Twice as nice

Wake up winter and energize sales with Senetti pericallis from Suntory Flowers. Consumers love Senetti’s vivid blues, magentas and bicolors. Dress them up in fashionable, color-coordinated pots, and you have instantly irresistible impulse purchases.
With florist-grade treatments, Senetti can be a gift the recipient can enjoy immediately indoors and then place outside as soon as temperatures remain at least 35°F. Indoors, place Senetti near a window with high light.

One cool crop
Senetti has two markets in North America. In the south, it can be grown as a winter crop with retail sales as soon as January or right after the Christmas holiday season. Supermarkets have sold Senetti right before Valentine’s Day. One fun promotion could be “Roses are red, Senettis are blue,” playing off traditional romantic poems. Up north, late March or April is better, especially for Easter. Imagine the merchandising that could be done with a colorful dyed Easter egg theme.
In addition to region and timing, there is the style of growing. For growers who aren’t in a hurry, growing Senetti cool will save energy and produce the showiest, best-formed plants, loaded with color. But for growers who prefer to grow warm and speed up the crop, growth regulator will be required to produce an attractive plant. Many growers start the crop warm and then cool it down for a nice finish. Senetti prefers a cool, airy climate of 35-40°F.
The next consideration is choosing the right plant for the right pot. Classic, full-sized Senetti plants should be grown in pots that are one gallon or larger, preferably larger to command a premium and show off the high flower count. But smaller pots may be preferred for a more floral or multi-pack treatment. Baby Senetti is ideal for a 5-inch pot. Or three liners could be placed in a 10-inch pot for a more compact look in a larger container.
The new Senetti Sparkle series brings a new pastel color palette and a habit that is in between original Senetti and Baby Senetti. It is more compact and will tolerate more heat as the weather warms up.

Consumer care tips
Indoors, keep Senetti near a well-lit window and keep soil moist. Cooler areas are preferred. Once the plant appears tired of being indoors, place outside in cool, high light conditions.
The best time to grow Senetti is early spring until summer. Plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and can withstand temperatures as low as 35°F.
Once the first flush of blooms has finished, cut back the old blooms by removing 50 percent of the height of the plant and then repot into a larger container or the landscape. Feed plants regularly to give them strength to produce more flowers.
The second flush of blooms will begin in four weeks, provided temperatures during the day and night are cool. Senetti will stop flowering during high summer temperatures above 85°F.

For more information on
Senetti pericallis, visit www.senetti.com.