Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from existing ones. This can be done through a variety of methods, including sexual and asexual methods.
Sexual propagation involves the use of seeds to create new plants. This is the most common method of plant propagation, and it involves the fertilisation of an ovule (a female reproductive structure found in the ovary of a flower) by pollen (a male reproductive structure) to create a seed. Once the seed has germinated and grown into a seedling, it can be transplanted and grown into a mature plant.
Asexual propagation, on the other hand, involves the use of vegetative plant parts to create new plants. Some common asexual propagation methods include:
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Clippings: This involves taking a piece of a plant, such as a stem or leaf, and rooting it in soil, water, sphagnum moss, or semi-hydro substrates (such as LECA) to create a new plant. This method is often used for plants that are difficult to propagate through seeds or for plants that have specific characteristics (such as a certain flower colour) that the grower wants to preserve.
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Air Layering: This method involves bending a stem of a plant down to the ground and covering it with soil or mulch (or in the case of houseplants, either layering the aerial roots into an additional pot of soil or wrapping sphagnum moss in a sandwich bag or clingfilm to allow the plant to root into the substrate before detaching from the mother plant). The stem will then form roots where it touches the soil, and a new plant can be separated and transplanted once it has established a good root system.
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Grafting: Grafting involves joining two plants together so that they grow as one. This is often done to combine the roots of a hardy plant with the top of a more delicate plant in order to create a plant that is both hardy and attractive.
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Division: Division involves dividing a plant into smaller pieces and planting each piece separately. This method is often used for plants that grow by producing offsets or by forming clumps, such as irises.
In conclusion, plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from existing ones, and it can be done through a variety of methods, including sexual propagation (using seeds) and asexual propagation (using vegetative plant parts). Each method has its own benefits and limitations, and the best method to use will depend on the specific plant being propagated and the goals of the grower.