POT PRODUCTION MANUAL
Calla's are also very suitable for cultivation in pots. Important recommendations for successfully
cultivating Calla in pots:
Potting compost
When cultivating Calla, the growing medium must be well drained, have a pH value of 6 to 6.5 and be
air permeable to a high degree
For example:
50% coconut fibre
30% peat moss
20% clay pellets
3 kg lime 10% mg
0.7 kg Pg mix 12-7-24
22-28 % air.
Type of pot and recommended plant density
You should use a pot with a cross-shaped indentation on the underside. This is important for good
drainage.
The recommended plant density in order to produce good quality pot plants is:
pot size tuber size
plant density
nett
11 cm
1 tuber size 12-14 cm
30
12 cm
1 tuber size 14-16 cm
30
14 cm
1 tuber size 16-18 cm
25
1 tuber size 18-20 cm
17 cm
1 tuber size 18-20 cm
20
1 tuber size 20-22 cm
Protective measures
The most common problems with Calla are Pythium and Rhizoctonia
Combating Pythium
Mix the following in the compost
Aliette 1.5 to 2 gr/m2
This is a preventive product
This product can be added to the second or third watering. The product is used 2 or 3 times with an
interval of 2 - 3 weeks between doses.
Potassium phosphite 5 ml/m2
Increases the plant's natural resistance to fungi
Previcur 3 ml/m2
This is a remedial product; it should only be used when Pythium has been detected Always wet the
plant first before spraying the product onto the plant and then rinse with water.
Combating Rhizoctonia:
Apply by spray shortly after planting.
Rizolex 2 to 3 cc/ m2
Apply by spray after planting in moist soil
As soon as the plant breaks the surface, the following can be used:
Amistar 250 gr/ltr azocystrobine
Spray onto the wet plant and then sprinkle the plant with water. According to our supplier Ortiva
contains Amistar 250gr/ltr azoxystrobine.Advice 0,5-1 liter/ha.
Tuber disinfection
Proper tuber preparation is essential when growing pot plants. Kapiteyn supplies the tuberss in readyto-plant condition. Our products do not require further disinfection.
Planting depth
The pot should be filled to 40% with potting compost before the tuber is inserted. Do not use moist
potting compost.
Make sure there is adequate compost above the tuber. When the tuber has been inserted, lightly
compact the potting compost. (Be careful not to damage the shoot!)
Plant size, using growth
Growth regulators like Bonzi can be used to correct the size of the plant (to a certain extent). However
the temperature, light intensity and plant density (the leaves may not touch) are the main factors that
determine the ultimate length of the plant. The use of fertilisers, high EC values and the amount of
water given to the plant are the principal factors that determine the ultimate shape of the plant.
Nitrogen and ammonium make the plant luxuriant and long. Fertiliser should be used with care.
You should try to use chemical growth regulators as little as possible, not only because of the expense
but primarily because they cause plants in the same batch to develop differently..
Bonzi: is commonly used but can have a negative effect on the number of flowers . Use when the
shoot is a few centimetres high. The compost should be moist Use of Bonzi often leads to initial loss of
colour in the leaves, however the colour returns later on. In periods/areas of high light intensity, Bonzi
is not required at all for some species.
Water management
Every grower should know the pH value of the water used for watering. The plant's ability to absorb
nutrients increasingly diminishes at high pH values. This can however also be favourable for potted
plant cultivation.
It is important to give the compost some structure and texture; with tuberss where there is no shoot,
you can do this by compacting the compost slightly. You should wait 2 - 3 days before starting to
water.
In the early stages, you should ensure that the compost at the top of the pot is moist, but do not allow
it to become too wet. Initially, you should cover the pots with acrylic fabric to prevent desiccation.
Remove the acrylic fabric as soon as the first shoots appear. In general, the tuber develops its root
system during the first 10 - 14 days.
We recommend you inspect a number of pots to see how the roots have developed before starting to
water. When watering, ensure that the water has a high EC. Give the plants as much water as they
need and make allowances for the forecast weather during the next few days. The plant/tuber requires
little water in the beginning. You should give the plant more water when the leaves start to unfold: after
all the plant is now becoming more active. Watering should preferably be done early in the morning. If
a period of dull weather has been forecast, delay watering if possible.
Greenhouse temperature
After planting, the pots can be placed in the greenhouse. The temperature in the greenhouse should
be kept at 18 to 22 degrees Celsius during the day and may be reduced to 16 degrees Celsius at
night. Higher temperatures reduce cultivation time but lead to a weaker, higher plant. The ideal
greenhouse temperatures for each cultivation stage are shown below:
1. from initial planting to shoots of 2.5 cm to 5 cm: 19-22 degrees Celsius during the day and at
night
2. after the shoots appear above ground : 18-24 degrees Celsius during the day and 15-18
degrees Celsius at night
3. Flower colour development (high light intensity): 18-24 degrees Celsius during the day and 1316 degrees Celsius at night
Type
Color
Captain Eskimo
Captain Cupido
Captain Reno
Captain Murano
Captain Palermo
Captain Paris
Picasso
CaptainSonora
Captain Amigo
cream
cream
purple/red
red
black
black
bicolor
yellow
apricot
Time to first
flowering
65
65
65
70
70
70
60
65
65
Harvest period
in days
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
Erwinia
As you probably know, Erwinia is a secondary infection, however research has revealed that soil with
a high nitrogen content makes the plant much more vulnerable to infection. Erwinia can be prevented
by cultivating the plants with a high EC in the initial stages. The soil temperature is also very important
(never higher than 22 degrees Celsius).
Relative humidity
Our experience with greenhouse cultivation indicates that the RH can fluctuate strongly in the spring.
Prevent an RH of less that 60%. This can stress the plant and make it more vulnerable to disease. An
RH of higher than 75% makes the plant more vulnerable to Rhizoctonia. Furthermore, Botrytis can
also infect the leaf at a high RH.
General cultivation instructions
As soon as the leaves unfold, you must comply with the prescribed plant density per metre. Too many
plants per metre leads to fewer flowers and longer plants. In other words, if your operating methods do
not allow this, potted plant cultivation should be avoided.
More information:
Kapiteyn bv
Middenweg 65
1764 KM Breezand
T: +31 223 521841
[email protected]
This manual is for your information. Kapiteyn is not responsible for mistakes that come out of the
advices in this manual.