Photoperiod and Temperature Affect Lamium, Scaevola, Verbena, and Calibracoa Development and Propagation
Lamium maculatum L. `White Nancy', Scaevola aemula R. `New Blue Wonder', Verbena × hybrida Groenl. & Ruempl. `Tapian Blue', and Calibracoa × hybrida `Cherry Pink' were placed under different photoperiod treatments at constant 15, 20, 25, or 30 ± 2°C air temperature. Photoperiod treatments were 9 hr, ambient daylight (≈8 hr) plus night interruption lighting (2200–0200 hr, 2 μmol·m–2·s–1 from incandescent lamps), or ambient daylight plus continuous light (100 μmol·m–2·s–1 light from high-pressure sodium lamps). Data on plant development and rootability of cuttings from each environment was collected. Days to anthesis was lowest when plants were grown under the continuous lighting treatment across species. Verbena and Calibracoa stem elongation was greatest when grown under 30°C under continuous lighting. Species were classified as to photoperiodic flower induction groups. Implications of these data with respect to propagating and finishing these crops are discussed.