Year Around Production of Globba sherwoodiana 'White Dragon' Cut Flowers
2015
Criley, R. A. | Kim, H. J.
One of several Globba species native to Southeast Asia, Globba sherwoodiana produces stems up to 60 cm long from perennial rhizomes. Short-lived true flowers are borne in the axils of persistent, showy white bracts borne on pendent inflorescences. In its native habitat, flowering occurs during the warm, long days of summer, and aboveground portions die back during the short days of winter. Vase life of freshly-opened cut stems averaged 28 days, with a few lasting more than 60 days. To obtain winter flower production, interrupted night lighting was provided from 10 pm to 2 am. Rhizomes were held at 15°C from 25 April 2012 until planting, with the first planting 1 July 2012, continuing monthly through 1 June 2013. By 1 November 2012, some sprouting had occurred in storage (6 months after entering storage), a trend which continued through the remaining serial planting dates. This caused a difference in mean plant-to-sprout times from 4 to about 20 days. Mean sprout-to-flower times varied, with less time required when greenhouse DLI was 15 mol m-2 d-1 or greater while more time was required during winter when DLI was less than 10 mol m-2 d-1. Over the 12 month experimental period, mean plant-to-flowering times ranged from 49 to 82 days, suggesting that closer planting dates would be required in winter months to assure a uniform flower supply. Additionally, the production period increased as the storage period increased. While varying with season, 4 or more inflorescence-bearing stems were produced in the first 60 days from the harvest of the first one. Although plant-to-sprout and sprout-to-flower times were longer, flower production could be achieved under cool conditions above 18/15°C (D/N).
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