

Bottom heat temperature: 72–75° F (22–24° C) Provide bottom heat until rooting begins.

Misting: Mist for 12–14 days after stick. Gradually reduce misting frequency after day 2. Cuttings should not wilt.

Recommended tray size: 105 cell or larger

Propagation time: 4–5 weeks for a 105-cell tray

TEMPERATURE:

Day: 72–74 °F (22–23° C)

Night: 72–74 °F (22–23° C) Minimum: 68–72° F (20–22° C)

LIGHTING:

Recommended day length: >14 hours

Light intensity: 3,500–8,000 foot candles (700–1,600 micro mols) after good root formation

Day length response: Facultative long day

Daily light integral: >12 mols/day after good root formation

Media pH: 6.0–6.4

Media EC: 1.0–1.2 mS/cm (saturated media extract)

Fertilizer: 100–150 ppm Nitrogen

Pinching: Yes

Plant growth regulators (PGRs): If needed (under hot conditions), maintain compact growth by spraying B-Nine® (daminozide) at 2,500 ppm plus Cycocel® (chlormequat chloride) at 750–1,000 ppm. Add CapSil® at 2–4 ounces/100 gallons on all sprays. Falling Star Rose and Falling Star Pink Bicolor are more vigorous and will potentially need more PGR than Falling Star White.

Tech tips: Slow rooters. If terminal fl ower bud develops, it can be removed after plants are well rooted and main stem elongates. Avoid letting liners wilt. Provide supplemental HID lighting if daily light integral (DLI) is less than 12 mols/day.

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Falling Star™ Rose Pentas

Falling Star™ Pink Bicolor Pentas

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© 2016 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local Extension Service to ensure registration status. Some or all of the varieties may be protected under one or more of the following: Plant Variety Protection, United States Plant Patents, Utility Patents, and/or Plant Breeders’ Rights and may not be propagated or reproduced without authorization. The trademarks displayed or otherwise used herein are the property of their respective owners.

SCP 833-00035-A

Finishing

TEMPERATURE:

Day: 70–80° F (21–27° C)

Night: 65–70° F (18–21° C)

Average daily temperature: 68–80° F (20–27° C)

LIGHTING:

Recommended day length: >14 hours

Light intensity: 3,500–8,000 foot candles (700–1,600 micro mols)

Day length response: Facultative long day. Flowering is delayed by 1–2 weeks under short days.

Daily light integral: >12 mols/day

Media pH: 6.0–6.4

Media EC: 1.5–1.8 mS/cm (saturated media extract)

Fertilizer: 150–200 ppm Nitrogen

Pinching: Yes, if not done during propagation. The terminal bud should be pinched about two weeks after planting to promote branching and vegetative growth. A second pinch can be given to baskets and larger pots to improve branching and shape the plant.

Plant growth regulators: Tank mix spray of B-Nine at 2,500 ppm plus Cycocel at 750–1,000 ppm. Bonzi® plant growth regulator can be drenched at 3–5 ppm (depending on temperature) about three to four weeks before sale. Higher PGR rates are appropriate at warmer temperatures. Add CapSil at 2–4 ounces/100 gallons on all sprays. Falling Star Rose and Falling Star Pink Bicolor are more vigorous and will potentially need more PGR than Falling Star White.

Pests: Aphids, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies

Diseases: Pythium root rot, Rhizoctonia root and stem rot, Fusarium wilt, Botrytis

Scheduling

Container sizeCrop time after

transplant (wks) Plants per pot

6-inch pots, 1-gallon pots 7–8 1–2

2-gallon pots 8–9 2–3

10-inch baskets 9–10 3–4

12-inch baskets 9–10 4–5

14-inch patios 10–11 6–7

Estimated finish crop time is from transplant of a 105-cell tray and finished at an average daily temperature (ADT) of 68° F (20° C) and under a DLI of at least 12 mols/day.

Tech tips: Provide supplemental lighting under low-light conditions at 350–450 foot candles to accelerate flowering. Crop will stall under cool temperatures and low light. If using a fertilizer with low magnesium, applications of magnesium sulfate may be needed to avoid interveinal chlorosis.

EXAMPLE CROP SCHEDULE FOR 12-INCH HANGING BASKETS

Week 1: Stick unrooted cuttings, fungicide sprays for Botrytis as needed. Mist carefully until rooting begins. Add CapSil at 2–4 ounces/100 gallons on all sprays.

Week 3: Pinch flower bud if it develops in propagation; if not, pinch flower bud off after transplant.

Week 5: Transplant four to five liners per 12-inch basket and finish at an ADT of 68° F (20° C).

Week 9: PGR—Spray tank mix of B-Nine at 2,500 ppm plus Cycocel at 750–1,000 ppm plus CapSil as needed. Give a second pinch if needed.

Week 12: PGR—Bonzi drench at 3–5 ppm if needed.

Week 14–15: Finish

Falling Star™ White Pentas

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