Effect of various root media and fertilizers on the plant and bract development of poinsettia

ABSTRACT MSc. Thesis EFFECT OF VARIOUS ROOT MEDIA AND FERTILIZERS on the PLANT and BRACT DEVELOPMENT of POINSETTIA Sibel EŞMEN Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Main Science Division of Horticulture Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Servet VARIŞ The effect of various root media (very coarse perlite, peat and 75% peat+25%very coarse perlite) and five different fertilizers in mini poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) were investigated in the laboratory of horticultural department with artificial lighting. The experiment was planned as a randomized blocks with two replications. Growing in perlite with hydroponic solutions was used as a control in the experiment. Peat and 75%peat+25%perlite were arranged factorially with five different water and fertilizer applications. The hydroponic feed used for perlite control contained as ppm: 140 N, 41 P, 272K, 125 Ca, 25 Mg, 57 S, 3 Fe, 0.7 Mn, 0.4 B, 0.2 Cu, 0.2 Zn ve 0.05 Mo.The saucers were used as a reservoir for perlite pot culture.First saucer was put in another big saucer to collect the 10-20 percent drainage solution which is thrown out after applications.When the feed finished in reservoir the hydroponic feed was given to the perlite surface. Water and fertilizer applications for peat were: 0)Only water(0) 1)Department liquid feed (350 ppm N,100 ppm P2O5,400 ppm K2O) applied at every watering 2)Hydroponic liquid feed applied at every watering 3)264 ppm N,46 ppm P,135 ppm K+0.1ppm Mo(Ecke and ark 1990) applied at every watering 4)Osmocote (15+19+12+2Mg+TE)as a topdressing 3,3g/L,only one application. According to the results,perlit control with hydroponic solution gave the best result for the flower number and root weight per plant.The plant weight with or without root was highest in perlite control but peat and water combination was in the same group with perlite control.The bract number per plant was highest in 75% peat and 25% perlite+osmocote combination and perlite control was in the second group. According to the results, growing in perlite with iv hydroponic feed would give the best results for mini poinsettia growing. 75%peat and 25%perlite + osmocote combination can be recommended for the bract number per plant.If no base fertilezers was used for peat,the normal liquid feed should be applied for mini poinsettia growing.