【正文】
son might benefit potted Alstroemeria. Argo and Biembaum (1993b) investigated the use of RCF to improve the garden performance of flowering hanging baskets. Applying an RCF as a topdressing to Impatiens wallerina Hook f. in 25cm baskets prior to placing them in an outdoor environment allowed the plants to flower until the end of August, while the production of blooms decreased rapidly in nonfertilized plants. Adequate fertilization of flowering potted plants throughout their postproduction life requires high rates of RCF incorporated in the medium prior to planting, but high preplant incorporation rates of RCF are injurious to saltsensitive plants such as New Guinea impatiens (impatiens hawkeri Bull.) and tuberous begonias (Begonia tuberhubrida Voss) (Argo and Bienbaum, 1993b). Since Alstroemeria is sensitive to high salt levels (Bridgen, 1992。 Healy and Wilkins, 1991). In the first experiment, plants fertilized with RCF with an NPK ratio of=9::5 produced more flowers than those fertilized with a ratio of = 7:3:6. In the second expriment, the RCF formulation with the NPK ratio 12:: produced a greater number of florets, but plants had a lower fresh weight than the 9::5 formulation. Further research will be required to fully elucidate the effect of NPK ratio on flowering in Alstroemeria. The release time of the RCF had no effect when paring similar NPK formulations, as was observed by Argo and Biernbaum(1993b) for the postproduction performance of Impatiens walletiana. The results of this study show that fertilization is not required for postproduction flowering of potted Alstroemeria plants. However, topdressing marketable plants with RCF prevents leaf chlorosis and increases vegetative growth. Based on the results of both expriments, a medium rate of RCF, supplying N at = to ㎏ .mg3, is adequate. 。 in a subsequent experiment we pared the effect of there different concentrations of two fertilizers differing in NPK ratio and release period. These trials were intended to provide information to producers of potted plants, and to provide a basis for further investigation of effects of fertilization on growth and flowering in Alstroemeria. Materials and Methods Effect of NPK ratio and release time (). Divisions consisting of storage roots and rhizomes of the Univ. of Connecticut Alstroemeria hybrid FL101 were planted in pots using Pargro peatwool potting medium (Partex Industries, Phenix City , Ala.) in Jan. 1995. Plants were placed in greenhouse with heating setpoint at 10℃ and fan ventilation setpoint at 18℃ . Plants were fetilized every 2 weeks until Apr. 1995, alternating 17N1P20K and 15N0P14K formulations with a N concentration of 300 mg﹒ plants started flowering at the end of May, 48 pots were chosen for uniformity and randomly grouped into six blocks of eight pots each. Eight RCF treatments were applied as topdressing: (Osmocote 19612, 34 month release), g/pot of (Osmocote 18612, 89 month release), (Osmocote 141414,34 month release), (Osmocote 131313,34 month release), (Polyon 19612, 34 month release), (Polyon 171717, 3 month release), (Polyon , 89 month release), and the nonfertilized control. Osmocote fotmulations were produced by The Scot