The Effect of Light Intensity and Watering Intervals on the Growth and Flowering of Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29244/jtcs.13.02.457-466Keywords:
flowering, light intensity, ornamental plants, Pentas lanceolata, watering intervalAbstract
Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) is an African ornamental species widely cultivated in Indonesia for landscaping and potted plant production. However, the optimal combination of light intensity and watering interval for maximizing growth and flowering under potted conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction effects of light intensity and watering intervals on the growth and flowering of Pentas. The experiment was conducted from December 2024 to March 2025 in Sukun District, Malang, Indonesia (440 masl.), using a split-plot design with three replications. Light treatments consisted of full light (100% or ± 18,898 lux), moderate light (75% or ± 12,216 lux), and low light (50% or ± 6,122 lux), while watering intervals were applied every 3, 4, or 5 days. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test. The results showed that light availability and watering interval influenced plant growth and flowering, with responses differing between growth stages. Optimal vegetative growth, indicated by the highest shoot dry weight, was achieved under moderate light intensity (75%) combined with a 4-day watering interval. In contrast, the best flowering performance was observed under full light conditions (100%) with the same watering interval. Full light increased the chlorophyll index by 28.73% compared to low light intensity (Figure 3), while moderate light accelerated flower initiation by approximately 19 days (9.40%) (Figure 4). Although watering alone had a limited effect, its interaction with light availability was crucial in regulating overall plant performance. These findings indicate that stage-specific management of light and watering is essential for optimizing the growth and flowering of potted Pentas.
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