156 J.E. FAUST, J.M. DOLE, AND R.G. LOPEZ
propagated and then placed into the increase block, from which the next
generation of cuttings are harvested and propagated to become the gen-
eral production stock plants that supply the wholesale market. The gen-
eral production stock for geranium is planted into the greenhouse from
the end of the July through August in order for cuttings to be ready for
the peak cutting season of mid-November through early February. Peri-
odic testing for pathogens continues in the general production stock to
catch any potential infection that may have occurred after the plants
were moved out of the increase block.
A stock-plant producer may produce 50–100 or more different culti-
vars of geranium. Other geranium species are also produced, including
Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) and Regal geraniums (Pelargo-
nium×domesticum). After transplanting rooted cuttings into the gen-
eral production stock greenhouse, the plants receive several weekly
applications of ethephon to promote branching and abort flower buds.
The shoots are manually pinched to encourage branching and develop-
ing inflorescences are removed. In the weeks leading up to that peak
harvest season, plant-growth regulators are applied to the stock plants
to control stem elongation and create more compact cuttings. Removal
of the mature leaves from the stock-plant canopy is performed in order
to improve cutting quality by allowing direct sunlight to be delivered
to the developing shoots, that is, the future cuttings. Once the peak sea-
son begins, weekly applications of BA and/or GA are made to the stock
plants to improve postharvest performance and reduce leaf chlorosis
during propagation. Geranium cuttings are harvested at a rate of 2–3
cuttings per stock plant per week or a total of 30–45 cuttings/m^2 per
week.
Once the cuttings are harvested in the greenhouse they are bagged
into groups of 100 and provided a sticker with identification informa-
tion and a barcode to identify the bench from which they were har-
vested. The bagged cuttings are rushed to a 5◦C cooler where they are
scanned into the inventory. The time from cutting to cooling should
take less than 45 min to minimize temperature stress. Once inside the
cooler, the bagged cuttings are placed into forced-air cabinets that blow
the refrigerated-temperature air across the cuttings for approximately 15
min to remove the field heat. Then, the cuttings are placed onto shelves
inside the cooler from which customer orders are pulled and packaged.
Ideally, the cuttings are packaged and shipped the same day that they
are harvested, but sometimes they may be in the cooler for 1–2 d prior
to being shipped. While the cuttings are in the cooler, some stock-plant
growers will treat them with MCP to block ethylene perception in order
to reduce leaf yellowing in propagation. Treatment involves placing