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CHILLING INJURY OF FIELD-GROWN SANSEVIERIA IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Article appearing in FOLIAGE DIGEST 2 (10): 7-8 (1979) with 2 figures
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CHILLING INJURY OF FIELD-GROWN SANSEVIERIA IN SOUTH FLORIDA

By Robert B. Marlatt (1) and Dennis B. McConnell (2)

Sansevierias, members of the lily family, are native to coasts of Africa,
Arabia and India. They are probably the most rugged of all houseplants,
tolerating a wide range of soil types, moisture levels and light
intensities; and they are practically pest free. Since their introduction
in about 1800, sanesvierias have also been widely used for exterior
landscaping purposes in South Florida.

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' originated in the Belgian Congo and is
the most commonly grown variety. It is an especially attractive houseplant
because of the leaf's yellow - edges.  Unlike entirely green varieties,
'Laurentii' must be propagated by plants bearing some root. Leaf cuttings
result in loss of the yellow margins.

Sansevieria fields have been in continuous production for 25 to 30 years
with no apparent yield reduction. However, little was known about the
fertilizer requirements or chilling injury of 'Laurentii' until experiments
were carried out at the Agricultural Research and Education Center at
Homestead and a cooperative grower nearby. Four years of research have
yielded information regarding growth, fertilizer requirements, and chilling
injury.

Four 100-foot long beds were planted with single rows of small plants. At
the end of four years, plants covered the beds to a width of approximately
four feet. Ten 10-foot plots were staked in each bed and these received
varying ratios of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer.

As plants began to form sprouts from side roots, the sprouts were labeled
and periodically examined. Sprout buds became visible at a faster rate
during March through June and a least during January and February. Sprouts,
however, grew fastest during May, August and September. Their growth was
slowest during December and January.

Sansevierias are sold commercially in various sizes, 6 to 9 inches, 9 to
12, 12 to 15, 15 to 18, 18 to 24, and over 24 inches. All sizes were
monitored during the experiment. During the life of a plant, its height
increased fastest during the 9 to 12 and 12 to 15 inch phase. Once they
reached 24 inches, growth was much slower.

Plant height increased most during January through March and was relatively
slow during spring, when sprouting was at its peak.

Of 10 fertilizer regimes, 100 pounds of nitrogen and 25 pounds of potassium
per acre per month helped plants attain marketable size quickest. Addition
of phosphorous did not improve growth or tolerance to chilling, even though
plots were on land that had not been previously cropped. However, high
rates of nitrogen made the plants susceptible to chilling injury when
temperatures dropped to 34 to 46 degrees F. A related field experiment
evaluated yield under commercial production practices using four fertilizer
regimes. Nutrients were applied quarterly for two years and yield data were
determined for the last year of the experiment. Results showed that yields
in an old planting continued to increase with rates up to 129 pounds of
nitrogen per acre per month. For this reason, it is suggested that a rate
of 25 pounds of nitrogen and 25 pounds of potassium be used prior to and
during the months when temperatures may go below 34 to 46 degrees F. When
danger of low temperatures has passed, a return to higher fertilization
would increase production.

REFERENCES FOR DETAILS

1. Marlatt, R.B. (1974) Chilling injury in Sansevieria. Hort. Science 9:
539-540.

2. Marlatt, R.B. (1975) Growth of Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' in
South Florida. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 88: 596-598.

3. McConnell, D. and Marlatt, R.B. (1974) Influence of fertilizer rate on
field grown Sansevieria.  Fla. State Hort. Soc. 87: 500-502.

(Figure 1. Slight chilling injury. Leaf areas chilled lose their green
color.)

(Figure 2.  Severe chilling injury (not frozen). Whitened tissues are
sunken and eventually die and become tan.)

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(1) Professor, Plant Pathologist, Uinversity of Florida, Agricultural and
Research Education Center, Homestead, FL 33031

(2) Ornamental Horticulture Department, University of Florida, Gainesville,
FL 32611
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