R2104 4.3 Describe the propagation facilities and after care for vegetative propagation

Question 1

What type of cutting should be placed in Heated Propagator?

Answer 1

1. Softwood cuttings
2. Leaf cuttings
3. Semi-ripe cuttings

Question 2

What type of cutting should be placed in a mist bench?

Answer 2

1. Softwood cuttings
2. Leaf cuttings
3. Semi-ripe cuttings

Question 3

What type of cutting should be placed in a cold frame?

Also used for hardening off material

Answer 3

1. Semi-ripe cuttings
2. Root cuttings
3. Hardwood cuttings

Question 4

What would be vegetatively propagated in Open ground

Answer 4

1. Hardwood cuttings
2. Layering
3. Division

Question 5

Environmental conditions for cuttings

Answer 5

Ideal conditions are warmth at base of cutting and cool above ground to reduce transpiration rates.

Softwood cuttings and leaf cuttings require more controlled conditions with greater bottom warmth and methods to prevent heat loss

Question 6

Environmental conditions: Hygiene

Answer 6

1. Cutting tools clean and sharp to stop cross infection
2. Rooting medium should be sterile, not recycled
3. Hormone rooting powders often contain a fungicide, so it may be useful in keeping cuttings healthy

Question 7

Environmental conditions: Temperature required and how to manage temperature
Cuttings

Answer 7

1. Ideal 18-21 degrees C
2. Below 10 degrees C the cuttings suffer
3. Greenhouses and propagators are used to control temperature
4. Warm at base of containers can be used by electrical cables. Speeds up rooting process
5. A mist unit can be used to lower temperatures on leaves of semi-ripe and soft-tip cuttings to reduce transpiration
6. As cuttings root, bottom heat should be decreased and turned off. This is the first step in hardening off

Question 8

Environmental conditions: Moisture loss/relative humidity. How to control.

Answer 8

1. Leafy cutting should be in partial shade to reduce moisture loss from direct sunlight
2. A propagator with a plastic lid, with ventilators that can be opened gradually.
3. A plastic bag over the cutting to reduce water loss
4. Cold frame positions and hard wood cutting outdoors to be placed in a shady spot to avoid excessive drying out or root scorch
5. Spray cuttings or use mist unit to increase humidity
6. Air flow needs to be considered and controlled. There is a balance between getting good humidity but preventing fungal diseases.

Question 9

Environmental conditions: Moisture/ drainage

Answer 9

1. Needs to provide adequate moisture and prevent water logging and subsequent rotting

Question 10

Environmental conditions: Feeding

Answer 10

1. Cutting compost contains very little nutrients
2. Once roots have developed and cutting is potted on them use a general purpose compost
3. A high concentration of fertiliser will cause root scorch
4. If cuttings and being overwinter and therefore not moving after they have root, then apply mild fertiliser

Question 11

Hardening off

Answer 11

Is a ‘weaning’ process of gradually acclimatising the rooted cutting to less protected conditions

Once they start to root it is important to open propagator lid to prevent to humid an atmosphere and ‘wean’ the cuttings off the level humidity in place.
* Increase ventilation
* Increase light intensity gradually by moving plants into areas receiving increasing amounts of sunlight

Question 12

Managing propagation environment to avoid pests and diseases: how are pests and diseases spread

Answer 12

1. Dipping healthy cuttings or water in which diseased material has been dipped
2. Through irrigation (contaminated water sources) or rain water (dripping off structures or disease plants)
3. Soil borne disease on hose if dropped on ground
4. Soil on bottom of pots / trays
5. On tools, clothes, shows and workers hands
6. Contaminated soil mixes or pots
7. Infected plant material

Question 13

Ways to reduce pest and disease when propagating plants

Answer 13

1. Use good quality material from propagation
2. Use sterilised propagation and potting media
3. Increasing spacing between plants increase ventilation and thus reduces chance of botrytis
4. Clean pots, ideally with a sterilant.Do not leave on ground.
5. Take cuttings for top of plant (this is cleanest)
6. Clean tools between working on different plants - use a disinfectant such as methylated spirits
7. Place clean plant material on cleaned/ sterilised benches
8. Keep hands clean
9. Avoid splashing water near sterilised pots, soil, benches etc
10. Pots should be placed in well drained surface
11. Hang hose, dont place on ground, particular the nozzel
12. Isolated infected plants
13. Apply control methods to pests and diseases as soon as detected to prevent spread