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- Author or Editor: George Fitzpatrick x
Abstract
Relative water use patterns for 12 species of container-grown ornamental plants, areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl.), ficus (Ficus benjamina L.), gumbo-limbo [Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg.], parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans Mart.), paurotis palm [Acoelorrhaphe wrightii (Griseb. + Wendl.) Wendl. ex Becc.], philodendron (Philodendron selloum Koch), pigeon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia Jacq.), schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla Endl.), seagrape [Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L.], silver buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus Fors, ex DC.), silver palm [Coccothrinax argentata (Jacq.) Bailey], and West Indian mahogany [Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq.] were measured by comparison of actual water consumption with growth rates and predicted potential evapotranspiration rates. Growth rates as determined by the change in size index over time were used to characterize species as slow, moderate, or fast-growing. The lowest relative water demand was seen in the slow-growing species. Highest relative water demand occurred in the moderate and fast-growing species. Certain moderate and fast-growing plants such as West Indian mahogany, philodendron, and pigeon plum exhibited relative water demand rates not significantly different from the slow-growing species. Monthly potential evapotranspiration rates were closely related to actual irrigation demand levels in all 12 species.
Abstract
Small seedlings of Philodendron selloum Koch and Brassaia actinophylla Endl. and rooted cuttings of Ficus benjamina L. were planted in 15-cm-diameter containers, and grown outdoors for 6 months under 63% shade at 7 different irrigation rates. Each plant species’ estimated actual evapotranspiration rate was applied as a base rate and the remaining 6 rates were all fractions of the base rate, 3 of which were applied for the entire duration of the experiment and 3 of which were only applied during the middle 2 months of the 6-month growing period. Each species grew at reduced rates under water rationing, but the magnitude varied with species, amount of rationing, and duration of rationing. Reduced growth in F. benjamina during the 3 short-term rationing treatments was followed by accelerated growth after the rationing ceased, and final growth was comparable to those not subjected to rationing. This recovery phenomenon was not exhibited by either P. selloum or B. actinophylla; both species had reduced growth for more than 2 months after cessation of short-term water rationing.
The Academic Program at Fort Lauderdale (APF), founded in 1984, and the Academic Program at Homestead (APH), founded in 2000, were established to enable place bound students to earn the Univ. of Fla. B.S. degree in horticulture. Although both programs are located within 60 miles of each other in the same general geographical area in southeastern Florida, there are significant demographic contrasts, as well as some similarities, between them. According to data published by the U.S. Census Bureau, the area defined by a 10-mile radius around the site of the APH has a population of ≈83,500, while the same area at the site of the APF has a population of more than 1,100,000, a 13-fold difference. The student profile at the two programs indicates a higher enrollment at APF, a higher average student age at APH, and a higher distance traveled to attend class at APF. Similarities include a student body comprised of people working in the horticultural industry who are working to earn a B.S. degree for career advancement, as well as an increasing number of students who are not currently working in horticulture but who are planning a career change.
Horticultural activities in Florida have been chronicled in many sources, including the technical literature and the popular press. One often-overlooked source is the visual images on postcards that were sold in Florida in the early years of the 20th century. Many such cards have images featuring scenes of landscape horticulture, olericulture and pomology. While dates of postmarks may not be accurate reflections of publication dates, deltiology, the study of postcards, can involve the analysis of pigments, rag content of card stock, and other measurable parameters to determine the age of particular images. The introduction, development, ascendancy and sometimes decline of certain horticultural crops in Florida are reflected in postcard images taken between the years 1908-1950. Representative images are shown of past and present plants that have been important in Florida horticulture.
Growers producing new crops often do not understand how to price individual items. The prices of common container nursery stock items may be listed in monthly trade publications. Prices for fruits and vegetables fluctuate on a daily basis. A production budget for containerized specialty vegetables was adapted from one developed for ornamental nurseries, using some specific costs for field-grown vegetables. This gave a realistic way to calculate prices for individual products. Once the crops had been sold, the authors were able to validate the model by comparing actual costs with projected costs.
One of the largest horticultural trade shows in the United States, the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition, takes place each January in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The timing of this show coincides with the offering, during the spring semester, of an undergraduate horticulture course, Palm Production and Culture (ORH 4321C, 3 credits). We have developed a guided activity in which we assign the students to visit several preselected exhibits in this show, so that each exhibit in the show is visited by at least one student. The students complete a questionnaire for each exhibit in which they note the identity of the palm species present, the number of species present, the number of individuals of each species, and the total number of palms in each exhibit. Data in the questionnaires are compiled and used to augment and reinforce class discussions on morphology, cultural requirements, interiorscape management, species richness, species diversity, and field laboratory work in morphology and taxonomy. Procedures used have the potential for adaptation to other types of horticultural trade shows and other types of horticultural crops, as well as for other courses in horticulture.
Three compost products [biosolids (SYT), refuse derived fuel residues (RYT), and municipal solid waste (MSW)] were compared to a commercial bedding plant medium of 60% Sphagnum peat: 25% shredded bark: 15% aerolite to support Impatiens wallerana `Accent Red' growth. The treatments consisted of 100% compost as a stand alone medium plus blends in which compost was combined with control medium components at 60% compost or 30% compost. Shoot dry mass of plants grown in 100% SYT and RYT was greater than shoot dry mass of Impatiens plants grown in 100% MSW. Plants grown in SYT showed an increase in shoot dry mass from 1.29 to 1.64 g as the percentage of compost in the mix increased from 0% to 100%, while plants grown in MSW showed a linear decrease in. shoot dry mass from 1.29 to 0.18 g. Shoot dry mass of plants grown in RYT did not differ significantly from 0% to 100% compost in the media.
Production budgets for both field grown vegetables and ornamental crops, field and container grown, are fairly common. Container grown vegetables, other than transplants, are much less common and do not have specific budgets which would allow growers to set realistic prices for individual plants. A specialized budget was adapted from one developed for container nurseries. Specific production costs were taken from a budget for field grown vegetables. This process could be adapted for use with other specialty crops. It could be used for county or state fairs and other situations where individual vegetable plants need to be raised in containers.
Three compost products made from urban waste materials, municipal solid waste (MSW), yard trash (YT), and a co-compost made from 1 part sewage sludge and 3 parts yard trash (S-YT), were used as growing media for production of dwarf oleander (Nerium oleander L.) in 25 cm. diameter containers. In one test the composts were used as stand-alone growing media and in a second test they were blended with pine bark (PB) and sand (S) in 2 ratios: 4 compost: 5 PB: 1 S and 1 compost: 1 PB: 1 S. The S-YT co-compost produced plants with the highest biomass in both tests. Reduced growth of dwarf oleander in each test was associated with the degree to which the media compacted during the 5.5 month production period. The MSW compost compacted an average 8.5 cm. per container when used as a stand-alone medium, while the S-YT mixes compacted much less, typically < 4.0 cm.