Propagation Basics. Pam Perry

Transcription

1 Propagation Basics by Pam Perry

2 The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to teach people to select, place, and care for plants in an environmentally responsible manner based on research specific to the low desert.

3 What is Propagation? Making more plants-sexually Seeds Making more plants asexually Tip, stem, leaf, or root cuttings Offsets/pups/bulbils Division Grafting

4 Sexual Propagation Seeds Flowers are male, female or both Pollen: male flower parts fertilize ovaries: female flower parts Diversity of DNA Numbers, sheer numbers insure survival

5 What is a Seed? Complete carefully engineered plant package Protective seed coat Nutrients An embryo: shoot and root: Represents DNA of parent plants Can be hybrid, species, or variety

6 What Initiates Growth? Ambient temperature Soil temperatures Soil moisture content Stratification chemical or physical deterioration of the seed coat Availability of light

7 Planting Seeds Benefits Greater choice of varieties Selection of strains to meet specific needs Seeds are easy to share or transport Seeds are magic

8 Seeding sow direct or start as a pot plant? Germination requirements Seed scarcity-how rare or hard to obtain Transplant ease Spacing requirements Age and conditions of seeds Seed size

9 Directly Sowing Into the Garden Plusses No special space, lights, tables, equipment needed No hardening off time No transplant shock

10 Minuses-limited control Hard to control soil surface moisture content Weather can stress seedlings Germination can be a little erratic Controlling pests can be a challenge Season too short, plants need more time to mature

11 Starting Seeds in Pots Control of conditions to manage pests, bacteria, and fungal problems Control over seed starting conditions- Light Temperatures Moisture levels

12 Planting Vegetable or Flower Seeds Refer to UA publications Start seeds for vegetables 4-8 weeks before you expect to transplant into the ground Larger seeds will need transplanted sooner than smaller seeds

13 Other Seeds Research specific varieties Take notes on what happens naturally Provide necessary stratification Treat seed coats as recommended Contact plant societies for references and tips

14 A Note About Peat and Other Fiber Pots They do not decompose in our soils Roots have trouble growing beyond their limitations Containers made from sterilized manure Dry out quickly Do not warm on a heat mat

15 Seed Starting Equipment Sterile containers-- 3 inches deep with holes in bottom for drainage Recycled containers w/drainage OK Use 10% bleach solution to sterilize washed containers: 9 parts water 1 part bleach Scale the pot to the seed/plant size Waterproof trays or pans

16 Sterile, soil-less seed starting mix Commercially prepared Mix your own Finely milled peat moss Vermiculite Perlite These should be fresh

17 Do not use Non-sterile compost Manure Leaf mold Soil These contribute bacteria and fungus Can reduce germination vigor, cause damping off or plant diseases

18 Labels and indelible, waterproof marker Plant name Date of seeding, or cutting Any other useful info you want to remember! Spacing Light requirements Growth habits.

19 Adequate space: Temperature as recommended for germination Light must be strong but indirect. Too little will grow spindly seedlings that reach and flop inches above soil surface

20 Air circulation prevents disease, and prepares seedlings for the real world Room for plants to develop-crowding may encourage pests, and disease

21 Select seeds Planting Seeds Read planting instructions Prepare labels Perhaps start a journal??? Moisten soil mix This should feel as moist as a wrung out sponge Fill containers, firming soil

22 Do not compact Allow space to cover the seed Sow seed Cover seed as package indicates Label everything as you seed it! Set containers into non-aluminum shallow tray

23 Bottom watering Fill tray with water Allow moisture to wick into soil Pour off extra water Allow seed trays to drain Remove any remaining water **If soil seems too wet, set seed tray onto fat dry towel and allow the towel to take up excess moisture

24 Light, Moisture, Temperature: How do you know what is needed? READ THE SEED PACKET Ball Red Book Other specific references to your selected seeds Observation

25 Root Development Root bound, pot too small, transplant Too few-do not transplant yet, adjust watering Fertilize lightly after second set of true leaves appear- use 20% of the recommended dose of a balanced water soluble fertilizer, weekly

26 Look at Your Seed Packets. Find: Seed planting depth Days to germination Spacing Thinning information Additional info on harvest, history, uses and lore

27 Handling Seedlings Always handle seedlings by roots or leaves. They will grow more, if these are damaged it is not the end! Do not damage the stem, the little plant only has the one stem. It must be a healthy conduit for water and nutrients between roots and leaves!

28 Vegetables to Plant from Seed Root vegetables Beets, carrots, parsnips, radishes, turnips Easy to grow Lettuce, spinach, kales and other greens, sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos Big seed Beans, peas, corn, squash, melons, gourds, cukes

29 Testing for seed viability Lay several seeds between moist paper towels Place this in a Ziploc bag and close Date it, name it Wait the # of days indicated on seed package Open up the bag and towels and count how many are growing!

30 Asexual Propagation: Cloning Tip, stem, leaf, root cuttings Bulbils, other offsets, or pups Layering: Manipulating stems to force roots Division: taking plants apart Grafting Attaching two plants together

31 Equipment Soil mix Clean, sterile containers 3 inches deep have drainage holes Scaled to the size of the cuttings Use a sterile medium, a little coarser than the seed starting mix. Add pumice

32 Tools and equipment for taking cuttings Sharp pruners Sharp small scissors Dibble Root hormone Shallow pan Pots with drainage and soil mix

33 Take cuttings from plants before stems get hard While actively growing. Cuttings should not be tender new growth Select several branches for cutting and prepare cuttings from these at the planting bench

34 Nodes Nodes are found where the leaves join the stem More than one node inserted into the planting mix increases your success. Choose cuttings where two nodes are reasonably close together. Nodes can be found on roots, or leaves Where there are nodes, roots can grow

35 Preparing Tip and Stem Cuttings Cuttings 2-5 inches long are best. Trim cuttings close to the bottom node Remove leaves at bottom nodes Gently damaging or scarify the stem to enhance rooting Use a mild root hormone if one is fresh and available

36 The Process Research plants to confirm best time for successful propagating, as a rule of thumb, when they are actively growing Prepare labels Trim off large leaves to reduce transpiration stress Scale pot size to cuttings

37 Remove flowers, seeds, or buds Use a dibble to make a hole in soil mix Insert the cutting into the hole Press the mix firmly around the stem Water from the bottom as for seed trays Place in a warm place with moderate humidity and indirect light 2 inches above the plants

38 Keep growing medium moist, but not soggy Misting new cuttings occasionally can reduce stress As plants root water needs increase LEAVE THEM ALONE Do not tug, pull or wiggle cuttings for at least 6 weeks

39 Make cuttings directly into the garden Choose a moist location with light shade or indirect light Protect cutting Transplant when rooted and new growth appears Label, label, label

40 Layering Manipulating stems to initiate root growth while they remain on the plant Bend chosen stem[s] to the ground Remove leaves where the stem touches soil. Pin this in place with long staple or bent wire Cover with loose soil or compost and keep the area moist

41 Allow several weeks for root development When rooted, cut stem loose from mother plant and dig new plant gently from soil Plant into clean pot with quality potting soil or plant into landscape. Protect new plants from intense sun and wind until established

42 Air Layering Select site, scarify stem by removing leaves Wrap 3-6 inches area of stem with moist sphagnum peat moss, secure Wrap firmly in aluminum foil and then wrap in plastic, secure Allow several weeks for roots to form before checking

43 When roots are formed cut stem loose from mother plant below new root mass and pot up. Select soil mix appropriate to plant. Keep new plant in bright, indirect light and a moderately humid location Once established, transplant

44 Leaf cuttings Other Cuttings Use shallow containers African violets, streptocarpus, begonias, succulents Lay leaf with cut edge just in sterile mix, keep in bright indirect light and maintain humidity, bottom water Watch new plant grow. Transplant into soil mix developed for these sort of tropicals.

45 Root cuttings Use coarse medium Use shallow containers large enough for several pieces Place cuttings into about 2 inches of medium.

46 Label, label, label When both roots and shoots appear transplant into quality potting soil Fertilize regularly with dilute, balanced, water soluble fertilizer When roots fill container transplant into garden or larger container

47 Pups, Offsets Agaves, Aloes, Succulents, and Cacti Soak the ground a few days in advance to expedite this part of the project Remove pup from mother plant by excavating around base and cutting or pulling selected pup[s] loose

48 Bulbils Small plants form on flower stalk after blooming Sometimes in conjunction with seed Sometimes instead of seed Onions Agaves Aloes

49 Gently remove them from the stem Plant into clean containers in a loose mix of potting soil or seed starting mix appropriate to the variety you are propagating Or plant into the garden or landscape Water as appropriate for the specie and variety

50 Plant Division Grasses, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, rhizomes, corms all can be propagated by division Plant should be well hydrated Soil should be moist, not soggy, nor too dry Use a pointed or trenching shovel to dig under and around the plant loosening all sides

51 Shake plant free of soil Lift plant onto tarp to control mess Remove mature leaf growth to facilitate handling if separating plants in late summer or fall Identify separate crowns or sections to be removed from main clump Cut away damaged or rotted roots

52 Use sharp, sterile tools to divide, whether by snipping or slicing. Shovels, knives, pruners, loppers are all used depending on the plant and the amount of resistance it puts up.

53 Replanting Amend soil as needed to backfill the hole Return part of the plant to the place it came from if you like Divisions can be planted into the garden or potted up, depending on need, size, and season Use good potting soil when potting up Water well and label

54 Protect newly transplanted plants from heat and wind stress in garden with shelter for a few days Containerized plants should be placed in bright, indirect light until they begin to root out and new growth appears And again: label, label, label

55 Bulbs Garlic and Onions

56 Under ground modified stems and leaves Cloves form in the axils Separate and plant individually, pointy end up 2 x deep as they are big Fat cloves make fat heads

57 Corms Corm is a swollen base of a stem axis Distinct nodes and internodes Can form additional corms at the base Store energy during dormancy Lift, separate Gladiolas and crocus

58 Stem Tubers Swollen, modified stems have same anatomy as a stem Eyes = nodes Attached to a stolon on parent plant Storage of energy as carbohydrates Idaho type potato, some begonias, gloxinias

59 Tuberous roots Modified, swollen root Stores carbohydrates Sweet potatoes Green leaves are adventitious shoots

60 Rhizomes, Stolons Horizontally growing fleshy stems Produce new shoots/roots at soil contact Rhizomes are underground Iris, ginger, bamboo Stolons are above ground fleshy stems which root at nodes Bermuda grass, mint, dogwoods

61 Runners Horizontal or Hanging Stems originate from leaf axils and can root at nodes Small plants will form at nodes or axils

62 Grafting Attaching buds or scion from one plant onto another When new growth is imminent Cambium layers will bond at the cell level New growth can absorb nutrients like the rest of the plant Apples to apples, citrus to citrus

63 What is important about grafted plants Know where the graft is Do not bury the graft as the plant will most likely revert back to rootstock Remove all rootstock suckers as they will outgrow the preferred, grafted plant

64 Extra Plants Make great gifts Are an inexpensive way to enhance your landscape Are great to trade with other plant enthusiasts

65 Now Go into the world and make babies!!!

66 Resources ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/propagati on/index.html cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1483.pdf cals.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1029.pdf cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1100.pdf cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1005.pdf California Master Gardener Manual Arizona Master Gardeners Manual