Date August 17, 1994

Title of Project Post-Greenhouse Evaluations of Forced Bulbous Plants

Institution where work is being conducted University of FL/North Carolina State Univ.

Amount of Endowment Grant $10,000
Covering Period 1/94 to 12/94

Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report 12/96

Individual(s) Conducting Project:

(List Project Leader First)

Terril A. Nell - Title Professor

Telephone Number (904) 392-1829

Gus DeHertogh - Title Professor

James E. Barrett - Title Professor

Post-Greenhouse Evaluations of Forced Bulbous Plants

Terril A. Nell, Gus DeHertogh and James E. Barrett

University of Florida and North Carolina State University

Progress Report to the American Floral Endowment, 8/17/94

A. Project Objective:

1. To determine the effective home-life of selected non-rooting room forced bulbs and tuberous

flowering potted bulbs.

2. To determine effects of Ethephon on height control of Narcissus and Amaryllis and A-Rest on

tulip cultivars.

3. To determine the optimum stage of marketability for Astilbe.

B. Summary of Work Completed:

1. Multiple shipments of Leucojum aestivum, Scilla turbergeniana, astilbe and dwarf Freesia were

received at marketable stage and placed at various interior temperatures and light levels.

2. We have received two cultivars of Amaryllis and fifteen cultivars of Narcissus treated with

Ethephon and twenty cultivars of tulip treated with A-Rest. Plants were shipped from Raleigh to

Gainesville at marketable stage.

3. Astilbe were produced to the following three stages of marketability–0-10% of the flowers open,

11-30% of the flowers open or 31-80% of the flowers open, and then placed into postproduction

rooms.

C. Results to Date:

1. Longevity and quality were increased with decreasing interior temperatures. Light level had

minimal influence on longevity.

2. Ethephon effectively controlled height of Narcissus cultivars but was not effective in reducing the

height of Amaryllis. Longevity was not affected by Ethephon treatment on Narcissus but a slight

reduction in longevity was observed in Ethephon treated Amaryllis. A-Rest did not control the

height of tulips throughout the post-greenhouse evaluation period.

3. Stage of marketability greatly influenced the performance of Astilbe indoors. Inflorescence

development either ceases or is reduced when plants are marketed with fewer than 30% of the

flowers open. Plants marketed with more than 30% of the flowers open had the greatest quality

and longevity.

D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:

Shipments of Allium karataviense, Anemone coronaria, Convallaria, Dahlia, Freesia, Lilium,

Oxalis, and Ranunculus are scheduled for Spring 1995.

E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:

Potted bulbs offer the consumer an excellent product for fall and spring holidays and floral sales.

These results illustrate the importance of maintaining flowering bulbs at cool temperatures

throughout the post-greenhouse phase. This information should be useful in floral marketing

programs.

F. Additional Information/Publications:

Armellini Express Lines has been most accommodating in transporting plants from Raleigh to

Gainesville.

Results were presented at the American Society for Horticultural Science meetings and additional

publications are being written.

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