Methods | Conclusions      Results: Dianthus | Geranium | Hemerocallis

A study was begun in 2004 in the nursery outside the UVM greenhouses in Burlington, Vermont, to examine the effects of various media and fertility on perennial growth in containers as was done in 2003. With 2003 a dry summer, and 2004 quite rainy, results could be seen in this climate under a range of conditions. Three species were used: Hemerocallis 'Stella d'Oro; Dianthus 'Arctic Fire', Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei'. Treatments in 2004 included various combinations of 6 media and 4 fertilizers.

Main differences from 2003 in media were the addition of the Stender, medium; in fertility Jack’s was used instead of 15-16-17 in 2003, and Neptunes was used instead of Squantos.

Plants were divisions from stock plants in Jumbo squares, repotted into jumbo squares with appropriate treatments, with liquid fertilizers continued until data collection Oct. 30, 2004. There were 6 replicate pots of each of 3 species, for each treatment. Dry weight were taken and analyzed by Analysis of Variance, with means separated by Tukey’s procedure. In the following tables, means followed by the same letter are not statistically different. In addition, linear orthogonal contrasts were done for specific comparisons.

• Osmocote (red) vs liquid (ProMix and Stender, medium)—Osmocote best for 2/3 species, best for all species in ProMix as in 2003
• liquid vs fish (ProMix)—no differences, as in 2003 even though different liquid fertilizer
• Osmocote (red) vs fish (ProMix and Compost)—varies with species: osmocote highly significant for Dianthus (as in 2003), not significant for Geranium (as in 2003) nor for Hemerocallis
• ½x vs 1x rate (ProMix, red osmocote)—significantly higher with 1x for all species, highly so for Dianthus (as in 2003), likely due to more fertility made available in 2004 due to higher rainfall
• osmocote red vs brown (Stender, medium)—brown only significant (highly) for Hemerocallis

• Nutripeat vs ProMix (red Osmocote and fish)—varies with species: not significant for Geranium, significant for Dianthus (as in 2003) and for Hemerocallis
• Stender vs other media (red Osmocote)—Stender only significantly better for Hemerocallis (in 2003 only for Geranium)
• other media had differences in 2003, but not in 2004
• Stender medium vs coarse—no significant difference for all species
• Growth was less uniform for certain treatments, depending on species, however the Stender medium and Osmocote red was less uniform for Hemerocallis and Dianthus.

If using ProMix, Osmocote (red) was better than either of two liquid fertilizers at standard rates, yet these liquid fertilizers were not significantly different from fish products. Whether Osmocote or fish fertility was best varied with species, as did type of Osmocote and rate. In a wet season, higher levels of fertility resulted in more growth, but not in a dry season. Soilless media performed similarly in the wet season, with differences among species in a dry season. The Stender media generally were comparable to others with Osmocote; with Jack’s liquid fertility the Stender medium was generally one of the poorest combinations. The compost-based medium also varied with species, depending on season.

Results

Mean dry weights, followed by the same letter, are not significantly different (0.05 level). Those noted as variable were less uniform within treatments than desired (Standard Error of Mean > 10% of mean).

Statistical Contrasts (ns=not significant, *significant, **highly significant, bold =highest)

Fertility
**    Osmocote (red) vs liquid (Stender and ProMix)
ns     liquid vs fish (ProMix)
**     Osmocote (red) vs fish (ProMix and Compost)
**     ½x vs 1x rate (ProMix, red osmocote)
ns     osmocote red vs brown (Stender medium)

Media
*     Nutripeat vs ProMix (red Osmocote and fish)
ns     Stender vs other media (red Osmocote)

Mean dry weights, followed by the same letter, are not significantly different (0.05 level). Those noted as variable were less uniform within treatments than desired (Standard Error of Mean > 10% of mean).

Statistical Contrasts (ns=not significant, *significant, **highly significant, bold =highest)

Fertility
ns     Osmocote (red) vs liquid (Stender and ProMix)
ns     liquid vs fish (ProMix)
ns     Osmocote (red) vs fish (ProMix and Compost)
*     ½x vs 1x rate (ProMix, red osmocote)
**     osmocote red vs brown (Stender medium)

Media
ns     Nutripeat vs ProMix (red Osmocote and fish)
ns     Stender vs other media (red Osmocote)

Mean dry weights, followed by the same letter, are not significantly different (0.05 level). Those noted as variable were less uniform within treatments than desired (Standard Error of Mean > 10% of mean).

Statistical Contrasts (ns=not significant, *significant, **highly significant, bold =highest)

Fertility
**    Osmocote (red) vs liquid (Stender and ProMix)
ns     liquid vs fish (ProMix)
ns     Osmocote (red) vs fish (ProMix and Compost)
*     ½x vs 1x rate (ProMix, red osmocote)**     osmocote red vs brown (Stender medium)

Media
*    Nutripeat vs ProMix (red Osmocote and fish) (ns if only compared for Osmocote)
*     Stender vs other media (red Osmocote) (just barely significant, ns in 2003)

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