Four Star Culture Guide - 2019 - 73

MONARDA
'Pardon My'

ZONE HARDINESS 4 - 9
NUTRITION
pH: 5.8 - 6.5
EC: (2:1 extraction method) 1.0 - 2.0
Moderate to high fertilization is recommended.
100ppm - 200ppm N
TEMPERATURE for forcing from liners
Forcing/Growing on: 65 F - 72 F Night, 65 F - 72 F Day
Holding: 60 Night - 65 F Day
WATERING
Keep the soil evenly moist during all stages of growing.
Monarda require average amounts of irrigation, as they do not
tolerate overly dry growing conditions. Refrain from overhead
watering, if possible.
TIMING
Supernova® 28 Liner to Trade Gallon/True Gallon: 10 - 14
weeks with one plug per container. A typical planting date for
spring forcing would be Week 10 for finishing in Week 22. Long
days should be maintained during the entirety of this crop time.
50 Liner to Quart: 10 - 14 with one plug per container. A
typical planting date for spring forcing would be Week 10 for
finishing in Week 22. Long days should be maintained during
the entirety of this crop time. Planting a Standard 50 liner into a
1 gallon container and bulking in the summer/fall is also a great
way to finish a larger high-quality spring crop.
VERNALIZATION
Vernalized plants grow more vigorously and tend to flower more
rapidly and uniformly than plants with no exposure to cold.
If purchased in the spring, our Supernova® 28 and 50 liners
have been vernalized for proper flowering.
PLANTING
Monarda perform best when planted in a well-drained, porous
growing medium. When your plants arrive, they may appear
dead, but the growing points on the Monarda when shipped

dormant are resting below the soil line. It will only take 7 - 10
days for new growth to appear once they are planted. Plant the
dormant plug so that the soil line of the plug is even to or just
slightly below the soil line of the fresh planting media.
When growing perennials, we recommend using an aged
or composted pine bark-based media as opposed to annual
growing mixes that traditionally tend to be heavier in peat. Bark
adds weight and stability to the growing mix and tends not to
compress and shrink over time, thus adding the longevity that
can be needed on long-term crops such as perennials.
LIGHT/LIGHTING
Long days are required for Monarda to flower properly.
Maintain long days through the entirety of the forcing cycle.
Monarda enjoy full sun and high light conditions.
TRIMMING/PINCHING
To promote branching, it is recommended to pinch them two
weeks after transplanting.
GROWTH REGULATORS
A tank mix of B-Nine® (daminozide) at 2,500ppm + Sumagic®
(uniconazole) at 3ppm is effective, if toning is necessary.
PEST and DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Aphids and Spider Mites are the most prevalent insect pests
associated with Monarda. A good routine scouting program is
recommended to ensure that these and other insect such as
Caterpillars, Grasshoppers, Leafhoppers, Leafminers, Slugs,
Thrips and Whiteflies don't cause additional damage. Scout and
spray preventively for Powdery Mildew. Other foliar diseases
should also be scouted for to prevent outbreaks of Leaf Spot,
Crown Rot, Rust and Southern Blight. Avoid wet/dry cycling in
late fall, as this can increase the instance of Crown and Stem
Rots.
OTHER TIPS
When growing larger containers, it is best to bulk them in the
summer/fall the year before they are to be sold.

The rates and chemicals listed are based on our southeast Michigan growing conditions, and are not recommended for nationwide application.
Please adjust the rates and spray applications to your location and facility.

Four Star Culture Guide - 2019

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