Enhancing floret persistence and bloom duration in gladiolus through foliar-applied calcium: a sustainable approach to floriculture

Enhancing floret persistence and bloom duration in ornamental plants through foliar-applied calcium promotes sustainability by improving nutrient efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, conserving resources, and boosting ornamental and commercial value. This two-year study (2021-2022) evaluated the effects of foliar calcium application on floret persistence and bloom duration in gladiolus (cv. White Prosperity). The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design with a split-plot arrangement, replicated three times. Main plots received different application timings (3rd, 5th, and 7th leaf stages), and subplots were assigned various calcium concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mm). Calcium chloride was applied as a foliar spray. Results showed that applying 300 mm calcium at the 5th leaf stage yielded the longest spike emergence duration (96.63 days), tallest spike length (128.50 cm), and extended both first floret (7.23 days) and last floret (5.34 days) life spans. Additionally, florets in the 300 mm treatment had the highest calcium content (0.853%). These findings demonstrate that precise foliar calcium application enhances the ornamental quality and market value of gladiolus and contributes to sustainable horticulture by optimising nutrient use efficiency, reducing input waste and supporting environmental resilience in floriculture practices.