Effects of growing media and planting time on lily hybrids in soilless culture

To evaluate the effect of different types of cultivation on the quality of Lilium cut flowers, two cultivars, 'Cordelia' and 'Narbonne', were grown in a closed-cycle soilless system. Five different growing media with perlite and coconut fibre, either used singly, mixed together or mixed with clay pellets or peat were compared. The physical and chemical characteristics of the tested substrates were examined. The effects of the substrates on the length and weight of the stem, number of leaves, time to flowering, length of the inflorescence, number and type of buds were observed. The substrates used proved to be light, fairly porous, with an adequate aeration level and a low water capacity, except for coconut fibre. The quality of the production was positively influenced by some of the substrates tested. Coconut fibre, used both singly or as a mixture, determined a greater dimension of the inflorescence and an increase in the number of buds; length and weight increase in the stem. The time to flowering was reduced from the first period of planting. The perlite-substrate required the largest quantity of nutrient solution.