EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION ON YIELD AND VASE LIFE OF ORANGE JESSAMINE

Orange jessamine, also known as coffee foliage in the floral industry, has been cited as a potential cut foliage crop. However, information about its yield and vase life characteristics is not available. Plants were grown for six years fertilized with an incomplete factorial combination of nitrogen and potassium at rates of 196, 392 or 588 kg·ha^–1·yr^–1. Starting three years after planting, yields increased with increasing N application rates. Later, yields also increased with increasing K application rates. There were never any interactions between N and K on crop yield. Yields were comparable to those reported previously for Pittosporum tobira. Vase lives varied considerably and were generally acceptable for florists’ use. However, research is needed to determine the sporadic causes of shortened vase life that could prevent this product from gaining expanding market acceptance.

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