Abstract:To screen the optimal fertilizer formula for pot cultivation of Rhododendron hybrid ‘Carnation’, a three-factor three-level L9(34) orthogonal test design was adopted to systematically investigate the effects of different nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) ratios on plant growth and physiological characteristics. The test factors included urea (N≥46%, set at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/pot, represented by N1, N2, and N3 respectively), superphosphate (P2O5≥12%, set at 0.8, 1.6, and 2.4 g/pot, represented by P1, P2, and P3 respectively), and potassium sulfate (K2O≥52%, set at 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/pot, represented by K1, K2, and K3 respectively). The results showed that treatment M5 (N2P2K2) significantly promoted plant height growth and flower quantity, while treatment M6 (N2P3K1) was most conducive to stem diameter thickening. The application amounts of P and K fertilizers had significant effects on the accumulation of aboveground, underground, and total biomass. Treatment M9 had the highest chlorophyll content; treatment M5 had the optimal soluble sugar content; treatment M7 (N3P1K2) had the highest soluble protein content; in terms of antioxidant enzyme activity, treatment N1P2K1 had the highest superoxide dismutase activity, and treatment N3P1K1 had the highest peroxidase content; treatment M7 had the lowest malondialdehyde content. Based on the comprehensive evaluation by principal component analysis, the comprehensive score ranking of each treatment was M5>M4>M6>M1>M2>M7>M8>M3>M9>CK (control). Among them, the optimal treatment M5 was most effective in promoting the growth, enhancing physiological activity, and increasing flowering of ‘Carnation’. This provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of efficient cultivation and propagation techniques for ‘Carnation’.