Growth, Quality, and Economic Value Responses of Bedding Plants to Reduced Water Usage

Abstract

<jats:p>This study analyzed the effects of two ranges of drying down of substrate moisture content (SMC) before re-watering on plant growth and development, postproduction quality, and economic value of bedding plants grown in 1.67-L containers during greenhouse production. The two SMC treatments were wide-range (WR) SMC (WR-SMC) for dry-down from container capacity (CC) of 54% SMC dried down to 20% SMC or narrow-range (NR) SMC (NR-SMC) for dry-down from CC of 54% SMC dried down to 40% SMC. Six bedding plant cultivars were used [<jats:italic>Solenostemon scutellarioides</jats:italic> ‘French Quarter’ (coleus); <jats:italic>Petunia</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>hybrida</jats:italic> ‘Colorworks Pink Radiance’ (petunia); <jats:italic>Lantana camara</jats:italic> ‘Lucky Flame’ (lantana); <jats:italic>Impatiens</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>hybrida</jats:italic> ‘Sunpatiens Compact Hot Coral’ (SCC); ‘Sunpatiens Spreading Lavender’ (SSL) (impatiens); and <jats:italic>Salvia splendens</jats:italic> ‘Red Hot Sally II’ (salvia)]. Shoot dry weight was reduced with WR-SMC on petunia, lantana, impatiens SCC, and salvia at the end of production. With WR-SMC, the petunia and impatiens SCC root ball coverage percentages were greater on the bottom of the container, whereas those of impatiens SSL and salvia were reduced. The WR-SMC increased petunia postproduction quality by increasing the flower number. Lantana and impatiens SCC inflorescence/flower and/or bud number were reduced with WR-SMC. The impatiens SSL flower number was unaffected by SMC treatment. Salvia grown with WR-SMC had increased postproduction quality. WR-SMC reduced postproduction water potential in petunia, lantana, and coleus, suggesting that plants with WR-SMC during production were acclimated to reduced irrigation administered during postproduction. WR-SMC saved labor due to less frequent watering and overhead-associated costs due to reduced bench space, with the exception of coleus and impatiens SSL, which used the same bench space as NR-SMC. Considering production and/or postproduction quality, using WR-SMC during greenhouse production is beneficial as an irrigation method for coleus, petunia, impatiens SSL, and salvia, but not for impatiens SCC or lantana grown in 1.67-L containers.</jats:p>

Effects of Depolymerized Gellan with Different Molecular Weights on the Growth of Four Bedding Plant Species

“…'Luna', S. atropurpurea, and T. rotundifolia obtained from W. Legutko Breeding and Seed Company (Jutrosin, Poland) were sown on 15 March 2016 into plastic boxes filled with TS1 substrate (Kronen, Cerkwica, Poland). After four weeks, single seedlings matched for size were transplanted into round plastic pots (13 cm in diameter, 1.0 dm 3 The treatment with depolymerized gellan of different M W (56 kDa and 77 kDa) began a week after transplanting. The plants were drenched seven times every three days with aqueous solutions of gellan derivatives at a concentration of 100 mg/L (determined based on a preliminary trial).…”

“…Standard and well-known species constitute the base of the bedding plant inventory and are being supplemented with new cultivars. Moreover, less common species are constantly being introduced to the market, as they are gaining popularity and can be sold at higher prices [1][2][3]. The sustainable development of floriculture requires modern and environmentally friendly solutions that can maximize the display of plant potential [4,5].…”