Project STA0013: 'Research into the use of recycled materials in the production of growing media

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1 Creating markets for recycled resources Project STA0013: 'Research into the use of recycled materials in the production of growing media Report on the evaluation of composted and recycled materials in retail growing media for containers and hanging baskets at Weggs Farm, Norfolk: bedding and patio plants Research Report: Organics Written by: Peatering Out Ltd Published by: The Waste & Resources Action Programme The Old Academy, 21 Horse Fair, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0AH Tel: Fax: WRAP Business Helpline: Freephone: April 2005

2 Contents 1 Summary Introduction and objectives Methodology Observations Six weeks after planting Ten weeks after planting weeks after planting weeks after planting Key properties of the principal treatments Conclusions Recommendations for further study Appendix 1 - Trial protocol Appendix 2 - Weighing sheet Appendix 3 - Analyses Treatment mixes Substrates Appendix 4 - Growing trial data POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 1

3 1 Summary General This report describes one of the two demonstration trials carried out to assess the performance of retail growing media formulations under simulated amateur use at Weggs Farm, Norfolk during the summer of They were part of WRAP project STA0013 that investigated the use of recycled materials in the production of growing media for both professional and amateur applications. This trial evaluated a number of green compost (GC) based formulations that might be employed as growing media for use in tubs, containers or hanging baskets for bedding and patio plants. The trial utilised ten litre pots as tubs and the management of the trial was designed to follow good amateur practice. The treatments included formulations containing 40%v to 60%v mature GC supplied by Eco Composting. These were diluted with either composted bark (Growbark, ex-melcourt Industries), composted forestry residues/brash (Sylvafibre ex-melcourt Industries) or with sphagnum peat. Peat is the preferred commercial diluent. It is cost effective and readily available, has a low bulk density and good water holding characteristics. It also has a low ph and nutrient status that complement green compost well. As "benchmarks", two proprietary growing media were included - a branded peat based container and hanging basket medium as a control and a branded multipurpose peat free medium, both from major manufacturers. The benefits of acidifying the GC based media using phosphoric acid to reduce their ph and the use of a wetting agent to enhance water uptake and retention were also assessed. Performance The green compost used in the peat reduced and peat free mixes provided all essential base fertilisation other than nitrogen and also reduced the need for lime addition for ph correction. Peat reduced growing media based on green compost at 40%v or %v in combination with limed peat and a nitrogen supplement, gave very good overall performance; comparable with the peat based proprietary control medium. Peat free mixes based on 40%v or %v green compost plus bark performed quite well; similar to or better than the proprietary peat free product initially but less well by the very end of the trial. Responses of the six subjects varied considerably and Pelargonium zonale grew best of all in the four basic 40%v or %v green compost treatments. Other factors The addition of phosphoric acid or wetting agent did not enhance the performance of the green compost based mixes. Whilst the nutrient availability in the green compost formulations (with their nitrogen supplement) appeared adequate, the mixes were used fresh and their storage stability needs to be confirmed. Recommendations for further study Evaluation of the storage stability of green compost based formulations. Evaluation of alternative sources of green compost and diluents. Assessment of the performance of a wider range of patio plants including herbaceous and ericaceous subjects in green compost based formulations. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 2

4 2 Introduction and objectives This report describes one of the two demonstration trials carried out at Weggs Farm, Norfolk during the summer of 2003 to assess the performance of retail growing media formulations under simulated amateur use. These were part of WRAP project STA0013 that investigated the use of recycled materials in the production of growing media for both professional and amateur applications. This trial evaluates a number of green compost (GC) based formulations that might be employed as growing media for use in tubs, containers or hanging baskets for bedding and patio plants. The trial utilised ten litre pots as tubs and the management of the trial was designed to follow good amateur practice. The treatments included formulations containing 40%v to 60%v mature GC supplied by Eco Composting. These were diluted with either composted bark (Growbark, ex-melcourt Industries), composted forestry residues/brash (Sylvafibre ex-melcourt Industries) or with sphagnum peat. Peat is the preferred commercial diluent. It is cost effective and readily available, has a low bulk density and good water holding characteristics. It also has a low ph and nutrient status that complement green compost well. As "benchmarks", two proprietary growing media were included - a branded peat based container and hanging basket medium as a control and a branded multipurpose peat free medium, both from major manufacturers. The benefits of acidifying the GC based media using phosphoric acid to reduce their ph and the use of a wetting agent to enhance water uptake are also assessed. Background Container gardening growing plants in tubs, hanging baskets and window boxes etc. has expanded greatly in recent years. This growth has been driven by the gardening media and the popularity of patios, decking and paved low maintenance gardens. Container gardening now probably accounts for the majority of retail growing media purchases and the trend continues upwards. The media used may be a specialised formulation such as that used in this trial as the control, but is just as likely to be multipurpose compost - or even the contents of a growing bag, as this is the cheapest growing medium to buy. Water management is a key issue in container gardening. By midsummer, containers tend to be packed with rapidly transpiring plants that are sharing a relatively modest volume of growing medium and thus have limited reserves of water. Once dry, growing media can be difficult to water properly especially if they are based on peat and lack a long lasting wetting agent. Similarly, nutrient depletion can also limit performance, unless plant containers are fed with a liquid feed on a regular basis, or a controlled release fertiliser is pre-incorporated at planting. Base nutrient levels in the growing medium are constrained by the fact that excessively high levels would inhibit establishment and early performance. This trial assesses the use of a typical mature green compost (GC) as the sole source of base nutrients, other than nitrogen (N). POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 3

5 3 Methodology General: The trial was set up as per the Trial Protocol (appendix 1) at Weggs Farm (headquarters of Peatering Out Ltd) and managed, on a day-to-day basis, by Peatering Out Ltd. Treatment mixes were prepared according to the weighing sheet (appendix 2). Proprietary growing media were obtained from a local retailer to provide benchmarks for the experimental treatments. Samples from each treatment were analysed (appendix 3.1), together with samples of green compost and other substrates (appendix 3.2). Container plants were obtained from a professional plant raiser and on 5 th May 2003 (week 19) each crop combination was planted into ten litre rigid black plastic pots, with one upright plant in the centre and three trailing plants spaced evenly around the edge. In accordance with good practice, supplementary liquid feeding was started six weeks after planting. Treatments: Treatment list: Factor 1 - Green compost rate (%v) Factor 2 - Diluent 1. Composted bark: Growbark*, Melcourt 2. Peat: sphagnum, medium grade, Shamrock Additionals 1. Green compost %v + Growbark * %v + phosphoric acid 2. Green compost %v + Sylvafibre* %v + phosphoric acid 3. Green compost %v + Peat %v + phosphoric acid 4. Green compost %v + Growbark* %v + wetting agent 5. Green compost %v + Peat %v + wetting agent 4. Levington Hanging Basket Compost (100%v peat) 5. J Arthur Bowers New Horizon (peat-free) * +N supplement (in addition to the N added to all GC-based mixes) Treatment No Abbreviation GC40/GB/N GC40/Peat/N GC/GB/N GC/Peat/N GC60/GB/N GC60/Peat/N GC/GB/N/PA GC/Syl/N/PA GC/Peat/N/PA GC/GB/N/wetting agent GC/Peat/N/wetting agent LevHB NH Green compost Rate %v Diluent Growbark Peat Growbark Peat Growbark Peat Growbark Sylvafibre Peat Growbark Peat Ammonium Nitrate g/litre Phosphoric acid (PA, 75% m/m) ml/litre Proprietary Levington Hanging Basket growing medium Proprietary J Arthur Bowers New Horizon growing medium Treatments 1 to 6 are blends of 40%v-60%v green compost and composted bark or sphagnum peat. Treatments 7 to 9 are blends of %v green compost and Sylvafibre, composted bark or sphagnum peat plus a dose of POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 4

6 phosphoric acid to reduce their ph to a level at which better performance might be expected. Treatments 10 and 11 are blends of %v green compost and composted bark or sphagnum peat with the addition of a wetting agent to assist with water uptake and retention. Trial design: (3 x 2) + 7 = 13 treatments x 3 replicates = 39 plots on each of 3 crops = 117 plots total Plot size: 1 x 10 litre rigid pot Crops: Combination 1. Begonia; Non-stop Scarlet (1) + Lobelia; cv. unspecified (3) Combination 2. Fuchsia; bush variety, cv. Unspecified (1) + Impa iens; t F1 Accent (3) Combination 3. Pelargonium zonale; F1 Maverick (1) + Petunia; Surfinia, cv. unspecified (3) Figures in brackets are the numbers of plants per pot Crop management: Watering was by hand, applied once or twice per day according to climatic conditions to fully rewet the growing medium without excess leaching. The pots were kept in an unheated polythene tunnel for two weeks to enable all plants to establish well, after which time (week 21) the pots were randomised as three blocks on an outside gravel bed. Four weeks later (six weeks after planting, week 25), a (N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O) liquid feed at a concentration of 100 mg N/litre was applied twice a week at a rate of 1 litre/pot. Crop assessments: Ten weeks (week 29) after planting, each crop was assessed for plant vigour and foliage colour. Counts of open flowers were also made on two crops. 22 weeks (week 41) after planting, the fresh weight of the top growth was recorded for each crop except Lobelia which had died back. The trial was de-randomised to facilitate photography en masse, six, ten and 17 weeks after potting up. The data has not been subjected to any statistical analysis. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 5

Pelargonium/Petunia Begonia/Lobelia Figure 2.

7 4 Observations 4.1 Six weeks after planting All crops established well in all treatments. These are illustrated in figures 1 and 2. Figure 1. Close-up showing crop growth six weeks after planting Fuchsia/Impatiens Pelargonium/Petunia Begonia/Lobelia Figure 2. Experiment de-randomised showing all treatments and crops six weeks after planting Begonia/Lobelia Pelargonium/Petunia Fuchsia/Impatiens Note: Plots are in treatment order with No. 1 on the left POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 6

8 4.2 Ten weeks after planting Ten weeks after planting (week 29), some differences were observed. These are shown in figures 3 to 6. Figure 3. Composite plant vigour scores for six crops as a percentage of control - ten weeks after planting % control Control Begonia Fuchsia Impatiens Lobelia Pelargonium Petunia Treatments 1. GC40/GB/N 2. GC40/Peat/N 3. GC/GB/N 4. GC/Peat/N 5. GC60/GB/N 6. GC60/Peat/N 7. GC/GB/N/PA 8. GC/Syl/N/PA 9. GC/Peat/N/PA 10. GC/GB/N/wetting agent 11. GC/Peat/N/wetting agent 12. Levington Hanging Basket (LevHB) 13. J A Bowers New Horizon (NH) Based on the cumulative values for the six crops, the two GC40 treatments and one of the GC treatments were superior to both proprietary media, but this was due substantially to their exceptional outperformance in Pelargonium. Figure 4. Composite foliage colour scores for six crops as a percentage of control ten weeks after planting Control % control Begonia Fuchsia Impatiens Lobelia Pelargonium Petunia Differences in foliage colour across the six crops were small, with most treatments being scored within 10% of the proprietary control medium. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 7

Limited quantitative data was collected on flower development but counts on the number of open flowers on Begonia and Pelargonium were recorded and are summarised in figure 5. Figure 5.

140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 40 30 20 10 0 Control 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Begonia Pelargonium Treatments 1. GC40/GB/N 2. GC40/Peat/N 3. GC/GB/N 4. GC/Peat/N 5. GC60/GB/N 6.

J A Bowers New Horizon (NH) Taking the two crops together, five GC based treatments incorporating at least %v GC, outperformed the control by at least 10%.

9 Limited quantitative data was collected on flower development but counts on the number of open flowers on Begonia and Pelargonium were recorded and are summarised in figure 5. Figure 5. Composite number of open flowers on two crops as a percentage of control ten weeks after planting % control Control Begonia Pelargonium Treatments 1. GC40/GB/N 2. GC40/Peat/N 3. GC/GB/N 4. GC/Peat/N 5. GC60/GB/N 6. GC60/Peat/N 7. GC/GB/N/PA 8. GC/Syl/N/PA 9. GC/Peat/N/PA 10. GC/GB/N/wetting agent 11. GC/Peat/N/wetting agent 12. Levington Hanging Basket (LevHB) 13. J A Bowers New Horizon (NH) Taking the two crops together, five GC based treatments incorporating at least %v GC, outperformed the control by at least 10%. In four cases, these had higher flower counts for Begonia and in three cases; they had higher counts for Pelargonium. Figure 6. An overview of some principal treatments ten weeks after planting Begonia/Lobelia Pelargonium/ Petunia Fuchsia/Impatiens Treatments 1 and 2 Treatments 5 and 6 Treatments 12 and 13 POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 8

4.3 17 weeks after planting 17 weeks after planting the crops were past their very best and the Lobelia had already begun to die back.

Experiment de-randomised showing all treatments and crops - 17 weeks after planting Trts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4.

10 weeks after planting 17 weeks after planting the crops were past their very best and the Lobelia had already begun to die back. This can be seen in figure 7 and was due to the very hot summer conditions. Figure 7. Experiment de-randomised showing all treatments and crops - 17 weeks after planting Trts weeks after planting 22 weeks after planting, the fresh weight of top growth showed considerable variation within and between treatments and from crop to crop. Lobelia was not recorded as it had died back in all treatments. The results are summarised in figure 8. Figure 8. planting Composite fresh weight of five crops as a percentage of control 22 weeks after % control Control Begonia Fuchsia Impatiens Pelargonium Petunia Treatments 1. GC40/GB/N 2. GC40/Peat/N 3. GC/GB/N 4. GC/Peat/N 5. GC60/GB/N 6. GC60/Peat/N 7. GC/GB/N/PA 8. GC/Syl/N/PA 9. GC/Peat/N/PA 10. GC/GB/N/wetting agent 11. GC/Peat/N/wetting agent 12. Levington Hanging Basket (LevHB) 13. J A Bowers New Horizon (NH) The treatments can be divided into two groups of six. One group with similar or higher fresh weights than control (97% to 112%) and the other with fresh weights more than 10% below control (73% to 88%). The superior group includes the peat free proprietary treatment and five GC based mixes incorporating %v or less GC in combination with peat. As in the case of the ten week plant vigour scores, most of these GC based mixes owe their position to their superiority in Pelargonium. The inferior group contains no treatment where peat was used as a diluent except where the GC content was 60%v. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 9

11 The similarity between the results in treatments 4 and 9 suggests that the addition of phosphoric acid to reduce ph was having no effect. There was also no apparent benefit from the addition of wetting agent to GC mixes. 4.5 Key properties of the principal treatments Selected data for the six basic GC based mixes and the two proprietary products are given in table 1. Table 1: Key properties of principal treatments Treatment GC40/B GC40/P GC/B GC/P GC60/B GC60/P LevHB NH Treatment No Bulk density g/l Moisture content g/l Dry matter g/l ph Elec. conductivity ms/m NH 4 -N mg/l NO 3 -N mg/l NH 4 +NO 3 -N mg/l All treatments incorporating peat, including the proprietary control, had bulk density values higher than expected. The peat free GC/bark combinations had bulk densities similar to that of the New Horizons peat free product. ph and electrical conductivity values of the GC based mixes were as expected and the latter were broadly similar to the two proprietary mixes. Water soluble nitrogen levels varied considerably and there was no consistent pattern amongst the GC/bark combinations. However, the GC/peat combinations all had around 200mg/l, the same as the New Horizons peat free product. The level of water soluble nitrogen in the Levington Compost control was low compared with its nominal levels which, together with the high moisture content, suggests it may have been poorly stored. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 10

12 5 Conclusions 5.1 The green compost used in the peat reduced and peat free mixes provided all essential base fertilisation other nitrogen and also reduced the need for lime addition for ph correction. 5.2 Peat reduced growing media based on green compost at 40%v or %v in combination with limed peat and a nitrogen supplement, gave very good overall performance; comparable with the peat based proprietary control medium. 5.3 Peat free mixes based on 40%v or %v green compost plus bark performed quite well; similar to or better than the proprietary peat free product initially but less well by the very end of the trial. 5.4 Responses of the six subjects varied considerably and Pelargonium zonale grew best of all in the four basic 40%v or %v green compost plus bark or peat treatments. 5.5 The addition of phosphoric acid or wetting agent did not enhance the performance of the green compost based mixes. 5.6 Whilst the nutrient availability in the green compost formulations (with their nitrogen supplement) appeared adequate, the mixes were used fresh and their storage stability needs to be confirmed. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 11

13 6. Recommendations for further study 6.1 Evaluation of the storage stability of green compost based formulations. 6.2 Evaluation of alternative sources of green compost and diluents. 6.3 Assessment of the performance of a wider range of patio plants including herbaceous and ericaceous subjects in green compost based formulations. POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 12

14 Appendix 1 - Trial protocol Confidential Our ref: POTDo303-prot 4 April 2003 Trial No: POTDo303 Trial type: Retail hanging basket/tub compost Start week: 19 End week: 41 Trial protocol Title: Treatments: Replacement of peat using green compost +/- bark Factor 1 - Green compost rate (%v) Factor 2 - Diluent 1. Growbark*, Melcourt 2. Peat Additionals 1. Green compost %v + Growbark* %v + acid 2. Green compost %v + Sylvafibre* %v + acid 3. Green compost %v + Peat %v + acid 4. Green Compost %v + Growbark* %v + wetting agent 5. Green Compost %v + Peat %v + wetting agent 6. Levington Hanging Basket Compost (peat-based Control ) 7. J Arthur Bowers New Horizon (peat-free) * +N supplement Design: Plot size: (3 x 2) + 7 = 13 treatments x 3 replicates = 39 plots on each of 3 crops = 117 plots total 1 x 10 litre rigid pot Treatment list: Treatment No Abbreviation GC40/GB/N GC40/Peat/N GC/GB/N GC/Peat/N GC60/GB/N GC60/Peat/N GC/GB/N/PA GC/Syl/N/PA GC/Peat/N/PA GC/GB/N/wetting agent GC/Peat/N/wetting agent LevHB NH Green compost Rate %v Diluent Growbark Peat Growbark Peat Growbark Peat Growbark Sylvafibre Peat Growbark Peat Levington Hanging Basket J Arthur Bowers New Horizon Ammonium Nitrate g/litre Phosphoric acid (PA, 75% m/m) ml/litre POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 13

15 Crops: Combination 1. Begonia; Non-stop Scarlet (1) + Lobelia; cv. unspecified (3) Combination 2. Fuchsia; bush variety, cv. Unspecified (1) + Impa iens; t F1 Accent (3) Combination 3. Pelargonium zonale; F 1 Maverick (1) + Petunia; Surfinia, cv. unspecified (3) Figures in brackets are the numbers of plants per pot Uniform treatment: 1. Liquid feeding 2. Pest and disease control Records: 1. Analysis of each treatment mix for nutritional and physical properties 2. Score plant vigour, foliage colour & flowering 3. Other visible differences 4. Photographs Distribution: John Adlam Arnie Rainbow Abigail Rayment Peatering Out Ltd Peatering Out Ltd Peatering Out Ltd POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 14

16 Appendix 2 - Weighing sheet POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 15

17 Appendix 3 - Analyses 3.1 Treatment mixes Rainbow Wilson Associates Walton House, 218 High Street Felixstowe IP11 9DS GOOCH GARFORTH LIMITED Ipswich Road, Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8EL Tel/Fax: goochgarforth@hotmail.com LABORATORY TEST REPORT: COMPOST Report Date: 28 April 2003 Customer Ref: POTDo303 Date Received: 15 April 2003 Treatment Nos Lab Bulk Density g/l Loss at 105 o C. taken to be moisture % m/m g/l Dry matter content, from loss at 105 o C. % m/m g/l (3) ph of 1:5 extract (3) Electrical Conductivity of 1:5 extract us/cm ms/m Extractable in water - sample as received basis (3) NH4-Nitrogen as N mg/l NO3-Nitrogen as N mg/l NH4+NO3-Nitrogen as N mg/l Treatment Nos Lab Bulk Density g/l Loss at 105oC. taken to be moisture % m/m g/l Dry matter content, from loss at 105oC. % m/m g/l ph of 1:5 extract (3) Electrical Conductivity of 1:5 extract (3) us/cm ms/m Extractable in water - sample as received basis (3) NH4-Nitrogen as N mg/l NO3-Nitrogen as N mg/l NH4+NO3-Nitrogen as N mg/l Treatment Nos Lab Bulk Density g/l Loss at 105oC. taken to be moisture % m/m g/l Dry matter content, from loss at 105oC. % m/m g/l ph of 1:5 extract (3) Electrical Conductivity of 1:5 extract (3) us/cm ms/m Extractable in water - sample as received basis (3) NH4-Nitrogen as N mg/l NO3-Nitrogen as N mg/l NH4+NO3-Nitrogen as N mg/l (3) Determined by methods recommended by the Composting Association (except for the factor 0.4). POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 16

18 3.2 Substrates Units Eco Composting Melcourt Sylvafibre Melcourt Growbark Shamrock Peat Green compost Laboratory compacted bulk density g/l Moisture content % m/m Moisture content g/l LOI/DM % m/m Total N % DM C:N : ph Electrical conductivity µs/cm Extractable in water NH4 mg/l 8 <1 <1 16 NO3 mg/l <5 <5 <5 26 NH4+NO3 mg/l <13 <6 <6 42 Chloride as Cl mg/l Extractable in CaCl2+DTPA solution Phosphorus as P mg/l Potassium as K mg/l Magnesium as Mg mg/l Sodium as Na mg/l Calcium as Ca mg/l Sulphur as S mg/l Iron as Fe mg/l Copper as Cu mg/l Zinc as Zn mg/l Manganese as Mn mg/l Boron as B mg/l Molybdenum as Mo mg/l <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 CEC me/litre Cellulose % DM Lignin % DM Hemicellulose % DM <2 <2 <2 <2 Organic C by dichromate % DM Organic C by LOI % m/m PSD %w air-dried sample passing 31.5 mm mm mm mm mm mm Physical contaminants %w air-dried sample retained on 2.0 mm sieve Glass Metal Plastic Stone Other Total POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 17

19 Appendix 4 - Growing trial data Trial ref: POTDo303 Date of assessment: 11 July 2003 Plant species: Begonia Trial ref: POTDo303 Date of assessment: 11 July 2003 Plant species: Fuchsia Plot No. Treatment No. Foliage colour Vigour No. of flowers open Flower weight (g) Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Plot No. Treatment No. Foliage colour Vigour No. of flowers open Flower weight (g) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A 8.67 Algae, moss, liverwort: Algae, moss,liverwort: Weeds: Weeds Comments: Good even flowering Good colour Strong plants in all mixes Comments: Hardly any flowers open as yet POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 18

20 Trial ref: POTDo303 Date of assessment: 11 July 2003 Plant species: Impatiens Trial ref: POTDo303 Date of assessment: 11 July 2003 Plant species: Lobelia Plot No. Treatment No. Foliage colour Vigour No. of flowers open Flower weight (g) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/ A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: Algae, moss, liverwort: Weeds: Comments: Very variable quality in all mixes Quality of foliage and flowers not up to a saleable quality at time of assessment Plot No. Treatment No. Foliage colour Vigour No. of flowers open Flower weight (g) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Algae, moss, liverwort: Weeds: Comments: Good even flowering Good colour Strong plants in all mixes POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 19

21 Trial ref: POTDo303 Date of assessment: 11 July 2003 Plant species: Pelargonium Trial ref: POTDo303 Date of assessment: 11 July 2003 Plant species: Petunia Plot No. Treatment No. Foliage colour Vigour No. of flowers open Flower weight (g) Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Average: Plot No. Treatment No. Foliage colour Vigour No. of flowers open Flower weight (g) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Average: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Algae, moss, liverwort: Algae, moss, liverwort: Weeds: Weeds: Comments: Swamped by Petunia plants Hard to assess foliage colour and vigour Comments: Petunia in Trt 10 are poor quality Stems have lots of dead leaves on them in middle POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 20

22 Trial Ref: POTDo303 Fresh weight recorded: week 41 (22 weeks after planting) WEIGHT MEASURED (grams) Treatment Pot No. Begonia Petunia Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Average Std dev Pelargonium Fuchsia Impatiens Totals POTDo303v2 Hanging basket/container trial 21

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