Abstract
The experiments were carried out in 2006-2007, in the spring-summer season, in an unheated plastic tunnel. Adventitious corms of Easy Pot Freesia: 'Gompey', 'Popey' and 'Suzy', were the plant material. The influence of a traditional fertilizer Azofoska and slow-release fertilizers, Osmocote Plus 5/6, Osmocote Exact and Polyon 5/6, on the ornamental value of plants was evaluated. All fertilizers were applied at rates of 2.5 and 5.0 g × dm<sup>-3</sup>. Freesias cultivated without fertilizer were the control plants. The cultivar 'Gompey' was characterized by longer inflorescence shoots and flowers of greater diameter, while the cultivar 'Suzy' had more flowers than the plants of the other cultivars evaluated. Plants with the greatest number of flowers and the longest inflorescences and shoots were obtained when slow-release fertilizers Osmocote Plus 5/6 and Osmocote Exact were used, regardless of cultivar and fertilizer dose. Polyon was useless for freesia fertilization, since it resulted in a decrease of the ornamental value of plants. Plants fertilized with Polyon had fewer flowers, additionally with a smaller diameter, and their inflorescences were shorter and deformed.
Highlights
Easy Pot freesias are an interesting supplement of the assortment of ornamental pot plants used in interior decoration
In the experiments conducted by Startek and Żurawik (2002), fertilization did not affect the length of the main inflorescence shoot of freesia cultivated from subsequent corms
In 2006 and in 2007, plants grown in medium with the addition of Osmocote Exact were characterized by the longest shoots; control freesias and plants fertilized with Polyon had the shortest shoots, regardless of cultivar and fertilizer rate (Table 1)
Summary
Easy Pot freesias are an interesting supplement of the assortment of ornamental pot plants used in interior decoration. They can be offered in the market all the year round (Startek et al 2000; Żurawik et al 2003; Żurawik , 2008). Some growers recommend Osmocote Plus fertilizer at a rate of about 3-4 g×dm-3 for cultivation of Easy Pot Freesia (Anonimus , 1997). According to Startek (2002) as well as Startek and Żurawik (2002), fertilizers from the Osmocote group: Osmocote Plus and Osmocote Exact, are useful for freesia cultivation. There is a lack of information about the influence of fertilization on flowering of freesia cultivated from adventitious corms
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
