Greenhouse Tip: Apply CapSil to Protect Poinsettia Clippings

Though we’re a long way off from Christmas, greenhouse growers are now starting the process of Poinsettia propagation for the 2016 holiday season. Poinsettias can be one of the most difficult plants to propagate. High heat and other summer stresses combine to take their toll on clippings before they take root. The brief period from clipping to rooting (about 20-24 days) is extremely critical to ensure a healthy crop for the upcoming season.

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There are a number of helpful propagation guides online, including this one from Greenhouse Product News magazine. Nearly all of these guides mention the use of a spreader product like CapSil during misting to reduce wilt.

CapSil lowers the surface tension of water, causing large water drops to spread out evenly over the leaf surface. This ensures proper leaf moisture and reduces instances of wilting. You can see the effect on untreated and treated leaves in the photograph below.

Water treated with CapSil spreads much more evenly than untreated water and water treated with competitive products (see photo below). It is formulated to give greater efficacy at low, economical rates. Application is an easy three-step process:

1. Prepare 3-4 ounces of CapSil in 100 gallons of water
2. Dip cuttings before sticking, or spray cuttings immediately following sticking
3. Begin misting immediately, as per your propagation guide

CapSil is safe to use and there is no concern for leaf burn. For more information, contact your local Aquatrols distributor.