Basic Plant CareMrs. Stoinski & Mrs. Dexter

2006/07

Green House Safety• Handling Chemicals

• Chemical Gloves & Safety Glasses

• Electrical

• Cutting Tools

• Proper Lifting

• No Opened Toed Shoes

• Pull long hair Back

• Proper Handling of Tools

Watering

• 80-90% of a plant is composed of water.

• It is Important to understand when and how to water.

• There are different watering needs for different plants

Watering

• Growing Medium: used for growing a plant can affect how much water is needed. Some mediums have higher water-holding capacities. (Ex.Clay soils hold more water than sands soils)

• SO . . . ?• Drainage: Most soil types are adequate for plant growth

provided there is proper drainage, this helps prevent root rot.

• WHY . . .?

The following materials may be added to soil to promote better drainage

1. Perlite

2. Vermiculite

3. Sand

4. Peat Moss

5. Humus

Pot Types

• Clay Pots absorb water & need watering more frequently.

• Pots with drain holes are best for plants. WHY??

• Pots without drain holes need watering less frequently. no drainage, can result in rot or disease if over

watered

• Larger pots need less watering than small pots. WHY???

• Full Sun areas need more water than plants in shade, WHY?

Methods of Watering

• Top watering: Water is poured on top of the soil until water runs out the bottom.

• Bottom watering: Water is poured

into a saucer around base of container

and capillary action pulls water from

into the root ball.

Types of Water

• Water: suitable for human consumption is generally suitable for plants.

• Softened Water: contains sodium which can break up and scatter the soil structure, making it difficult for the roots to take up nutrients and oxygen.

How to Tell when to Water

• “Feel” Method: If Top soil feels dry to the touch, water as needed. (This method is not foolproof)

• Cake-testing: Insert a probe into the soil. If soil crumbs stick to the probe, the soil is moist. If not, the soil is dry

• “Weight” Method: Pick-up a plant that has been thoroughly watered. Gauge its weight. When you want to water it again, see if it feels lighter, or the same weight. The lighter the plant is, the more water it needs.

• Leaching: This technique is used to remove excess fertilizer salts from the soil

• To Leach: Water plant from the top of soil until the water draining out the bottom is clear.

Any other examples?

What is Leaching?

Under Watering Vs. Over WateringWhat will happen?

• Plant wilts, leaves may curl, cup or droop

• Edges and tips of leaves turn brown. Entire leaves eventually turn brown and drop

• General drop of green leaves

• Roots are brown and dry

•Whole plant wilts

•Lower leaves turn yellow and drop. Others develop brown or black spots

•Whole plant is stunted and fails to grow

•Stems and roots become brown, and mushy and decay

Think, Before you water:Over watering is caused by

• Not understanding a containers water-holding capacity

• Ignoring lighting conditions

• Forgetting that light changes as seasons change

• Watering already moist soil

Lighting• Most Important factor in

plant growth.

• Necessary for Photosynthesis

(Create food and energy for plants)

• In High light situations a plant can photosynthesize at a higher rate, which allows faster growth

Aspects of Light

• Intensity: Intensity is the amount of light that is received on a plants leaf surfaces.

• Duration: The length of time a plant receives light.

• Quality: The quality is a measure of the wave lengths the light emits. Plants rely on red and blue regions, this is where chlorophyll can absorb light most effectively.

Light Sources

• Natural Light: cheapest (windows or skylights).

• Fluorescent Light:

Artificial lighting expensive, less heat, low power. (High blue light) Good for starting seeds.

High Intensity Discharge(HID):

Expensive (transformer,vapor bulb,and reflector) strong healthier seed starts, mature faster and produce higher yields.

Incandescent: Emits high heat, Low power(high red low blue) Not as beneficial to plants. Cheaper than (HID)

Light Extremes – Plants not receiving enough light.

• Growth will be stretched out, tall and spindly.• Leaves are smaller and may appear

curly or cupped.• Leaves turn yellow and drop.• Variegated leaves lose their

variegation.• Flowers are pale in color, or

no bloom at all.• Growth is slow, stunted or no growth.

• Excessive Light- Sun scorch, plants wilt develop brown or bleached spots.

Light Requirements

• Full Sun light – 5 hours of full sun, 5 ft from S window & 2ft from E or W

• Indirect or Diffused – 4ft from N, 8ft from S or 5ft from E or W

• Shade or Low light – 6ft from N, *ft from E or W & 10 ft from S – must be shaded

Photosynthesis

• Is the process by which plants create energy

• Plants take CO2 & H2O and turn it into C6H12O6 & O2

• This gives them energy to grow & flower.

• The reverse process is Respiration - this gives off H2O & CO2 through the stomata, which are the pores (usually) underneath the leaves.

Growing Medium & Nutrients

• The following is a guide to good medium.

• Soil should be uniform and disease-free.

• Ideal soil: 50% solid, 25% air space, 25% water space.

• The best soil is a loam, which is

a combination of sand,silt, and clay.

Soil Additives• Organic Matter: Added to soil to provide drainage and improve

water retention.• Coarse Aggregates: Added to improve aeration and drainage.

Sand is a common.• Perlite: Expanded volcanic rock, should be used in limited quantities due to its high Flourine content• Vermiculite: Can hold moisture and nutrients.

• Aeration: necessary to ensure O2 & removal of CO2 from root zone, otherwise you will have Root Rot

Growing Medium

• Happy Medium (Good medium):

high water holding capacity & good aeration.

• Soil pH: pH between 6.2 and 6.8 ensures the best nutrient availability for most plants.

Plant Nutrition

Macronutrients: these are needed on a _______________, by all plants these six nutrients include

• (N) 1. Nitrogen: essential for proper growth & development

• (P) 2. Phosphorus: needed to transform energy

• (K) 3. Potassium: helps with development of chlorophyll

• (Ca) 4. Calcium : helps soil structure & makes other nutrients readily available

• (Mg) 5. Magnesium: assists Ca – can be added w/ lime

• (S) 6. Sulfur: important in enzymatic reactions & may reduce pH

Micronutrients: elements essential for plant growth

which are needed in only very___________.

The seven of these include:

• 1. boron (B)

• 2. copper (Cu)

• 3. iron (Fe)

• 4. chloride (Cl)

• 5. manganese (Mn)

• 6. molybdenum (Mo)

• 7. zinc (Zn)

Fertilizers

• Fertilizer – solution added to soil to supplement available nutrients & promote growth

• Various forms: liquid, soluble crystal, soluble tablets, slow release formula & all-organic

• What’s the Difference?

• They are labeled in N-P-K rations,

ex: 10-10-10 which means what?

10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus & 10% Potassium

What’s the other 70%?

Temperature

What’s Comfortable for Us?

Most houseplants tolerate normal home temperatures

(65-75 degrees F)

Freezing temperatures

will kill plants < 32f

Temperature over 85f will result in poor growth unless . . .

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What about Drafts?

• Warm air drafts: Drafts such as those from a heating register can cause damaging water loss.

• Cold air drafts: caused by air conditioner or winter drafts can cause wilting and crumpling

Taxonomy:Why are there TWO names?

• Common name:

Snake Plant or Mother In Law’s Tongue

• Scientific name:

Sansevieria trifasciata or Sansevieria trifasciata

This consists of the GENUS and the species.

Specialty plants• An “X” is a hybrid cross

EX: Lilium X hybridum

• The sp. or species signifies an unknown name

EX:Lilium species

What are some ways to differentiate between plants?

• The leaf

• The flower

• The fruit

TREES include

• The bark

• The bud

• The bud or leaf scar

Two major classifications for all plants• ___________________: flowering

plants that produce seeds in fruit

• ___________________: they produce naked seeds or cones

Parts of a Flower

Leave types

leaflet

petiolule

petiole

First Second

whorled

Other Methods of Differentiation

• Bud - consists leaves, stems, and perhaps flowers, which are folded, & covered

• Bud scar - markings remaining after bud scales drop

• Fruit – ripened ovary, containing seeds

• Roots – supply support, water & nutrients

Root Types

• Tap - large and fleshy, grow deep, able to store food

• Fibrous - close to the surface collects precipitation

• Adventitious - help plants climb or modified underground stems

Propagation: reproduction

Two Types

• Sexual

• Asexual– Stem Cuttings: cutting a pies of stem w/ leaves– Leaf Cuttings: cutting the leaf & laying on soil– Spores: seed like bodies on ferns– Grafting: union of two compatible plants– Runners & Stolons: planting plantlets w/o cutting– Division: splitting multiple crowns– Air Layering: rooting w/o detaching

RepottingH.O. 46

Insects – IckHandout pg 52

• *Insects are the most serious problem in an interior plantscape.

• *They thrive in a warm dry atmosphere.

• *Inspect leaves & stems for insects on any new plants before placing with existing ones.

Methods of Prevention:

We will rotate the following each Friday

1. Red Wax Spray

2. Rubbing Alcohol Spray

3. Soapy Water Mix

Disease• 3 factors must be present for plant disease to occur:

1. a susceptible host2. the pathogen3. a environment conducive to

“the disease” – WHAT? (usually wet & warm)-They enter through wounds & pores

Botrytis

Tobacco Disease

HOW Prevention• Keep Foliage Dry

• Remove Infected Tissues

• After tending to an infected plant, Disinfect tools & hands

• Use Clean potting Media when Repotting

Research Adventures

• Look up 4 common greenhouse diseases

• Need to have one from each category +1

• Use books or internet

• Can work in groups of TWO only!

Customer Relations

* The Customer is your new Boss!* In any industry the Customer pays your paycheck, so it is

important to keep them HAPPY. The most common reasons people leave a business;

68% - leave because of an indifferent attitude from an employee

14% - leave because they were dissatisfied with the product

9% - left for competitive prices8% - miscellaneous

Sales Blue Prints:

There are six steps in a

successful sale

1. Greeting –NameEyesAttitudeSmileSpace

2. Determine Buying Needs- Occasion?

3. Descriptive Selling – color, money, flowers

4. Handling Objections – what is it? apologize

5. The Close – total, delivery, card, repeat

6. Wrap-Up – Thanks, Reassurance & receipt

Skits• Create a Sales skit- go through ALL 6 steps

• Teams of 2 -1 customer, 1 floral worker

• Fill in the blanks in your note guide

• Can be a phone call, or in person

• Must be start to finish

• Must include one complaint or objection

• Must use props

• 10 minutes – get your props & script written

Handling Money• http://www.funbrain.com/cashreg/index.html• Online stations & second yr stations• Total = $16.25• They give you a 20.00 what do you do?• You owe them 3.75• With each dollar you count up, 17.25, 18.25,

19.25• When there is only change left . . . give them the

change & say the amount they gave you + .75 And twenty (20.00)

Cut Flower Care – from the CP&F Truck

Check the order for mistakes; observe each bunch while looking at what is written on the receipt.

Check for completion & condition

Proper Incoming Flower Care Handout 16/ 11

• Recut & remix solution for flowers (Monday’s) being kept for more than 4 days.

• Clean nippers & scrubbed buckets must be used.• Photosynthesis is interrupted when a flower is cut. • The Flower needs energy to open and develop.• Flower preservative: can increase a vase life by 200%.• With a marked bucket, add water to the fill line.• Use the proper amount of floral life to container.

Mix well!• But What’s in It?

Water Quality:Correct pH for fresh flowers

3.5 – 4.5

Gases in water can air bubbles which can cause blockage. The higher the

temperature is the less the amount of gas.

The correct temperature should be 100ish.

Clean & sanitize tools weekly

(Mondays) use a bleach & detergent

mixture.

Tools & Supplies pg 110/111

• Worksheet match up

• Place the letter of the tools in your guide next to the description you believe fits

• After you are finished we’ll go through the correct answers

Wet, Live, Floral Foam Preparation

• In order to wet oasis, fill a floral bucket with water 100-110 degrees F

• Add Floral Life then place oasis on top and allow to Sink on its own.

• DO NOT Force down! This will create Air pockets, stems placed in these pockets will Die due to Lack of O2.

• Pre-soaked oasis Cannot be reused

Containers – the 1st element

*Select by observing;

• Style, quality, price, flowers & occasion

• Flowers should be cut to roughly 1 ½ x the size of the container.

Is there anything that shouldn’t be used?

Accents are used to complement

or enhance the arrangement

Colors• Are the KEY in Floral Design. Complete HO pg 127• They can create Drama, softness & cheerfulness.• The Color Wheel should be used as a tool when creating

designs.What is a Color Scheme?

1. __________________: using one hue, including different shades, tints & tones

2. __________________: using 2 colors directly across from each other

3. __________________: using 3 colors, creating an = triangle on the wheel

4. __________________: using colors adjacent in a 90 degree angle.

Which are these?

Complete Color Wheel

Proportion & Scale

• P = Relationship between containers, accessories, & space.

• Arrangement should be ______ the ___________or _________ of container.

• The ___________ is the most important part of proportion because it determines size, shape, color & texture.

• S = Relationship between arrangement and surrounding area it will be placed.

Questions in note guide

Balance & Symmetry

B = *Visual: achieved by balancing color & material *Physical: achieved by actual placement of stems

S = 1. ________________: Equal weight, creates a vertical line

2. ________________: Unequal weight, line is shifted

• Dark Colors should be placed low, due to heaviness• Large flowers should be placed in low groups & central

and small & light flowers place higher

Rhythm & Repetition – like music

Refer to floral handout page 116

Harmony

• Addresses aesthetic qualities in an arrangement. – Does the container, flowers &

accessories convey the message

that you want them to?

Depth

• Occurs when flowers & foliage are distributed around a central point.

• If some lines point forward & some backward this will be achieved.

• Also vary the facing of flowers or use cool colors to recede towards the back.

*Look at the arrangement at all angles; sides & top *What are you looking for?

Texture

Physical & visual surface qualities of plant materials

• Pastels: Look sheik & smooth

• Dark colors: Look rough

• Use related textures so . . .

They blend well and are pleasing to the eye

Focal Point• The spot that 1st attracts your

eye. Where movement begins.

• It is usually the largest or the boldest material placed low in the design.

• It is only varied slightly in color to prevent losing motion

• The lines should meet at this point

Form• Refer to H.O. pg121

- In groups of two-Come up with a line, a mass, a filler & a green

you could use for each design form -They need to be different for each one.

Bow CreationH.O. pg 1411. Loop around the thumb

& pinch shiny side up

2. Then make a loop & pinch shiny side up ‘tween forefinger & thumb

3. Twist so shiny side is up again & hold tight

4. Repeat 4 to 6 times

5. With a floral wire, go through the first loop around your thumb

6. And pinch the wire underneath the bow & twist

Wiring & Taping

• HO pgs 144, 145, 146

1. Twist & Wrap method

2. Pierce method

3. Insert method

4. Hook method

5. Wrap-Around method

6. Leaf form

7. Cluster form

8. Fern form

Boutonnières

• Basic bout design includes :Wire, floral tape, flowers, greens, C&G

Could also use; note card, glue, ribbon, accessories

• The carnation or rose should be wired with the pierce method, leave about 1-2” of wire.

• The leaf if wired should be done with the appropriate method.

• Place the leaf behind the flower and begin wrapping the stems together with floral tape, stretching and twisting as you go. Then mist with C& G and you are finished.

Corsages

You will need:Flowers, glue, ribbon, wristlet, accessories, faux leaflets & C&G

• Place a SMALL amount of floral glue on a piece or cardboard, (it dries quickly) dab faux leaflets & flowers directly in glue & apply directly to wristlet.

• Next, place the bow in the center of the corsage (or flower), this is your focal point.

• You will then add leaflets and flowers under and around the bow (or flower).

• Finally spray with anti-transparent & place in a corsage box, then in the cooler.

Arrangements

You will need:

Foliage: leatherleaf, asparagus, pine bows

Line Flowers: liatris, stock, delphinium, curly willow

Mass Flowers: roses, lilies, sunflowers, alstroemeria

Filler Flowers: baby’s breath, limonium, statice

Needed for a container arrangement

Container, oasis & waterproof tape

Vase Arrangements• H.O. pg 131

Step One: Fill vase with H2O & Preservative

Step Two: Insert greenery which will form a anchor.

Step Three: Place line flowers into vase to establish height.

Step Four: Place mass flowers randomly by working away from primary flowers towards the rim.

Step Five: Insert filler flowers, to complement flowers.

Step Six: Evaluate design from all angles and be sure it’s

structured.

Container Arrangement• H.O. pg 132, 133, 134

Step one: Choose a arrangement to reflect the occasion.Step two: Cut pre-soaked oasis to snugly fit container.

Need to be 1” above container height (for heavy flowers 2”).Step three: Secure the oasis to the container with oasis tape.Step four: Insert heavy stems & important accessories,

ex: sunflowers or teddy bears.Step five: Pre-green the arrangement: cover

oasis with leather leaf fernsStep six: Wire any flowers that require

additional support. Be sure to cut all stems on an angle & insert at least 1”into oasis.