Effect of Fertilizer Application on Growth and Development of <I>Phalaenopsis </I>Hybrid

Abstract

Five-month old Phalaenopsis hybrid was grown in five-inch pot using sphagnum moss as planting media. One month after planting, fertilizer application treatments were studied in two experiments. Firstly, the effects of three levels of nitrogen concentration i.e. 100, 150 and 200 mg/l in combination with two levels of phosphorus concentration i.e. 50 and 100 mg/l on growth and development were carried out. The results showed nitrogen at 150 and 200 mg/l gave the highest leaf width and leaf length. Phosphorus at 100 mg/l gave the highest plant height and leaf width. The combination of 200 mg/l N + 100 mg/l P gave the highest plant height (5.21 cm) but it was not significantly different from when 150 mg/l N + 100 mg/l P was used. Flower qualities and flowering percentage tended to increase with the higher levels of nitrogen application. Secondly, three treatments of fertilizer application rates were carried out i.e. T1: tap water; T2: liquid fertilizer (21N - 21P₂O₅ - 21K₂O) application every two days and T3: liquid fertilizer (21N - 21P₂O₅ - 21K₂O) application  every seven days. The results showed that plants supplied with liquid fertilizer every two days had the highest plants height. However, number of leaves per plant, leaf area and leaf length of plants supplied with liquid fertilizer every two days tended to be not different from those of plants supplied with liquid fertilizer every seven days.