Buddleja Leah

Crop Culture Report: Buddleja davidii Leah™

Buddleja Leah™ has a compact habit making it an excellent choice for containers. It maintains it’s tight growth for mounds of color in the garden during late Spring and Summer. It does not require vernalization, but does need long days for flower initiation.

Production Seasons: Spring / Summer
Customer Use: Landscape / Perennial Gardens
Garden Height: 24 to 30 inches (60 to 75 cm) Garden Width: 30 to 36 inches (75 to 90 cm)
USDA Hardiness Zone: zone 5 – 10

Crop planning from cell packs:
Pot size: Plants per pot (pp) Crop Time (weeks)
4” pot (10 cm) 1 pp 5 to 7
6” pot/1 Gallon(15 cm) 1 pp 9 to 11
8” pot (20 cm) 1 pp 14 to 16

Finishing Culture:
pH: 5.5 – 6.2

Fertilizer Requirements: 150 to 175 ppm N using a balanced feed to maintain color of foliage. Include Micro element source as part of fertilizer solution. Ensure proper root growth for flowering by watching EC level and moisture levels. Utilize Calcium and Potassium based Nitrate fertilizers for best quality growth. Magnesium should be incorporated into your fertilizer programs.

Temperature:
Temperatures at 62°-65°F (17°-19°C) Nights
70°-78°F (21° -25°C) Days

Light: 4,000 to 8,000 ft-candles -High to medium-high. Short -days creates vegetative growth, Long -days supports flower initiation. Maintain short days (less than 12 hours) until plant reaches 65% of desired growth / then place under long days (12 hours plus) for flower initiation. Mum night interruption lighting is possible to create long days.

Pinching Requirements: Pinch once established in finished container one to two weeks after transplant. A second pinch is beneficial in large containers for bulking.

Growth Regulators: B-9 is the most economical PGR, spray at 2500PPM.

Pests/Disease: Aphids, Leafminor, spider mites and Whitefly. Mildew, Thielaviopsis, Botrytis, Rhizoctonia & Pythium are of primary concern. Preventative drenches / sprays are recommended for crop.