Lesson 5 and 6 - Know the types of container and growing media used for production and display in protected environments

Question 1

What are the properties of terracotta

Answer 1

Easily broken, difficult to stack and handle, expensive and heavy.
Excess moisture in the compost may be lost via evaporation through the porous clay material. Pots should be soaked in water before filling with compost.

Question 2

What are the properties of plastic

Answer 2

Light to handle, easy to stack and better quality pots are hard to break. Watering does not dry out, so overwatering is easy. Take up water readily from capillary mat systems.

Question 3

What are the properties of polystyrene

Answer 3

Used for the manufacture of modular bedding containers. Very light, non-porous, brittle but quite strong, generally supplied in white which does not heat up the root zone of bedding plants excessively. Watering from below is effective as the base is pierced for rootgrowth. Not designed for reuse but broken up and can be used to increase drainage in large containers. They are not recyclable.

Question 4

What are the properties of peat

Answer 4

Create no waste. Expensive. Must be stored in a dry location.

Question 5

What are the properties of paper

Answer 5

Create no waste. Can be expensive unless making them yourself. Must be stored in a dry location as they deteriorate easily.

Question 6

What are the properties of natural stone

Answer 6

Expensive. Aesthetically pleasing. Heavy to lift. Hard to break.

Question 7

What are the properties of reconstituted stone

Answer 7

Widely available. Can be aesthetically pleasing/ Cheaper than natural stone. Can be heavy to lift. Hard to break.

Question 8

What are the properties of recycled materials

Answer 8

Clean plastic milk jugs, toilet roll tubes etc. Cheap and easy to access. However, they were not designed for growing and so light might penetrate through the plastic and cause reduced root growth near the edge of the compost.

Question 9

Describe the factors that should be considered when choosing containers for the display of plants in greenhouses and interior displays, including management considerations and visual appeal

Answer 9

Management considerations - moving, watering (including whether containers are water tight), cleaning
Visual appeal - aesthetics, domestic colour schemes and styles
Weather resistance

Question 10

Describe the use of protected environments for over wintering

Answer 10

Frames may be used to protect slightly tender plants during the winter
Eg- Newly propagated trees and shrubs that were rooted and potted up during the summer and autumn months.

Question 11

Describe the use of protected environments for the production of plants

Answer 11

Frames and greenhouses may be used to produce new hardy perennial herbaceous and woody plants.
Eg- The germination of the seed of many woody trees and shrubs require several months before a new plant has emerged. In that time, protection may keep the seeds away from predators and may still subject the seeds. to a range of temperatures required to produce successful germination. Greenhouses can be used to propagate tender and half hardy plants.

Question 12

Describe the use of protected environments for the display of plants

Answer 12

Eg - Tender plants can be displayed in a heated greenhouse over the winter.

Question 13

Describe the propagation and establishment of Cyclamen persicum

Answer 13

Germination can be erratic. Seeds should be soaked for 24 hours then rinsed. Sow the seeds in trays on the surface of most, draining, low nutrient compost and cover with a moderate layer of compost to help push the seed coat off the emerging seedling. Cover trays with black plastic - they need darkness and constant temperature for germination. Keep temp below 15 deg C. When seedlings emerge, move to a light position, keeping constant temp. High humidity is required to ensure seed coat falls off the seedling/ Prick out 8 - 10 weeks after sowing. Prick out into a low nutrient, well drained compost.

Question 14

Describe the maintenance of cyclamen persium

Answer 14

Pot on about 8 weeks after pricking out when the roots have reached the outside of the module and before the leave tangle. Place plants so the top of the corm is just at the level of the compost. Soil needs to remain moist, water logging must ne avoided to stop the crowns rotting.

Question 15

Describe the control of pests diseases and disorders of Cyclamen persium

Answer 15

Botrytis can affect the plant at any stage - prevent with good hygiene and air circulation, and removing dead leaves or flowers. Cyclamen mites deform and discolour the growth, flowers fail to develop properly. Spider mites leave webbing on the leaves and flowers. Aphids distort and stunt the flowers and foliage, and leave a sooty mould. Control with a spray of deltamethrin. Vine weevil larvae eat the roots and cause the plant to collapse. Remove affected plants.

Question 16

Name a decorative pot plant that can be produced in a protected environment in a garden situation

Answer 16

cyclamen persium

Question 17

Name a salad crop that can be grown in a protected environment

Answer 17

Lycopersicon esculentum

Question 18

Name a cut flower that can be grown in a protected environment

Answer 18

Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Question 19

Name a bedding plant that can be grown in a protected environemtn

Answer 19

Impatiens walleriana

Question 20

Name a bulb for forcing in a protected environment

Answer 20

Narcissus ‘Tete a tete’

Question 21

Describe the propagation and establishment of Lycopersicon esculentum

Answer 21

Seeds sown from January to March, 0.5cm deep. Keep compost at 20 deg C. Transplant once seedlings have one pair of true leaves in 10cm pots at 16 deg C.
Tomatoes need a reasonable depth of compost with good drainage.

Question 22

Describe the maintenance of Lycopersicon esculentum

Answer 22

Keep temperatures below 23 deg C. 15 to 18 deg C is preferable. Frequent feeding with liquid feed twice a week during the growing season with a dilute high potash feed.

Question 23

Describe the control of pests and diseases for Lycopersicon esculentum

Answer 23

Diseases of the roots can be almost eliminated through the use of rootstocks.
Blossom-end rot is a result of a lack of calcium. Consistent watering prevents this.
Planting resistant varieties helps with Tomato mosaic virus, Fusarium wilt, Cladosporium and eelworms.
Botrytis is prevents with good ventilation and keeping foliage dry, and removing affected parts and plants.
Tomato blight is prevented with good ventilation.
Whitefly and aphids can be excluded using fine white mesh over windows and vents.

Question 24

Describe the propagation and establishment of Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Answer 24

Soft cuttings of the vegetative material. Treat with rooting powder and any lower leaves should be removed. Insert into the pot where it is to grow. Regular misting, high relative humidity and good bottom hear (20-22 deg C) will help it root quickly. Pot up to 85mm pots in organic potting compost.

Question 25

Describe the maintenance of Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Answer 25

Controlled release fertiliser (Osmocote) plus a liquid feed with nitrate and potassium.

Question 26

Describe the control of pests, diseases and disorders of Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Answer 26

Aphids and whitefly can be sprayed with fatty acids use the parasite Encarsia formosa.
Thrips can by sprayed with pesticides just prior to the flower bud beginning to open.

Question 27

Describe the propagation and establishment of Impatiens walleriana

Answer 27

Seeds sown in February to flower in early May, and March to flower late May to June. Keep soil moist, add a layer of vermiculite when sowing to help with this. A constant temp of 21 deg C. Use an open, well draining compost. Prick out seedlings into larger containers.

Question 28

Describe the maintenance of Impatiens walleriana

Answer 28

A dilute low-nitrogen feed every two weeks from when the plants are potted up to when they are put out to harden off. Water regularly.
Pinch out the growing point before they become too large, to encourage branching out.

Question 29

Describe the control of pests, diseases and disorders for Impatians walleriana

Answer 29

pre-germination seed rot is prevented with good hygeine, post-emergence damping-off is treated by removing all effected parts.

Question 30

Describe the propagation and establishment of Narcissus ‘Tete a tete’

Answer 30

Newly purchased bulbs are best for forcing. Select only healthy, firm and well-formed bulbs. Plastic or terracotta pots can be used. Scrub clean. Soak clay pots before use. Use a well-drained, moisture retentive compost. Plant so the tips of the bulbs are either just above or just below the compost surface. Plant closely, but not so they’re touching.

Question 31

Describe the maintenance of Narcissus ‘Tete a tete’

Answer 31

Compost should be well watered after planting. During the cold period, compost should be kept barely moist. Once plants begin to flower, the compost should be kept moist.
Cool and dark conditions (2-8 deg C) until the roots have established and the shoots are between 3-5cm tall. This will take 13 weeks. he longer the cold period, the taller the daffodils will be. followed by temps of 15 deg C in a shaded location, gradually moved to the full sunlight in the greenhouse and temps raised to 18deg C. As the flowers start to open after 3 - 4 weeks, temp should be reduced to about 15 deg C.

Question 32

Describe the control of pests, diseases and disorders for Narcissus ‘tete a tete’

Answer 32

To prevent Botrytis, so not apply water to the bulb directly when watering.