Performance of in-vitro raised plants of gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa Hierm.) and African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.) in different growing media

Investigations were carried out during the years 2002 and 2003 to study the effect of different combinations of cocopeat, leafmould, municipal solid waste, organic manure (sugarcane molasses) and soil on in intra multiplied plants of gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa Hierm.) and African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl). Separate experiments were carried out in pots on both crops in completely randomized design, consisting of six growing media i.e., cocopeat + leafmould + municipal solid waste, cocopeat + municipal solid waste + soil + organic manure, cocopeat+ municipal solid waste + organic manure, cocopeat + leafmould + organic manure and leaf mould + municipal solid waste + soil and cocopeat + municipal solid waste + soil. Plants grown in the medium containing cocopeat + leafmould + municipal solid waste (1:1:1) took minimum days to flower i.e., 76.82 and 77.37 during 2002 in gloxinia and African violet, respectively. Cocopeat + leafmould + municipal solid waste was also found best with respect to parameters like; leaf area, plant spread, total number of flowers, maximum number of flowers open at a time, duration of flowering and the overall pot presentability. Performance of both pot plants in two successive years has been discussed.