Perk Up Heat & Drought-Tolerant Programs With MEGA PAZZAZ Portulaca

Kathleen Hennessy

This summer’s record-breaking heat across North America has many growers and home gardeners looking for annual options that can not only tolerate high temperatures and low moisture, but also look great through those tough conditions.

MEGA PAZZAZ Gold Portulaca.

As you’re preparing for the 2027 season, be sure to put portulaca on your growing list. Danziger’s PAZZAZ Portulaca check all the boxes for big colorful blooms, heat-loving performance and attention-grabbing pots, combinations and hanging baskets at retail.

“At Danziger, a top goal is to create varieties that make things easier for growers, while still providing selections home gardeners can’t resist,” said Mike Fernandez, market manager, North America for Danziger. “Our three different PAZZAZ Portulaca series offer flexibility and performance you can count on, with improved flowering over the entire plant and blooms that stay open more reliably than others on the market.”

PAZZAZ is a vigorous, semi-trailing series with large, vivid blooms. PAZZAZ NANO is a compact selection with gorgeous early color. While MEGA PAZZAZ features extra-large blooms in 10 vibrant colors and a unique twist pattern that command attention at retail and in the landscape. Its semi-trailing habit makes this series perfect for creating outstanding combos and mono containers.

Here are few tips for creating a practical early-season production program with MEGA PAZZAZ:

Propagation tips

Remove plants from their box immediately. This allows for air movement around the plants. This genera is a top priority for sticking, so be sure to stick cuttings promptly.
Pinching at Week 3 or at transplant can allow for improved branching.
Excessive misting can create delayed rooting and cause uneven rooting. Reduce mist as soon as possible.

Finishing tips

Maintaining warm temperatures allows plants to properly develop. Make sure to allow plants to dry completely between irrigation.
For PGR applications spray Daminozide to control height.
Add Paclobutrizol at 2 ppm as a drench once to size if needed to hold in the finish pots.

Pest & disease control tips
Be sure to scout for aphids, thrips and whiteflies. Recommended control includes:

Aphids: Acetamiprid, flonicamid, imidacloprid, dichlorvos
Thrips: Methiocarb, acrinathrin, abamectin, dichlorvos, spinosad

Recommended disease control includes:

Botrytis: Cyprodinil + fludioxonil, iprodione, polyoxin
Pythium/Phytophthora: Propamocarb/mefenoxam
Rhizoctonia: Azoxystronbin/etridiazole/fludioxonil/PCNB/triflumizole GT

Need more information or want to create a custom program? Contact your Danziger representative today or visit DanzigerOnline.com.

Kathleen Hennessy is a vice president at Bellmont Partners, a public relations and marketing firm serving the horticulture industry.