Hydroponic Alstroemeria Production: Cultivars, Nutrient Solution and

Vitamins
P. Sánchez-García, G. Baca-Castillo, M. Sandoval-Villa, G. Alcántar-González,
Ma.N. Rodríguez-Mendoza and N. Martínez-Bonilla
Plant Nutrition Area, Soil Science Department
Natural Resources Institute, Postgraduate College of Agricultural Sciences
56230 Montecillo, Texcoco, Edo. México
México

Keywords: Alstroemeria, osmotic potential, Monalisa, Redsunset, thiamine, riboflavin,

nicotinic acid

Abstract
An experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions to evaluate
production of hydroponically grown Alstroemeria. Two cultivars, three osmotic
potentials of nutrient solution and vitamins were evaluated. Significant effects of
nutrient solution osmotic potential, cultivars, and their interaction on height and
floral stems of Alstroemeria were found. Genetic potential yield of Monalisa cultivar
was 60% higher than Redsunset cultivar. Longer stems and yield (124 cm and 93
floral stems m-2 month-1) were obtained with the combination of –0.072 MPa of
osmotic potential and Monalisa cultivar The addition of vitamins increased 58.4%
the floral stem production only in Redsunset cultivar.

INTRODUCTION
Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria sp.) is a perennial plant grown as a garden flower, as a
flowering potted plant, or for cut flowers. The aerial shoots and fibrous roots arise from a
fleshy rhizome (Smith et al., 1998). The Alstroemeria genus is considered one of the most
important cut flowers in Europe and it includes 60 species approximately, which grow
under wild conditions in tropical and subtropical woods of South America (Przybyla,
1994). Native Alstroemeria species from Chile: Alstroemeria pelegrina, Alstroemeria
violacea and Alstroemeria auriantaca are the ancestors of commercial hybrids of
Alstroemeria (Rees, 1992).
Steiner (1968) found that the total ionic concentration or osmotic potential is the
most important factor for growth, development and yield of chrysanthemum
(Dendranthema grandiflorum) and carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) growing in
hydroponics. Besides, the nutrient uptake by plants is determined by the growing stages
and the osmotic pressure of the nutrient solution. This author indicates that the plant ionic
uptake is strongly influenced by light intensity and external temperature.
Hydroponically grown plants require, in addition of essential inorganic nutrients,
another organic substances, which are found naturally in soils, for example, thiamine and
cysteine. These organic substances added to nutrient solution intensify the green color of
chrysanthemum leaves and they offer resistance in plants again nutrimental stress
(Bugarin, 1996). Penningsfeld and Kurzmann (1983) mentioned that the positive effects
of adding vitamins, hormones and another organic substances to nutrient solutions on
plants growing in soilless culture was not clearly understood by that time. Therefore, the
purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of nutrient solution osmotic potential,
cultivars and vitamins on growth, quantity and quality of hydroponically grown cut
flowers of Alstroemeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Greenhouse Conditions
The experiment was carried out during 10 months in Texcoco City, Mexico State
(latitude 19o29’) in a single gable greenhouse of 50 m2 and maximum height of 3.5 m

Proc. IS on Growing Media

Eds.: Alsanius, Jensén & Asp
Acta Hort 644, ISHS 2004
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covered with a single UV720 polyethylene film.

Crop Management
Two Alstroemeria cultivars were evaluated: Monalisa and Redsunset. These
vegetative materials were obtained from soil growing plants, disinfected with 1% sodium
hypochlorite and Benlate® (1g L-1) and transplanted into low density volcanic origin
substrate during two months. Rhizomes from five to seven cm long were transplanted into
substrate containers. Vegetative stems were removed every other week. There were no
pests in Alstroemeria plants during the experiment. Harvest of stems was conducted when
floral stems showed one button ready to open their petals. The quality of harvested floral
stems was classified according to Healy and Wilkins (1985). Therefore, floral stems with
five, four and three flowers in inflorescences and 90, 60 and 30 cm long of floral stems
were considered as 1st, 2nd and 3rd class, respectively.

Hydroponic System and Growing Medium

The hydroponic system was a closed circuit, where the nutrient solution was
recovered after irrigation and it consisted of two plastic containers with volume of 20 L.
Containers were connected to each other at their basis with a latex hose (1.25 m long). A
container was filled with the growing medium, a red low density volcanic origin substrate
(red gravel) locally called “tezontle” (particles of 3-12 mm of diameter), this container
had an Alstroemeria plant, and another container contained 17 L of nutrient solution with
the treatment. Irrigation was conducted by sub irrigation two times per day.

Nutrient Solution Management

A Steiner (Steiner, 1984) nutrient solution was used and prepared with reagent
salts. The macronutrient composition of nutrient solutions of the different treatments is
shown in Table 1. The micronutrients were applied as follow (mg L-1): Fe-8.0, Mn-1.6,
Zn-0.023, Cu-0.011, and B-0.865 as Fe-EDTA, MnSO4 x 4H2O, ZnSO4 x 7H2O, CuSO4 x
5H2O, and H3BO3, respectively. The nutrient solution was adjusted to pH 5.5-6.5 by
adding either H2SO4 or NaOH.

Addition of Vitamins
A commercial product containing vitamin B (Becrysyl®) was added directly to the
nutrient solution to evaluate the effect of vitamins on Alstroemeria production (Tables 2
and 3).
Treatments Design
The experiment was a completed randomized design with a factorial (3X2X2)
arrangement of treatments replicated four times (Table 3). The results were statistically
analyzed with the SAS software.

RESULTS
The analysis of variance indicated significant effects of osmotic potential, cultivar,
addition of vitamins on the number of floral stems of Alstroemeria (Table 4). The osmotic
potential of –0.72 MPa combined with no vitamins addition showed the largest stems
(124 cm). This combination also resulted in the highest number 1st class floral stems
(Table 4). The combination –0.092 MPa, addition of vitamins, and Redsunset cultivar
gave short stems (3rd class; Table 4).
Alstroemeria yield obtained with –0.072 MPa was 47% and 37% higher compared
to –0.092 MPa, and –0.112 MPa, respectively (Fig. 1A). The number of floral stems was
60% higher for Monalisa cultivar than Redsunset cultivar, which may be associated to
genetic potential (Fig. 1B). The addition of vitamins reduced 25% the number of floral
stems (Fig. 1C). However, the Redsunset cultivar increased 58.4% the number of floral
stems due to the addition of vitamins (r2 = 0.723).

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DISCUSSION

Growth
Smith et al. (1998) found a height range for Alstroemeria stems of 24 to 66 cm for
Parigo Pink cultivar grown in soilless culture. In the actual study, the range stem height
for Monalisa cultivar was 108-124 cm and 71-100 cm for Redsunset cultivar (Table 4).
Even when stem height usually is genetically determined, it was found that it is possible
to manipulate plant height by increasing or decreasing the osmotic potential of the
nutrient solution.

Quantity of Flower Stems

Increasing the nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution from 14 to 28.5
mmol
L-1 had a small effect on the number of floral stems (15.6 and 16 floral stems m2 month-1,
respectively) of Parigo Pink cultivar (Smith et al., 1998). However, our data indicated that
increasing the osmotic potential from –0.072 MPa to –0.092 MPa and –0.112 MPa
decreased the number of floral stems m-2 month-1 from 56.3 to 35.64 and 30, respectively
(Fig. 1). Schwarz (1975) and Baca (1983) recommend to increase irrigation frequency
when using nutrient solutions with high osmotic potential.
Könst Alstroemeria Company (1998) sustain that depending of Alstroemeria
cultivars it is possible to obtain approximately 8–23 floral stems m-2 month-1 in soil
conditions. Our data indicated higher number of 1st class floral stems (Table 4) by using
soilless culture. The best treatment (P1C1V0) had 93 floral stems m-2 month-1 for
Monalisa cultivar and 42 floral stems for Redsunset (Treatment P2C2V1). These values
are 75.2 and 45.2% higher than the maximum reported by Könst Alstroemeria Company
(1998) under soil conditions. Therefore, Alstroemeria can express its maximum genetic
potential yield growing in hydroponics.
Penningsfeld and Kurzmann (1983) mentioned that it may be possible to enhance
plant growth by addition of vitamin B1 (thiamine). They also indicated that the addition of
0.01-0.02 g of vitamin B6 or 0.002 g of vitamin B12 per plant significantly improve orchid
growth.
The multiple mean comparison of treatments (Tukey, at p=0.05) showed that the
addition of vitamins decreased Alstroemeria yield by 17% (Fig. 1C). The Russian
experience demonstrated that that the addition of 0.01% of vitamins C, B1, and B2
decrease water content, fitic acid, and ascorbic acid in bean, carrot, and tomato
(Penningsfeld and Kurzmann, 1983).
Quality of Flower Stems
Quality of floral stems was higher for Monalisa cultivar at low than at high
osmotic potentials (Table 4), which indicated an interaction. By contrast, Smith et al.
(1998) found that Alstroemeria plants grown with 28 mmol L-1 of nitrogen in the nutrient
solution produced more 1st class floral stems than those treatments grown with lower
concentration of nitrogen in the nutrient solution.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
The interaction of osmotic potential of the nutrient solution (-0.072 MPa) and
Monalisa cultivar significantly influenced in the enhancement of the number of floral
stems per plant. Vitamins increased the number of floral stems (58.4%) only in Redsunset
cultivar.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The financial support of the Science and Technology National Council is
acknowledged.

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Literature Cited
Baca, C.G.A. 1983. Efecto de la solución nutritiva, la frecuencia de los riegos, el
substrato y la densidad de siembra en cultivos hidropónicos al aire libre de pepino,
melón y jitomate. Tesis Doctoral. Colegio de Postgraduados. Montecillo, México.
Bugarin, M.R. 1996. Proporción de amonio/nitrato y concentración iónica total de la
solución nutritiva, en el cultivo hidropónico de crisantemo. Tesis de maestría. Colegio
de Postgraduados. Montecillo, México.
Healy, W.E. and Wilkins, H.F. 1985. Alstroemeria culture. Minessota State Florist´s
Bulletin. Vol 33(3).
Könst Alstroemeria Company 1998. http://www.Alstroemeria.com/products.html.
Penningsfeld, F. and Kurzmann, P. 1983. Cultivos hidropónicos y en turba. 2ª edición.
Versión española. J.S. Caffarena. Mundi Prensa. Madrid, España.
Przybyla, A. 1994. Mejoramiento genético de Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria L.). Revista
Chapingo, México. Serie Horticultura 1:151-158.
Rees, A. R. 1992. Ornamental bulbs, corms and tubers. Wallingford. CAB International.
Smith, M.A., Elliot, C.G. and Bridgen, P.M. 1998. Calcium and Nitrogen fertilization of
Alstroemeria for cut flower production. Hort. Science 33(1):55-59.
Steiner, A.A. 1968. Soilless culture. Proceedings of the 6th Colloquium of the
International Potash Institute. Florence, Italy. Published by Int. Potash Inst. Berne,
Switzerland. p.324-341.
Steiner, A.A. 1984. The Universal Solution. I.S.O.S.C. Proceedings of 6th International
Congress on Soilless Culture. p.633-649.

Tables

Table 1. Composition and osmotic potential of nutrient solutions.

Salts (mmol L-1) Osmotic

Ca(NO3)2 x 4H2O KNO3 K2SO4 MgSO4 x 7H2O KH2PO4 potential
(MPa)
4.50 3.00 1.50 2.00 1.00 -0.072
5.75 3.80 1.90 2.55 1.30 -0.092
7.00 4.67 2.33 3.11 1.55 -0.112

Table 2. Composition of the B vitamin complex (Becrysyl®).

Compounds Concentration (mg 100 mL-1)

Dextrose 5000
Chlorhydrate of thiamine 1
Riboflavin 1
Nicotinamide 25
Chlorhydrate of pyridoxine 0.5
Vitamin B12 0.3

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Table 3. Treatments design and identification, factors and levels of the experiment.

Treatments Identificationa Osmotic Cultivar Vitamin Complex

potential (mL L-1)
(MPa)
1 P1C1V0 -0.072 Monalisa 0
2 P1C1V1 -0.072 Monalisa 0.23
3 P1C2V0 -0.072 Redsunset 0
4 P1C2V1 -0.072 Redsunset 0.23
5 P2C1V0 -0.092 Monalisa 0
6 P2C1V1 -0.092 Monalisa 0.23
7 P2C2V0 -0.092 Redsunset 0
8 P2C2V1 -0.092 Redsunset 0.23
9 P3C1V0 -0.112 Monalisa 0
10 P3C1V1 -0.112 Monalisa 0.23
11 P3C2V0 -0.112 Redsunset 0
12 P3C2V1 -0.112 Redsunset 0.23
a
P=Osmotic potential (1= -0.072 MPa, 2= -0.092 MPa, 3= -0.112 MPa); C=Cultivars (1=Monalisa,
2=Redsunset); V=Addition of Vitamins (0=without vitamins, 1=with vitamins).

Table 4. Growth and floral stems production of hydroponically grown Alstroemeria.

Production
Treatments Height of stem (floral stems m-2 month-1)
(cm) Classification by quality (class) Total
1st 2nd 3rd

P1C1V0 124 a 69 a 15 abc 9 cd 93 a

P1C1V1 118 a 48 b 18 ab 3d 69 b
P1C2V0 97 abc 0e 3d 21 bc 24 ef
P1C2V1 78 bc 0e 6 cd 33 ab 39 cde
P2C1V0 113 ab 33 c 12 abcd 6d 51 bcd
P2C1V1 108 abc 18 d 12 abcd 12 cd 42 cde
P2C2V0 76 bc 0e 3d 6d 9f
P2C2V1 71 c 0e 3d 39 a 42 cde
P3C1V0 119 a 18 d 9 bcd 3d 30 def
P3C1V1 111 ab 27 cd 21 a 12 cd 60 bc
P3C2V0 100 abc 0e 3d 6d 9f
P3C2V1 92 abc 0e 6 cd 15 cd 21 ef
Means in column with the same letter are not significantly different at p=0.05.

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 Figures

(A) (B) a (C)

a a a a
50

m-2-1) month-1
-1
b b
stems m-2 month-1

) month
45
60 60
b b 40
50 b b 50

-2
35
b b

m-2 mounth
mounthm
-1
(flower stems m-2 mounth-1)

stems
stems
40 30

Production
40
Production
Production

25

stems
stems m-2

30 30
flower

flower
20
Production flower

Production(flower
20 20 15
(flower
Production

10
10 10
5
0 0 0
-0.072 -0.092 -0.112
Monalisa Red Sunset Whitout Vitamins
Osmotic potential vitamins
Cultivars
(MPa)

Fig. 1. Osmotic potential (A), cultivars (B) and addition of vitamins (C) effect on flower
stems production of Alstroemeria. Bars in figures with the same letter are not
significantly different at p=0.05.

96