BEHAVIOUR OF MINIATURE HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA (QUALITY AND DURATION OF FORCING) AFTER VARIOUS COLD TREATMENTS BEFORE FORCING

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 261: IV International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants

BEHAVIOUR OF MINIATURE HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA (QUALITY AND DURATION OF FORCING) AFTER VARIOUS COLD TREATMENTS BEFORE FORCING

Author:

H. VIDALIE

Abstract:
In France, and especially in the Loire valley, the production of pot plant Hydrangea is very important. For five years, traditionnal cultivars like 'Merveille', 'Maman', 'Bichon'…, have been partially replaced by miniature cultivars ; this kind of plant, smaller and bushy, is more and more appreciated by consumers.

Our experiments have two aims :

research of a minimum duration of cold treatment to break the dormancy ;
consequences on the quality of plants and the forcing duration of two cultivars : 'Rosita' (pink) and 'Adria' (blue).

After cultivation, pot plants with their leaves are placed into cold storage rooms during november. In 1986/1987, two durations of cold treatment (+ 2°C) were applied : four and six weeks.

The forcing in our greenhouses (+ 18°C) started on december the fifteenth.

In our conditions of experiment, the results show that the optimum duration of cold treatment is four weeks for the two cultivars.

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