L04 NURSERY, HERBS, LANDSCAPE PLANTS INDUSTRY

What is the definition of a nursery in the plant industry?

A nursery is defined as an area where plants are raised for eventual planting out. It includes nursery beds, paths, and irrigated channels.

What are the main activities included in the nursery industry?

The main activities include plant propagation, potting and re-potting, and planting media preparation.

Why is the nursery industry considered a popular business investment?

Because it operates in both urban and rural areas and supplies seedlings for various plants to estates, universities, government, and local councils.

What types of plants do commercial nurseries commonly supply seedlings for?

They supply seedlings for orchids, fruit trees, oil palm, cocoa, coconut, and ornamental plants.

How do commercial orchid farms generally produce orchid seedlings?

Orchid seedlings are produced by tissue culture and grown for their own use or for sale.

Name four types of nurseries mentioned in the lecture.

Fruit plant nursery, vegetable plant nursery, medicinal/aromatic plant nursery, and ornamental plant nursery.

What is air layering and for which fruit plant is it commonly used?

Air layering is a method of rooting in plants, commonly used in Citrus plants.

Why do people prefer homegrown vegetables over market vegetables?

Due to decreasing faith in market vegetables caused by the application of chemicals.

What are some uses of medicinal and aromatic plant nurseries?

These plants are used daily in various ways as alternatives to allopathic medicines, in foods, and for their essential oils and aroma which provide health benefits and aesthetic value.

What is the purpose of an ornamental plant nursery?

It focuses on growing plants for decorative purposes, often used by florists to prepare new kinds of flowers for gifting.

Describe what a forest plant nursery is.

A forest nursery is a managed area designated to produce tree seedlings grown under favorable conditions until they are ready for planting. It can range from small-scale to large commercial enterprises.

What are examples of facilities found in a hi-tech nursery?

Tissue culture laboratories, glasshouses/greenhouses, and storage houses.

Why are shade houses important in nurseries?

They protect young seedlings from direct sunlight.

List some facilities normally required at nurseries.

Shade house, mist propagation unit, planting media and potting area, irrigation or fertigation unit, fertilizer store, and storage area for field equipment and agricultural chemicals.

What are some plant propagation methods used in nurseries?

Using seeds, stem cuttings, bud-grafting, and marcotting.

Name six plants that can be propagated by stem cutting.

Golden Duranta, Acalypha, Crotons, Rosemary, Thyme, and Mint.

What are the three types of stem cuttings?

Softwood cuttings, semi-hardwood cuttings, and hardwood cuttings.

What is bud grafting?

Bud grafting is a propagation technique where a bud from one plant is inserted into another plant to grow.

What is marcotting and how is it done?

Marcotting, or air layering, involves wounding a branch, wrapping it with moist moss, allowing roots to develop before cutting the rooted part from the mother plant.

What is the importance of fertigation in nurseries?

Fertigation provides nutrients through irrigation water to plants grown in poly-bags or open nurseries.

What are herbs commonly used for in medicine?

Herbs are used in traditional medicines, health products, and sometimes as food, containing active chemical compounds with medicinal properties.

What is the forecasted global value of the herb industry?

The herb industry is forecasted to be a RM60 billion business yearly worldwide.

Which parts of plants are commonly used for herbal purposes?

Roots, flower buds, fruits, leaves, bark, and resin.

Describe the plant Kacip Fatimah and its traditional uses.

Kacip Fatimah is a herbaceous shrub with creeping rhizomes, thriving in shady places. It is traditionally used by Malay women for childbirth, postpartum recovery, regulating menstrual cycles, and alleviating menopausal symptoms.

What are the plant parts used from Hempedu Bumi and its medicinal uses?

Leaves and the whole plant are used. It acts as an analgesic, laxative, expectorant, digestive aid, and is used to treat diabetes, fever, infections, bronchitis, leprosy, and skin diseases.

How is Senduduk propagated and what are its traditional uses?

It is propagated through seeds in nurseries, transplanted to fields, and used traditionally to cure diarrhea, prevent scars, relieve toothaches, soften feet, and eliminate flatulence.

What part of Jerangau is used in traditional medicine and for what purposes?

The rhizomes are used for antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antiseptic, and emetic purposes, and to treat flatulence, colic, fevers, rheumatism, nerve diseases, dysentery, bronchial infection, and asthma.

What are the medicinal uses of the Devils Cotton plant?

Its juice regulates menstrual flow, acts as a uterine tonic, treats dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, urinary troubles, bronchitis, diabetes, rheumatic pain, sinusitis, and is used as a plaster against scabies.

What parts of Akar Saga are used medicinally and what are the effects?

Seeds, leaves, and roots are used. Seeds are aphrodisiac, antimicrobial, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, purgative, refrigerant, and sedative, but are highly poisonous. Roots treat gonorrhea and jaundice, and seed oil promotes hair growth.

What are landscape plants used for?

They are used to beautify gardens around houses, offices, public playgrounds, streets, golf courses, and recreation areas.

What are the four categories of plants suitable for landscaping?

Groundcovers, shrubs, palms, and trees.

What distinguishes shrubs from trees?

Shrubs are small-to-medium perennial woody plants with multiple stems and shorter height (less than 6-10 meters), while trees typically have a single trunk and are taller.

What is a groundcover plant and its ecological role?

Groundcover plants grow over an area of ground, protecting topsoil from erosion and drought, forming the herbaceous layer below shrubs in an ecosystem.

What defines a tree botanically?

A tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem or trunk supporting branches and leaves, often tall, including angiosperms (hardwoods) and gymnosperms (softwoods).

Why are palms important both historically and in landscaping?

Palms have been important for food and products throughout history and are widely used in landscaping due to their large evergreen fronds and adaptability to various habitats.

What is turf grass and why is it valuable in landscaping?

Turf grass is mowed and maintained grass used as a lawn, valued for aesthetics, soil protection, runoff water capture, dust reduction, and providing a cushion for sports and relaxation.

What type of grass is commonly used on golf courses and why?

Bermuda grass is commonly used because of its high heat tolerance, ability to be mowed very low without damage, and drought resistance.

What is the significance of tissue culture in the nursery industry?

Tissue culture allows for the mass production of disease-free seedlings, especially for orchids and other plants, improving nursery efficiency and plant quality.

What role do essential oils in medicinal plants play for users?

Essential oils provide health benefits and an aesthetic aroma, enhancing the medicinal and sensory value of herbal products.