Background: The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of growing media and light intensity on growth, physiological responses, flowering behaviour and cut-flower quality of H. psittacorum L.f. &times; H. spathocircinata cv. &lsquo;Golden Torch&rsquo; under coastal tropical conditions of Odisha, India. 
 
Methods: The experiment comprised three growing media [Soil:FYM:Cocopeat in the ratios of 2:1:1 (M1), 1:1:2 (M2) and 1:2:1 (M3)] and two growing environments [open condition (E1) and 50% shade under UV-stabilised agro-net (E2)], arranged in a factorial completely randomized design. 
 
Result: Results revealed that growing environment significantly influenced physiological and flowering responses, while growing media played a critical role in modulating plant growth and floral quality. Plants grown under open conditions (E1) exhibited earlier sprouting, higher number of leaves, increased sprout production and earlier flowering, whereas shaded conditions (E2) significantly enhanced leaf area, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, inflorescence length, stalk length and flowering duration. Among the growing media, M2&nbsp;(1:1:2) was found superior for vegetative growth and early flowering, while M3&nbsp;(1:2:1) significantly improved flower yield, bract number and inflorescence quality traits. The interaction effects indicated that M2&nbsp;&times; E1&nbsp;was optimal for earliness and growth, whereas M3&nbsp;&times; E2&nbsp;produced superior floral quality and extended flowering duration. Overall, the study demonstrates that optimizing growing media in conjunction with appropriate light conditions is crucial for balancing yield and quality in heliconia cultivation. Open conditions with balanced media are recommended for early and higher yield, while partial shade combined with organic-rich media is ideal for improving cut-flower quality and longevity.

Source-environment Interactions: Media and Light Intensity management for Improved Growth and Flowering in Heliconia hybrid cv. Golden Torch under Coastal Tropical Conditions