Transcript chapter 10
Growing Plants
Vegetative Propagation
Propagation
Process of increasing the supply of a type of plant
Can be done sexually (using seeds)
- plants developed are non-identical
Can also be done asexually
- plants that develop are identical
- can be done naturally – using natural structures (e.g.
bulbs)
- or artificially – e.g cuttings
Natural propagation structures
Bulbs
- made of many leaf bases attached to a stem
- swollen with stored food
- side buds found in between the leaf bases
- these develop into daughter bulbs
- spring flowering bulbs can be re-planted in autumn
- many bulbs (e.g. daffodil) make daughter bulbs naturally
Tubers
- swollen part of the stem or root – for food storage
- each tuber can grow into a new plant if re-planted
-e.g. potato plants form tubers on underground stems
- ‘eyes’ form new shoots
- use food stored inside the tuber to help grow
- tubers kept in a cool room (6 weeks) before re-planting
- this is sprouting or chitting
Use of attached offspring
Plantlet
- tiny plant still attached to parent
- often develop at the leaves
- e.g. Mexican Hat plant, Piggy Back plant
Runner
- plantlets at end of ‘horizontal’ stems
- e.g. spider plant, strawberry plant
Offsets
- plantlet that develops at the base of the
parent
- these can be cut away from parent & replanted
E.g mother-in-laws tongue
Artificial Propagation
Increasing plant supply, using
non-natural methods
Plant growth takes place at
growth points e.g root tips,
buds
Also at nodes – part of stem
where side branches grow
If plant is wounded, it can regrow and replace missing
parts
Parts of plants can be cut off
and re-planted
Cuttings
Piece of plant cut, and re-planted
Roots grow from cut surface
Cut end needs planting in moist soil or
in water
Rooting powder can help root growth
Cuttings can lose water through their
leaves
Water loss can be reduced by
- trimming off lower leaves on cutting
- placing cutting in a propagator/plastic
bag
Heat during propagation
Heating systems/propagators
keep constant temperatures
Encourages cuttings to root
Useful in colder months of the
year, BUT
- too high a temperature will
cause water loss
- too moist (humid) an
atmosphere helps spread disease
- heating costs can be high
A thermostat controlled system
is best
Layering
A stem is made to root whilst
attached to parent
A cut is made into stem, just below
a node
Rooting powder applied to this
‘wound’
Rest of plant pegged in place until
new roots grow
Then new plant is cut away from
parent
Effective for plants that don’t grow
well with cuttings