Summary several years, and they will have new and desirable character istics, and fewer flaws. The in this trial were not fully mature in 15.2-cm pots after 38 weeks of growth, however many of the important Literature Cited criteria which growers and buyers of plants should evaluate were evident. Fundamental information on growth rate, ear- Croat, Thomas B. 1983. A revision of the Anthurium (Araceae) of Mexi liness of flowering, and color of foliage and inflorescences of co and . Part I: and Middle America. Ann. Mis anthurium cultivars commercially available during late 1993 souri Bot. Gard. 70(2):211-420. Henny, R. J., R. T. Poole and C. A. Conover. 1988. Southern Blush - a hybrid is provided in this paper. It is evident that many of the older Anthurium for foliage producers. Univ. of Fla., IFAS. Cir. S-350. cultivars released during the late 1980's are inferior to some Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus Third - a concise dictionary of of the more recently introduced ones. It is anticipated that cultivated plants in the United States and Canada. Macmillan Publishing many additional cultivars will be introduced during the next Co., Inc., New York.

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 107: 181-182. 1994.

PRODUCTION OF ARBOREUS CAV. (TURK'S CAP) AS A FLOWERING POT

R. J. Henny, Nina Freeman, ments conducted during 1993 to study the potential of pro Donna Schmaltz and Betsy Beall1 ducing Malvaviscus as flowering pot plant. Central Research and Education Center - Apopka University of Florida Materials and Methods 2807Binion Road, Apopka, FL, 32703. Cuttings were taken from stock plants growing in 11.4-li ter pots in a full-sun area at the Central Florida Research and Additional index words, growth regulators, Cycocel Education Center - Apopka. They were rooted under inter mittent mist in a greenhouse covered with clear 6mil plastic Abstract. is a relative of with and shaded with 30% polypropylene shade cloth stretched bright red pendulous . This study was conducted to test the potential for producing Malvaviscus as a flowering pot under the roof. Misters were on 15 seconds every 7.5 minutes crop for fall and winter holiday seasons. Cuttings stuck direct from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily. Cuttings were stuck directly ly into 10-cm pots on 28 Sept. 1993 rooted in 3 weeks. After 8 into 15-cm square plastic pots containing Vergro Container weeks growth, fertilization rate at 3 levels of 19-6-12 Osmocote Mix A (Verlite Co., Tampa, FL). Terminal cuttings, 10-12 cm had little effect on plant growth or flowering. A single foliar in length with developing lateral branches and lateral cut spray of Cycocel at 750 or 1500 ppm significantly reduced tings, 6-8 cm long with no presence of secondary shoots, were plant height (approximately 50%). Cycocel-treated plants also the two types of propagative units used. Therefore, two termi produced that were darker green in color; however, nal cuttings or five lateral cuttings were stuck per individual production was less. Results from this study indicate pot. All cuttings contained flower buds which were not re the Malvaviscus arboreus has potential for use as a flowering moved before placement under mist. Cuttings rooted rapidly pot plant. and were removed from mist after 18 days (16 Oct. 1993). There was noticeable flower bud loss during rooting but Malvaviscus arboreus Cav., commonly known as Turk's Cap many buds remained on the cuttings when removed from (Turner and Mendenhall, 1993), is a member of the hibiscus mist. family and a common component of older landscapes around This study was composed of three separate experiments central Florida (Watkins and Sheehan, 1975; Zomlefer, utilizing the cuttings propagated as discussed above. All three 1989). Plants produce flowers throughout the year but flower experiments were initiated 18 Oct. 1993. number is greater during the short days and long nights of fall Experiment 1. Thirty pots containing 5 lateral cuttings were and winter. Flowers are produced singularly in the axils of fertilized with either 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 grams of Osmocote 19-6- each and hang down in a manner resembling an orna 12 (Sierra Chemical Co., Inc., Milpitas, CA). Ten pots were ment. A red-flowered form is most common but the authors fertilized with each rate. Plants were placed in a randomized have seen a pink cultivar. A white-flowered form has been re complete block design in a full sun growing area. Canopy ported (Watkins and Sheehan, 1975). The purpose of this height was measured at initiation of the experiment. study was to evaluate the potential of the red-flowered cultivar Experiment 2. This test was identical to the first test except of Malvaviscus as a flowering pot plant for the fall and winter 30 pots containing two tip cuttings were used rather than lat holiday season. This report is a summary of three experi- eral cuttings. Experiment 3. This experiment utilized pots containing two terminal cuttings fertilized with 3.5 grams of Osmocote 19-6- 12. Plants were treated with three rates of Cycocel (chlo- Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. N-01014. rmequat) at 0, 750 and 1500 ppm. Treatment consisted of a 'Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Research Gardeners, re spectively. single foliar spray using 100 ml of solution spread as evenly as

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 107: 1994. 181 Table 1. Effect of three rates of Osmocote on growth of Malvaviscus arboreus Table 3. Effect of three Cycocel rates on growth of Malvaviscus arboreus grown in 10-cm pots. Each pot contained 2 plants rooted from tip cut grown in 10-cm pots. Each pot contained 2 plants rooted from tip cut tings. Plants grown for 8 weeks beginning 16 Oct. 1993. tings. Plants were grown for 8 weeks beginning 16 Oct. 1993.

Final Final Plant Osmocote rate Change in Plant Change in No. of No. of canopy No. of No. of Cycocel canopy canopy 19-6-12 (grams height canopy height flower buds blooms height flower buds blooms rate (ppm) height diam per pot) (cm) diam (cm) (cm) (Total) (Total) (cm) (cm) (cm)

2.5 9.4 19.0 25.7 5.7 6.5 0 9.3 19.4 24.8 72 74 3.5 10.0 19.7 28.0 6.3 4.2 750 4.8 15.7 22.0 38 22 4.5 10.6 20.7 27.3 6.6 5.4 1500 4.4 14.6 19.2 31 12 Significance NS NS NS NS NS Significance7 L** L** L** NS L**

degression analyses were preformed on tests with significant differences between treatments as determined by an F test. possible among the 10 pots treated at each rate. Initial canopy height was also measured at initiation of this test. Final data included canopy height and diameter. Also the number of mature flowers and immature flower buds with color was counted weekly. After final growth data was taken on the control plants in this experiment several flower buds 1 cm in length with visible color were tagged. The number of days for these flowers to reach an thesis was recorded.

Results and Discussion

Growth (change in height), final canopy diameter, num ber of buds and open blooms on plants grown from tip cut tings was not affected by fertilizer rate (Table 1). Plants grew approximately 10 cm during the 8 weeks of the experiment. The total of flower bud and open bloom averaged about 10- 12 per plant per week. Plants grown from lateral cuttings grew more at higher fertilizer rates (linearly significant) while there was no signif icant effect on canopy diameter or number of flower buds and open blooms (Table 2). Total bloom and bud counts av eraged approximately 13 to 15 per pot per week. Tip cuttings treated with Cycocel showed a significant lin Figure 1. Number of days required for Malvaviscus arboreus to develop from buds that were 1 cm in length (left) to anthesis (right). Mature flowers ear decrease in growth, canopy diameter and number of open average approximately 4.5 cm in length. blooms (Table 3). Growth was reduced by about 50% follow ing treatment with either 750 or 1500 ppm Cycocel. Treated was a noticeable source of color for approximately 5 days. Ma plants were not saleable due to small size and lack of buds or ture length of flowers at anthesis was 4-5 cm indicating that open flowers. buds elongated more then 1 cm per day during the 3 days pri Immature Malvaviscus flower buds are showy and have or or to opening. namental value as well as mature blooms. Flower buds 1 cm in Results from these experiments indicate that Malvaviscus length (measured from the base of the to the tip of the has potential to be grown as a flowering pot crop, especially bud) averaged 3 days to reach anthesis and lasted another 2 during the fall and winter holiday season. Cuttings rooted in days before abscising (Fig. 1). This meant that each flower 3 weeks and plants were blooming and saleable 8 weeks later. Plants in this study were grown in full sun without cover. Com mercial production would require a high light and covered Table 2. Effect of three rates of Osmocote on growth of Malvaviscus arboreus grown in 10-cm pots. Each pot contained 5 plants rooted from small lat growing area in case of an early cold spell. Further studies are eral cuttings. Plants were grown for 8 weeks beginning 16 Oct. 1993. underway concerning variables such as soil medium, fertilizer rates, shipping methods, plus types and rates of growth regu Final Osmocote rate Change in Plant No. of No. of lators to use for optimum benefit.

19-6-12 (grams height canopy flower buds blooms height per pot) (cm) diam (cm) (Total) (Total) (cm) Literature Cited:

2.5 7.4 14.1 27.5 68 89 Turner, B. L. and M. G. Mendenhall. 1993. A revision of Malvaviscus (Mal 3.5 9.5 15.7 28.8 60 76 vaceae). Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 80:439-457. 4.5 10.0 16.7 30.1 70 83 Watkins, J. V. and T. J. Sheehan. 1975. Turks-Cap. In: Florida Landscape Significance7 L** L** NS NS NS Plants. The University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, p. 254. Zomlefer, Wendy. 1989. In: Flowering Plants of Florida. Biological Illustra 'Regression analyses were preformed on tests with significant differences tion, Inc. Gainesville, Fl. pp. 58-60. between treatments as determined by an F test.

182 Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 107: 1994.