Fast Crop Stock Plants
In today's competitive environment, growers should evaluate production systems to achieve
maximum benefit at minimum cost. Poinsettia stock production is no exception.
The objective of a stock program is to provide specific quantities of cuttings at specific dates for
blooming poinsettias. How a grower achieves this goal requires planning, evaluation and some
imagination. Let us compare traditional stock production to fast crop production.
Fast crop stock differs from other stock programs because plants are only pinched one time and
grown for the shortest duration possible to yield cuttings. Fast crop stock produces fewer cuttings per
plant than other programs, but the quality of these cuttings is superior. With the short growing cycle,
smaller pots, less soil and care is required than stock grown for longer intervals. The table below
illustrates different stock schedules.
Crop Function
Transplant
Pinch (1st)
Traditional Stock (2 pinch)
March/April
Late April
Fast Crop Stock (1 pinch)
May
Color Early June
# Nodes
Pinch (2nd)
5-6
Early June
8 - 10
# Nodes
Harvest
2 - 3 per shoot
Mid-July
Mid-July
# Cuttings
~ 20 per plant
~ 10 per plant
Fast crop stock may be one method of fulfilling cutting production needs while reducing some of the
associated costs. Consider the following:
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Greenhouse space is usually at peak use January through early May due to bedding plants and
holiday (Easter and Mother's Day) crops. Traditional stock programs usually begin during March
and April, competing for valuable bench space. Fast crop stock plants are transplanted in early
May, after other crops have been shipped and could result in greater potential return through
sale of additional bedding or holiday crops.
Lighting for photoperiod control in North America is required from mid September through early
May. Growers using traditional stock programs starting in March or April use lights to prevent
flower bud induction.
Greenhouse heating costs are higher during winter and early spring than during May or June.
Traditional stock production begins during cold winter months when more energy is required to
provide 68-70°F (20-21°C) night temperatures to establish stock plants. Fast crop production
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begins during May when the heat load required for these same temperatures, and therefore the
associated costs are considerably lower.
Reduced production time for fast crop also reduces the labor input per unit required for these
poinsettias. Traditional programs require more inspection time and spraying for insect or disease
pests, watering, spacing, pinching and other operations requiring the attention of production staff
and growers. Additional savings result from the reduced quantity of fertilizers, pesticides and
other material costs associated with a longer production cycle.
Fewer cuttings produced per stock plant result in higher quality of cuttings. These cuttings are
larger and more uniform than cuttings produced from multiple pinch stock plant programs,
assuming good cultural and environmental management is provided by the grower for either
program.
Given the benefits identified for fast crop production, it is only fair to consider the negative aspects
too:
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Fast crop plants produce about 1/2 the total number of cuttings per plant when compared to
traditional programs, resulting in double the initial cutting quantity and costs.
The short production cycle for fast crop stock does not allow recovery from serious production
difficulties, minimizing the margin of error allowed.
Growers should not limit poinsettia stock programs to one system only. This 'all or nothing' approach
may be easier to manage, but the extra effort of combining traditional and fast crop programs can be
a win-win situation.
1. Cutting production requirements peak during a few short weeks in the summer. To produce
enough cuttings during this peak without sacrificing their size and quality places an excessive
burden on traditional stock plants. Supplying for this peak also goes beyond the economic
viability for fast crop stock alone. However when the programs are combined, production is
accomplished at a lower total cost. For example, to produce the cuttings during a few weeks of
the cycle, traditional stock would require an excessive number of stock plants resulting in a
higher cost to the grower for more greenhouse space, heat, labor, etc. By combining the
programs, a smaller base of traditional stock plants can produce the majority of cuttings needed,
while a group of fast crop stock provides the balance.
2. Novelty colors or cultivars may not warrant the production cost associated with traditional stock
plants or the cost of purchasing summer cuttings to fill needs. Fast crop stock may be an ideal
program to supply the quantity of cuttings needed without committing long term space and care.
3. Fast crop stock allows the grower flexibility in meeting production requests than from traditional
stock program. This flexibility can be an asset in today's market where the ability to start a
program later in the spring season based on customer feedback can be an important program
feature.
Consider the potential improvements that might be gained through the use of fast crop stock and
focus your sights on success.
Guidelines for Blooming
Another benefit of fast crop programs is the opportunity to make good quality blooming plants out of
the stock plants. Because fast crop stock grown for a shorter duration and given limited pinching,
plants can be made into compact 2-pinch forms or grouped to create larger specimen plants. Stock
plants scheduled in the traditional 2-3 pinch program are more likely to have an excessive number of
shoots and damaged foliage, resulting in blooming plants of lesser quality. Some guidelines for using
fast crop stock for blooming plants:
1. Select the best stock plants for blooming, discard any weak or damaged plants.
2. Stock may have to be cut down to reduce the total number of shoots. As these plants are
generally grown to 10+ nodes, the total height and shoot count may be excessive double pinch
forms. Trim back the plant using care to shape the plant and allow uniform side shoots from
which new growth will emerge. The final cutback date should be similar to the pinch date used for
a 6 1/2" pinched plant of the same cultivar in your location.
3. Specimen plants (multiple plants per pot) should be created by selecting for uniformity in height,
shoot size and root system development.
4. Keep only as many stock plants as you have finishing space to accommodate.
o Double pinch forms required approximately 2 square feet per plant.
o
Three plants combined in 10"+ containers require a minimum of 3 square feet per plant.
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