Growth of Ornamental Grasses Under Salinity Stress

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of substrate salinity caused by increasing NaCl doses on growth and development of ornamental grasses: Briza media L., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., Koeleria glauca (Spreng.) DC., Sesleria caerulea (L.) Ard. and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. Results provide the basis for the preliminary classification of analyzed grasses in terms of their tolerance to substrate salinity. Grasses, responding negatively to substrate salinity caused by small doses of 5 and 10 g·NaCl·dm−3, may be considered to be sensitive species. Within the studied genotypes, B. media showed a negative response to salt stress in most of the analyzed traits. Genotypes responded differently to salinity but all had a decreased tolerance index even at the lowest concentration of NaCl. The lowest percentages of dry leaves at 5 and 10 g NaCl·dm−3 were in K. glauca and S. caerulea. The percentage of dry matter and leaf greenness were least affected

DEMAND FOR POT PLANTS FOR INTERIOR DECORATION IN VIEW OF THE SURVEY CARRIED OUT IN POZNAŃ

The aim of the study was to determine the demand for pot plants for interior decoration at various points of sale in Poznan. The results were based on questionnaires filled by clients of three retail sale points with pot plants: flower shop, horticultural centre and building material market in Poznan and its surroundings. Collected information was analysed for a frequency of purchases, amount of money spent on pot plants, place of purchases, occasions for which plant was bought, preferences of buyers and pattern of purchases. Customers purchase plants in various points of sale from 7 to 9 pot plants per year, mostly in horticultural centres and in spring. Plants are used for interior decoration and are cultivated for many years, however cut flowers are more often chosen for a gift than pot plants. Whereas a significant part of building material market customers cultivate flowers pot plants for a short time, and they buy pot plants for a gift as often as cut flowers. Among plants with flowers Phalaenopsis and Anthurium are selected most frequently, and Zamioculcas and Yucca among plants with decorative foliage. While choosing plants, buyers are guided by the overall appearance and price

Popyt na rośliny doniczkowe do dekoracji wnętrz w świetle badań ankietowych w Poznaniu

The aim of the study was to determine the demand for pot plants for interior decoration at various points of sale in Poznan. The results were based on questionnaires filled by clients of three retail sale points with pot plants: flower shop, horticultural centre and building material market in Poznan and its surroundings. Collected information was analysed for a frequency of purchases, amount of money spent on pot plants, place of purchases, occasions for which plant was bought, preferences of buyers and pattern of purchases. Customers purchase plants in various points of sale from 7 to 9 pot plants per year, mostly in horticultural centres and in spring. Plants are used for interior decoration and are cultivated for many years, however cut flowers are more often chosen for a gift than pot plants. Whereas a significant part of building material market customers cultivate flowers pot plants for a short time, and they buy pot plants for a gift as often as cut flowers. Among plants with flowers Phalaenopsis and Anthurium are selected most frequently, and Zamioculcas and Yucca among plants with decorative foliage. While choosing plants, buyers are guided by the overall appearance and price

Application of wood chips for soil mulching in the cultivation of ornamental grasses

A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of the soil. Mulching plays an important role in the maintenance of green spaces. Organic materials are still sought for the preparation of mulches. Recently interest in wood chips has grown. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of mulching with pine and birch chips on the contents of phenolic compounds in the soil, as well as on the growth and flowering of ornamental grasses – Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth.) Lag. ex Griffiths, Panicum virgatum L. and Pennisetum alopecuroides L. The content of phenolic compounds in the soil steadily increased from spring to autumn. Mulching led to a substantial increase in the level of phenolic compounds. In the first year of cultivation more phenolic compounds were released by chips of pine than birch, while in the second year this difference did not occur. Mulching had a negative impact on the growth and flowering of ornamental grasses, especially in the first year of cultivation. Ornamental grass sensitivity to the substances released from mulches decreased with the age of the plants and was dependent on the species – Bouteloua gracilis was found to be particularly sensitive

Assessment of the usefulness of selected media used in the rooting process of lavender cotton shoot cuttings

Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus L.) shoot cuttings, obtained from two-year-old mother plants, were rooted in five different media under an unheated foil tunnel. Two ready-made and widely recommended media were used: Hartmann peat substrate and Ceres peat-coconut substrate, as well as three prepared mixtures: high peat + mineral soil, high peat + perlite and high peat + sand. The influence of medium type on the number of rooted cuttings and the quality of the root system was assessed for two cultivation times during a three-year study after eight weeks from the date of cutting. As far as the ready-made rooting substrates are concerned, Ceres peat-coconut substrate turned out to be better when compared with the Hartmann substrate. The number of high quality rooted cuttings was larger when media containing high peat mixed with either mineral soil or sand were used in comparison with the mixture of high peat and perlite

Post-harvest longevity of ornamental grasses conditioned in gibberellic acid and 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate

Florists’ greens are becoming increasingly important in contemporary floristry. Numerous studies conducted on cut flowers have led to the development of technologies for their post-harvest handling; however, in the case of florists’ greens they are still insufficient. Moreover, the extensive range of florists’ greens lacks leaves and the leafy culms of grasses. The aim of this study was to determine the post-harvest longevity of the leaves and leafy culms of ornamental grasses conditioned in water solutions of gibberellic acid and 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate. The post-harvest longevity of leaves was examined in cultivars of the following species: Glyceria maxima Hartm. ‘Variegata’, Miscanthus sinensis Thunb. ‘Zebrinus’ and Spartina pectinata Link. ‘Aureomarginata’. The post-harvest longevity of leafy culms was investigated in Alopecurus pratensis L. ‘Aureovariegatus’, Chasmanthium latifolium Michx., Miscanthus sinensis Thunb. ‘Silberspinne’, Pennisetum alopecuroides L. and Phalaris arundinacea L. ‘Picta’. Conditioning in gibberellic acid had a positive effect on the post-harvest longevity and fresh weight loss and the index of leaf greenness of leaves in the case of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’, while conditioning in 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate improved fresh weight loss and the index of leaf greenness of the leafy culms of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’, Pennisetum alopecuroides and the leaves of Glyceria maxima ‘Variegata’

The effect of osmocote fertilizers on growth and nutrient status of Carex buchananii Berggr.

An experiment on the effect of Osmocote fertilizers on growth and nutrient status of Carex buchananii was conducted in the years 2008–2009. Carex buchananii is a dense-tufted sedge growing up to 60 cm in height, with very narrow, stiff, red, copper and olive colored leaves throughout the season. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in pots with peat substrate for 18 weeks. The differentiating factors included the type of fertilizer, i.e. Exact Standard 16:11:11 and Osmocote Exact High Start 11:11:19, and fertilizer application rates of 2 and 4 g dm−3, the phase of growth, i.e. 1 to 9 weeks and 9 to 18 weeks of culture. The greatest increment in the tuft circumference of C. buchananii was recorded in the first 9 weeks of culture, while that of the fresh weight of aboveground parts – in the period from 9 to 18 weeks. The application of Osmocote Exact High Start at 4 g dm−3 in the culture of C. buchananii resulted in the production of the desired quality of the plants with a greater tuft circumference and shorter leaves. It was shown that best quality plants contained in their aboveground parts the following amounts of macronutrients and sodium (g kg−1): N – 18.9, P – 3.5, K – 37.2, Ca – 5.8, Mg – 3.0, and Na – 0.3