Search Results
species are exploited as medicinal herbs ( Zheng et al., 2009a ). Apart from their medicinal value, the Lysimachia plants have ornamental significance. At present, ≈30 Lysimachia cultivars are used as commercial landscape plants ( Zheng et al., 2009b
quantitative long-day plant ( Zhang et al., 1995 ) and blooms from April to October in Zone 7 ( U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1990 ). The species is famous both as an ornamental plant and a Chinese herbal medicine ( Zheng et al., 2009 ). It is currently marketed
Abstract
Cycocel (2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) inhibited shoot growth and increased number of flowers in azalea (1) and Gardenia jasminoides (2), while height of poinsettia (3) and chrysanthemum (4) was also effectively controlled by the application of the chemical. Some varieties of Bougainvillea grew dwarf and bushy with markedly improved flowering following application of Cycocel (5). In view of the great possibility offered by the growth retardants, an extensive investigation to study the efficacy of these chemicals on large number of species and varieties of tropical ornamental plants belonging to different families was begun. The results of the effect of Cycocel on growth and flowering of some popular ornamental plants belonging to family Malvaceae are reported.
environment. The literature regarding ornamental plant responses to reclaimed water is mostly about evaluations of plants grown in landscapes rather than commercial container plant production. Southern Indian hybrid azaleas ( Rhododendron L. spp.) irrigated
appearing barren with limited vegetation. Intercropping ornamental plants within tea gardens emerges as a viable solution to enhance the landscape of tea plantations. Strategically combining tea trees with flowers allows the tea garden to showcase blooming
Abstract
The cultivation of a wide range of ornamental plants in a closed hydrosolaric greenhouse was studied. The hydrosolaric greenhouse was composed of a solar energy harvesting system and a hydroponic system. Energy collected by the greenhouse air from the sun during the day was conserved in the growth solution, which released it during the night. This system was able to maintain the air temperature 6 C above the outdoor temperature during the night. Relative humidity ranged between 85 and 100%, thus providing a favorable environment for tropical foliage plants. Philodendron bipinnatifidum Schott, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Ficus benjamina L., F. lyrata Warb., Anthurium andreanum Lind and Brassaia actinophylla Endl. produced under this system were of excellent quality.
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.
Floriculture/Ornamentals
Commercial nurseries utilize large amounts of water and nutrients during the production cycle of container-grown plants. Excess water contaminated with N and P can impact the quality of surface water and groundwater. Earlier work by the authors found that constructed wetlands are highly efficient for removing N at water temperatures above 15 °C. However, PO4 removal was highly variable with uptake coinciding with periods of active plant growth and net export occurring during all other periods. Ornamental plants that remediate nutrients, especially phosphorus, would be very useful in designing constructed wetlands for commercial nurseries and greenhouses, rain gardens, and homeowner buffer strips. A greenhouse study was initiated in 2003 at Clemson Univ.'s Biosystems Research Complex to screen commercially available ornamental plants for their phytoremediation potential. Among others, these included the woody ornamental plants Cornus amomum, Myrica cerifera `Emperor', and Salix integra `Hakura Nishiki' and the semiaquatic herbaceous ornamental plants Canna `Bengal Tiger' and `King Humbert', Colocasia esculenta `Illustris', Rhynchospora colorata, Iris virginica `Full Eclipse, Pontederia cordata `Singapore Pink', and Thalia geniculata `Red Stem'. Plants were grown in pea gravel media kept saturated with one of five concentrations of Hoagland's Solution. Herbaceous and woody ornamental plants were harvested after 8 and 13 weeks, respectively. Water usage and biomass production were measured and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake was assessed. Experiments were replicated twice for each cultivar. Results indicate several species have the potential to be used in phytoremediation systems.
Due to increasing consumption of water in landscapes and concern over conservation of water resources, this study was conducted to determine the effect of fertilizer source on water consumption of turf and ornamentals and to compare total water use (WU) of st. augustinegrass and ornamentals. The experiment was performed in a climate-controlled greenhouse at the G.C. Horn Turfgrass Field Laboratory at the University of Florida in Gainesville. `Floratam' st. augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum Walt. Kuntze) was compared to a mix of common Florida ornamentals including canna (Canna generalis L.H. Bailey), nandina (Nandina domestica Thunb.), ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum Thunb.), and allamanda (Allamanda cathartica L.). All plants were grown in 300-L plastic pots in Arredondo fine sand. There were three fertilizer treatments [quick-release fertilizers (QRF) 16–4–8 and 15–0–15, and slow-release fertilizer (SRF) 8–4–12] applied at 4.9 g N/m2 every 60 days. Water was applied as needed to maintain turgor and turfgrass pots were mowed weekly. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Visual quality ratings and time domain reflectometry (TDR) data were collected weekly. Both turf and ornamentals consumed less water and had higher water use efficiency (WUE) when treated with SRF. Ornamentals consumed from 11% to 83% more water than turf, depending on season. These results may have implications in future research on irrigation management to verify WUE between turf and ornamentals in an urban landscape.