Propagation Environments PDF

PROPAGATION ENVIRONMENTS ======================== ##### Figure 4.1. Photosynthesis and transpiration #### 4.1. Types of Propagation Environments #### 4.2. Managing the Propagation Environment 5. GROWING MEDIA ================ - an optimum rooting environment for physical stability; - stora...

PROPAGATION ENVIRONMENTS ======================== ##### Figure 4.1. Photosynthesis and transpiration #### 4.1. Types of Propagation Environments #### 4.2. Managing the Propagation Environment 5. GROWING MEDIA ================ - an optimum rooting environment for physical stability; - storage of air for the roots; - water absorption and retention \--\> availability to the plant when needed; and  supply of nutrients for the roots #### 5.1. Types of Growing Media - for young trees and shrubs a substrate with wood fibers or bark is often used as it provides more physical stability - clay is frequently used for plants with high water needs as it can store the water longer - perlite is a material used to enhance the drainage of water ##### Figure 5.1. Growing media available in the market i. Seed Propagation Media. For germinating seeds or establishing germinant, the medium must be sterile and have a finer texture to maintain high moisture around the germinating seeds. ii. Media for Rooting Cuttings. Cuttings are rooted with frequent misting, so the growing medium must be very porous to prevent water logging and to allow good aeration, which is necessary for root formation. iii. Transplant Media. When smaller seedlings or rooted cuttings are transplanted into larger containers, the growing medium is typically coarser and contains compost. #### 5.2. Functions of Growing Media i. ii. iii. iv. #### 5.3. Characteristics of an Ideal Growing Media #### 5.4. Selecting a Growing Medium #### 5.5. Creating a Homemade Growing Medium 5.5.1. Use of Field Soil ##### Figure 5.2. Preparation of a growing media with native soil ###### 5.5.2. Making Compost  ##### Figure 5.4. A mixture of green and brown organic materials for composting ##### Figure 5.5. Measuring temperature in compost ###### 5.5.3. Determining Maturity of Compost #### 5.6. Mixing Growing Media 6. CONTAINERS ============= ##### Figure 6.1. Different types of containers available in the market - Plants that develop shallow, fibrous root systems grow better in shorter - Plants with long taproots, such as fruit plants, grow better in taller containers. - Plants with multiple, thick, fleshy roots, and species with thick, fleshy rhizomes grow better in wide containers. #### 6.1. Considerations in Choosing Containers 6.1.1. Size 6.1.2. Plant Density 6.1.3. Root Quality 6.1.4. Economic and Operational Factors 6.1.5. Holdover Stock #### 6.2. Types of Containers i. One-time-use containers (figure 6.2) ii. Single, free-standing containers (figure 6.3). iii. Exchangeable cell containers held in a tray or rack (figure 6.4). iv. Book or sleeve containers. v\. Block containers made up of many cavities or cells. ##### Figure 6.2. One-time-use containers  ##### Figure 6.3. Single, free-standing containers **Figure 6.4. Exchangeable cell containers held in a tray or rack**  ##### Figure 6.5. Book or sleeve containers ##### Figure 6.6. Block containers made up of many cavities or cells #### 6.3. Cleaning Reusable Containers ::: {.section.footnotes} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. ::: {#fn1} Martin, D.L.; Gershuny, G. 1992. The Rodale book of composting. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.278 p. Wightman, K.E. 1999. Good tree nursery practices: practical guidelines for community nurseries. International Centre for Research in Agroforestry. Nairobi, Kenya: Majestic Printing Works.93 p.(1999), Castillo, J.V. 2004. Inoculating composted pine bark with beneficial organisms to make a disease suppressive compost for container production in Mexican forest nurseries. Native Plants Journal 5(2): 181185.[↩](#fnref1){.footnote-back} ::: :::