Embryo Root Shoot. Food Store Grow Germinate Seed Coat
Embryo Root Shoot. Food Store Grow Germinate Seed Coat
Embryo Root Shoot. Food Store Grow Germinate Seed Coat
Sand or perlite
Peat
Fertiliser
Loam (soil)
Fertilisers
Plants need minerals for healthy growth.
The 3 main minerals :
1. Nitrogen : leaf growth
2. Phosphorous : root growth
3. Potassium : flower and fruit growth
Plants also need some other minerals in tiny
amounts. These are called trace elements and
an example is iron.
Fertiliser is used if a soil does not have enough of the
right minerals.
Different plants need varying amounts of each of the
3 main minerals.
For example grass needs nitrogen as the main
element of fertiliser whereas, growing tomatoes
would need high potassium ( potash).
The proportion or ratio of the 3 main minerals is
listed on fertiliser containers in the following order
Nitrogen (N) : phosphorous (P) : potassum (K)
7 : 7 : 14
Applying Fertilisers
Fertilisers come in 2 forms , as liquids or granules
( small pellets)
Liquid fertilisers are quick acting but drain away
from soil quickly
Granules release minerals slowly and are longer
lasting.
Some liquid fertilisers can be absorbed by the
leaves as well as the roots ex Miracle Grow .
Man made or natural fertilisers (organic) can be
used. An example of an organic fertiliser would be
manure but they can be bought from shops also.
Watering house plants
• Some plants should be watered from above.
A watering can can be used to pour water
into the plant pot. Water is added until a
small amount appears in the drainage saucer
underneath.
• Some plants should be watered from below.
The pot or tray should be placed in shallow
water for about 15 mins to allow the roots
to absorb as much water as they need.
African violets and young seedlings should
be watered in this way
Watering Systems
Automatic watering systems allow plants to be
watered without anyone having to do the job.
What are the advantages of this ?
There are several different types :
1. Trickle irrigation
Plastic hose connects a tank of water with several
pots. Water “trickles “ continuously between
the pots.
2. Capillary Bench
Capillary matting is a material that will suck up water and
stay moist. If one end of the water is placed in a water
trough , it will absorb water along its length , and plant pots
can be placed on top.
3. Water Retentive Gels
These are chemicals that can absorb and hold a great deal
of water. If mixed with soil , they can last many seasons
holding water for plants. This is useful for hard to reach
plants ex. Hanging baskets
Temperature
Temperature is measured in degrees
Centigrade (ºC )
Different types of plants grow best at
different temperatures. For example a
spider plant grows well between 10 and
30°C. At temperatures outside this range
the plant does not grow well and may die.
People who grow plants must find ways of
growing them at the correct temperature.
Greenhouses are often used or polythene
tunnels which are plastic sheets draped over
metal poles, almost like a tent for plants!
• The temperature inside greenhouses
or polythene tunnels can be controlled
using an electric heater.
• The grower sets the thermostat at a
certain temperature and when the
greenhouse is warm enough the
thermostat switches the heater off.
• When the greenhouse begins to cool
down the thermostat switches the
heater back on.
Growers can check the range of temperatures
their plants have been exposed to in the
previous 24hours using a maximum and
minimum thermometer.
This is u-shaped. One arm records the
maximum temperature that occurred in the
previous 24 hours and the other arm records
the minimum temperature that occurred in the
previous 24hours.
As liquid in the thermometer moves up or
down it pushes metal markers. These show
the max and min temperatures.
• Both arms also show the present
temperature. The position of the
liquid inside the thermometer
shows this.
Humidity
This is the amount of water vapour in
the air.
Plants lose water from their leaf
surfaces. This has a cooling effect
similar to sweating in humans.
If the air is very humid, hardly any
water will evapourate from the plant. If
the air is very dry, the plant may lose
too much water and could die.
Different levels of humidity suit
different types of plants.
Relative humidity is the percentage of
water vapour the air is holding.
The higher the
percentage, the more humid the air.
100% humidity means the air can hold no
more water vapour and is saturated
• A wet and dry hygrometer is used to
measure relative humidity
• It is made up of two ordinary
thermometers but one bulb is
wrapped in wet muslin and will show a
lower temp.
• Relative humidity is worked out as
follows:
– Read dry bulb temp
– Read wet bulb temp
– Subtract wet reading from dry reading.
Refer to table of relative humidities and
find value
Ventilation
This is providing fresh air. Stale moist air means
mould and mildew will grow and kill plants.
Automatic vent openers are cylinders full of wax.
The wax expands when the temperature gets too
high and this pushes the window open. As the
green house cools down the wax contracts and the
window closes.
Extractor fans can also be used to cool green
houses. These are switched on and off by
thermostats.
Potting On
If a plant grows too large for the pot it is in,it will
not have enough space for the roots to grow. We
say it has become pot-bound. You will recognise
such a plant by the following features:
~ slow growth rate
~ compost dries quickly
~ roots growing out holes in bottom of pot
Potting on means re-potting the plant in a larger
pot.
Pricking Out