ISHS Acta Horticulturae 178: Symposium on Nutrition, Growing Techniques and Plant Substrates
THE EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE ON THE ROOTING OF BEGONIA X LUCERNA CUTTINGS |
| Authors: | E. Marahrens, E. Toop |
| Abstract:
In a project designed to produce compact pot plants of Begonia x lucerna it was observed that the type of rooting media and the amendments that it contained had a profound effect on root formation. Therefore rooting experiments were conducted in three repeated trials using seven rooting media. The best root systems developed in peat-vermiculite and peat-perlite mixes amended with superphosphate and calcium nitrate. These cuttings developed strong main roots and very extensive fibrous branching. Fresh and dry weight of roots were the highest and shoot growth was the best using these media. Vermiculite alone and perlite alone resulted in shorter and thicker roots without a large fibrous mass. Fresh and dry weight of roots were the lowest in these media. Shoot growth was short and chlorotic, particularly in perlite. Peat-vermiculite mix amended with dolomite lime only and unamended sand-peat-mix resulted in roots inferior to those from media with fertilizer, but superior to those in vermiculite and perlite alone. The roots in sand-peat were particularly short and fibrous and the shoots were short, but of a good color. Peat-vermiculite mix with slow release fertilizer (Osmocote 14-14-14) was the only medium in which Botrytis cinerea killed cuttings in each replication. | |
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