Plant Propagation by Plant Division Planting A Tree

Plant Propagation by Plant Division & Planting A Tree Frank Cruz Horticulturist

Asexual Propagation • Does not involve the exchange of genetic material • Genetically identical to the parent • Asexual propagation includes: - Cuttings, layering, division, grafting, budding, & tissue culture - Today propagating by Division

Division • Is the process of dividing a number of plants that are growing in clusters or multiples - Each piece needs to have a bud and roots • Dig the plant carefully, loosen the roots & lift the plant out of the ground • Bananas and taro are common examples • We will be doing lemon grass.

Bulbs and Corms • Bulbs (onion)and corms (banana, taro) can be propagated by removing the suckers that form at the base of the parent plant • It can take up to 1 to 2 years for plants to flower.

Tubers & Rhizomes • Tubers of tuberous plants can be dug up & separated(potato) • Each needs to have a segment of the crown that contains at least one eye • Rhizomes grow (underground) and develop buds along their length • Gingers have rhizomes • It can be dug & cut into sections that each contain at least one eye

Planting & Care • Minimum: • Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball if no organic matter is added. • But of course you want to improve the soil below and around the root ball • You want the crown (point where root & stem meet) level with the ground surface • Do not mound soil or mulch up against the stems

Planting & Care • Best: Dig a hole with sloping slides deeper than the root ball & mix a layer of compost (or other organic matter) with soil below the root ball • Break up any of the roots that are circling the root ball “pot bound roots” • Make sure tap root is straight, no “J” roots • “It’s better to plant a $1 plant in a $10 hole than it is to plant $10 plant in a $1 hole”