Response of different potting media on ex vitro establishment of gladiolus

Ex vifro establishment studies of gladiolus cv. Vinks Glory revealed that one month after planting, soilrite is the best potting medium regarding survival (80.55%) of the plantlets when in vitro rooted plantlets with IBA@2 mg/l were used as planting material. Sand: soil: coir (1:1:1:) recorded the lowest survival of 44.44% one month after planting. Regarding plant height and number of roots, sand: soil recorded highest values of 17.26 cm and 9,29 cm, respectively. Stomatal conductance was high in the first fortnight and it was found decreasing towards the later stages of acclimatization. Number of days taken for emergence of leaves was shortest for sand, closely followed by soilrite (1358 and 13.67 day, respectively). Soilrite recorded the highest leaf area index of 1.13 after a month of planting.