Ornamental Bedding Plants

As with other titles in this series, the aim of this book is to present scientific principles that underlie production practices. The author discusses traditional and plug methods of production, the latter having revolutionised mass market production during the last decade. The principles of propagation and growing on, including the role of nutrition and media, temperature, light, supplemental carbon dioxide and growth regulators are described. Aspects of postproduction, diseases and pests, and mechanisation, are also considered. There is also an appendix providing production guidelines for 15 major bedding plant spades, including begonia, impatiens, petunia, marigolds and pansies.