Propa ga tion
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• Has the propagator damaged the cutting material excessively? This would increase the likelihood of pest or disease damage. • Has the correct amount of leaf been removed? • Has the cutting been placed in the propagating media properly? • Has the cutting been treated in a way which will minimise drying out throughout the cutting operation? Seed • Has viable seed been used? • Has the seed been adequately processed (e.g. separated from fruits or pods)? • Has the seed been sown evenly and at a suitable density? Seeds sown too heavily will be overcrowded and consequently of poorer quality. Seeds sown too thinly waste valuable space and materials. • Has the seed been sown at a suitable depth? More seeds are lost from sowing too deeply than by sowing at too shallow a depth. Seeds sown deeply will also take longer to emerge after germination. A seed only has a certain amount of stored resources to allow it to germinate and reach above the soil. If a seed is sown too deeply, it will run out of resources before it emerges and can photosynthesise, or result in a weak seedling. Selecting the most appropriate technique General • What time of the year is the operation carried out? • What type of propagating media is used (e.g. sand/peat, sand, vermiculite, growool, open ground, perlite bed, gravel bed, nutrient agar)? Cuttings • What type of cutting is used (e.g. semi-hardwood, hardwood, softwood, tip, older wood, leaf bud, leaf, root, 4 cm/1.5" long, 6 cm/2.5" long)? Is this the most appropriate type for the plant? • What additional treatments have been carried out on the cuttings (e.g. hormones, disinfecting drenches)? Seed • Has a suitable pre-germination treatment been used (e.g. scarification, stratification, hot water)? Aftercare • Where are the seed trays or cuttings placed after planting? Are they outside exposed to the elements, in a glasshouse, in a cold frame, in a hotbed? • How frequently are they watered? Are they watered by hand, by manual sprinklers, or by automatic sprinklers?