Effect of growing environment and rooting hormone on root and shoot characters of hibiscus.

A study was conducted in hibiscus in order to find out the favourable growing environment with or without rooting hormone, after four and six months of planting of cuttings. Cuttings planted under shade-net house exhibited significantly early sprouting, maximum number of primary roots per cutting, mean root length, leaf size and plant height. However, fresh and dry weights of roots, number of secondary roots per cutting, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of leaves per shoot and number of shoots per cutting were significantly higher under open conditions. At the same time, rooting hormone failed to exert any significant effect on rooting parameters but improved the growth characters of cuttings. Cent percent rooting of cuttings and significantly improved shoot and root characters after six months of planting were recorded in all the treatment combinations. Among the various treatment combinations, significant increase for the most of root parameters were recorded under open conditions without hormonal treatment, while open conditions with hormonal treatment for the most of shoot parameters. Maximum variation was observed for number of primary roots per cutting and minimum for number of leaves per shoot.