Fertigation and growing media for production of anthurium cut flower

Abstract

Anthurium andraeanum flowers quality and productivity depend on the fertilizer, and the growing media used. Most Brazilian anthurium growers use to prepare their growing media, but they do not realize that the low quality and productivity might come from an inadequate mix that they are using. So, the objective was to determine yield and flower quality of anthurium plants grown in different growing media and fertilizations. 'Eidibel' anthurium plants were grown in: a) pine bark + composted organic matter (1:1); b) wood shavings + composted organic matter (1:1); c) growing media usually utilized by the grower where this study was developed (a mixture of soil, coal residue and composted cow manure). Four fertigation solutions were applied weekly during eleven months. These solutions were: NPK 100% (5.00: 1.64: 3.12 g plant-1 year-1); N and K 100% + P 150% (5.00: 2.46: 3.12 g plant-1 year-1); N and P 100% + K 150% (5.00: 1.64: 4.70 g plant-1 year-1); N 100% + P and K 150% (5.00: 2.46: 4.70 g plant-1 year-1). These were compared with monthly fertilization done locally with slow releasing solid fertilizer (4.52: 1.23: 4.99 g plant-1 year-1). Although there was no increase in the yield, represented by the number of flowers produced per plant, the growing media prepared with wood shavings + organic compost (1:1) with all fertilization tested produced the best quality anthurium cut flowers (Extra and Class I).