6.1-7.3 uses of protected structures and indoor plants Flashcards
Protective structures and their uses
Glasshouse: propagation, crop production, overwintering, exotic species
Cloche (glass or polythene covered hoops): salad crops, low growing vegetables, strawberries, warming soil for transplants and sowing seeds
Conservatory: displaying plants, proximity to home so display is easily seen, warmer because attached and therefore efficient heating
Cold frame: hardening off, protection for tender summer crops - aubergine, chillies; propagation - cuttings - no great height required, low cost, easily constructed
Walk-in polythene tunnel: fruit crops, vegetable crops, summer bedding, warm, humid environment in summer months
Use of protected structure for display with example
Display: Adiantum raddianum
Temperate glass house above 15-18oc degrees.
1 part loam, 2 parts sharp sand, 3 parts leaf mould
Bright but indirect light with high humidity and good ventilation. Filmy leaflets are prone to scorching if too dry or in direct sunlight. Growing medium moist at all times but drier in winter.
Feed when actively growing with half-strength liquid fertiliser
Irrigation with tepid rain water
Remove old damaged leaves in spring
Re-potting - in spring when roots fill the pot. Use medium nutrient with high OM content. Do not bury the crown of the pot and no fronds buried
P&D: mealy bug and scale (sap sucking weak yellow honeydew), red spider mite (mottling) and botrytis
Leaf scorch in draughts, low humidity
Use of protected structure for overwintering with example
Citrus reticulata
Glass house temperatures above 5 degrees
Grow in JI No 2 in large container in full light but shaded from hot sun
Bring in at night during autumn for a week. Once acclimatised, keep the plants inside over winter. Water sparingly and do not need.
In early summer harden off before placing outside until autumn
Streptocarpus ionantha (Saintpaulia ionantha) with propagation
Saintpaulia ionantha
Propagation from leaf cuttings
In glasshouse of heated bench. Petiole inserted into seed tray 1 part coir to 1 part perlite.
Water from base - checking daily for moisture requirements, dead or dying material, and P&D.
When rooted wean by moving on to non heated bench and pot up when showing strong leaf growth
Cultivation
Loamless potting compost in half pot (shallow, fibrous roots)
Grow on east or warm facing windowsill in bright filtered light (shade from hot sun)
Water sparingly in winter, water freely in growing season put allow compost to dry out between waterings. Feed fortnightly with high potassium fertiliser
Or used controlled released osmocote in media
Re-potting: when pot bound into a pot one size larger using JI No2. Knock out of pot, tease out roots, remove DDD material. Plant in centre, don’t bury crown. firm in.
P&D sciarid fly, red spider mite, weevil, aphids, mildew
(Steinernema kraussei to control weevil from Aug- September after all eggs are laid. Keep moist for two weeks)
Solanum lycopersicum
Glass house extends season from between Feb and November (outdoor cropping limited to August-to late September) Outdoor tomatoes prone to blight
Propagation and establishment: Best grow between 18-23oc
In early March if GH is unheated. Sow in modules, cover and propagate at 21oc. Pot up seedlings in 9cm pots with JI seed compost at around 18oc to prevent them growing leggy. If seedling is leggy bury up to first pair of leaves
Grade seedlings
Plant sturdy plants in final positions when flowers on the first truss open (in unheated GH end of April)
Commercially grown hydroponically in rockwool cells.
Domestically grown in grow bags or ‘long toms’ filled with JI No3.
Growing in a border exposes them to soil borne p&ds
maintenance:
Support: with canes, tied onto wires with horizontal supports
Take 40-60 days from flowering to ripening (depending on conditions)
Daytime 18-21oc. Night temp not below 13oc
Humidity will help pollination and fruit set but keep ventilated
Feeding: balanced feed every two weeks until first truss sets fruit, then high potash liquid feed. Excess K can lead to Mg and Ca deficiency
Irrigation: high frequency in hot weather. Too little = blossom end rot. Erratic = fruit splitting
Keep compost wet but avoid wetting foliage
Ventilation to reduce RH and maintain CO2 levels
May require bees to pollinate
Support: Tied stems to a cane or attach the to support structure attached to the ceiling
Pinch out side shoots in leaf axils
Stopping - in unheated GH after 6 trusses. Commercially not stopped
De-leafing - remove leaves on bottom third of the plant (also damaged, yellow leaves)
Pollination: may be by mini bumble bee hives in commercial GH. Tagetes planted among tomatoes also attracts pollinators
Ventilate to reduce RH and maintain CO2 levels
Harvesting and storage: picked when fully ripe every other day. Kept fresh in a plastic bag in fridge.
P&D GH white fly, botrytis
control of pests:
diseases and disorder:
Cyclamen persicum
Tuberous perennial eg. ‘Pure White’
Propagation and establishment:
From seed - soak for 12 hours prior to sowing.
When: April Media: seed compost - pH5.7 container: modules or seed trays (spaced 8cmx8cm) Temperature: 15oc (germination inhibited above 22oc)
Cover lightly with sieved compost and water
Germination: 3 weeks but takes 8-9 months from propagation by seed to display or sale
Strict hygiene is paramount
maintenance: when two or three leaves appear, pot on to 13cm pots using JI No1 or multi purpose compost. Tuber should be at soil level
Plants grown in cool greenhouse (min temp 15oc and max 25oc)
Bright filtered light, moderately humid
Two weeks after potting feed fortnightly with NPK (and trace elements)
In late October change to low N high P fertiliser ever six weeks
Remove dead leaves and flower heads (from the base) to prevent botrytis
Water from below, keep slightly moist, avoid water on the crown.
After flowering keep dry during dormancy. Mid summer begin watering again
control of pests: vine weevil, red spider might
diseases and disorders: botrytis - control as above
Impatiens walleriana
Tender perennial
Propagation and establishment:
From seed: early spring, in modules. Leave uncovered. Between 16-18oc, shaded from direct sunlight, under sheet of glass until germination.
When large enough to handle, pot into 9cm pots with JI No 1 potting compost. JI seed compost - sand for drainage, low in nutrients, retains moisure and creates adequate pore space for O2
Germination usually around 6 weeks
Soft wood: in Spring/early summer
Maintenance: place in bright location but shaded from direct sun. Maintain high humidity and temperature of 16-18oc. Water moderately - don’t allow compost to dry out. Monthly balanced fertiliser. Dead head and remove fading leaves to prevent Botrytis. Plant out when risk of frost has passed (end of May)
Flowering pot plants require two litre pots filled with potting compost. Water overwintering pot plants sparingly and maintain temps above 10oc. Increase watering and feeding in spring.
control of pests: vine weevil, red spider mite, white fly
diseases and disorder: Botrytis as above
‘Narcissus ‘Tete-a-tete’
Planting and forcing: ‘Trick’ bulbs into producing flowers out of season by initiating an artificial winter of cold temperatures
Usually intended for indoors so containers do not have drainage holes.
When: end of September to early October fill container with pre-wetted bulb fibre (coir or peat with no fertiliser). Bulbs should be planted with upper half exposed and should not be touching.
Containers should be placed in a cold, dark, moist place (4oc) such as a fridge for 13 weeks to encourage root production. Compost must not dry out or become too wet.
Maintenance: move into warmer environment (around 16oc) - will take 4 weeks to flower. Process can be delayed or speeded up using temp control.
Feed with weak solution of balanced feed when bulb begins to flower.
Can be replanted in garden after flowering
control of pests/diseases and disorder: should not suffer from bulb fly and eelworm as they are heat treated.
Bulb rot appears as pinkish-white fungus between affected scales and on the base plate. Foliage may turn yellow and not flower (there are resistant cvs N. tazetta) Do not store damaged or soft bulbs
Biggest risk is overwatering, or warm rooms resulting in leggy growth
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Propagation and establishment:
To produce soft tip cuttings - cut down plants to produce a ‘stool’. These are then planted in boxes of potting compost (JI 1) in a GH or cold frame.
The shoots produced from the stool base are removed as softwood tip cuttings when 7cm (5cm in length, cut just below a node and remove lower leaves. They are rooted in peat blocks with basal heat between 20-24oc. Take about 3 weeks to root
When cuttings have rooted they are planted into GH border. Plants are pinched out when established to encourage lateral sprays
Border prep:
Clear previous crop. Soil can be steam sterilised. Cultivate and incorporate OM. pH should be 6.5. Balanced fertiliser applied as base dressing at 60g/m2 Bed is raised.
Plant rooted cuttings 13cm x 13cm. It takes 15 weeks from planting to flowering
maintenance:
Nylon netting supports the crop and 30cm to allow the crop to grow through. This is raised as the plants grow
Apical bud pinched to promote sprays or laterals removed for single blooms (laterals removed for single blooms)
Min temp until 15oc until buds show then reduce to 13oc to improve colour and quality
Keep moist but not excessively wet. Avoid foliage. Overhead units are used until buds form then seep hoses for the remainder
Liquid feed weekly with high nitrogen feed until halfway through crop cycle change to high potassium. Stop feeding when flowers show colour. Monitor for P & D
Harvesting
Cut before full maturity and place in water and keep in cool place
control of pests: aphids and red spider mite
diseases and disorder: botyritis and powdery mildew
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Brilliant white or red bracts around modest flowers. Seasonal - can be coaxed to flower again.
Minimum temperature 15o, medium humidity and good ventilation
Full or bright filtered light
Poinsettias are short day plants and need two months of 12-14 hours of complete darkness a day to initiate flowering. No artificial lighting from mid autumn onwards.
Media: multi purpose
When in growth water sparingly. Keep dryer in winter and after flowering
Balanced liquid fertiliser monthly when in vegetative growth, a low N high K feed every two weeks from Sept-Dec
Deadhead, trim and prune as required. Sap is an irrititant.
Repot in early summer when roots fill the pot.
Do not bury the stem
P&D GH whitefly, mealy bug, powdery mildew, botrytis.
Disorders - sudden changes in temp, light, humidity, overwatering and draughts can also lead to leaf drop
Ficus benjamina
Tropical evergreen tree. Size determined by pot
Minimum temp 15oc
Medium humidity, good ventilation
Full or filtered light
Potting up
Into a 9cm pot when cuttings (semi ripe) are rooted JI No 1. Cover roots but don’t bury basal leaves
Re-potting
Into a 14cm pot with JI No2 to same depth
loam based multi purpose compost - free draining
Water moderately
High nitrogen fertiliser monthly when in growth.
Trim back unattractively positioned stems to a node. Sap may irritate skin
Re-pot in spring when roots fill the pot
P&D red spider mite, mealy bug and scale insect
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Succulent, oval, glossy, toothed leaves with panicles of small tubular flowers
Minimum temp 12oc
Medium humidity, good ventilation, bright filtered light
Potting
When Kalanchoe are rooted re-pot into 9cm pots with JI No1. Pots and media should be sterile and plants should be graded and damaged material removed.
Re-potting
When roots have filled pot
Mulitpurpose compost/loam-based compost (JI No2) with grit in a 1 litre pot
Water moderately in growing season and just moist in winter. Balanced fertiliser monthly when in growth
Deadhead, trim, and prune as required.
Repot when roots fill the pot
P&D mealy bug, vine weevil and downy mildew, botrytis
Pests
Biological controls
Pests and diseases
Cultural control
Glasshouse/indoor pests
Vine weevil
Larvae symptoms: stunted growth, wilting, chlorosis, stem death
Adults: notches in leaves
Control:
Cultural - picking larvae off roots when potting and removing debris around plats
Biological - nematode Steinernema kruassei - mixed with crumbled clay and has short shelf life. Watered into pots from August to September. Water before applying.
Timing is critical (after all egg laying)
Can be used in conjunction with pesticides.
Chemical: acetamiprid
