ISHS Acta Horticulturae 82: Symposium on Production of Protected Crops in Peat and other Media
EFFECT OF CAPILLARY MATTING AND UNDERGROUND HEATING ON FOLIAGE STOCK PLANT PRODUCTION IN PEAT |
| Author: | J.C.R. Seager |
| Abstract:
A range of foliage plant crops under glass were grown for 27 months under summer shade and another range without shade. The crops were planted in 100% Sphagnum peat fertilised with the Kinsealy Range Mix formula using 15 or 20 cm polythene containers and receiving supplementary fertilisation by capillary irrigation. The containers were stood on wool-based (Vattex) and polyester-based (Bondina) capillary mattings which were held at field capacity from spring to autumn. Measurements of leaf number, shoot number and shoot weight were taken over the 20 month cutting period. On average shaded crops on wool-based matting were more productive than those on polyester, but this trend was not repeated with unshaded subjects. The effect of underground heating was assessed throughout the trial and gave a mean increase of 5°C in root-ball temperature. This induced on average a 13, 16 and 28% increase in leaf number, shoot number and shoot weight. Codiaeum, Dieffenbachia, Ficus, Maranta and Philodendron were particularly responsive with Maranta showing an increase in leaf number of as much as 54 per cent. 100% Sphagnum peat appeared a suitable medium for most of the subjects when irrigated by the capillary mattings. However, Cissus, Dracaena, Peperomia and Spathiphyllum appeared to suffer from overwatering and were removed prematurely from the study. | |
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