Abstract
The effects were investigated of different lengths and numbers of slitwalls in drainless containers on growth and change in soil moisture volumes on the growth of Diffenbachia amoena 'Marianne' and Begonia rex. Drainless containers filled with amended soil, with square shape (<TEX>$240mm{\times}240mm$</TEX>) were used, as well as three different sets of slitwalls (2, 4 or 8, respectively) in addition to non-slitwall containers. Two indoor foliage plants were grown in slitwall containers in randomized blocks with 3 replications in greenhouse conditions, from March to September, 2009. Soil moisture volumes per container were measured by weighing containers every 2 hours during the day. The change in soil moisture volumes showed considerable differences among slitwalls tested in comparison to control containers before and after twice-weekly irrigation. Particularly, the differences in the S2 (195mm, slitwall 2) containers were significantly greater than other containers tested. For Diffenbachia amoena 'Marianne', plant height, length of leaf, dry weight and fresh weight were higher with S2 containers than with those grown in other containers tested. The Begonia rex with the best quality in terms of plant height, length of leaf and width of leaf was grown in S8 (360mm, slitwall 8) containers. Particularly, statistical analysis has indicated that shoot fresh weights of Begonia rex grown in S8 were 3-fold higher than those grown in CS8 containers. The different results obtained within the two species led us to hypothesize a species-specific influence on indoor foliage plant performance. However, plants of both species grown in slitwall containers showed good results compared with plants grown in non-slitwall containers.
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