SUBSTRATE REQUIREMENTS FOR POT PLANTS IN RECIRCULATING WATER CULTURE

Physical and chemical properties of substrates in relation with the various systems for pot plant cultivation with recirculating nutrient solutions are discussed.

Typical physical characteristics determing the quality and subsequent growth are : air content and drainage properties, easily available water, pore space distribution and water storing or pot capacity.

Next, the importance of the chemical parameters (pH, E.C., nutrients) involved in plant nutrition, together with substrate sampling systems for the quantitative determination of the substrate nutritional status is stressed.

Experiments were carried out illustrating the influence of physical and chemical properties of pot substrates in relation to various growth parameters.
Subirrigation regimes were also taken into account.
Test plants included Ficus benjamina, Schefflera arboricola, Aechmea ‘Romero’, Vriesea ospinae and Neoregelia.

Symposium on Nutrition, Growing Techniques and Plant Substrates

R. Gabriëls, O. Verdonck, O. Mekers

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.178.11