Study on the Effect of Different Growing Media on the Growth and Yield of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.)

To study the effect of different substrates on growth and yield of gerbera, this experiment was carried out as randomized completely block design with 14 treatments and 3 replications. Treatments were as fallowing: fine sand, peat + fine sand (25%+ 75%), peat + fine sand (50% + 50%), perlite + peat (75% + 25%), perlite + peat (50% + 50%), perlite + peat (25% + 75%), perlite + peat + expanded clay (25% + 70% + 5%), perlite + peat + expanded clay (50 %+ 25% + 25%), perlite + peat + expanded clay (25%+ 50% + 25%), perlite + expanded clay (50%+ 50%), cocopeat, cocopeat + perlite (75% + 25%), cocopeat + perlite (50% + 50%), coco peat + perlite + expanded clay (50% + 25% + 25%), plants were fertilized with a same nutrient solution. Results showed that the growing medium containing perlite + peat + expanded clay (25% + 70% + 5%) was the best treatment. In this substrate, flower number, flower diameter, shoot diameter, stem neck diameter, flower height and vase life showed significant difference among growing media.