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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #230590
Title: Production of Hardy Garden Mums in WholeTree Substrate

Author
item Fain, Glenn
item GILLIAM, CHARLES - HORTICULTURE AUBURN UNIV
item SIBLEY, JEFF - HORTICULTURE AUBURN UNIV
item BOYER, CHERYL - HORTICULTURE AUBURN UNIV

Submitted to: Southern Nursery Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2008
Publication Date: 3/1/2008
Citation: Fain, G.B., Gilliam, C.H., Sibley, J.L., Boyer, C.R. 2008. Production of Hardy Garden Mums in WholeTree Substrate. Southern Nursery Association Proceedings Southern Nursery Digest. 1:23-25.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A substrate component (WholeTree) made from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) was evaluated along with supplemental supplemental fertilizer rates in container-grown hardy garden chrysanthemum. Loblolly pine were harvested at ground level, chipped and further processed through a hammer mill to pass a 0.25 in screen. WholeTree (WT) at 100% was compared to 8.5 : 1.5 (by volume) WT : peat moss and a standard mum mix of aproximately 6 : 3 : 1 (by volume) pine bark : peat moss : perlite. All substrates were amended with dolomitic lime (5 lbs / yd3), 0-46-0 (0.43 lbs / yd3), hydrated lime (0.1 lbs / yd3), gypsum (0.9 lbs / yd3), micromax (0.7 lbs / yd3) and 13-13-13 (9 lbs / yd3 - Nutricote Type 140). In addition, all substrates were incorporated with 0, 2, 4 or 6 lbs / yd3 of a supplemental quick release starter charge (7-3-10 Harrell's custom blend). One rooted liner was planted into a 8-inch mum pan, grown outdoors and watered as needed. Concurrent trials were conducted in the summer of 2006 at the USDA-ARS Southern Horticultural Laboratory (SHL) in Poplarville, MS and a grower location in Auburn, AL (AUB). By 82 days after planting (DAP), all mums at SHL were considered marketable that received at least 2 lbs / yd3 of the starter fertilizer. At 82 DAP there was a significant linear fertilizer rate response witin all substrates for bud number, growth index and plant shoot dry weight. When substrates received at least 4 lbs / yd3 starter fertilizer, there were no significant differences (between substrates) in number of flower buds per plant or plant growth index. Within fertilizer treatments, plants grown in the standard substrate had the greatest shoot dry weight. The 100% WholeTree substrate had about 20% less water holding capacity than the standard substrate.