Abstract
Poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd ) is a popular pot plant in many countries and there is a high potential to introduce it to the Sri Lankan floriculture markets. Naturally, poinsettia becomes colourful under short day conditions. However, artificial induction of flowers is necessary for it to produce marketable plants throughout the year. In the natural condition, plants show a vigorous growth and the height is undesirable to accept as a pot plant. Hence, pinching and application of growth retardants were practiced in this study to obtain short bushy plants. Potted rooted cuttings of Euphobia pulcherrima Willd were subjected to single and double pinching and to cycocel and B-nine applications, in 12 combinations. Significantly greater height reduction of shoots (20 cm) and highest number of shoots per plant (36) were obtained when the plants were exposed to double pinching followed by 1500 ppm cycocel application at 14 day intervals. Application of plant growth regulator, B-nine (5000 ppm) did not exert much effect on reducing the shoot height. However, it had some effect on increased shoot production in combination with double pinch. Double pinch gave significantly greater height reduction and increased shoot number when growth regulators were applied. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v21i3.3303 TAR 2010; 21(3): 284-292
Highlights
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherima Willd) is a popular pot plant in many countries and widely used in Christmas decorations
Height control of Treatments 5, 6 and 7 was not significantly different from the height control obtained from the single pinch (Treatment 8) showing the lack of effect of B-nine on height control of poinsettia shoots
The results revealed that pinching at the right time produced more lateral shoots and make the pot plant well shaped, bushy and attractive
Summary
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherima Willd) is a popular pot plant in many countries and widely used in Christmas decorations. It ranks first among pot plants in northern Asian countries too, being used in festivals during October to December (Weijie, 2005). Short day condition induces flowering of this plant along with colour change of uppermost leaves (bracts). This could be the only ornamental plant found in the country that responds to a small day length difference (1/2-1hr). Though the flowers are small and not attractive, the colourful bracts (top leaves) that develop around the flowers in the centre make the plant attractive
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