Search Results
Rhododendrondelavayi Franch. is an evergreen tree up to 5 m tall. Since few tree rhododendron are available in the market, the demand for this plant is high. Unfortunately, the supply is limited due to production difficulty. Under natural conditions (control), seed germination rates were 3% to 5%. When a special propagation bed was set up with mixed media of humus, loess, and sand, the germination rate reached 75% if the temperature was set from 20–25 °C, humidity was 80% to 90%, and irrigation water pH was 6–-6.5. In growing Rhododendrondelavayi, medium pH, water-holding capacity, aeration, and organic matter were considered. The medium, mixed with cinder, loess, humus, and perlite, yielded a 95% survival rate and the tallest plants. To produce aesthetically pleasing plants with flowers, apical dominance was removed and the growth of lateral buds was promoted by pinching the terminal buds of the seedlings in their second year. Also, 3N–1P–1K fertilizer should be used to increase seedling growth. With proper pruning, the seedlings were flowering and ready for market in 3–4 years (instead of 8 years under natural conditions). The acceptable germination rate, better growing conditions, and feasible cultural practices should enable growers to produce quality plants, which ultimately enhance the popularity of Rhododendrondelavayi.
Sedum rubrotinctum is widely grown as an ornamental because of its attractive leaf shape and color. Increasing the morphological diversity and color will greatly add to its ornamental value. Environmental conditions such as light and temperature can change the leaf color of succulent plants, but the mechanism is uncertain. To examine this mechanism, we tested the effects of two commercial chemical products Sowing Goodliness (Sg) and Aromatic Garden (Ag) on the morphology, pigment content, and growth performance of Sedum rubrotinctum seedlings. The Sg treatment did not change foliage color, but can accelerate plant growth and increase lateral bud number. The Ag treatment had marked changes on the relative proportions of pigments and leaf color, and plant growth was severely reduced with mortality observed in some plants. After Ag stress was discontinued, the surviving plants began to regrow and had good ornamental value but had the fewest number of lateral buds and leaves, and the smallest leaf length and thickness, canopy diameter, and plant height. Foliage color changes are caused directly by shifts in the relative proportions of pigments, particularly chlorophyll b and anthocyanin. In Ag-treated plants, chlorophyll b declined much faster than chlorophyll a, indicating that the transformation of chlorophyll b into chlorophyll a is an important step in the chlorophyll degradation pathway. Ag provides a way to learn more about the mechanism of chlorophyll degradation and should be investigated further. Ag enhanced anthocyanin production rapidly and improved the ornamental value of Sedum rubrotinctum. Different concentrations of Ag and Sg were not studied in this trial and might be tested to determine the ideal balance between leaf color and plant growth.