Plantpeddler Shares 2018 Poinsettia Variety Day Results
Plantpeddler hosted its annual Poinsettia Variety Day on Dec. 6, in Cresco, Iowa. This year Plantpeddler conducted a trial of more than 125 commercial and pre‐release poinsettia varieties. Genetics represented were submitted by Beekenkamp, Dümmen Orange (Ecke and Red Fox), Rinehart Poinsettias, Selecta, Suntory and Syngenta.
On Variety Day, representatives of all major breeders, broker representatives and growers were in attendance.
The trial was produced under natural season commercial production protocol. Mike Gooder, president of Plantpeddler said, “We are proud to showcase genetics under northern USA growing conditions. It is important to do a Poinsettia production trial as a way for the industry and our growers to see how varieties perform in real world greenhouse conditions where low temperatures and light levels are common during production.”
Plantpeddler is licensed by all the represented breeders and positions itself as being a one‐stop shop for premier Poinsettia liners.
“We have a real commitment to trialing as part of our leadership position in poinsettias,” Gooder said as to why Plantpeddler conducts their Poinsettia trial.
As a true production trial, the tested varieties were grown within a block of benchmark commercial varieties with the same treatments and environmental conditions. Northern Midwest weather played its role in this year’s trial results. Plants experienced average temperatures and light from plant date to flower initiation, with below average temperatures and low light levels during the finishing period. Only 6 days from Oct. 20 to the trial reached 200+μmol of light, with no days of 125+μmol since Nov. 6.
Environmental varietal differences in plant response and timing varied, notable in some, with top performing varieties showing little effect.
Trial attendees voted using a three flag system for “Best Red Variety” and “Best Non‐Red Variety” with a 3, 2, 1 point scoring.
The Top 10 red varieties were:
- Mirage Red (PO174) — Syngenta
- Lyra Red (PO182) — Syngenta
- Astro Red — Beekenkamp
- Christmas Magic — Selecta
- Ferrara — Dümmen Orange
- Holly — Dümmen Orange
- Christmas Wish Red — Selecta
- Noel Red — Selecta
- Robyn Red — Beekenkamp
- Aries Red — Beekenkamp
The Top 10 non-red varieties were:
- Christmas Beauty Princess — Selecta (Specialty)
- Candy Wintergreen — Syngenta (Specialty)
- 16‐1384 — Rinehart Poinsettias (White)
- RF535JIN — Dümmen Orange (Specialty)
- Christmas Beauty Marble — Selecta (Marble)
- Candy Cinnamon — Syngenta (Specialty)
- 619 ‐ Pure White — Rinehart Poinsettias (White)
- Whitestar — Syngenta (White)
- SK 154 ‐ Snowy White — Selecta (White)
- Princettia Pure White — Suntory (White)
Plantpeddler’s 2019 Poinsettia Variety Day trial event will take place Dec. 5, 2019. Plantpeddler’s Variety Day trial event showcasing annuals will take place Aug. 2, 2019.
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