ROOTING CUTTINGS IN CUPRIC HYDROXIDE-TREATED POTS AFFECTS ROOT LENGTHAND NUMBER OF FLOWERS AFTER TRANSPLANTING

Stem tip cuttings of Evolvulus glomeratus Nees and Mart., E. tenuis Ne es and Mart., Lantana camara L. 'Dallas Red,' and L. montevidensis Bri q. 'Alba' were rooted for 6 weeks in 57-mm-diameter (150 ml) square po ts. Before rooting, interior surfaces of half of the pots were treated with 100 g Cu(OH)(2)/liter, while remaining pots were left untreated. Elongation of adventitious roots stopped when root tips came in conta ct with a Cu(OH)(2)-treated surface. Cupric hydroxide treatment reduce d total root length and the length of the longest root for all four sp ecies, but did not influence root, shoot, or total plant weight, One m onth after transplanting to 150-mm-diameter (1.2 liter) hanging basket s, plants moved from Cu(OH)(2)-treated pots had more flowers than thos e transplanted from nontreated pots. Applying Cu(OH)(2) to interior su rfaces of pots used for propagation prevented root deformation, reduce d root length, and increased flowering following transplanting.