Investigation of the Most Suitable Pot Type and Growing Media Combination to Enhance Growth and Flowering Performance of Anthurium andraeanum var. ‘Lalani’
R. M. C. S. K. Rathnayaka
Department of Agricultural and Plantation Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, The Open University, Sri Lanka.
H. K. L. K. Gunasekera *
Department of Agricultural and Plantation Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, The Open University, Sri Lanka.
M. M. D. J. Senarathne
Department of National Botanical Gardens, Floriculture Research and Development Unit, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Y. M. U. Anjali
Department of National Botanical Gardens, Floriculture Research and Development Unit, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The "Lady Jane" type potted plant Anthurium andraeanum named 'Lalani' is a recently introduced hybrid and the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya needs scientifically proven information in order to recommend the best pot type and growing media combination for commercial Anthurium growers. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the most suitable pot type and growing media combination to enhance the growth of Anthurium andreanum var. ‘Lalani’. Eight different pot types and growing media combinations were selected as treatment for the study, i.e., T1M1- Plastic pot filled with leaf mold-2 parts+cow dung-1 part+sand-1/2 part+brick pieces-1/4 part+charcoal-1/4 part of growing media, T2M1- Net plastic pot filled with leaf mold-2 parts+cow dung-1 part+sand-1/2 part+brick pieces-1/4 part+charcoal-1/4 part of growing media, T3M1- Clay pot filled with leaf mold-2 parts+cow dung-1 part+sand-1/2 part+brick pieces-1/4 part+charcoal-1/4 part of growing media, T4M1- Cement pot filled with leaf mold-2 parts+cow dung-1 part+sand-1/2 part+brick pieces-1/4 part+charcoal- 1/4 part of growing media, T5M2- Plastic pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media, T6M2-Net plastic pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media, T7M2-Clay pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media, T8M2- Cement pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media. Randomly selected Anthurium plantlets (hybrid Lalani) were planted in and kept in six months in a shade house. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) combined with two factors (pot types and growing media) and the eight treatments randomized in ten replicates and data were collected on growth and flowering parameters. The plants grown on net plastic pot filled with coconut husk- 1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media combination was showed the best performance for number of leaves, number of suckers, time taken for initiation of first flower bud, number of flower buds, plant height, number of flowers, length of roots and number of roots. The Cement pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media combination was the best for number of flowers, number of roots, length of roots and plant height. Based on the study findings, the Net plastic pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media combination and the Cement pot filled with coconut husk-1 part+gravel-1 part of growing media combination can be recommended as the most suitable pot type and growing media combination for enhancing the growth and flowering performance of Anthurium andraeanum var.' Lalani'.
Keywords: Anthurium hybrid Lalani, growing media, pot type, growth, flowering performance