Transcript PlantPropagation website

Bellringer 4.29.13
• What is a plant that is
propagated
asexually?
• Why would a grower
want to asexually
propagate?
Plant Propagation
Remember when you did this?
Now people do this.
What does propagate mean?
• Latin propagatus, past participle of
propagare to set slips, propagate, from
propages slip, offspring,
• pro- before + pangere to fasten
Date: circa 1570
History of Propagation
• Ancient peoples
• Middle ages
– Herbals
• Victorians
Sexual Propagation
Flower parts
Seeds are Formed by…
Pollination:The transfer
of pollen from the anthers
to the female stigma by a
pollinating agent such as
wind, insects, birds, bats,
or in a few cases the
opening of the flower itself.
Fertilization: The fusion
of two gametes (sperm
and ovum) to produce a
zygote that develops into a
new individual with a
genetic heritage derived
from both parents.
Pollinators
Seeds- A packaged plant surrounded by
endosperm (food) and protective seed coat
Germination of a Bean Seed
Asexual or Vegetative Propagation
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Leaf Cuttings and Leaf-bud Cuttings
Stem Cuttings
Root Cuttings
Division
Layering
– Tip Layering
– Air Layering
• Grafting
• Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes, Tubers, Stolons
Leaf Cuttings- Use only the leaf
Vein
cutting
from leaf
African violet
Leaf Section Cutting
Remember
Polarity or
which way is
up!
How do leaf cuttings grow?
• Origins of roots and
shoots varies
• Meristem tissue - Group
of embryonic cells that
can differentiate and
produce new cells
• Compounds trigger
growth of roots and
shoots
Root apical meristematic tissue of
onion
Shoot apical meristematic tissue
Stem Cuttings- Use the stem and leaves
or just the stem.
Cuttings should be 6-10” long & between nodes
Dibble, then place
cutting in soil
How Do Stem Cuttings Work?
• How roots develop
– Response to wounding-induced differentiation
– Cells begin to divide
– Callus begins to form
– Certain cells begin to divide and initiate root
development
Root, Cane Cuttings- Uses roots or
shoots
Blackberry root
Stokesia Root
Cane
cutting
Bulbs- Specialized roots and
stems
• Bulbs- Underground organ with scales and basal plate
1. Tunicate- onion, garlic, daffodil, tulip
2. Non-Tunicate- Lily
Corms- Specialized roots and stems
• Corms- Swollen base of
stem axis, give rise to new
bulblets
• Examples
– Gladiolus,
– Crocus
Gladiolus
corm with bulblets
Rhizomes, Tubers, Stolons
Dahlia tuber
Iris rhizome
Stolon
Potato Tuber
Division- To separate a clump into individual
plants-Used for perennials and some houseplants
Dig up Mother Plant
Photos from Garden Gate Magazine
Clean off root ball
Separate roots to find
individual plants and
plant
Layering- Growing new plants while attached
to the mother plant. They are later separated.
Air layering
Ground layering
Grafting and Budding- Used to attach
one plant to the other for strength or variety
Bud-grafting
Whip Grafting
How can I propagate my bulbs?
• Tunicate Bulbs
– Cuttage (8 Sections)
• Non-tunicate Bulbs
Bulb Scales
When to propagate
• Late spring and early summer= optimal
growing time
• Depends on type of cutting
• Need to check resources for specific plants.
Each one may have an optimal time
• Some seeds need to go through stratification
or period of cold to break dormancy
• Some seeds need to be scarified or scratched
Propagation Environment
• Aerial Environment
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Humidity
Light
Temperature
Air quality
• Growing Medium
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Moisture level
Temperature
Aeration
pH
Nutrient level
Equipment and Hygiene- Keep
everything clean so disease is not spread
Pruning knife
Hand cutters
Sterilize all tools
with alcohol after
use!
Watering Can
Liners
and Light
Soil
• Purpose of soil
– Larger particles (sand) holds plant in place
– Smaller particles hold water and nutrients
• Ingredients in soil
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Vermiculite= Holds moisture
Perlite= Increases aeration
Peat=Moisten –Helps stop decomposition
Sand=Drainage
Sphagnum Moss= Holds water well, lightweight
• Recipes and proportions vary depending on
plant!
When can I plant it?
• Gently tug on
the cutting to
see if your
plant has
developed a
good root
system
• Repot in
larger pot if
necessary
Have fun and enjoy your
new plants!