Cryptanthus sinuosus plants were grown in three substrates (coconut mesocarp - MC, rinsed coconut mesocarp - MCL and tree fern fiber-X) aiming to compare the effect of green coconut fiber as substrate with tree fern fiber on the plant growth and nutrient contents, under three foliar fertilization levels (50, 100 and 150% of a solution containing 210 mg L-1 of N, 31 mg L-1 of P and 234 mg L-1 of K). The experimental design was a factorial scheme of randomized blocks with four replications and three plants per plot, one plant per pot, and was carried out in a greenhouse. The number of leaves, rosette diameter, leaf and root dry matter mass and nutrient contents were evaluated. Plants grown in X presented higher leaf and root dry matter mass values than those grown in MC, but did not differ from those observed on plants in MCL. The plants grown in MC and MCL showed similar characteristics indicating that the high electric conductivity of MC did not impair dry matter accumulation. The plants grown in MC and MCL showed lower N, P, S leaf contents than those grown in X, nevertheless they showed more attractive leaf color and architecture. The levels of fertilization did not differ the growth characteristics or the plant nutrient contents.
bromeliad; coconut husk; substrate; tree fern
