Effects of Growing Medium, Shade Level and Fertilizer Rate on Cladode Color, Yield and Vase Life of Ruscus hypophyllum

Abstract

Abstract Ruscus hypophyllum L. (Israeli or Holland ruscus) liners were grown from tissue culture in either Florida sedge peat: builders' sand (3:1 by vol) or a commercial soilless medium (Vergro container mix A) until they were large enough to produce harvestable stems for use as cut foliage (florists' greens). Once established, plants were grown in a shadehouse at 50% or 70% shade and were fertilized with either 5, 10 or 15 g (0.18, 0.35 or 0.53 oz) of 17N-2. 6P-10K (17-6-12) controlled-release fertilizer applied every 2 months. Cladode color was not affected by fertilizer level but was affected by both shade level and growing medium, with shade level the more important of the two. Stem numbers and average fresh weight were affected by an interaction of fertilizer rate and growing medium. Maximum stem number occurred at the high fertilizer rate in Vergro and the medium rate in peat:sand while average stem weight was greatest at the high rate in peat:sand and at the medium rate in Vergro. Total stem fresh weight increased as a linear function of fertilizer rate, was 12% higher from peat:sand compared to Vergro, and was 14% greater under 50% compared to 70% shade. There were no commercially significant treatment effects on vase life.