FAST AND EFFICIENT MASS-PROPAGATION OF SOME ORNAMENTAL PLANTS USING SIMPLE WATER AIR-FLOW MEDIUM

Rooting was studied for cutting of three Ficus species/cultivars (F. retusa, F. benjamina and F. b. cv.“Hawaii“) and both Melaleuca armilaris and Euonymus japonicus which were propagated using simple water air-flow (WAF) and commercial method (CM). No plant growth regulators or nutrient salts were used.
Cuttings were prepared in two different seasons (April and August). Cuttings in CM were kept under plastic tunnel.
Root formation was observed, in April, on and around the basal cut end of the cuttings in all studied plant species in both WAF and CM methods, except Melaleuca. Cuttings prepared in August formed roots using both methods in only two species (F. retusa and F. benjamina). It was observed that root initiation and development occurred faster in WAF (10 to 13 days) than in CM (25 days, on average). As high as 35% to 60% increase in percentage of rooted cuttings were obtained in WAF method.
No differences were detected between WAF and CM in number of roots/cutting (except in F. retusa) and average root length.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

A.A. Tawfik

cuttings, Euonymus japonicus, Ficus retusa, Ficus benjamina, Melaleuca armilaris

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.548.75