Use of Ground Wheat Straw in Container Nursery Substrates to Overwinter Daylily Divisions2

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum sp.) straw is being evaluated as a potential component in soilless container mixes either alone or combined with compost to replace a significant portion of the substrate currently supplied by pine bark and peat moss. The objective of this study was to evaluate wheat straw and horse manure compost, locally available resources, as components of container media for establishing and overwintering daylily (Hemerocallis fulva ‘Stella D'Oro’). A standard commercial, sphagnum peat-based substrate was amended with either wheat straw, horse manure compost, or a combination of the two. Stella D'Oro daylily divisions were grown in each substrate mix and overwintered in an unheated structure for eight months. Physical properties of the mixes were determined to be within production standards and media shrinkage was minimal. Daylilies in all substrate combinations were of comparable vigor to the non-amended substrate when growth resumed in the spring.