EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SOIL WATER POTENTIAL ON SUMMER GROWN POINSETTIA (Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. ‘Lilo’)

Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. ‘Lilo’ was grown in containers in 60% peat, 30% perlite and 10% clay (v/v) mixture, with different irrigation treatments based on soil water potential.
Plants were grown in summer (from March to June) and watered at two levels of drought stress: -50 kPa or wilting.
The treatments were applied at different stages of plant development for a month or soil was brought to the moisture stress only twice.
Additionally some plants were watered at -50 kPa during the entire cultivation period while the control plants were watered at -5 kPa.
There were also treatments with high soil moisture (watering at -1 kPa) during the whole cultivation period, with regular or additional fertilizer and for a month during bract coloration.
Soil water potential was measured with tensiometer.
Stress of -50 kPa or wilting applied during the vegetative growth stage had little effect on plant growth and development.
Water potential of -1 kPa with additional fertilizer had a positive effect on growth and fresh weight of plants.
High soil moisture also promoted the self-branching of non-pinched plants.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

J.S. Nowak, Z. Strojny

water stress, water deficit, drought stress, high soil moisture

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.548.49