Optimizing Substrate Composition for Enhanced Growth and Corm Development in Freesia hybrida under Sub-Tropical Conditions of Punjab

Freesia hybrida, a specialty cut flower, is primarily cultivated in India in the cooler climates of the Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Hills, and certain Himalayan regions. However, the sandy soils prevalent in many Indian plains present challenges such as poor water retention and low fertility. This necessitates developing tailored potting media for optimal Freesia cultivation. This study investigated the influence of various growing media on the growth, flowering, and corm development of F. hybrida under controlled conditions for two consecutive years (2022-2023 and 2023–2024). A total of seven treatments consisting of different combinations of cocopeat, farmyard manure (FYM), perlite, vermicompost, leaf mould, and rice husk were evaluated against control treatment (soil + FYM). Cocopeat-based treatments consistently outperformed the control across all measured parameters. The combination of cocopeat, FYM and perlite yielded the best overall performance, resulting in the tallest plants (31.14 cm), earliest flowering (105.35 days), longest flowering duration (20.85 days), and largest, heaviest corms. The findings emphasize the importance of using improved soilless media, particularly cocopeat enriched with FYM and perlite, for optimizing freesia cultivation in the sub-tropical regions of Punjab.