Transcript Division and Separation

Plant Propagation
by
Division and Separation
A subtle difference
• Division
– plant parts were not intended to be separated (at
least not immediately, perhaps by death)
– requires us to cut or pull plants apart
• Separation
– Plant parts are formed with the intention of
detaching (specific abscission zone)
– plant parts detach naturally (although we may
help)
Reasons to divide
1. “Make” a bunch of
new plants
(propagation)
2. “Revive” existing
plant(s)
1. Preserve certain
characteristics
(chimeras)
Chimera
Chimera
• Single organism with
two genetically different
types of tissue
• Sansevieria = periclinal
chimera
• never propagate trueto-type by cutting types
or methods that require
adventitious shoot
formation
Division
• Stolons
• “Runners”
• Horizontal stem (usually
above ground)
• One of many stems
• Often thin with long
internodes
• Develop plantlets at the
nodes
• Examples (Fragaria, Ajuga,
Spider Plant, Cynodon,
Zoysia)
• Anytime you have roots or
go into mist
Division
• Rhizomes
• Horizontal, underground
stem
• The main stem
• Often thick, white and
fleshy
• Has nodes and internodes
• Examples (Iris, Canna,
Water Lily, Johnson Grass,
Sansevieria, Bamboo)
• Iris = divide after
flowering (ideally)
Division
• Tubers
• Swollen stem
• NOT a root i.e. it has
nodes and buds
• Examples (caladiums,
oxalis, anemones, and
potato, yam)
• Divide early spring, 2
eyes per division
Separation
• True bulbs (tunicate)
• Compressed stem enclosed
by fleshy layers (leaves)
• Offsets (splitting)
• Produce new bulblets
underground
• Some (e.g.) Walking Onion
topset bulbils
• Examples (onions, tulips,
and narcissus )
• Divide summer or fall (after
flowering and the foliage
has died back)
Walking Onion bulbils
Separation
• True bulbs
(imbricate)
• Compressed stem enclosed
by fleshy, scaly layers
(leaves)
• Offsets (splitting)
• Scaling
• Produce new bulbs [bulbils
(above ground on the stem)
& bulblets (below ground
between scales)]
• Examples (Asian Lilies)
• Divide summer or fall (after
flowering and the foliage
has died back)
Tiger Lily bulbils
Separation
• Corms
• Squat, swollen stem with
nodes and internodes
• Storage
• No fleshy layers (thin, dry)
• New corm develops above
the old one
• Cormels
• Examples (Crocus,
Gladiolus, some Begonias)
• Divide after foliage is spent
Division
• Offsets
• Examples (Date Palm,
Haworthia, Bromeliads,
Aloe, many Cacti)
• Provide proper conditions
Division
• Crowns and clumps
• Examples (Ornamental
grasses)
• Divide during dormancy
Division
•
•
•
•
Tuberous roots
Storage
Crown tissue (proximal)
Examples (Dahlias, Sweet
Potatoes)
• Divide (fall) after foliage,
replant (spring), or
produce slips
• http://www.food-skillsfor-selfsufficiency.com/sweetpotato-slips.html
Division
• Fleshy roots
• Examples (Peonies,
Daylilies)
• Fall or spring
Yam or sweet potato
• http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/veget
ables/sweetpotato.html
Next week
• Bring a sharp knife for grafting!
• Bring apple scion wood if you have special
varieties you would like to graft onto the
M111 rootstock.