Helichrysum Culture - Syngenta Flowers

							H                                                                                         Helichrysum
Helichrysum
H E l I c H Ry S U M P ET I O l A R E / H E l I c H Ry S U M IT A l I c U M           GARDEN PERFORMANCE
                                                                                      USDA Hardiness Zone: Not hardy
ROOTING UNROOTED CUTTINGS
*See General Rooting Requirements for Syngenta vegetative cuttings.                   AHS Heat Zones: 4 – 11

Rooting Time: 4 – 5 weeks. Helichrysums are moderate rooters and should be
given a minimum of four weeks of rooting time. A 1,000 ppm IBA hormone dip to
the bottom of the stem can be helpful in promoting rooting.                                                         Garden Height                      Garden Width

Misting: Helichrysums can come off of mist relatively quickly. Over-misting            H. petiolare
can result in poor rooting and increased disease.                                      Blue Green              10 – 12” (25 – 30 cm)              16 – 20” (40 – 50 cm)
                                                                                       Leaved
Pinching: No. Pinching is generally not needed during propagation.
                                                                                       H italicum
                                                                                                               10 – 12” (25 – 30 cm)              12 – 14” (30 – 36 cm)
FINISHING ROOTED CUTTINGS                                                              Silvery White

Greenhouse Use: 4” pots, quarts, 6” pots and baskets. Helichrysums are                 H. Italicum
                                                                                                               14 – 18” (36 – 46 cm)              12 – 14” (30 – 36 cm)
useful plants that are commonly used as accent plants in combination plantings.        Silver Lining™
They can also be grown in stand alone pots to provide a unique, foliage look to
the garden. H. italicum Silvery White and Silver Lining™ have upright, mounding
habits, while H. petiolare Blue-Green Leaved has more of a semi-trailing habit. All
have leaves with a distinct aromatic smell when rubbed. Helichrysums do well in       HELICHRYSUM SCHEDULING IN WEEkS
full sun to partial shade in the landscape and they have excellent heat tolerance.
Transplanting: Transplant directly into the finished container. Place the                                                                            Helichrysum
rooting media slightly below the level of media in the container. Make sure that       Rooted to 4” finish                                       5 – 6 (1 plant/pot)
the root ball is covered and that the cutting is situated in the center of the pot.
                                                                                       Rooted to quart finish                                    5 – 6 (1 plant/pot)
Moisture: Media should be allowed to dry between irrigations. If possible,
avoid saturated media and wet foliage going into the evenings to prevent Botrytis      Rooted to 5” finish                                       6 – 7 (1 plant/pot)
and tissue breakdown.                                                                  Rooted to 6” finish                                     7 – 8 (1 – 2 plants/pot)
Fertilizer: 200 ppm nitrogen. Helichrysums are moderate feeders. Monitor EC            Rooted to 10” basket or patio finish                     9 – 11 (4 plants/pot)
levels and leach with clear water as needed to avoid fertilizer salt buildup. They
grow best when using a mix of (or alternating with) Cal-Mag (i.e. 15-5-15,             Rooted to 12” basket or patio finish                     9 – 11 (5 plants/pot)
14-4-14, etc.) and ammonium-containing (i.e. 20-10-20, 15-15-15, etc.) fertilizers.
Light: 3,500 – 7,000 foot candles. Helichrysums grow best under moderate
to high light conditions. Supplemental lighting can be used in northern climates      Note: These suggestions are only guidelines and may have to be altered to meet
under dark, cloudy conditions to help push growth. High light intensity during        individual grower’s needs. Check all chemical labels to verify registration for use in
production will improve growth and branching.                                         your region.
Media pH: 5.6 – 6.2.
Media EC: 1.8 – 2.2 mS/cm (in an SME, saturated media extract).
Temperature: 65° – 75°F (18° – 24°C) day and 60° – 65°F (15° – 18°C) night.
Helichrysums grow best under moderate to warm temperatures throughout
production. Avoid cold and wet growing conditions, especially during dark and
cloudy weather, which can cause Botrytis and tissue breakdown.
Pinching: Yes. Pinching is recommended on Helichrysums 1 – 2 weeks after
transplant. A second pinch can be given for larger pots and baskets to shape the
plant.
Growth Regulators: Not needed.
Insects: Aphids and Whiteflies. Scout plants regularly and control using
appropriate chemical and biological products.
Diseases: Botrytis and Fungal Root Rot. Avoid over-saturated media,
especially under dark, cloudy growing conditions. Keep foliage dry when going
into the evenings. Preventative fungicide drenches are helpful in avoiding Fungal
Root Rot.