Effects of different pot mixtures on spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel) growth and development

Abstract

The growth of Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel plants was evaluated using different pot mixtures (v:v). Plant growth was measured by 11 parameters: leaf area, leaf number, mean shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weight, mean root length, root number, root fresh and dry weight, root volume and number of suckers. Parameters such as leaf area, leaf number, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight and root length were higher in the media containing only perlite. Mean shoot length was higher in the medium containing 3:1 perlite: sand mixture, 1:3 perlite: sand mixture and only perlite; and root number was higher in the medium containing 3:1 perlite: sand mixture and only perlite. Furthermore, root volume was higher in the medium containing equal perlite: sand mixture and only perlite. The highest number of suckers was obtained in equal leafmold: sand mixture. It is concluded that these differences represent a direct effect on the rooting process and that substrate characteristics are of the utmost importance for the quality of rooted plants.