Growth of Ficus benjamina in Combinations of Peat, Sand, and Melaleuca
Year: 1985
Type: article
Abstract: Ficus benjamina were grown in potting media containing various combinations of Florida sedge peat, builder’s sand, and shredded portions of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake and irrigated either 2 or 4 times per week. Eight months after initiation of experiment, plants were sleeved and placed in dark coolers maintained at 13° ± 1°C and 85% ± 10% RH for 4 weeks. After removal from coolers, plants were placed in rooms with irradiance of 15 μmol s -1 m -2 , temperature of 25° ± 2° and 60% ± 10% RH. Plant height was not affected by treatment. Plant grade, fresh weight and root grade decreased with an increase in shredded Melaleuca bark and wood. Plants watered 2 times/week had less than one-half the leaf drop of plants watered 4 times/week. As the percentage of shredded Melaleuca bark and wood decreased, pH and the percentage of noncapillary pore space decreased, and soluble salts and capillary pore space increased. An increase in sand increased pH, soluble salts, bulk density, and decreased cation exchange capacity and percent capillary pore space.
Source: HortScience
Authors: Richard T. Poole, Charles A. Conover
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W4295913564