Growth of Cissus, Dracaena and Syngonium at Different Fertilizer Levels, Irrigation Frequencies, and Soil Temperatures

Return to: MREC Home Page

Return to: MREC Research Index

R. T. Poole and C. A. Conover*

University of Florida, IFAS
Central Florida Research and Education Center - Apopka
CFREC-Apopka Research Report, RH-90-13

Fertilization levels, irrigation frequency and soil and air temperatures are factors that influence foliage plant growth. Some species of foliage plants tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, while others will grow well only in very limited environments. Research was initiated to determine optimum fertilizer levels, irrigation frequencies, and soil temperatures for Cissus rhombifolia (Grape Ivy), Dracaena surculosa 'Florida Beauty' (Florida Beauty gold dust dracaena), and Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly' (White Butterfly nephthytis).

Rooted cuttings of Cissus rhombifolia, Dracaena surculosa 'Florida Beauty', and Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly' were placed in 6 inch pots containing Vergro container mix without superphosphate (Verlite Co., Tampa, FL) on January 14. Plants were grown in a glasshouse where they received 1500 ft-c maximum light intensity. Air temperatures ranged from 65°F to 95°F except where influenced by treatment. Plants were fertilized with 2.8, 5.6, 8.4, 11.2, 14.0, or 16.8 grams of 19-6-12, 3 month slow-release Osmocote (Sierra Chemical Co. Milpitas, Q ) surface applied January 14, and again April 15. Plants received either no subsurface heat, 75°F, or 85°F subsurface heat supplied by heated pipes running under pots. Irrigation frequencies tested were two and four times weekly. Potting soil temperatures were recorded weekly at 8 am and 3 pm. Soluble salts levels were measured, using the pour-through method at two week intervals, from pots containing 'White Butterfly'. The experiment ended June 20 when final data recorded included plant height or vine length and plant grade (1 = poor, 5 = excellent).

The three species of test plants reacted differently to treatment (Table 1). 'White Butterfly' was not affected by fertilization levels or the subsurface heat treatments and only slightly by irrigations per week. Four irrigations per week were slightly better than two per week. Previous research showed minimum air temperatures of 60 to 70°F had no effect on quality grade of 'white Butterfly'. Pots on benches over the pipes heated to 85°F had a higher level of soluble salts (Table 2). Soluble salts levels increased greatly as fertilizer application rates increased. There also was a big difference in soluble salts levels from pots receiving two or four waterings per week, with pots receiving two waterings per week having two to four times as much soluble salts as pots watered four times per week. An interaction occurred with fertilization levels and irrigations per week for soluble salts levels. (Table 3). Irrigations per week had more influence at higher fertilization levels. Plant growth did not seem to be affected by high soluble salts levels. These results indicate 'white Butterfly' will grow satisfactorily when subjected to the fertilization levels, irrigation frequencies and soil temperatures utilized in this test. Obviously, the lower levels of fertilizer are economically and environmentally best for production of White Butterfly.

Plant response of 'Florida Beauty' was minimal as fertilization level increased (Table 1). Number of irrigations per week had no effect on plant grade and subsurface heat treatments only slightly increased plant growth, indicating 'Florida Beauty' can be grown satisfactorily within ranges tested.

Grape Ivy was most effected by the treatments. Both fertilization level and irrigations per week caused changes in plant growth (Table 1). When fertilizer increased from 2.8 to 5.6 grams per pot, vine length and plant grade increased. The higher fertilizer levels tested, 8.4, 11.2, 14.0 and 16.8 grams per pot produced smaller, lower quality plants and shows Grape Ivy can easily be overfertilized. Interactions occurred for subsurface temperature x irrigations per week for Grape Ivy (Table 4). Subsurface temperature had little effect at two irrigations per week but plant grade improved with increasing subsurface temperature at four irrigations per week. The highest quality plant material was obtained using 85°F subsurface temperature, four irrigations per week, and 5.6 grams 19-6-12 Osmocote per 6 inch pot.

Potting soil temperatures seldom reached the subsurface temperatures listed (Table 5), but differences between the control group receiving no subsurface heat and pots receiving 85°F subsurface heat was about 10°F.

Results from this test show Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly' and Dracaena surculosa 'Florida Beauty' will grow satisfactorily within the limits of this test. Cissus rhombifolia (Grape Ivy) however, cannot tolerate overfertilization and infrequent waterings without suffering loss in quality. Grape Ivy quality was best when soil received subsurface heat treatments, plants were watered frequently, and received a moderate amount of fertilizer.

*Professor, Plant Physiology and Center Director and Professor, respectively, Central Florida Research and Education Center, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703-8504.

Further Reading

1. Chase, A. R. and R. T. Poole. 1985. Effects of temperature on growth of Syngonium 'white Butterfly'. AREC-Apopka Research Report RH-85-20.

2. Conover, C. A. and R. T. Poole. 1984. Light and fertilizer recommendations for production of acclimatized potted foliage plants. ARC-A Research Report RH-84-7.

3. Hipp, B. W., P. F. Colbaugh, and M. DiLeo. 1979. Influence of fertility and moisture level on growth of Chlorophytum. HortScience 14(1):65-66.

4. James, H. W. and R. McAvoy. 1983. Deleterious effects of cool air temperature reversed by root-zone warming in poinsettia. HortScience 18(34):363-364.

5. Poole, R. T. and C. A. Conover. 1981. Influence of maximum air temperatures and irrigation frequencies during high temperature periods on growth of four foliage plants. HortScience 6(5):463-464. 6. Wright, R. D. 1986. The pour-through nutrient extraction procedure. HortScience 21(2):227-229.

1. ^Z19-6-12 Osmocote (3-month) surface applied per pot Jan 14 and Apr 15.
   ^Yns,** Nonsignificant (NS) or significant at 1%(**) levels.
   

1. ^Z19-6-12 Osmocote (3-month) surface applied per pot Jan 14 and Apr 15. ^Y** significant at 1% (**) levels.

1. ^ZInteraction significant at the 1% level. ^Y19-6-12 Osmocote (3-month) surface applied per pot Jan 14 and Apr 15.

1. ^ZInteraction significant at the 1% level.