Post-transplantation growth of Phalaenopsis hybrid seedlings in community pots.
Seeni S., Latha P. G.
Author Affiliation: Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Trivandrum 695?562, Kerala, India.
Journal of the Orchid Society of India 4 : 127-133
Abstract : Axenic seedlings of the hybrid cultivar Fire Water Ponce, derived from green pod cultures were transplanted into 2-inch diameter clay pots (2/pot) filled with gravel, broken clay tiles, charcoal, fern roots, coconut shells, coir waste, rubber seed husks, jute fibres, cassava pith, thermocole, coconut husks, rubber seed coats, wood shavings, mango tree bark, grass roots, charcoal + brick, coconut peduncle segments or moss. Seedlings were not acclimatized to ambient conditions before potting. Even if pre-treatment of the seedlings, pots and/or potting media with the fungicide Dithane M-45[mancozeb] was not applied, almost 100% of the seedlings survived and made vigorous growth. The most satisfactory medium was broken tiles, followed by charcoal, cassava pith, rubber seed husks and coconut husks. A comparison of foliar nutrient sprays showed that a combination of commercial diammonium phosphate and potassium nitrate (20:10:10 N:P:K) was by far the most effective in terms of rapid leaf and root growth.