Study of the effect of substrates on the ornamental traits of crops used in vertical gardening

Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: kozlova.e@rgau-msha.ru

Abstract

In modern ornamental horticulture, there are many species and varieties of plants, particularly indoor crops, which can be used for vertical gardening. This contributes to the creation of favorable conditions for humans. The paper presents the results of analysis of growth and development, as well as evaluation of ornamental traits of some ornamental indoor crops (Elettaria cardamomum, Tradescantia pallida, Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’, Epipremnum pinnatum, Pelargonium zonale, Cissus alata, Hedera helix ‘Glacier’, Peperomia clusiifolia, Zebrina pendula, Syngonium podophyllum, Nematanthus gregarius, Spathiphyllum floribundum ‘Vivaldi’, Callisia repens, Spathiphyllum wallisii) when grown in different substrates in a winter glazed greenhouse for further use in vertical gardening. The greatest growth was revealed in E. pinnatum (using a mixture of peat and vermiculite - 16.8 cm, peat - 12.3 cm), among annual flowering crops - in D. repens (using a mixture of peat, vermiculite and perlite - 18.8 cm, a mixture of peat and perlite - 17.1 cm). S. floribundum (90 points), S. wallisii (82-90 points), and T. pallida (85-90 points) were the most decorative on a 100-point scale in all variants of the experiment; among annual flower crops, P. × hybrida (38-42 points) and D. repens (44 points).