Response of Potted Plants and Vegetable Seedlings to Chlorinated Water

Abstract

Abstract Eleven species of potted foliage plants, eight species of potted flowering plants, and four species of vegetable seedlings were tested for their response to irrigation with chlorinated water containing 0, 2, 8, 18, 37, or 77 mg·liter-1 residual chlorine. Growth and appearance were determined after 12 weeks for potted plants and after 6 weeks for seedlings. When compared with the control, growth of geranium and begonia declined at 2 mg·liter-1; pepper and tomato at 8 mg·liter-1; kalanchoe, lettuce, and tradescantia at 18 mg·liter-1; broccoli, marigold, and petunia at 37 mg·liter-1; and Swedish ivy, impatiens, madagascar palm, and english ivy at 77 mg·liter-1. The appearance of the plants followed a similar pattern. Germination of vegetable seeds was not affected by any of the chlorine treatments. Thus, current water chlorination practices with residual chlorine concentrations <1 mg·liter-1 should not adversely affect either the growth or appearance of most potted plants and vegetable seedlings grown in soilless media.