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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Friday, May 02, 2014
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BatCaveN8
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The North Coast
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Entry 16 of 34 |
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Some tips on the plants that should be arriving today. First you will need a razor knife to disassemble the packaging. I would open the box top and then run the razor down the corners to flatten it out. There are many pins that are holding the plant (and cubes) to the bottom of the box.
The shintosa grafts that are in the rockwool cubes will need to have the outer wrapping removed and then any roots on the surface of the cube will need to be cut and removed. Rest assured that there is a bushy formation of roots in the cube. What we want to avoid is a root "knot" or girdling roots just beneath the crown. Remove all roots from all sides of the cube and all new growth will radiate out in all directions.
If your plant came with soil do not cut these roots in transplant. The C. fic and lagenaria do not like to have their roots messed with too much. By now you will have to loosen the roots a bit and transplant.
Shintosa is a different type of plant, it has a greater than normal ability to find nutrition and make it available. The people who know it well warn against too much nitrogen. Considering the amount of nitrogen that will be released by the average competitive plot, you will need to be cautious. When the soil is still cold I would add some liquid nitrogen but when it starts to run, I would hold off. Too much nitrogen can distract the plant and slow the appearance of females. I would only give a nitro boost if signs of deficiency are noticed (yellowing, low vigor). After melon set, you can increase to close to normal levels but still use caution. Let the plant do its thing, keep up on the fungicides, add nitrogen sparingly or only when the plant is not performing correctly.
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