nursery production competencies 33.00-36.00. what is nursery production? the growing of plants in...

Nursery ProductionNursery Production

Competencies 33.00-36.00Competencies 33.00-36.00

What is Nursery Production?What is Nursery Production?

The growing of plants The growing of plants in controlled in controlled environments (or environments (or nurseries).nurseries).

Nurseries are places Nurseries are places where plants, shrubs, where plants, shrubs, and ornamental trees and ornamental trees are grown for are grown for transplanting into transplanting into landscape areas.landscape areas.

Field Grown vs. Field Grown vs. ContainerContainer

Field Grown vs. ContainerField Grown vs. Container

Field grown production is being replaced Field grown production is being replaced by container grown plants because there by container grown plants because there is less shock to the plant.is less shock to the plant.

Plants are easier to move.Plants are easier to move. Retailers can keep plants longer before Retailers can keep plants longer before

sellingselling Insects, diseases, fertility and pH are Insects, diseases, fertility and pH are

easier to control in uniform media.easier to control in uniform media.

Field Grown vs. ContainerField Grown vs. Container

Container grown plants have some Container grown plants have some disadvantages such as disadvantages such as requiring more waterrequiring more water becoming pot-boundbecoming pot-bound requiring winter protection for cold climatesrequiring winter protection for cold climates having a higher start-up cost.having a higher start-up cost.

Field Grown vs. ContainerField Grown vs. Container

Types of plants grown in containers vary from Types of plants grown in containers vary from ground covers to treesground covers to trees

Proper selection of containers should include Proper selection of containers should include several considerations such asseveral considerations such as CostCost DurabilityDurability AppearanceAppearance Insulation value to plant rootsInsulation value to plant roots ShapeShape DrainageDrainage SizeSize

Growing Container PlantsGrowing Container Plants

Either sell or Either sell or transplant to a larger transplant to a larger container when the container when the plant reaches plant reaches maximum maximum recommended size recommended size for the current for the current container.container.

Potting Nursery PlantsPotting Nursery Plants

Potting Nursery PlantsPotting Nursery Plants Growing mixes Growing mixes

(media) should (media) should provide adequate provide adequate drainage and drainage and aeration.aeration.

Container media must Container media must be more porous than be more porous than media for field-grown media for field-grown crops.crops.

Potting Nursery PlantsPotting Nursery Plants

Space plants so that the tips of the Space plants so that the tips of the branches almost touch those of other branches almost touch those of other plants.plants.

Containers will have to be moved as Containers will have to be moved as plants get larger.plants get larger.

Potting Nursery PlantsPotting Nursery Plants

Place plant in the center of the container if Place plant in the center of the container if only one plant is used.only one plant is used.

Evenly space the plants in the container if Evenly space the plants in the container if more than one plant is used.more than one plant is used.

Potting Nursery PlantsPotting Nursery Plants

Plant in containers at Plant in containers at the right depththe right depth

Planting depth varies Planting depth varies depending upon the depending upon the type of plant.type of plant.

WateringWatering

Watering Nursery PlantsWatering Nursery Plants

Water as needed to Water as needed to grow quality plants.grow quality plants.

Tips on WateringTips on Watering

Watering is more important for container Watering is more important for container grown plants than field-grown plants grown plants than field-grown plants because roots can go no deeper or spread because roots can go no deeper or spread any wider than the container. any wider than the container.

Plant containers are above the ground and Plant containers are above the ground and will dry quicker.will dry quicker.

Tips on WateringTips on Watering

Plants should be watered until the water Plants should be watered until the water runs through the hole in the bottom of the runs through the hole in the bottom of the container.container.

A gallon container needs about a pint of A gallon container needs about a pint of water at each watering.water at each watering.

Factors that Affect WateringFactors that Affect Watering

WeatherWeather

Plants require more water in dry, windy, hot Plants require more water in dry, windy, hot weatherweather

Plant GrowthPlant Growth

Plants need more Plants need more water in active growth water in active growth and flowering stageand flowering stage

MediaMedia

More porous mix More porous mix requires more requires more wateringwatering

Kind of PlantKind of Plant

Broadleaf evergreens Broadleaf evergreens require more water require more water than narrowleafthan narrowleaf

Size of ContainerSize of Container

Small ones dry out Small ones dry out fasterfaster

Type of ContainerType of Container

Fiber or pressed Fiber or pressed paper dry faster than paper dry faster than plasticplastic

Surface MulchSurface Mulch

Mulch helps reduce Mulch helps reduce need to waterneed to water

Fertilizing Nursery Fertilizing Nursery CropsCrops

FertilizationFertilization

Fertilization should be done on a schedule Fertilization should be done on a schedule based on each type of plant grownbased on each type of plant grown

Some media have fertilizer in themSome media have fertilizer in them Nutrients have to be added to supply Nutrients have to be added to supply

needs of growing plantsneeds of growing plants

Liquid FertilizerLiquid Fertilizer

Liquid fertilizer used in watering is applied Liquid fertilizer used in watering is applied at a rate of 100 to 150 ppm (parts per at a rate of 100 to 150 ppm (parts per million) of nitrogenmillion) of nitrogen

Periodic liquid fertilizing every two to three Periodic liquid fertilizing every two to three weeks is applied at a rate of 300-500 ppm weeks is applied at a rate of 300-500 ppm nitrogennitrogen

Slow-Release FertilizersSlow-Release Fertilizers

Slow-release Slow-release fertilizers such as fertilizers such as Osmocote and Osmocote and Magamp are mixed in Magamp are mixed in potting mediapotting media

Fertilizing ContainersFertilizing Containers

Plants kept in containers more than one Plants kept in containers more than one year require additional fertilizer at the rate year require additional fertilizer at the rate of one teaspoon of 18% nitrogen for each of one teaspoon of 18% nitrogen for each gallon of container capacity and should be gallon of container capacity and should be watered thoroughly after fertilizing.watered thoroughly after fertilizing.

Tips on FertilizingTips on Fertilizing

Plants should be observed and fertilization Plants should be observed and fertilization changed as plant foliage shows a need for changed as plant foliage shows a need for either more or less fertilizer.either more or less fertilizer.

PruningPruning

Why Prune?Why Prune?

To shape the plantTo shape the plant To make the plant more compactTo make the plant more compact To train the growth or form of the mature To train the growth or form of the mature

plant (central leader or many stems)plant (central leader or many stems) To remove dead or diseased partsTo remove dead or diseased parts

Time for PruningTime for Pruning

The best time is The best time is immediately after immediately after planting and during planting and during the growing seasonthe growing season

May be done in winter May be done in winter in temperate climatesin temperate climates

Methods of PruningMethods of Pruning

Hand prunersHand pruners Electrical, battery, or Electrical, battery, or

gasoline powered gasoline powered prunerspruners

Chemicals to kill buds Chemicals to kill buds of plantsof plants