Now that I'm more familiar with how plants grow in my own garden, and
have started quite a few plants from seed I'm much more aware that the
plants I see in the nurseries are flowering well before their usual time.

I'm wondering how the nurseries get plants to flower early. We have
quite a few local nurseries and I've examined their greenhouses and
don't see any lights. So I'm wondering if they are treating with
something special.

In particular, I'm curious how they get the Nonstop begonias going. Mine
from last year which I started in pots were much larger than the ones I
purchased this year, but they are only now starting to make buds while
the purchased ones were blooming madly for Mothers Day

--Jenny

Jenny wrote:
Now that I'm more familiar with how plants grow in my own garden, and
have started quite a few plants from seed I'm much more aware that the
plants I see in the nurseries are flowering well before their usual time.

I'm wondering how the nurseries get plants to flower early. We have
quite a few local nurseries and I've examined their greenhouses and
don't see any lights. So I'm wondering if they are treating with
something special.

In particular, I'm curious how they get the Nonstop begonias going. Mine
from last year which I started in pots were much larger than the ones I
purchased this year, but they are only now starting to make buds while
the purchased ones were blooming madly for Mothers Day

--Jenny

The best method is to sow as early as possible in a protected
environment such as a greenhouse.

Otherwise, the proper fertilizer and environmental conditions are used.

(Environmental Conditions are often bizare. For example, some plants
only bloom when they believe they are in danger of dying. Some
Nurseries will purposefuly not water these type of plants in order to
encourage bloom. Other plants will not bloom if they are crowded
together. (Gerbers for example will not bloom if just sown in a pot.
The must be individualy grown, and then when they bloom they can be
transplanted into pots.)
Other plants won't bloom unless they are thinned or pruned.

I've often wondered if there is some plant hormone that encourages
blooms as well.

-Jason

not sure about over where you are jerry,

but i saw a doco' on a large flower plant nursery over here, they grew
chrysanthimums for mothers day, the potted plant that is not the cut
flower. and they had their shade houses set so they could regulate the
amount of light and dark the plant got , this they said fooled the
plant into flowering when they wanted it to.

so guess if you research the plant you like and give it what it wants
it will flower too?



snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.gardenlen.com