Eureka! Institutional Repository

Three flowering plants (Argyranthemum frutescens, Osteospermum ecklonis, Dianthus caryophyllus) were grown in the greenhouse of the Fotopoulos Dimitrios enterprise in Lakkia Thessaloniki area, on four different substrates: peat, peat: perlite (10%): zeolite (3%), compost : perlite : zeolite ( 3%) with a ratio of compost : perlite 1:1, coconut : compost : perlite (10%) : zeolite (3%) with a ratio of coconu : compost 1:1 and for a period of sixteen weeks. 40 cuttings from each plant were used, that is in total 120 plants in pots with diameter of 14 cm and volume of 1.5lt. Τhe present study focused on comparing the effect of the four substrates on the growth and morphological characteristics of the three above mentioned flowering plants. In all plants the following were measured: height, number of flowers, flowers diameter, number of petals, number of flowering shoots and buds, open and closed flower heads and the diameter at Dianthus. Afterwards, 36 plants were randomly selected and transported to the Soil Science laboratory of the Department of Agriculture of International University of Greece (Alexandrian campus, Sindos Thessaloniki), for drying and measurement of the dry weight of the plants. The results showed that the plants grown on the substrates, i.e. compost : perlite : zeolite and coconut : compost : perlite : zeolite showed lower height, diameter, number of flowers, dry weight of above-ground part and dry weight of roots in relation to the plants grown in the peat substrates, resulting in a negative effect on the morphology of the plants and with impact on the purchase value of the final product. Additionally, the peat : perlite : zeolite substrate had a better overall performance than all substrates, including peat.