getting Zantedeschia hybrids to flower

M Robertson dr.mas.roberts@gmail.com
Sat, 07 Sep 2019 14:46:24 PDT
Diane,

In the nursery industry, Zantedeschia bulbs are typically treated with hormones during storage, (GA=Gibberillins and the cytokinin BA=benzyl adenine solutions also containing Tween-20, a non-ionic detergent). Low dose single exposure (30 min) to GA3 and every 2 weeks exposure to BA stimulates floral differentiation and development. The extent of the effect is dependent on the variety.  When bulbs are dipped in GA3 alone, about 80% or more of primary buds but few secondary buds differentiate into flower spikes, and after exposure to both GA3 and BA, 80-100% of primary and 80-100% of secondary buds differentiate into flower spikes. Without hormone treatment few flower spikes are formed.  It is an easy way to get Zantedeschia to reliably flower. Here is a paper available online that explains the strategy and mechanism. A single dip in GA3 guarantees flowers, but you’ll get even more flowers it you want to take the trouble to also dip in BA every 2 weeks during storage. In this study they dipped the bulbs in BA about 12 times, but perhaps with some experimentation, this number could be reduced and still get good flower development in secondary buds.

The Effect of Gibberellin and Cytokinin on Floral Development in Zantedeschia spp. In Vivo and In Vitro
V. Naor, J. Kigel, and M. Ziv, Ohalo College, Katsrin, Israel. 
Proc. IXth Intl. Symp. on Flower Bulbs
Eds.: H. Okubo, W.B. Miller and G.A. Chastagner Acta Hort. 673, ISHS 2005 

Best regards, 
Mark Robertson, PhD
Everett, WA
(USDA hardiness zone 8a, Sunset Climate zone 4)


> On Sep 5, 2019, at 5:58 PM, Diane Whitehead <ldiane.whitehead@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My daughter has bought a number of different coloured Zantedeschia hybrids in flower and planted them in her garden.  They generally flower the next year, but don’t in succeeding years.
> 
> What should she be doing to get flowers every year?
> 
> Diane Whitehead
> Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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