Leachate Electrical Conductivity and pH for Ten Foliage Plants
Abstract Most foliage plant varieties tested produce salable plants when fertilized with a wide range of rates. About 5 grams 19N-2.6P-10K (19-6-12) per 15 cm pot per 3 months resulted in best Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’, Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Compacta’, and Philodendron s. oxycardium. No more than 2.4 grams per pot appears best for Chamaedorea elegans. Aglaonema ‘Silver Queen’, Aphelandra squarrosa ‘Dania’, Codiaeum variegatum ‘Banana’, Spathiphyllum ‘Petite’, Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Camille’ and Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’ grew best at about 10 grams per pot per 3 mos. Only P. s. oxycardium and C. elegans had a narrow requirement for fertilization levels. Electrical conductivity (EC) of leachate obtained from pots of best quality plants had a very wide range indicating leachate EC is a poor indicator for production of quality plants.