Comparative Efficacy of Various Substrates on Growth, Flowering, and Vase Life of ‘Vermeer' Lilium

Effects of growing substrates were studied on production and postharvest performance of cut ‘Vermeer’ lily (Lilium hybrids). Plants grown in coco coir alone or in combination with soil produced highest plant height, plant dry weight, and flower quality; greatest leaf area, leaf chlorophyll contents, and bud and flower diameter; and longest vase life, which were similar to that of plants grown in soil, but was greater than plants grown with spent mushroom compost alone or in combination with soil or coco coir. Moreover, plants grown with coco coir alone or in combination with soil reached anthesis the earliest. Use of coco coir as substrate also improved photosynthetic and transpiration rate, and plants had highest stomatal conductance and leaf temperature. Results demonstrated that coco coir is the best alternate substrate for high quality and rapid cut Lilium production.  Spent mushroom compost is not suitable due to poor plant growth and delayed production from high water-holding capacity.