Vegetative development and flowering of Encyclia hybrid based on fertilization and substrate

Abstract

Due to the fact that the western region of Paraná is considered subtropical, with high temperatures in the summer, the hybrids of Encyclia are commercialized by the beauty of its flowers and durability. However, there are no studies involving potted plants, substrate types and fertilizers, as well as hybrids, for the genus Encyclia. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the vegetative development and flowering of Encyclia based on fertilization and substrate. The experiment was conducted in a commercial orchard, from January to September/2017. The seedlings remained in a protected environment, with 50% shading. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme (substrates x fertilization intervals), with 4 replicates per treatment, and 4 pots per replicate. The lot chosen was sowed in vitro, with the hybrid Encyclia “Kropp” x E. atropurpurea. After five months of the last fertilization, the evaluations related to vegetative development and flowering were carried out. Substrates based on sphagnum presented better results in flowering. Organic fertilizations with Bokashi at 45 days after transplant (DAT) favor flowering and vegetative development of the Encyclia hybrid, which occurs in pots containing sphagnum-based substrates and with organic fertilizers above 60 DAT.