Achieve the Maximum Germination Results- Begonia Semperflorens and X Hybrida

Zundert RuudVan NLDL

• Semperflorens: Bada Boom, Bada Bing, Topspin, Eureka
• X hybrida: Tophat, Bionic

” A good start is half the battle” certainly relates to Begonia since sowing and germination require a lot of attention. However, once this stage is successfully passed, it is not very difficult to obtain a good final product.

Pelleted flower seeds: Coated with a bright golden yellow inert material. Pellets make the seed round, easier to see and allow the seeds to be sown more easily with a seeding machine.

To get the most out of your Begonia pelleted seed, it is recommended to read the Syngenta Tech and Culture sheet. Still, here are a few more key points to help you succeed.
– Train your staff in advance of the season and come to agreements about the right way of working.

– Do not re-use trays/ carriers and long-stored media.
You could use it for something else but not for sensitive germination of Begonia as it promotes algae growth under elevated temperature and humidity.

– Test your sowing media to confirm a low EC of 0.6 or less (1:2 slurry). The optimum pH is 5.5 to 6.0. Use sterile and well-drained fine media with no composted particles.

– Fill the trays/ carriers till a few millimetres below the rim, this helps prevent cotyledons or leaves from sticking to the plastic or Remay-fabric during and after the germination stage.

– Moisten the media all through to level 4 by applying fine mist several times. Hold the fine droplet nozzle horizontally and slowly allow the mist to settle on the media, so that media does not get clogged. Make sure that the moisture reaches the bottom of the media before sowing the pelleted seeds.

– Directly after sowing apply enough fine mist cycles to immediately soften and dissolve the pellet and keep air humidity at 100% during the germination process. The pellet might turn rock-hard at this stage if not properly controlled and this can severely interfere with the germination process.

– Once the media became fully saturated to level 4, seeds have been sown and the pellet has dissolved, it is recommended to apply a short mist at 1.0 EC over the trays/carriers, this one-time activity suppresses the development of Rhizopus and Peziza on the sterile media.

– Prevent seeds from wandering on puddles of water in the plug cell by holding the fine droplet nozzle horizontally and slowly letting the mist settle on the media.

– Begonia needs light to germinate. In any case, avoid covering the pellet, seed and seedling with tiny media particles by flushing water, as this can again harm the germination process.

– Ensure uniformity and stability around the trays/carriers during the germination phase.

– Avoid drafts, e.g., do not place them in places where there is a lot of movement and make sure the cover is closed without holes.

– Temperature is uniform over the entire batch, for example, heating pipes near the trays/carriers can dry out parts of the media very quickly, resulting in irregularities in germination. Do not place the batches near greenhouse facades, as these often radiate cold.

– Humidity level throughout the plug, e.g., prevent the media from having moisture level 2 in the lower half and level 4 in the upper half.

– Avoid fertilizers with high ammonium content, as they can inhibit root growth during germination and plug development.

– Most Begonia semperflorens will stop growing if exposed to any level of paclobutrazol. For this reason, do not irrigate with recycled water and clean the spraying tanks thoroughly.