Response of Leaf Number and Plant Height of Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya) Under Various Indoor Lights

Abstract

SUMMARYVariegated foliage plants such Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) as are often used in interiorscaping in low light environments. The changes in leaf number and plant height under various light types (blue, red and blue+red LED (light-emitting diode) and fluorescent) were investigated to elucidate their optimum indoor light environment. The changes in plant height (was different from leaf number. In general, plant height increased with increasing time. Leaf number showed no significant changes in first sampling decades under different light treatments. The analysis of variance results indicated significant differences for plant height in different light treatments for all sampling decades expect the first, second and third decades, but the results of analysis of variance for leaf numbers indicated non-significant differences among different light treatments. The comparison of means for plant height in the first, second and third decades indicated that there are no significant differences among light treatments while in next five decades, red light treatment showed the long plant height. Also, comparison of means for leaf numbers under various light treatments via Duncan's new multiple range test indicated that there is not any significant differences among different light treatments in first five decades and seventh decade while in the sixth decade, blue light treatment had the highest leaf numbers following to red and blue+red light treatments. In the eighth decade, blue and red light treatments had the highest leaf numbers following to blue+ red light treatment. This study revealed that the most suitable light treatment for obtaining short and high leaf numbers in Polka Dot Plant were blue or blue+red treatments.