‘Namakwa’ lachenalia’s response to flurprimidol and different planting dates

Abstract

Abstract The genus Lachenalia has great potential as a floriculture crop used as a pot plant or cut flower. Flurprimidol preplant bulb soaks (from 15 to 30 mg dm−3) and foliar sprays (from 15 to 60 mg dm−3) were applied for the growth control of ‘Namakwa’ Lachenalia. Bulbs were planted in November, December, January and February and cultivated in a greenhouse. With a delaying of planting time, more compact plants with shorter and wider leaves and with floriferous inflorescence stems were obtained. Floret length, stem diameter and leaf number remained unaffected by planting date and flurprimidol treatment. The most evident impact of flurprimidol on shortening leaf and inflorescence stem length was noted after soaking the bulbs in 30 mg dm−3. The later the planting date, the shorter the time to the beginning of flowering. Soaking the bulbs in flurprimidol at 15 and 30 mg dm−3 and spraying with flurprimidol at 60 mg dm−3 resulted in a delay of flowering by 3-6 days.