ISHS Acta Horticulturae 453: IV International Protea Working Group Symposium
WATER AND MINERAL ABSORPTION FOR TWO PROTEA SPECIES (P. EXIMIA AND P. CYNAROIDES) ACCORDING TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT STAGE |
| Authors: | M. Montarone, M. Ziegler |
| Abstract:
Basic soilless nutritional needs of most species of the Protea genus have been shown to be much lower than those of common ornamental plants from the northern hemisphere. The present work investigates in more details the variability of mineral intakes of two species, P eximia and P. cynaroides, having very different growth kinetics. The results globally show that growth rates mainly affect the volume of intakes and not its relative composition. However, there is a difference in Mg requirements of the two species, and a specific drop of P and K requirements in the second part of the vegetative cycle of P. cynaroides. Keeping soilless nutrition at the optimum therefore requires a careful monitoring of drainage rates and mineral drifts in the leachates of each species. | |
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