Abstract

The efficacy of coir pith in the preparation of potting medium was evaluated using a rose-coloured clone of Begonia semperflorens Link and Otto as test crop in a pot culture experiment. The coir pith was combined in a soil breeding experiment with shola leaf mould and sand and these were compared with the conventional medium consisting of shola leaf mould, sand and laterite soil. The physico-chemical properties of the media combinations were analysed. The growth and flowering parameters were recorded at monthly intervals for 3 months. The results indicated that coir pith can be effectively utilised as a potting medium to raise B. semperflorens in containers. The indications were clear that 60 per cent coir pith: 20 per cent shola leaf mould: 20 per cent sand encouraged growth and flowering of the container-grown B.semperflorens. This improvement in growth and flowering can be attributed to the increase in WHC and CEC and low bulk density and particle density of the medium.

Keywords: Coir pith, Potting Medium. Begonia