QUALITY IN ANTHURIUM ANDREANUM AND AECHMEA FASCIATA GROWN IN PEAT SUBSTRATES AS AFFECTED BY NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM NUTRITION

A factorial trial including four N and three K rates with the cut flower crop Anthurium andreanum in coarse straight peat showed that flower yield, flower fresh weight, stem length and spathe length and width favourably responded to K rates, but were adversely affected by N rates. It was concluded that in fertilizing Anthurium andreanum in sphagnum peat N and K₂O should be supplied in the ratio 1 : 2. 5. The corresponding optimum contents in recently matured leaves were 2. 03% N and 3% K.

A factorial trial including six N and three K rates with the pot plant Aechmea fasciata grown in straight Finnish sphagnum peat moss showed that K was highly beneficial to plant fresh weight, percentage of flowering plants, earliness of flowering and flower fresh weight. N at the lower rates was also advantageous. The ratio of N rate to K₂O rate, giving the best results, was 1 : 2.

Optimum N and K contents in all the leaves of the plant at the end of the trial were found to be 1. 29 and 2. 78%, respectively.