Determining a suitable growing media to improve the germination of Hippeastrum hybridum Hort. seeds

To investigate the effect of different culture media on seed germination and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Hippeastrum hybridum seedlings, 9 different culture media including: 1) 100% sand, 2) 100% fine perlite, 3) 50% sand + 50% fine perlite, 4) 50% sand + 50% cocopeat 5) 50% perlite + 50% cocopeat, 6) 33% sand + 33% cocopeat + 33% perlite, 7) 50% peat + 50% perlite, 8) 33% peat + 33% cocopeat + 33% perlite, 9) 50% peat + 50% sand. Then, 90 seeds of almost the same size were planted in three replicates and 30 seeds in each bed at the same time. The results showed that the highest germination rate from treatment 9 (50% peat moss + 50% sand) with 11.8 seeds per day, the best germination period related to treatment 8 (33% peat + 33% cocopit + 33% perlite) On 8.2 days, the maximum diameter and weight of bulb from treatment 2 (100% perlite) were obtained with an average of 0.62 cm and 0.27 gr, respectively. The maximum leaf width was obtained from treatments 2 (100% perlite) and 3 (50% sand + 50% perlite) with an average of 0.57 cm. The maximum root length was obtained from treatment 6 (33% sand + 33% cocopeat + 33% perlite) with an average of 4.66 cm.