Small Wonder

The all-new Mini-Me series delivers the best that petunias have to offer... and then some. Providing the growing ease of the petunia class along with exceptional vigor and disease tolerance, Mini-Me produces small, calibrachoa-sized flowers all summer long. Outstanding performance in all types of weather leads to higher grower and consumer satisfaction.

Mini-Me is a versatile petunia that is perfect for small pots and hanging baskets. Its tight, mounded and trailing habit exhibits good branching and beautiful flowering. Unlike other small-flowered petunias, Mini-Me displays tremendous uniformity across the series of nine colors, including Baby Pink, Blue, Dark Purple with Eye, Lilac Vein, Pink Star, Pink Velvet, Purple, Red and White. All are available as unrooted and rooted cuttings exclusively through Ball Seed.

For more information about Mini-Me petunias or to place your order, contact your Ball sales representative, call 800-879-BALL or visit www.ballseed.com.

Tips For Growing On To Finish

Plant one rooted cutting per 4- or 5-inch (10- or 13-cm) pot, two to three rooted cuttings per 6.5-inch (16-cm) pot or three to five rooted cuttings per hanging basket. Select a sterile, well-aerated growing mix with an optimum pH range between 5.5 and 6.0.

Avoid excessive irrigation when plants are young. Feed with a complete, balanced fertilizer at 250 to 350 ppm N. Maintain an EC level of 1.8 to 2.4. Provide a complete minor element program, and use periodic clear water applications if excess soluble salts accumulate.

Establish the crop at an average temperature of 60ºF (15ºC). Once established, maintain day temperatures of 60ºF to 68ºF (15ºC to 20ºC) and night temperatures of 61ºF (16ºC). For fast cropping, establish and grow at an average daily temperature of 68ºF (20ºC). Low night temperatures encourage flowering. Mini-Me petunia responds well to DIF regimes. Provide good air circulation and maintain relative humidity below 70 percent to prevent disease.

Bright light is ideal for this crop. Provide a minimum of 5,000 to 6,000 f.c. (53,800 to 64,600 Lux). The use of supplemental light (14 to 16 hours, beginning at midnight) is beneficial for early spring flowering. For standard crop scheduling, pinch the growing tip one to two weeks after transplanting; for fast cropping, no pinch is required. Light pruning to shape the plants can be done at any time, but will delay flowering by three to five weeks.

Mini-Me petunias may not require the use of plant growth regulators, although they are responsive to B-Nine or Bonzi. Use high light, cool temperatures and a slight negative DIF for optimum growth control. Avoid spraying when flower buds appear. The use of PGRs can delay flowering by one to two weeks.

Mini-Me petunias flower based on a combination of light level, photoperiod and temperature. For example, a 4 - to 5-inch (10- to 12.5-cm) pot has a total crop time of 7 to 11 weeks when produced in early spring with supplemental lighting. In spring, with no supplemental lighting, a 4- to 5-inch (10- to 12.5-cm) pot has a total crop time of six to nine weeks.

This month we feature Ball Seed's Mini-Me series petunia.