pictures 19-Nov-2011

Friday update> 11/11/11

Here are the latest pictures:  I am beginning to believe that some of the poinsettias were over plant growth regulated as I see some signs of leaf distortion.  The growth regulator was likely applied on the poinsettia cutting prior to us receiving the un-rooted cutting. This distortion is apparent on a few leaves on the 8 and 9 inch pots.  The small pots look very good. 

Poinsettias are coloring up

The poinsettias are coloring up nicely.  The larger red poinsettias, 8.25 and 8.75 inch poinsettias experienced so slow growth during the summer months, but they are starting to show some good height.  The large novelties are excellent!  The smaller 6 and 7 inch red poinsettias are also nice.

From L-R: White Glitter, Burgundy, White

Close up of 8 inch White

L:R; Cinammon Star, White Glitter, Burgundy

Six inch Red Prestige

7 inch Red Prestige

8.25 inch Red - 4 plants per pot 

8.75 inch Red - 5 plants per pot

Poinsettias are coloring up

Here are a few pictures of the poinsettias coloring up.  Overall, they look good.

Greenhouse heating system repairs.

The first two of the new (we have had greenhouses since 1914 or so) greenhouses were built in 1984/5.  After 26 years, my headers on the hot water heat system is failing.  I have attempted temporary fixes for the past couple years, but this year I am replacing all the headers in the first two houses.

What is a header?  A header is a distribution point.  When hot water leaves the boiler and travels through 2.5 and 2 inch pipe under the benches, it goes up to the benches and is distributed through a header.  The header is one inch pipe and transfers the water to micro tubing.  The micro tubes are 1/4 inch in diameter.  We have over 50,000 feet of micro tubing.

Here a few pictures of a header being replaced.  The process is tedious.

This is an old header.  Last year, I attempted to glue the leaking  pieces.  It worked OK. but its time for new.

Header cut out.

New header partially re-atttached to the micro tubes.

new poinsettia updates.

Here are a few pictures of the 2011 poinsettia crop.  As you can see we are spacing them out.  So far this year's poinsettias look really good. 

Facing west.  As you can see one bench top is up.  I am renovating the hot water heat headers.

one of the advantages of owning greenhouses and being a florist is that I can  grow my own wedding  flower centerpieces.   

More wedding flowers.  The wedding is an outdoor wedding scheduled for 8 Oct.

Poinsettia Production Update - Pinching Points!

Yesterday, 15-Aug-2011, we pinched the single plant pot, the double plant pots and some of the three plants per pot.  Our goal is pinch to 5-7 branches.

Branches are determined by the number of nodes. A node is the place where a leaf has developed off the main stem.  Having more than 7 branches or flowers on one plant can be undesirable.  The higher number of branches, the weaker the branches become.  The plant distributes its energy equally between the branches.

Conversely, if there are only 3 or 4 branches, the resulting flowers will be larger than a plant with 5-7 or more. Here are a few pictures of the poinsettias as they appeared this afternoon.

Ball Field Trip... plants of interest

Here are a few plants that I thought were interesting.

Coleus

Coleus

Calibrochoa

Zinnia 

Begoina

Petunia

Vinca

Sweet Potato Vine

Sweet Potato Vine