Crushed Fruit Shells of West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni Jacq.) as a Potential Potting Media Constituent

Abstract

Crushed fruit shells of West Indian Mahogany were evaluated as a potting soil medium constituent with Croton (Codiaeum sp. var Mortii) as a test plant. Crushed fruit shells, both pure and mixed in a 1:1 ratio by volume with sand was compared to a local commercial potting mix consisting of peat, sand, perlite and soil. Results showed that the fruit shell/sand mixture was just as good as the commercial mix for production of healthy attractive croton plants. Application of a soluble and a slow release fertilizer incorporated with soil mix gave better results than slow release fertilizer used alone.