The silver leaf fern Pteris ensiformis 'Victoriae' was planted in different growing mixtures under artificial shade. The peatmoss in the University of California and Cornell Peat-Lite mixtures was substituted by dry coffee leaves, sugarcane bagasse, spent ground coffee, Caño Tiburones muck or wood shavings. Neither the University of California sand-peatmoss mixture nor substitutions of peatmoss were suitable for growing in hanging baskets. The Cornell Peat-Lite mixtures A and B were adequate for proper growth of silver leaf fern in hanging baskets. Dry coffee leaves, sugarcane bagasse, spent ground coffee and Caño Tiburones muck were adequate substitutes for peatmoss in the Cornell mixtures. Vermiculite, perlite, or Styrofoam did not improve growth over peatmoss alone. The potting qualities of fresh spent ground coffee were improved by the addition of calcined clay, perlite or Cialitos clay (an Oxisol) as shown by the growth of the spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'.
Seventy-five tops of D. sanderiana were grown and harvested, 15 from each of five different shade intensities. The leaf blades of each top were separated as to position in the stem. Composite samples of the leaves having the same numbered position in the 15 tops at each level of shade were chemically analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Leaf position definitely influenced the chemical content of the leaves. The immature leaves showed lower values of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. The values increased with age. There was a reduction in the chemical content farther down in the stem. Leaf potassium was high in the young leaves with a definite decrease with age, until it became stabilized or it increased in the old leaves. Leaf phosphorus did not seem to vary with age. The shade intensities did not seem to affect the leaf nutrient content markedly, except potassium and magnesium to some extent, expecially in immature leaves. Functional relationships were established for leaf position and leaf nutrient content, with a high percentage of explanation of the variability. It can be concluded that leaf samples midway in the stem are suitable for analysis. Leaves of the 2d, 3d or 4th position will possibly reflect the nutritional status of the plant.
Sander's Dracaena (Dracaena sanderiana, Hort.) was grown in 3 x 3 x 3 N, P, K factorial experiment in a 1:1 mixture of peat moss and Cataño sand. Commercial cuttings were harvested at regular intervals during a 32-mo growing period. Fresh weight, length, number of leaves , and weight of leaves was recorded from each harvested cutting. Nitrogen affected significantly the number of harvested cuttings per unit area, total growth and total top growth, all of which were highest at 600 pounds of N/acre/yr. Phosphorus affected significantly only the number of harvested cuttings while potassium affected significantly total growth, top growth, root growth, mean size and mean weight of harvested cuttings, and leal mean weight. The fitting of a modification of the fertilizer-yield equation Y = A/1 + B( C - X)2 showed that maximum yields in terms of number of cuttings were obtained with a combination of approximately 648, 465 and 583 pounds of N, P, K/acre/yr, respectively. The maximum total growth and top growth depended more on the phosphorus and less on the potassium. Root growth was definitely affected by the phosphorus applications.
The possibility of substituting peatmoss with tobacco industry residues, wood shavings, sawdust, spent ground coffee, coffee parchment, dry coffee leaves, sugarcane bagasse, or Caño Tiburones muck in potting mixture for Pelargonium stockplants was investigated. The different materials were mixed in 1:1, 1:3, or 3:1 proportions with Cataño sand or Cialitos clay (an Oxisol). Dry coffee leaves and sugarcane bagasse consistently gave as good results as peatmoss. None of the other materials tested compared favorably with peatmoss for the growth of Pelargonium stock plants.
A size of propagating material and planting distance experiment was established under 5 shade intensities. The media consisted of Cataño sand and shredded peatmoss mixed 3:1 by volume. The experiment was harvested four times during a 36-month period. The results revealed that, to start a new plantation, the propagating material must be healthy and well developed. The size of harvested cuttings was affected by size of the original planting material. Moreover, the reduction in the planting distance brought a higher gross income per unit area, but mean size and weight of the harvested cuttings were generally reduced at most of the shade percentages tested.
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