Growing Tips From Pleasant View Gardens for Hypoestes ‘Hippo Red’
January 22, 2019 
Provide more than 11 hours of daylength to assure vegetative growth of Hypoestes ‘Hippo Red.’
Hypoestes ‘Hippo Red’ has won more than 20 independent awards, including Perfect Score All Season at Michigan State University and Top Performer and Consumer Favorite at The Ohio State University. ‘Hippo Red’ gives a striking, rich-red color that provides a more eye-catching element in containers and landscapes.
Adam Moseley, Research and New Product Manager at Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, NH, has been growing ‘Hippo Red’ and its series companions since 2015 in both greenhouse and field trials.
“All four varieties dwarf the old seed genetics when considering vigor and garden presence, hence the Hippo name, and showcase the largest and most colorful leaves in the class,” Moseley says.
Full-scale production provides a bright splash of color in the greenhouse with uniform color and growth throughout.
Crops grown at Pleasant View Gardens are produced by clonal propagation and PVG programmed liner inputs. Plan on ordering liners so they arrive after daylength has exceeded 11 hours in your area, unless you have the ability to light with extended days or night interruption.
Scout your crops regularly for pests and maintain a good integrated pest management program to keep problems under control. Moseley has not observed any specific disease issues. However, he recommends a preventative broad spectrum fungicidal drench one to two weeks after transplanting.
Hypoestes are facultative short-day plants, so longer days allow them to produce many colorful leaves from spring to first frost. During spring greenhouse production, provide long days of 11 hours or more to ensure uniformity and inhibit random flower spikes during the shorter days of the season.
Provide consistent moisture, as severe drought stress in early crop development can cause stress-induced flowering. Avoid using irrigation frequency to control growth, and instead look to the plant growth regulator recommendations if needed.
Maintaining good moisture in a well-drained potting mix will grow a more uniform crop. ‘Hippo Red’ does not need heavy feeding to be vigorous and beautiful like other annuals. Lower fertility like what is used for Begonia or New Guinea Impatiens is sufficient for this Hypoestes to be healthy.
Moseley’s Recommendations for Growing Hypoestes ‘Hippo Red’ Successfully:
Fertilizer: 150 to 200 ppm Nitrogen; plants can tolerate fertigation but will benefit from clear-water flushes periodically. EC (2:1 Extraction Method): B (0.6 to 0.9). pH: B (5.8 to 6.2).
Propagation: Not permitted.
Plant Growth Regulators: B-Nine may be used at 1,500 to 2,500 ppm two weeks after transplanting. Bonzi is also effective. Avoid high irrigation frequency to control plant size.
Lighting: Provide more than 11 hours of daylength to assure vegetative growth. Night interruption is effective with far-red lighting.
Pinching: Pinch at one to two weeks after transplanting, if needed.
Growing media: A well-drained, peat: Perlite potting mix is best.
Irrigation: Maintain moderate to moist levels in media for best growth.
Planting/Scheduling: Start with liner material.
-
- 4- to 5-inch pots and quart pots : 5 to 7 week crop time, 1 ppp
- 6-inch pots and gallon pots: 7 to 9 week crop time, 1 to 3 ppp
- 7- to 9-inch pots : 9 to 11 week crop time, 3 ppp
- 10- to 12-inch pots and 2-gallon pots: 10 to 12 week crop time, 3 to 5 ppp
About Pleasant View Gardens
Pleasant View Gardens, located in Loudon, NH, has been developing innovative products and services for the horticulture industry since 1976. Most notably, in 1992, it launched Proven Winners brand products. Pleasant View is one of the top greenhouse operations in the country with more than 14 acres of greenhouses and 20 acres of field production. Pleasant View Gardens’ commitment is to provide an incredibly diverse selection of outstanding plant material while going the extra mile to help customers of every size become more profitable and successful.
Learn more about Hypoestes ‘Hippo Red’ at ProvenWinners.com.
Subscribe to eNewsletter
