2007 MIXED CONTAINER TRIAL by Bart Hayes and Dr. Claudio Pasian Department of Horticulture and Crop Science The Ohio State University See results and photos in the tables below INTRODUCTION 2007 was quite a year. The fifth year of the Mixed Container trials has given us more results and provided more insight into the performance and durability of plants grown in large combination planters. We had two companies participate this year in addition to the in house designed combinations and designs from previous years. Plants were evaluated on a monthly basis in July, August, and September by the Trials Director. Consumer Preference evaluations were also conducted monthly by our fourteen member team of Master Gardeners. OBJECTIVES We had two objectives in mind:          1) Over time, to evaluate the combination of plants as a whole (design) and, at the same time, to evaluate each species/cultivar in the combination.          2) To compare cultivars grown in mixed container plantings versus the same cultivars grown in containers separate from other species/cultivars ("monocultures"). GENERAL INFORMATION Transplanting Dates: May 30, 2007 Container Size: 12" diameter for Single Cultivar (Monocultures); 16" diameter for combination plantings. Location: outdoors, full-sun location in secured gravel area just west of our departmental Columbus greenhouses. Media: Metro-Mix 300. Preventative drench: Plugs were treated with a Plantshield drench just prior to transplanting. Replications: Up to 3 for monocultures and 3 for combination plantings. CULTURAL PRACTICES Irrigation: Watered as needed via drip irrigation system. Fertilization: 16” diameter mixed containers were given 120 grams (4.23 oz.) of Osmocote 16-9-12. The 12” diameter monoculture containers were given 90 grams (3.17 oz.) of Osmocote 16-9-12. Pruning: The Pelargoniums in the Monoculture pots were deadheaded once. No pruning or deadheading was performed on any of the other combinations. Weather Conditions: Abnormally dry and sunny conditions made this year’s trial especially important in evaluating tolerances. Heat and full sun made some of the more vigorous varieties grow at an accelerated rate. PEST AND DISEASE PROBLEMS Pests: Western Flower Thrips on Dahlias and Verbena varieties. Whiteflies on Lantana and coleus. Diseases: Some Downy Mildew on coleus (light colored varieties). Cultural Issues: Some more vigorous varieties tended to out-compete less vigorous varieties. EVALUATIONS The Consumer Preference Evaluations and the OSU Performance Evaluations were performed in July, August, and September. The Consumer Preference evaluated overall appearance and aesthetics of the containers on a personal preference basis. The OSU Performance Evaluations evaluated the Balance/Dominance of the containers as a whole and the individual plants contribution to the design. Balance/Dominance is an index used to describe the dominance of a particular component of the mix (one plant may be ‘taking over’). This index is not related to aesthetics: a very balanced combination may not look appealing and vice versa. Evaluation Criteria: Ratings were based on a 1 - 5 scale: 1 = poor/not acceptable, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent. Design Codes for Mixed Containers: Ecke Designs: E 1 -11 Bodger Designs: B 1-10 Master Gardener Designs: OSU 1-19 RESULTS 1. TOP COMBINATIONS IN MIXED CONTAINER TRIAL OSU Evaluations The best performing combinations with an overall Balance/Dominance season average in the range of 4.67 to 4.08 (on a 5 point scale) were: B5, OSU 11, E3, OSU 8, E1, B7 Also performing very well with ratings in the 4.00 to 3.58 ranges were: OSU 7, OSU 1, E5, OSU 9, OSU 10, E10 The OSU Single Plant Characteristics and Combination Performance, with Balance/Dominance score (Complete with PHOTOS of the combination, the design and the individual cultivar photos diagram), is presented in TABLE 1. Consumer Preference Results The following results are the average consumer preference ratings per month in August and September, with an overall season average. The best performing combinations with an overall season average in the range of 4.59 to 4.14 (on a 5 point scale) were: OSU 9, B5, OSU 15, OSU 12, E5, E10, E4, B8 The Consumer Preference evaluation of the Mixed Containers sorted by design code is presented in TABLE 2. TOP CULTIVARS IN MONOCULTURE CONTAINERS The monocultures pots were trialed separately to the mixed combinations. All the plants that were part of the mixed container designs were also separately trialed in 12” diameter monoculture containers. OSU Evaluations Monoculture Containers The best performing monocultures with an overall season average in the range of 5.00 to 4.58 (on a 5 point scale) were: Agastache ‘Acapulco Orange’, Ipomoea ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, Begonia ‘Doublet Rose’, Solenostemon ‘Wedding Train’, Helichrysum ‘Silver Spike’, Ipomoea ‘Sweet Caroline Green/Yellow’, Crossandra ‘Orange Marmalade’, Anigozanthus ‘Kanga Red’, Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Magenta’, Begonia ‘Gumdrop Rose’, Ipomoea ‘Sweet Caroline Bewitched’, Geranium ‘Patriot Red’, Lantana ‘Morning Glow Passion’. Also performing very well with ratings in the 4.50 to 4.00 range were: Ipomoea ‘Sweet Caroline Red’, Solenostemon ‘Stained Glassworks Witch Doctor’, Gazania ‘Sun Bathers Gold Coast’, Pentas ‘Bismark Pink’, Solenostemon ‘Stained Glassworks Emerald and Snow’, Pentas ‘Lava Pink’, Salvia ‘Stampede Cherry’, Solenostemon ‘Stained Glassworks Saw Grass’, Bracteanthea ‘Brilliance Lemon’, Solenostemon ‘Big Blonde’, Lantana ‘Morning Glow Vanilla, Lantana ‘Morning Glow Rose/Gold’, Agastache ‘Acapulco Rose’, Salvia ‘Stampede Citron’, Solenostemon ‘Stained Glassworks Midnight Train’, Gaura ‘Pink Fountain’, Pentas ‘Bahamas White’, Torenia ‘Yellow Moon’. The OSU Monoculture Evaluation results, sorted by overall rating, are presented in TABLE 3 Consumer Preference Monoculture Evaluations The best performing monocultures in the consumer evaluation with an overall average score of 4.75 to 4.56 (on a 5 point scale) were: Solenostemon ‘Wedding Train’, Begonia ‘Doublet Rose’, Diascia ‘Miracle Pink’, Begonia ‘Gumdrop Rose’, Diascia ‘Miracle Red’ Also performing very well with ratings in the 4.44 to 4.00 range were: Lantana ‘Morning Glow Passion’, Agastache ‘Acapulco Orange’, Pentas ‘Bahamas White’, Pentas ‘Bismark Pink’, Solenostemon ‘Stained Glassworks Emerald and Snow’, Helichrysum ‘Silver Spike’, Petunia ‘Blanket Purple’, Lantana ‘Morning Glow Orange/Yellow’, Agastache ‘Acapulco Rose’, Crossandra ‘Orange Marmalade’, Ipomoea ‘Sweet Caroline Green/Yellow’, Lantana ‘Morning Glow Vanilla’, Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Magenta’, Verbena ‘Tropical Breeze Purple and White’, Torenia ‘Yellow Moon’. The Consumer Monoculture Preference Evaluation is presented in TABLE 4 ACNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the following companies for participating in the trial: Plant Sponsors:        Bodger Botanical: http://www.michells.com/bodger.htm        Ecke Ranch: http://www.eckeranch.com Supply Donors:       Dillen Products (Containers) http://www.dillen.com/         Dramm Corporation (irrigation supplies) http://www.dramm.com/html/main.isx         Sun Grow Horticulture (growing mix) http://www.sungro.com/         Bioworks (Plantshield) http://www.bioworksbiocontrol.com.html Thanks also for the excellent support from our staff members David Snodgrass and Jim Vent as well as our student workers Lindsay Davis and David Lukas. Special thanks to Stephanie Burns for her dedication and hard work as manager for the past two sasons. Godd luck in your future endeavors. Special thanks to our extremely talented and dedicated Annuals Team of Master Gardeners and Chadwick Volunteers for their container designs and their dedication throughout the season. Also, thank you to Ken Chamberlain for photographing the combination containers.