Plant popagation with Chiala

Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants. This process can occur sexually, using seeds, or asexually, using a part of the plant.

 

The sexual type of propagation is achieved using seeds.  Seeds produce new plants fast, cheaply and open the option to create new varieties and stronger plants. For a good germination rate, seeds need to be mature and to have favourable conditions in their environment. Two of the main favourable conditions are temperature and humidity. At this stage, not much nutrients are required for seed germination as it contains the required energy. Also, plants grown from seeds collected from your garden adapt to the local conditions and grow better each season. 

 

There are about five main asexual techniques used in home gardening. These methods create new plants from either steam, roots, leaves or plant sections.  One of the most common techniques is propagation by cutting where a part of the plant is taken to create a new whole plant. Some examples using the steam are rosemary, basil and sugar cane; using the leaves begonia, snake plant and Kalanchoe; and for root propagation comfrey, raspberries and blackberries are good examples. Propagation by layering is when a section of the steam is in contact with a growing medium (usually soil) and develops roots while still attached to the main plant. This can happen naturally in tomato, squash family and mint plants; also, when a section of the steam is broken, wounded or intentionally bent branches. 

 

A third method is called propagation by division; when the plant creates new rooted crowns and these are divided and planted separately to create new plants. Some examples are dahlias, ginger, turmeric and lemongrass. The fourth method is propagation by separation; this process is applied to plants that produce bulbs or corms as each of these can be planted separately and will grow a new mother plant. Queensland arrowroot, tulip, gladiolus are common plants that can be propagated using division. The final technique is Grafting, in this method parts of two plants are joined so they will grow as one plant. Grafting is generally used to ensure known varieties are grown, to have faster flower and fruit production and to benefit from rootstocks adapted to local conditions. One or more varieties can be grafted into one plant - Fruit salad trees!