Substrate mixtures are commonly used to grow cultivated plants and vegetables. These substrates are often peat mixed with various additives to improve water-retention (perlite, vermiculite, coconut fibre, wood fibre, rock wool). Rock wool is commonly used in different forms in horticulture, e.g. disc forms, cubes, or flakes, which are mixed with peat substrate. With these additives, we can reduce the water repellency of peat substrates and improve the airiness of the substrates. In the experiment, we cultivated indoor cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) in different substrate mixtures. We also analyzed the water-retention properties of the substrates mixtures. As a base, we used peat substrate mixed with different percentages of cut rock wool, namely (i) 30 %, (ii) 20 %, (iii) 10 %, (iv) 5 %, and (v) control (0 % rock wool). When the cyclamen blossomed, we measured the following characteristics: the number of blossoms, the weight of the leaves, and the width of the tuber. The best results in the observed cyclamen features were obtained in the substrate mixture with 80 % peat and 20 % rock wool. Cyclamen in the substrate mixture of 70 % peat and 30 % rock wool yielded the lowest analysis score. Analysis of the water-retention properties of the substrate mixtures showed that substrates with a 30 % addition of rock wool retain the most water in the field capacity range. At higher tensions, the control mix consisting of peat substrate only retained the most water.
|
