The effect of nutrient solution concentration on growth and quality of poinsettia ‘Premium Red’ cultivated on ebb-and-flow benches

The aim of the study was to examine responses of ‘Premium Red’ poinsettia cultivated on ebb-and-flow benches at different nutrient solution concentrations (1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 mS·cm-1). Plants were grown at a greenhouse in 1.2 dm3 pots, filled in TS2 medium. The highest plants with the largest diameters and best quality were found when EC of the nutrient solution concentration was 2.0 or 2.4 mS·cm-1. At the vegetative and bract coloration stages, leaves of plants supplied with nutrient solutions at 2.0 and 2.4 mS·cm-1 had higher status of chlorophyll than those of from nutrient solution of 1.6 mS·cm-1. As the nutrient solution concentration increased, both concentrations of salts and macronutrients (N-NO3, P, K, Ca, Mg) in the medium increased. It was concluded that in cultivation of poinsettia on ebb-and-flow benches, adequate EC value of nutrient solution concentration was 2.0 mS·cm-1