Impact of Growing Medium Composition on Morphological Development of Chrysanthemum (<i>Chrysanthemum morifolium</i> Ramat Cv. Snowball)

Abstract

The light-weight growing medium compositions were evaluated in the present study for optimum growth and flowering of potted Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. Snowball. Plants were grown in six different potted medium compositions – control: garden soil + (farmyard manure (FYM) 2 : 1), cocopeat + FYM (1 : 1), cocopeat + FYM (2 : 1), vermiculite + FYM (1 : 1), vermiculite + FYM (2 : 1) and cocopeat + vermiculite + FYM (1 : 1 : 1). Results revealed vegetative growth with maximum plant height, number of leaves and root suckers per plant in the case of cocopeat + FYM (2 : 1), whereas flower quality, i.e. duration of flowering and flower diameter was highest in media vermiculite + FYM (2 : 1). Moreover, plants showed significant (P < 0.05%) vegetative growth with better flowering time and quality in cocopeat + vermiculite + FYM (1 : 1 : 1). Therefore, the present findings suggest that for growing potted chrysanthemum cv. Snowball for display, light-weight growing medium composition of cocopeat + vermiculite + FYM (1 : 1 : 1) is the best with better plant morphological development and sustained quality flower production.