Christmas Song
Christmas Song displays a deep red, non-fading color. This strongly branched variety with fast rooting provides superior, consistent and reliable performance for producers, retailers and consumers.
Plant Vigor: Medium
V-Shaped Habit: Normal
Characteristics
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Season:Mid Season
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Foliage:Dark Green
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Natural Flower (first pollen):Nov 24-28
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Response Time in weeks (first pollen):8
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Vigor:medium
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Habit:normal
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Average Bract Size:large, pointed
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Post Harvest:excellent
Finishing Recommendations
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Energy Efficient:
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Varieties are rated from most (
) to least (
) efficient. Contact us for guides.
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Cool Finish (24 hrs avg.):63 F/17 C
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Indicates minimum temperature starting two weeks after the beginning of short days. Please note that a crop grown cooler requires more time to finish (4 to 7 days), and will have smaller bracts and darker color (for example, white may turn cream-yellow). Toward the end of the crop (two weeks prior to shipping), slowly lower the temperature for green-leafed varieties to 65°F (18°C) day/night and dark green-leafed varieties to 63°F (17°C) day/night.
Space Efficient:
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Varieties are rated from most () to least () efficient. Contact us for guides.
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Recommended spacing for 6":
Download Culture Details
GARY’S
NOTES
CULTURE THAT WORKS
propagation
- Roots rapidly; plant from a liner at 22-24 days.
- Apply rooting hormone at the base of cutting.
- Start feed program at day 7.
- Medium-vigor variety; may require low levels of PGR application in propagation. Spray 500 ppm Chlormequat at day 18-20.
- Plant into the finished container when well rooted.
- Feed aggressively; failure to feed early enough will result in yellowing and hardening.
early finished growth
- Strong-branched varieties; pinch early to avoid uneven branching: at day 14-16 from a liner; at day 24-26 for direct stick.
- Apply light PGR when branches are 1-1.5 in. (2.5-4 cm) using Chlormequat spray at 250-500 ppm to even out branches.
- Prevention strategies for Pythium and Rhizoctonia are recommended shortly after planting into finished containers.
growing on
- Grows steadily once branches develop, and exhibits moderate growth through mid-October, then slows somewhat as it approaches finish.
- Northern Climate: Apply Chlormequat spray at 750-1,000 ppm.
- Southern Climate: Higher rates of Chlormequat – up to 1,200 ppm as a spray – can be used. Later applications of Chlormequat spray at 500-750 ppm should end by October 10.
- Micro Paclobutrazol drenches can be used beginning in early October.
late growing stages
- Very strong root system requires continuous feed until finish.
- Reduce feed levels if media EC increases too rapidly, as this indicates the plants' need for nutrition is waning.
- High EC at finish can result in root damage, reduced shelf life and possible Pythium.
- Can be held cool. Mind the humidity and avoid dew point to prevent Botrytis.
- Cool down temperatures to avoid color fade in the red.
- If holding in greenhouse past initial ripening, apply Paclobutrazol spray of 5-10 ppm precisely at first pollen to help retain cyathia and reduce fade. Perform this application only at full color; no more bract expansion will occur thereafter.