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Plant propagation exam 1
What are flat containers used for?
Germinating seeds or rooting cuttings
What materials can flat containers be made out of?
Plastic
Styrofoam
Wood (cedar)
What type of pot system is used for direct sticking liner plants into substrate?
Paper pot system
What is used to germinate conifer seedlings?
Expandable peat pellets
What are community flats used for?
Rooting cuttings prior to transferring to larger containers
What are cons of using clay pots?
Heavy
Breakable
Lose water
Not an economical shape
Salt accumulates
What are pros to using plastic pots?
Reusable
Lightweight
Stackable
Sturdy but flexible
Variety of colors
Reduce irrigation needs
What are cons of plastic pots?
Brittle in the cold
Can be difficult to dispose of/recycle
What kind of containers are used to prevent root circling?
Tiered or ridged containers to interrupt circling
Containers with slits in the side wall to allow air pruning
What type of container is becoming more popular for reducing root circling and because it’s easy to store?
Poly container bags
What is the pot-in-pot system?
Alternative to traditional field production
Tree grown in a pot that is inside a more permanent pot in the ground
What are pros to the pot-in-pot system?
Good soil insulation
Easy to move plants around
Keeps plants upright easier than if they were sitting on top of the ground
What are fiber pots usually made out of?
Peat/wood fiber
What are pros to fiber pots?
Biodegradable
What are “Jiffy” pots and “Ellepots” used for?
Seedlings and rooting cuttings
What are expanded foam (“oasis”) pots used for?
Rooting cuttings
Hydroponics
What is rockwool used for?
Rooting cuttings
Hydroponics
When was the first “substrate” discovered?
1930’s by John Innes Horticultural Institute
Created a loam-based “compost” amended with peat moss, sand, and fertilizer
When was the first true artificial growing substrate created?
1950’s by University of California
Mix of fine sand, peat moss, and fertilizer
What type of mix was the predecessor of modern growing substrates?
Peat-lite
Mix of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite
What are the 4 functions of growing substrates?
Support (root system)
Aeration
Water holding
Nutrient holding
What is the base of greenhouse crop substrate?
Peat
What is the base of nursery crop substrate?
Bark
What are 5 desired physical characteristics of a substrate?
Uniformity
Easy to wet
Consistent volume
Provides plant support
Weed and pathogen free
What are organic components of substrate?
Peat
Coir
Bark
Sphagnum moss
What are inorganic substrate components?
Sand
Perlite
Vermiculite
Calcine clay
What is the main component in substrates?
Sphagnum peat moss
What are pros of sphagnum moss?
Pathogen-free
Light-weight
High water retention
Fungistatic properties
What are pros of using perlite?
Lightweight
Increases aeration
What are the pros of using vermiculite?
Good pH buffer
Lightweight
High water retention
High CEC
What are pros of coco coir?
Can be formed into different shapes
Sterile
What are rice hulls used for?
Replaces perlite
Increases aeration
What is pumice used for?
Perlite replacement
Provides aeration and drainage
What type of bark is commonly used in the southeast?
Pine
What type of bark is commonly used in the northwest?
Fir
Why is soil seldom used as a substrate?
Variable in its composition
Heavy
What are cons of using sand?
No nutrients
No CEC
No pH buffering
Can fall to the bottom of the substrate
Heavy
Who normally uses sawdust in their substrate?
Forest nurseries
Where are wood shavings commonly used?
South Alabama
Why are wood shavings used?
To reduce peat in the mix
What are substitutes for peat and bark?
Forest biomass
Chipped pine logs
Whole tree
What is the recommendation when using recycled substrate?
Use in small quantities with coarser bark
Don’t use with root rot susceptible plants
What is the target range for total porosity?
50-85%
What is the target range for air space?
10-30%
What is the target range for water holding capacity?
45-65%
What is the target range for bulk density?
0.19-0.52 g/cm³
How do you amend water quality?
Large or small reverse osmosis
What is a soil treatment that isn’t used as much anymore because of health/environmental risks?
Chemical fumigation
How is soil pasteurized?
Using aerated steam
Placing a tarp over the substrate to trap steam with temperatures high enough to kill weed seed, insects, and various pathogens
Note 
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