Influence of various potting media on vegetative and root characteristics in Wax begonia

An experiment was carried out to see the response of various potting media on growth attributes in Wax begonia. The treatment consisted of different combinations of soil, sand, FYM, leaf mould, vermicompost and poultry manure. The media made of sand + FYM (1:1) produced maximum plant height (29.47 cm), number of sprouts/plant (49.00), number of leaves/plant (164.33), diameter of shoot (0.43 cm), number of flowers/plant (49.67), number of roots/plant (54.67), length of root (21.67 cm), diameter of root (0.08 cm) and dry weight of roots/plant (3.68 g). Maximum fresh weight of roots/plant (10.49 g) was obtained from sand + vermicompost (1:1). Nutrient status of plant media was also analysed. Maximum nitrogen (69.30 g/pot), phosphorus (51.10 g/pot) and potassium contents (64.40 g/pot) were recorded from the pot containing soil + poultry manure (1:1). However, maximum reduction of nutrient i.e. nitrogen (9.10 g/pot), phosphorus (5.60 g/pot) and potassium (4.90 g/pot) was recorded from sand + FYM (1:1), soil + sand + poultry manure (1:1:1), sand + vermicompost (1:1), respectively.