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| Anthurium: removing leaves to get more and better flowers | |
| The growth of new young leaves of Anthurium represents a heavy consumption of assimilates, significantly reducing their availability for the growth and production of the flowers in a given period. The young developing leaves effectively consume more assimilates than they provide through photosynthesis. In Dutch trials, by removing young leaves on first appearance but leaving just 2 mature leaves per plant, the number of flowers produced per plants increased and the flowers were larger. The removal of young leaves is now practiced by many Anthurium growers in Holland, although the effect is variable according to varieties. A good response is seen in varieties such as: Tropical, Simba and Pistache. The very low level of response to the technique is seen in varieties such as Casino, Chichas and Midori. The technique is called ‘leaf-breaking’. In some varieties, all but one mature leaf can be removed. The disadvantage in production terms is the instability of the plants when they have only two (or one) mature leaves. After a certain period the mature leaves are removed by allowing 2 new leaves to grow to maturity. The reason behind the effect is caused by the plant hormone auxin. This is produced by new leaves and in turn stimulates further sequential differentiation of new leaves. When the new leaf is broken off, auxin production and subsequent conduction to the lower parts of the plant, is reduced preventing further shoots from growing. FlowerTech, www.HortiWorld.nlThe removal of all leaves, just leaving the bases of the leaf petioles on an erect stem will often result in the growth of new plantlets at the nodes, useful for propagation. For further information: Bureau IMAC Bleiswijk BV. Fax 0031 105218230, E-mail: info@imac-bleiswijk.nl www.imac-bleiswijk.nl and Anthura BV, Fax: oo31 105291929, Email: info@anthura.nl www.anthura.nl |
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