Gomphrena and Ixora - introduction and uses – varieties - soil and climate and planting systems - weed, nutrition and irrigation management – role of growth regulators- harvest index and yield
1. Gomphrena and Ixora - introduction and uses –
varieties - soil and climate and planting systems -
weed, nutrition and irrigation management – role of
growth regulators- harvest index and yield
Dr. M. Kumaresan
Assistant professor
Dept. of Horticulture
Adhiparasakthi Horticultural College
Lecture No.:9
3. Introduction
Gomphrena globosa
Amaranthaceae
n=22
Other names- Globe Amaranth or Bachelor Button or Globe
flower
In Tamil it is called as Vaadaamalli
Native- Panama and Guatemala in Central America
Uses: border; edging; mass planting
It is one of the important commercial flower crop grown for
“loose flower” used for garland making.
Though not fragrant, the flowers are very popular due to their
attractive colour, light weight and good keeping quality.
5. Gomphrena globosa, commonly known as Globe
Amaranth or Bachelor Button, is an annual plant
that grows up to 60cm
The true species has magenta bracts,
and cultivars have colors such as purple, red,
white, pink and lilac.
Native: Brazil, Panama and Guatemala.
6. Gomphrena haageana is a herbaceous perennial that acts as an
annual in temperate climates.
The most common cultivar is known as Strawberry Fields globe
amaranth.
It has a red flower reminiscent of a strawberry.
It can grow up to 45 cm in height.
It is native to Texas and Mexico.
7. Gomphrena celosioides Mart.
It is a herbaceous perennial
This much-branched, prostrate plant is
an annual or short-lived perennial,
with a deep taproot and is often mat-
forming.
8. USES
Trinidad: flowers are boiled to make a tea which is used for
baby gripe, cough and diabetes
Hawaii: commonly used for dry flower due to it retains its shape
and color after drying
Flower is used to make a garland for Brother's Day in Nepal.
Mass planting is very effective and instead of using only one color.
It is popular commercial flower grown in the southern districts of
TN, used for garland making and also for cut flowers.
9. SOIL AND CLIMATE
Tropical and subtropical
It grows well in any type of light and well
drained garden soil, cannot stand water
logging and prefers open sunny situation.
pH 5.8 to 6.2
Moisture
Globe amaranth will survive drought, but
performs best with regular watering,
especially during hot weather.
10. Mixed colour variety – Globosa (Tall variety)
White flower variety – Sishi ( Dwarf variety)
VARIETIES
Liliput. puti or puti
It is the only improved variety of gomphrena which is
15cm height, dwarf variety producing long shelf life
It can be grown throughout the year, suited for potted
plants.
Pink flower
Compared to other flowers, it tolerates drought and can
survive with very little water.
11. VARIETIES
Gomphrena varieties are
ever-increasing in
abundance. Series
available include
Qis,
All Around,
Audray,
Las Vegas,
Buddy and
Gnome.
12. • All Around Purple is a favorite for its rich purple blossoms
and grows 45 cm tall.
• This plant attracts loads of butterflies to its purple flowers all
summer long.
The new Audray - The Audray Series is comprised of three
colors, Pink, Purple Red, and Bicolor Rose (formerly a stand-
alone variety).
.
14. PROPAGATION
Propagation of Gomphrena is done by seeds.
Seed rate: 2kg/ha
Seeds are sown in raised nursery beds, or pans during
January-March.
Flowering time during summer and rainy seasons (April
to September).
• Seeds should be soaked in water for a day or two before
planting and will take about a week
• Germinate at 21 ºC
15. PLANTING & IRRIGATION
Planting
In 20 days old seedlings are planted at 8 – 10 cm height, are ready for
planting. These seedlings are transplanted either in the morning or
evening at 30 – 45 cm spacing.
Irrigation
Compared the other crops, it is necessary to irrigated gomphrena at the
right time at the right dose.
The plants become stunted with pale coloured flowers and less yield.
1 month after planting 20 – 25 kg DAP and 12 – 15 kg potash as top
dressing.
If the flowers are still small with less yield, another dose of top dressing is
given.
16. WEEDING
Weeds become problem in early stage
of cultivation gomphrena .
If weeding is not taken at proper time
growth and productivity will be
markedly reduced.
HARVESTING
Gomphrena usually starts flowering
after about 75 to 80 days after
sowing.
YIELD
602 flowers/plant from pinched
plants
While, non-pinched plants produced
518 flowers.
10t/ha
17. DISEASES AND PESTS
DISEASES
Leaf spot disease is caused by the fungus Cercospora gumphrenae
The plants are very susceptible to tomato bushy stunt virus infection
when grown at high temperature and long photoperiod
G. globosa is susceptible to yellowing of veins disease, causing
stunted growth and deterioration in bloom quality.
It is easily transmitted by white fly (Bemisia tabaci).
18. PESTS
Cutworms, aphids and beetles attack the plants at any
stage of its growth.
Spraying with suitable insecticide controls these pests.
19. DRY FLOWER USES
The dried flowers are used in flower arrangements, and indoor
decoration because they retain their colour even in dried form.
Dried gomphrena has been widely used in making potpourri.
20. INTRODUCTION
Botanical Name: Ixora sp
Family : Rubiaceae
Common name : Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame, or Jungle
Geranium.
It is a genus of 529 species
I. coccinea is 2n = 22
Origin: south east –Asia, southern India and Sri Lanka.
The genus Ixora coccinea is a dense, multi branched commonly 1-
2.2 m in height
IXORA
21. DESCRIPTION
It’s a evergreen shrub
Tall up to about 3 m height
The tubular 30 mm long and about 12 mm broad flowers,
united in thick terminal tops, are mainly of a scarlet colour,
but can also be yellow, pink and orange
The fruits are globose, about 10 mm long, of a blackish purple
colour, containing two seeds
22. SOME IMPORTANT SPECIES
I. coccinea:
Most common species cultivated in
India.
Leaves are oblong, elliptical, glossy leaves.
Flowers are compact, full bloom at rainy
season.
Flowers are bright scarlet flowers.
Some Important cultivars in this species
are Bandhura, Lan Casteria, magnifica,
New Pink
23. Plants are dwarf
Leaves are opposite
Flowers are in dense, tubular and in
salmon red colour.
Flowering at July – September.
Important cultivars are Nana,
Prince of Orange and Rosea
I. chinensis:
24. Plants are 2m tall,
Leaves are oblong.
Flowers are orange
scarlet, terminal
cymose.
It blooms throughout
the year
I. fulgens:
26. Plants are 2-2.5 m.
Elliptic and lanceolate
leaves, glossy, green in
colour.
Flowers are in large,
scarlet orange in colour.
It blooms during summer
and rainy
I. singaporensis
27. Plants are dwarf, few
leaves.
Flowers are white with
fragrance in terminal
cluster, long lasting.
It blooms in summer
season
I. superba
28. It is cross of
I. coccinea x I. Venusta.
It is a plant of 1.5 m tall
with orange flowers in
cluster.
I. aliporensis
30. Dwarf ixora and maui ixora, the smaller varieties of
this lushly flowering shrub
31. USES
The plant is mainly grown as an ornamental, but its flowers
also have some medicinal uses
Red ixora flowers are commonly used in Hindu worship, as
well as in Indian folk medicine
It is for screens and for hedges
It does well as a potted plant that has full sun light.
Shrubbery and specimen plants
32. CLIMATE AND SOIL:
CLIMATE
Grown in full sunlight.
Plants have only moderate drought tolerance.
If the temperatures drop below 4.50C, leaves and stems will be
damaged.
SOIL
The plants like a well-drained, moist, acidic soil that is high in
organic materials.
It’s a acid-loving plant, a soil pH - 5 for best growth
33. PROPAGATION:
Propagation: through stem cuttings 5-8cm (2-3 inch) long taken in spring.
Air layering is commercial practice.
Trim each cutting immediately below a leaf, remove that leaf and dip the cut end
in hormone rooting powder.
Plant the cutting in a 5-8cm (2-3 inch) pot containing a moistened equal-parts
mixture of peat moss and coarse sand or perlite.
Enclose the whole in a plastic bag or propagating case and stand it in bright
filtered light at a temperature of 21-27°C (70-81°F).
SPACING
(45 x 60 cm) or (60 x 90 cm)
34. NUTRITION
Applying standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks
during the active growth period gives good results.
Top-dress Ixora each spring with FYM 10 tons /ha and
basic NPK.10:10:10 g/ plant in spring
35. HARVEST
Pluck the flowers in bunch
Flowers naturally have good shelf life
Yield: 2500 kg/ha
36. POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY
Arrange in card board boxes for export
Use of gunny bags /bamboo baskets for local market
37. PESTS, DISEASES AND DEFICIENCIES:
Iron deficiency
Die back
root rot,
leaf spots,
scale & other sucking insects
sooty mold
Nematodes
Grasshopper
