August 2019 - 40

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ADVERTISER
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CIRCLE
Pine Tree
Farms Inc.
pinetreefarmsinc.com/
PTF/
800.554.9360
New to the Pine Tree Farms
Inc. line is the Woodpecker
Seed Bell. A 14-ounce bell
made with the same great
recipe as our Woodpecker
Cake! Birds love the quality
seeds and nuts! A great
addition to your backyard
feeding station! Your feathered
friends will thank you!
America in Bloom __________ 12 __________105
AmericanHort _____________ 9 ___________104
Arett Sales ________________ 19 __________109
Bailey ____________________ 13 __________107
BFG Supply Co. ____________ 37 __________121
Central Florida Ferns
and Foliage _______________ 39 __________122
Cole's ____________________ 31 __________115
DeWitt Company __________ 3 ___________101
Featherock _______________ 32 __________ 117
Flame Engineering Inc. ______ 17 __________108
Haiku ____________________ 7 ___________ 103
Music of the Spheres _______ 12 __________106
ADVERTISER
PAGE
CIRCLE
Netherland Bulb Co. Inc. _____ 36 __________120
Pine Tree Farms ___________ 5 ___________102
QMT Associates, Inc. ________ 33 __________118
R.W. Rogers Company_______ 35 __________119
SmartSolutions ____________ 30 __________114
SPI Home & Garden ________ 43 __________123
Spring Meadow Nursery Inc. _ 29,44 ___ 113, 124
Star Roses and Plants _______ 23 __________ 111
Syngenta Flowers, Inc. ______ 21 __________110
True Value Company ________ 27 __________112
Uline ____________________ 32 __________116
VPG _____________________ 2 ___________100
BFG Supply Co.
www.bfgsupply.com
800.883.0234
Speedgrow Green is a hydroponic growing substrate featuring an allnatural
binder. No unnecessary chemicals or artificial dyes are added to
Speedgrow Green, making it a Natural choice! If you are looking for a
sustainable option that provides a healthy root system and disease-free
growing medium, Speedgrow Green is the choice for you! To see the full
product assortment, visit speedgrowgreen.com. Available through BFG
Supply.
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* Technical production guidance
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CULTURE REPORT
CULTURE
Although the FanciFiller program is made up
of many plants, there is surprisingly uniform
plant culture among the varieties. Since they
FanciFiller
Program
Lysmachia 'Sunburst'
This new collection aims to reinvent the
concept of the often underappreciated
filler plants.
BY BART HAYES
T
he FanciFiller program is a concept from Westhoff that
intends to draw attention to the hardest working, but often
underappreciated, plants in our industry: The Fillers.
In a mixed combination, one of the most basic formulas is Thriller,
Spiller and Filler. Thrillers, as the name implies, are the standout plants
in the comb - the striking, novel or beautiful item that draws the eye.
The Spiller is the component that creates a dramatic cascade of
flowers down the sides of the container, for epic hanging baskets or
noble patio planters. Many of the most popular plants in our industry
are Spillers (petunias, calibrachoa, bacopa, scaevola, etc.) and
Thrillers are the star of the show; so when it comes time to finish the
combination, the humble, yet critically important Filler steps in to
finish the combo.
The Filler is the plant that ties it all together, bringing texture and
habit that unite the other two components into a true, balanced
combination. However, this role, as important as it may be, is
sometimes relegated to plants that simply fill in the gaps. With
an increased focus on screening new plants, breeding in classic
genera, and selecting robust, high-performance plants, Westhoff is
reinventing the concept of Filler plants.
The journey began several years ago when Westhoff began to
introduce a few high-interest foliage items, specifically helichrysum
'Silverstar'. The success of this plant illustrated there is a need
for high-quality foliage interest plants for combinations. This led
to several more introductions: lysimachia 'Karat', satureja 'Indian
Mint' and alternanthera 'Choco Chili'. With the introduction of four
new foliage interest items for 2019/2020 - lysimachia 'Sunburst',
artemisia 'Sea Salt', didelta 'Silver Strand' and plectranthus
'Guacamole' - the FanciFiller program was born.
34 APRIL 2019 GPNMAG.COM
Specific Variety
CHARACTERISTICS
Alternanthera 'Choco Chili'
Alternanthera 'Choco Chili' - Dark foliage
is shade tolerant but gets darker in full
sun. Its semi-trailing habit makes it an
ideal combination component.
Artemisia 'Sea Salt' (NEW) - Silver
foliage and an upright/mounding habit.
Very cold tolerant.
Didelta 'Silver Strand' (NEW) - Silver,
velutinus foliage begs to be touched. True
mounding habit.
Helichrysum 'Silverstar' - Finely textured,
silver foliage, along with ample vigor make
this plant a must have for large, vigorous
combination planters.
Lysimachia 'Karat' - Dramatic gold foliage
that trails sharply over container edges.
Very cold tolerant.
Lysimachia 'Sunburst' (NEW) - Robust
trailing plant with deep green leaves and
contrasting, burgundy midrib.
Plectranthus 'Guacamole' (NEW) - Gold
leaves with irregular splotches of green
along the midrib. Mounding habit.
Plectranthus 'Guacamole'
Satueja 'Indian Mint' - Sprawling, trailing
foliage with the sharp, crisp scent of
mint. The perfect amount of cool for hot
summer combos.
were selected for use in combinations with
other plants, their production fits in with most
e is surprisingly uniform
arieties. Since they
tions with
oduction fits in with most
growing schedules and environments.
Some unifying characteristics are they
grown primarily for their foliage, they are all
sun and heat tolerant, and they all prefer to
dry, not to wilt, in between watering, making
them easy to grow and for consumers to care
for. Culturally, I split them between non-silver
foliage and silver foliage.
are
r to
aking
care
non-silver
PROPAGATION
The non-silver foliage items do not need much
assistance during propagation, typically rooting
freely under standard propagating conditions
in the first five to seven days. Once rooting
is initiated, mist can gradually be reduced,
eventually eliminated after 10 to 14 days.
The silver foliage items are a bit slower t
and more sensitive in propagation; specific ally,
they prefer to not retain water on the leaf
surface for extended periods. Maintaining a high
humidity environment is critical, initially, but
reducing this as quickly as possible will help to
maximize success. These also prefer a rooting
hormone, typically KIBA at 100 ppm, to aid in
rooting speed and uniformity.
o r
oo
oo
t
g a high
ut
p to
ooting
d in
A pinch in propagation is recommended f
trialed before treating your entire crop.
FINISHING
FanciFillers are very easy to finish in either
a 4-inch pot or in a mixed combo. Maint
moderate levels of fertility, 0.6 to 0.9 EC, with
a constant 100- to 15-ppm nitrogen feeding
regime, and a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. PGR use for
height control is not recommended without
trialing, but height control can be gained
with watering practices. Also, an additional
pinch/shear will result in fuller plants, without
sacrificing vigor.
ain
o 6.5. PGR use for
ecommended without
, an additional
t in fuller plants, without
e cold
While some of the FanciFillers are quite cold
tolerant and suitable for fall combinations,
warmer conditions will lead to more rapid
growth, so it is recommended to maintain day
temperatures between 65 and 68° F and night
temperatures of 62 to 65° F. Typically seven to
summer conditions.
Bart Hayes is sales manager with Westhoff/
PAC Elsner. He can be reached at bart.hayes@
westflowers.de.
or all
the cell, and any PGRs used should be ext ensively
the FanciFillers, once roots have hit the sides
es of
CULTURE REPORT
ween 65 and 68° F and night
en to
o finish smaller
er under
nine weeks is all that is needed to finish smaller
pots from a standard 102 liner, or faster under
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40 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | AUGUST 2019

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August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2019