Rose cultivation guide

This rose cultivation guide is made by;

PREESMAN B.V. The Netherlands

Website: www.preesman.com
E-mail: info@preesman.com

PREESMAN B.V. is also a breeder of, Alstroemeria,

Chrysanthemum, and Gerberas.

Although we trust that this cultivation guide will be of considerable help to

the success of the crop, we cannot accept any liability for the results of your
crop. All the information in this guide is without committing ourselves.

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1. Introduction.
Roses are the most popular cut-flower world wide. From the early days, many new varieties have been selected
aiming at an improved product in both cultivation and cut-flower aspects, like the improving yielding capacity the
improved yielding capacity, the improved production, and the improved distribution of harvestable product throughout
the year. Another important aspect which has a effect for price development of the product are the improved quality
aspects, like flower and stem quality to guarantee an optimal vase life and satisfied customers. Very important in the
evaluation of rose quality is the ability to complete the process from bud till ripe flower. The large range in colour,
size, and fragrance, allow roses to be selected for each occasion and purpose. With this in mind, Preesman aims
at creating a product with optimal amount of these qualities in each new variety.

Seedlings are the starting point of breeding and the selection of our roses. The seedlings are then grown as cuttings
on their own rooting system in an artificial substrate. The use of certain growing techniques, like for example the use
of selected rootstock material, may even prove to increase the quality of the selections offered. This aspect does also
have a lot of attention of the people at Preesman. Another development which already has been given a lot of
attention and has been generally accepted is the change in cultivation practices. Preesman offers a cultivation
system, which allows an improvement of all quality aspects mentioned previously. The concept is to control the plant
as growing unit to a maximum. In that respect we try to improve the technical requirements of the system. Since this is
done on some physiological characteristics of the rose. There is some information available about a number of the
scientific background of the crop cultivation.

2. Growth factors.
The most important growth factors are light, temperature, and water.

2.1 Light.
Light is the growth factor which influences both temperature and water, unfortunately it is also the factor which we can
control the least. Too much light must be taken away by shading. In areas with a constant high (ir)radiation, shading
often is done outside the glasshouse. This has a positive effect on temperature control. In areas with changing
conditions, a movable screen inside the glasshouse is recommended. However, this often has negative side effects
as temperature increase and through a reduced evaporation, a less active crop is created. As our control over the
plant processes improves, shading becomes less necessary. Low light intensities can be improved by applying
artificial lighting, which has only a limited effect. It does have some major drawbacks; cost increase, influence on the
glasshouse temperature, and the shadow of the installation on the leaves when illumination is not required.

* Primarily light is necessary for assimilation (photosynthesis). Through chlorophyll in the leaves, light is
transformed into sugars, a process also requiring CO2 and water. This energy source is essential for growth
and development of flowers, stems, leaves, and roots. The degree to which a plant can use the amount of
light available depends on several factors, for example chlorophyll contents of the leaves, CO 2-supply,
temperature, and humidity. Each of these factors can prove to be a limiting factor on plant growth.
* Another, more indirect, effect of light is the stimulation of vascular transport through the plant. As light raises
the leave temperature, the leaves respond by opening the stomata to allow a higher evaporation in order to
cool down. This process also increases the water transport, enabling nutrients, necessary for plant growth, to

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 be distributed through the plant.

2.2 Temperature.
Temperature influences almost all processes of life. Therefore its relation to radiation should be established. This
relation is mainly determined by the production of sugars. Too much light at a low temperature causes an
unnecessary surplus of sugars. Even though this is undesired, the other way around (high temperature with low
radiation) should definitely be avoided. Due to the high temperature the respiration process works at maximum
capacity, while production of energy (photosynthesis) is maintained at a low level. A shortage of energy will be the
result.

Temperature is often taken over a 24-hour period, when its relation with light is discussed. The differences in
temperature during the day/night (light/dark) period have a major effect on plant growth. It is assumed that through a
raise in temperature early in the night period, more energy is put in generative growth (flower development). Higher
temperatures during the night period, compared to the day period, will stretch internodes and vice versa. Under poor
light conditions this is a possibility to obtain the required 24-hour temperature without creating a weak and elongated
crop.

2.3 Water.
Water plays an important part in the assimilation process, in transport of sugars and nutrients, and in the cooling
system of the plant.

A plant consists for over 90% of water. The plant is kept upright by regulating water pressure (osmotic systems).
Evaporation is influenced by factors like light and temperature, and to a lesser extent by humidity. Stomata control
evaporation, poor water supply will result in a closing of stomata with subsequently no gas exchange and no
production of sugars (energy). Therefore it is important to keep a check on water uptake and evaporation. If the
evaporation is larger than the uptake (wilting!), the most efficient control measure is light reduction. Water uptake can
also be improved by applying directly at the plant (trickle irrigation), and by reducing the salt concentration in the
water (E.C. or total nutrient value). When evaporation is low and extra light is not available, try to reduce humidity by
increasing the temperature.

Besides a sub-optimal use of light, too little evaporation does not provide an optimal sugar and nutrient transport,
resulting in e.g. calcium and magnesium deficiencies. It is important to stimulate evaporation on the total plant
canopy. Therefore, vertical temperature differences should be avoided. This can easily be achieved by using a
heating system at the base of the crop.

3. Substrate cultivation.
After the previous paragraphs on growth factors, it may have become clear that a complete control of environmental
conditions will result in an optimal growing climate. However, complete control is not possible. Since substrate
cultivation allows more control than cultivation in soil, it is often recommended. Soil quality (chemical and organic
structure) and the possibility of soil sterilisation should be compared to the additional cost of setting up substrate
cultivation before a decision is made on which practice is preferred.

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3.1 Substrate choices.
Many different types of organic and anorganic substrates are presently used. For growing roses rockwool and
coconut dust are most frequently used and preferred. Since the development of pot cultivation, in stead of coconut
dust a mixture of peat and rice chaff is becoming popular.

3.2 Requirements for substrates.

- Good air/ water balance;
- Good draining and leaching capacity;
- pH neutral and containing none to very few nutrients;
- Stable structure, even in the long run (no or little decomposition);
- Offering sufficient support to the crop.

3.3 Rockwool.
In choosing rockwool you could take a bread of 7,5 cm by 15 cm by 100 cm (height x width x length). The quality
(durance) of the bread is an important characteristic to take into account when purchasing (see and feel!) Since
roses are grown for several years on the same piece of rockwool, the quality should be maintained for a longer
period. Often special types are available, even though these might be a bit more expensive, the effects of an
optimally operating rooting system will become noticeable after some time. A hard rockwool bread has got sufficient
air/ water capacity. The alkaline nature of rockwool can be corrected by saturating the bread with a nutrient solution at
a pH of 5.3-5.5. During cultivation the pH can be adjusted by applying ammonium nitrate in the nutrient mixture.

3.4 Coconut dust.

Coconut dust is a waste product from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Presently it is originating from for example
Sri Lanka. In fresh material a relatively high E.C.-value is measured (caused by e.g. sodium, potassium, or chloride).
This material is very easily to rinse causing these nutrients to leach. Rinsing often is done at the place of origin, using
local rainwater during the monsoon period.
Still a chemical analysis should be completed since high salt concentrations cause serious growth reductions.
Coconut dust can hold both water and air. Remarkable is the ability to take up water even after severe drought.
Stability and decomposition of coconut dust are presently experienced to be good, even after several years no
physiological changes have been recorded.

Coconut dust is pH neutral, at a value between 5,5 - 6. At fertilisation one should be aware of potassium present in
the coconut dust. Therefore often a dose (1-2 kg/m ) of calcium nitrate (CaNO3) is applied at the start of cultivation.
Initially a fertilisation schedule could be used replacing potassium nitrate (KNO3) by calcium nitrate. Please, check the
iron (Fe) content regularly, it has been observed that coconut dust may retain iron temporarily.

Water supply does not differ from rockwool, perhaps coconut dust requires a little bit more. Drain control is
necessary. Coconut dust is presently sold in bags of 15-cm width by 1 metre length. Each bag contains 20 litres of
coconut dust. A recent development is pot cultivation with 3 plants per pot of 10 litre.

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4. Cultivation systems.
In the cultivation system recommended by Preesman Roses, the plants are grown 30-40 cm above the ground. This
height is necessary to provide space for the bend-out stems and provide enough air circulation through the crop. This
improves the evaporation and increases the amount of active foliage. If heating is required, it also allows the
tubes to be places underneath the plants. To obtain the elevated flowerbed numerous systems can be developed
and several are readily available on the market. When applying drains it also offers sufficient space for installation of
gutters. If cultivation in pots is desired, various systems have been developed to allow optimal use of space
(frameworks of iron). Since too many systems have been developed we can not deal with all of them specifically, but
we like to draw your attention to the fact that each system should have sufficient draining capacity and all irrigation
tubing should be level.

Characteristic of trickle irrigation is the frequent application of small amounts of nutrient solution. One should try to
have equal amounts of liquid at each outlet. Uneven distributions will cause drought in some areas, and over-
fertilisation and wet feet in other regions of the glasshouse.

4.1 Setting up cultivation.

We recommend cultivation in a so-called 2-row system. Per compartment of 6,40 metre 6 rows of plants are planned.
The distance between the plants in one row varies between 15-20 cm.

This results at 6 to 8 plants per Metre Square (depending on cultivar and cultivation system). In the paths between
the plants tubes are planned for heating. These pipes may also be used for transport of carriages. The maximum
water temperature should be kept between 40-45 C. The piping of the trickle irrigation system is lying on the ground
in between the rows of plants. To provide an optimal CO 2-supply, on each flowerbed a tube for CO2 supply is
recommended.

5 Cultivation.
5.1 Start of cultivation.
At the start of the cultivation a glasshouse temperature of 20 - 22 C is recommended. The relative humidity should
be high. Fertilisation is in these initial stages done with an extra 20% calcium nitrate. As soon as the first basal
shoots have developed well, it should be returned to normal levels.

The water supply, i.e. the frequency and amount of trickle irrigation, is depending on the time of year and the
development rate of the crop. Check the amount drain regularly (minimal 40 - 50%). At trickle irrigation we presume
the water gift per drip is at least 50 - 60 cc per supply. When smaller gifts are used the irregularity between drips
becomes too obvious. At saturation and the initial weeks of cultivation, the E.C.-value of the nutrient solution should
be lower than the E.C.-value of the rockwool blocks or the jiffy (peat) pots. This stimulates root growth and results in
a rapidly established crop.

After this initial period the E.C.-value of the water gift varies between 1,6 - 2 depending on the time of year. The pH
of the nutrient solution is maintain preferably at 5,3. If the pH-value in the drain water rises, some extra ammonium
nitrate should be applied. If the substrate used is coconut dust, often less ammonium nitrate is required. Besides
chemical analysis of the drain water, the coconut dust itself should be analysed itself.

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5.2 Crop maintenance.
After planting shoots will quickly develop. Only after the flower bud becomes clearly visible the shoots are bend-out.
Since the plants grow about 40 cm above the ground, it is possible to bend down the stems deeply. Be careful not
too break the shoots, the plant should remain capable of transporting sugars from these areas to the new developing
shoots. The shoots should be bend down so the grafting place or, if a cutting is used, the old top of the cutting will
become the top of the plant. The flower buds on these bend-out shoots have to be removed. This system allows the
leaves to continue their production of energy, while the local main sincs of the sugars (buds) are taken away. The
dominating primary shoot (apical dominance) is removed, causing the plant to respond by developing more basal
buds. In the plant hormonal changes take place, which promote shoot development (balance cytokinins/ auxins).
After cutting or bending out results in an increased cytokinin level, causing buds to break. The shoots formed are
producing auxins, so restoring the hormonal balance in the plant.

5.3 Basal shoots.

Depending on the growth potential of a cultivar a number of basal shoots are formed. Per plant 2 to 3 well-formed
shoots are allowed to continue growing, if more shoots were formed we recommend bending out of these shoots.
This way a plant has got the use of more active leaf canopy to supply enough energy for development of a heave crop
with first quality flowers.

5.4 Harvest.
At harvest it often was practice to cut back to the first so-called 5-leaf . We recommend cutting back to the just
above the original cutting. The length of the remaining stem decides the number of shoots (flower stems) which will
grow back. If too much (4-6 cm) stem is left, many shoots are formed of a poor quality. Therefore we advise to cut
back to 1 cm. After 1 to 1 year the rose bush is cut back to approximately 10 cm above the original cutting, so
creating a new top. Now again only 1-cm stem is left after harvest. Naturally differences do exist between
cultivars, in case of doubt do not hesitate to contact us or your local agent.

5.5 Crop maintenance.

From all these points it becomes clear that leaves provide energy (source), while the flowers are the main users of
this energy (zinc). Therefore it should be common practice save a maximum of inferior. The leaf area is maintained
while the flower bud it taken out as soon as possible, since we would like to keep the original top of the cutting, or
grafting place, the apex of the plant. The leaves now will be lower than the apex, while care is taken to avoid too
many leaves from over lying. The shoots should be bend out carefully to avoid internal damage, this will block the
transport of sugars and nutrients and so creates sub-optimal growing conditions. By maintaining differences in
developing rate per shoot a crop will be more heterogeneous. This will allow a more equal distribution of energy in
time.

5.6 Climate.
Regulating the glasshouse climate should be done in order to keep the leaf canopy active. Especially when much
light is available (sunny conditions), heating under the crop is recommended to prevent large temperature differences
in the crop. When less light is available, heating both under as above the crop will be necessary. To remove
excessive humidity from the glasshouse, the heating should be combined with ventilation. This depends on the

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difference between outside and glasshouse temperature and varies with the ventilation possibilities of the glasshouse.
In general with modern glasshouses we recommend ventilation at outside temperatures of 10 C and higher. This
also is depending on the wind speed, under windy conditions the ventilation rate will be higher.

6. High lines of the grow system.

- Plants are placed approximately 35 cm above the ground;
- Bend-out branches have more space, which improves leaf functions and so create more energy;
- By bending out branches the top of the plant stays at the original place and only basal shoots are formed;
- At harvest, cutting is done just above the original top, giving maximal stem length;
- More uniformity in production between plants gives a higher production per m of a higher quality.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

PREESMAN B.V.
El Sr, Jan Schutrups
Hoge Geest 43–45
2671 LK NAALDWIJK
LOS PAÍSES BAJOS
Phonenr. : + 31 174 62 02 41
Faxnr. : + 31 174 62 42 99
Cellular : + 31 6 25 02 48 53
La dirección del correo electrónico : preesman@preesman.com
Website : www.preesman.com

Roskam Horticultura S.A.

El Sr. Erik Roskam
2a Avenida sur y Calle de los Remedios
Residencia San Jose 1 # 7
La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepequez
Guatemala
Tel: : + 502 78 32 07 79
Fax: : + 502 78 32 07 79
Cel : + 502 58 30 31 25
Skype : roskam_horticultura
La dirrección de correo electrónico : info@roskamhorticultura.com
Website : www.roskamhorticultura.com
Copyright by Preesman B.V.

No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of
Preesman B.V.