Effects of Colored Plastic Film on Several Field Grown and Greenhouse Grown Cut Flower Species

Abstract

The affects of colored plastic film or paints on morphological features of several cut flower species were tested either in the greenhouse or in the field. A Chapter II experiment was performed in a greenhouse using plywood covered in either red, blue, black, or white plastic film. ‘Maryland Appleblossom’ snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), ‘Blue Horizon’ ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), ‘Bombay Fire Apricot’ celosia (Celosia argentia var. cristata), ‘Majestic Deep Blue with Blotch’ pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana), and ‘Oklahoma Pink’ zinnia (Zinnia elegans) were used. Ageratum was tallest and had fewest days to flower on red and black films and shortest with more days to flower on blue film and the control. No differences in shoot height were found at 4 wks after treatment for celosia or snapdragon, but at 8 wks shoot height was tallest on red and black film and shortest in the control for celosia and blue film for snapdragon. Shoot dry weight of pansy was largest on red film and smallest on black and blue film and the control. In a repeat experiment, shoot heights of celosia were not different, but shoot dry weight was largest on red film and smallest on white film. Shoot heights of zinnia were tallest on black film and shortest on blue and white film and the control. Zinnia was harvestable 3 days earlier on red film than on blue film or the control. A Chapter III experiment was conducted in the greenhouse involving painted Styrofoam plates. In celosia, black, blue, and red paints produced the tallest shoot height and the largest growth index while white plates produced the smallest in both experiments. Pansy had the largest growth index on red and black paints and white plates and the smallest on blue paint. In snapdragon, black and red paints and white plates produced the tallest shoot height and largest growth index while blue plates produced the smallest in the first experiment but no differences were found in the second experiment. No differences among treatments were found for ageratum. A Chapter IV experiment was performed outdoors in two locations to test colored plastic films along with pine bark and bare soil. In Auburn, black film had tallest stems for yarrow and dianthus. Red film had tallest stems for snapdragon. Blue film produced larger stem diameter and fewer DTF for dianthus. White film had highest stem number for dianthus. In Cullman, white film had longest stems for all species while blue film had largest flower diameters for yarrow and dianthus. Overall, when climate and season have been taken into account along with plant species, colored plastic films show a promising future in field production. However, when used in the greenhouse, colored films were not useful.