PRELIMINARY STUDY OF WHITE AND BLACK SHADECLOTH AND GROUNDCOVERS ON THREE LANDSCAPE/CUT FOLIAGE CROPS

摘要

Florida accounts for 81% of shade/temporary cover production of floricultural crops in the United States. In addition, Florida produces 75% of U.S. florists' greens and the majority of that production occurs under shade, especially under artificial shade provided using shadecloth. Black shadecloth is the common color used in the industry but other colors have become available. The purpose of this preliminary shade-house experiment was to compare the growth and vase life of three cut foliage crops under white and black shadecloth. In addition, the effects of white and black groundcovers were evaluated. For ruscus (Ruscus hypophyllum L.) and umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius L.), stems produced under the white shadecloth or on the black groundcover were heavier than stems produced using the other color treatments. Neither shadecloth nor groundcover color affected stem weights of ming "fern" (Asparagus retrofractus L.).