Marigold (Flo 1.2)  -  6" Pot Production

     A test was conducted to assess the effects of low ZeoponiX rates on marigold performance.  The marigold hybrid selected was Excel Series F1 yellow.  This hybrid is an American marigold with no photoperiod sensitivity and therefore is day- length neutral with respect to flower initiation.  A randomized complete block design with 6 replications was used.  The control consisted of a commercially available 3:1 peatmoss:perlite potting mix.  The control was fertilized with a standard nutrient feed of 200 ml of 200 ppm N as 20-20-20 plus miccronutrients once per week.  The same mix was used in all the ZeoponiX treatments along with the designated v/v percent of ZeoponiX materials.  Treatments amended with ZeoponiX materials received either no supplemental fertilization or N only as 200 ml of 200 ppm N as 28-0-0 UAN solution once per week.  Seeds were planted in 6" pots containing 1 liter of test media on December 27, 1995 and placed in a lighted growth chamber.  Photoperiod was set at 8 hr days and 16 hr nights.   Pots were moved to the greenhouse on January 8, 1996.  Data were collected when the first flower on a plant reached its fully bloomed stage and at 12 weeks after planting.
     This experiment demonstrated that ZeoponiX media offer attractive properties for greenhouse potted plant growers.  However, supplemental fertigation is needed during the latter stages of the production cycle for the ZeoponiX formulations tested.

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