SdWeVteMt FOR FORCING 



Dormant Miniature Roses 



UNPACK ... at once. 



HANDLING ... If you cannot handle at once, water them 

 well and place on a greenhouse bench, in a cold frame, or in 

 a cool location. Note: Freezing does not usually harm 

 woody plants. If your shipment is frozen, place it in a 45° 

 temperature and allow it to thaw out. DO NOT HAN- 

 DLE WHILE FROZEN. 



POT SIZE ... For pot-plant sales, a 3 Y 2 " pot or 4" pan is 

 best, but a 3" pot is satisfactory. 



POTTING SOIL . . . should be a loose mixture with a 

 minimum of 25% peat moss. The soil should have a fertility 

 level relatively high, similar to that required for mums. 



NIGHT TEMPERATURE . . . Place the plants in a 

 greenhouse with a night temperature of 60°, on a bench that 

 gets full sun. A night temperature of 55° will do, but will 

 take about 10 days longer to bring plants into color. Mist 

 lightly 2 or 3 times daily for first week. 



SPRAY PROGRAM . . . Start a weekly spray program of 

 preventive maintenance. We use Phaltan 75 as a rose fungi- 

 cide, Diazanon for general insect control, and Tedion as a 

 miticide. 



FEEDING . . . When new growth has leafed out, begin 

 feeding every 14 days with a complete soluble fertilizer, such 

 as 20-20-20, or 13-13-13, following manufacturers' recom- 

 mendations. 



PINCH RACK ... at four weeks, if necessary. This will 

 encourage more even, more attractive growth. 



WATERING . . . Keep your Star Miniature Roses evenly 

 moist at all times. Re careful to avoid overwatering. No 

 rose likes "wet feet" or to be very dry. 



*STORAGE . . . When forcing for months of December or 

 January, it is essential that Miniature Roses be placed in 

 cold storage for about 5 weeks at a temperature of 34° to 38°. 

 To allow sufficient growing time for December 15 flowering, 

 this means moving plants to cold storage about August 31. 

 Red Imp, Ro-Peep, Cinderella are the best varieties for 

 Christmas forcing. These plants being forced early need as 

 much natural light as possible. 



FORCED INTO BUD AND BLOOM, STAR 

 MINIATURES BRING EXTRA PROFITS 



AVERAGE FORCING 



TIME for the Phila- 



delphia area, with a night temperature of 60° (Al- 



low a few more days in 



the 



Midwest and New 



England) : 







TO HAVE BUD AND 



START THE PLANTS 



BLOOM ON 





AT 60° ON 



*December 15 





•"October 15 



Manuary 15 





*November 15 



February 15 





December 10 



March 1 





January 1 



March 15 





January 15 



April 1 





February 5 



April 15 





February 20 



May 1 





March 10 



May 15 





March 25 



*See STORAGE, at left. 







Problems in growing or selling? Ask our advice 



29 



