Propagation of ornamental plants
Ornamental plants are generatively or vegetatively propagated. Propagation by seed is called generative reproduction. Propagation by means of various vegetative organs or by plant division is called vegetative reproduction.
Propagation from seeds
As you know, the plant organism consists of vegetative organs: the roots, stem and leaves, and generative: flowers. After pollination and fertilization, the pistils transform into fruit, and the ovules into the chamber ovaries of the pistil - into the seeds. Valuable seeds, and such can be used for seeding, they should:
1) be pure variety, i.e. they may not include seeds of other varieties or species;
2) have the right fragrance, color, gloss and lack of contamination;
3) have germination energy and power in accordance with the applicable standards.
The germination power as a percentage means, ile nasion na 100 the pieces have sprouted at the time specified for a given species.
Germination energy, also expressed as a percentage, determines how many seeds per 100 the pieces germinated after a strictly defined period of time, but shorter than when determining the germination strength.
In order to test the strength and energy of germination, a so-called. an attempt at and germinating.
The germination test is carried out in rooms with a temperature of 20-25 ° or in germinators at a temperature optimal for a given species. The seeds of ornamental plants germinate best at temperatures between + 8 do + 32°, depending on the genre. In addition to the right temperature, water is also required for the germination of seeds, air, and sometimes light. The amount of water must be moderate, because the excess prevents air from reaching the germinating seeds, and therefore has a negative effect on germination.
Preparation of seeds for sowing
One of the pre-sowing procedures is the treatment of seeds with chemical preparations, seed stratification, soaking the seeds and cutting (damaging) seed shells.
The purpose of treatment is to combat pathogenic bacteria, fungi and pests present on the surface of the seeds, how to protect seeds against harmful organisms, in the ground.
The following seed dressings are most commonly used: Ceresan Universal Nassbeize, Seed dressing R., Seed dressing T, Universal seed dressing, Alvit 55, Agronex TA, Morkit forte.
In the case of diseases inside the seeds, hot water disinfection can be used; in this case, the seeds should be placed in a bag made of sparse fabric and soaked in water at a temperature of up to 50 ° for half an hour.
The methods of applying the dressing are different for each type of seed, so always follow all the regulations given on the packaging, as well as be careful, so as not to damage the seeds when dressing (especially small ones).
Stratification is used for hard germinating seeds, immediately after harvesting them (e.g. rose seeds). The stratification technique is discussed in detail in the horticulture handbook.
Some seeds are soaked in order to accelerate their germination. Soaking is carried out in shaded rooms with a temperature of approx + 25°, by placing the seeds in clean and soft water at a temperature of 40-50 °, which facilitates their swelling. The larger seeds are poured with soft water in the dishes, and the change is poured into bags and immersed in water 24 hours. Soaked seeds must be sown in decontaminated soil, as they are more susceptible to attack by pathogens.
Damaging the shell of the seeds is used, when it is thick, to shorten the germination period. Most often, this treatment is used for palm seeds, dragon, bananas and beads. The hard cover of large seeds is sawn with a file or smashed with a hammer, and the fine seeds are rubbed between the sheets of sandpaper. Such preparation of seeds for sowing is called scarification.