Mealworm frass fed on expanded polystyrene helps retention of chrysanthemum flower

Insect frass is being considered as a source of crop fertilizer. However, previous studies have focused on the growth and yield of vegetables but have not conducted on flower performance much. The objective of this study is to improve the number of flowers and flowering duration of chrysanthemum using a mealworm frass. The treatments are untreated control, commercial mealworm frass fertilizer (M1, 0.05 mL·mL^-1, M2, 0.02 mL·mL^-1, and M3, 0.01 mL·mL^-1). The number of flowers in the M1 and M2 treatments was enhanced compared to the untreated control. The mealworm frass treatments showed increased flower retention compared to the untreated control. Moisture, EC, and pH tended to increase and then gradually decrease according to the nutrient solution supply date. The mealworm frass increased EC in a concentration dependent manner. According to the EC data, the concentration is very important for chrysanthemum root growth and soil condition improvement. These results demonstrate that an appropriate dilution concentration of mealworm frass is essential. By improving the quality and value of chrysanthemums, this study can contribute to floriculture industry.