The first stop (that is pinch the growing
tip out) should be done about the 20th December, when the
side shoots are about an inch long. Leave 3 on large exhibition, 5 on
decorative, six on all the others, take the rest of the side shoots
off. The second stop, large exhibitions 7th January, decorative 10th
January, the rest 20th January, except for the Princess Ann family,
they should be stopped on 29th January. If you keep records and these
dates do not suit your area (because there is a difference from one
side of the street to the other) you can adjust next year. Leave one
shoot per lateral and take the rest off.
Start feeding 4 weeks after putting into
final pots (that's if your potting mix had some fertilizer in it) using
a high nitrogen feed either dry or liquid feed. In the third week of
February change to high potash feed, preferably liquid.
Put your stakes in when the laterals are
long enough to tie in, space the stakes around the edge of the pot,
so that when they bloom the flowers won't touch. Remember large exhibitions
should be bigger than 6 inches, decoratives no bigger than 6 inches,
spiders and quills can get to 8 inches or more.
I always put insulation around my pots,
either roofing insulation or 6 layers of newspaper that stops the roots
from cooking. Some people bury the pot with just the rim showing above
the ground, which also stops the pots blowing over.
Keep your eye open for thrip and caterpillars
at this time of year, and at the first sign, spray.
Good growing, hope to see lots of blooms
on the show bench, you have got to be in it to win it.