P.I - WK2 - Verbena x hybrida 'Claret'

GENUS:   Verbena 
SPECIES: x hybrida
CULTIVAR: 'Claret'
FAMILY: Verbenaceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Softwood Cutting (SW)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Perinnial (HHP)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

P.I - WK2 - Salvia splendens 'Blaze of Fire'

 


GENUS:   Salvia 
SPECIES: splendens
CULTIVAR: 'Blaze of Fire'
FAMILY: Lamiaceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Annual (HHA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

P.I - WK2 - Canna indica

 


GENUS:   Canna 
SPECIES: indica 
FAMILY: Cannaceae

(Otherwise known as Indian Shot)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S) Division (D)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Perinnial (HHP)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_indica

P.I - WK2 - Bougainvillea glabra

 


GENUS:   Bougainvillea
SPECIES: glabra 
FAMILY: Nyctaginaceae

(Otherwise known as Paper flower)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Semi-ripe Cuttings (SR)
PLANT TYPE: Pot Plant (PP) Climber (Cl)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea_glabra

P.I - WK2 - Antirrhinum majus

GENUS:   Antirrhinum 
SPECIES: majus 
FAMILY: Plantaginaceae

(Otherwise known as Snapdragon)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Annual (HHA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antirrhinum_majus

P.I - WK2 - Tagetes erecta

GENUS:   Tagetes
SPECIES: erecta
FAMILY: Asteraceae

(Otherwise known as African Marigold)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Annual (HHA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes_erecta

P.I - WK2 - Tagetes patula

GENUS:   Tagetes 
SPECIES: patula
FAMILY: Asteraceae

(Otherwise known as French Marigold)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Annual (HHA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes_patula

P.I - WK2 - Chrysanthemum 'Red Claudia'

GENUS:   Chrysanthemum
SPECIES: -
CULTIVAR: 'Red Claudia'
FAMILY: Asteraceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Softwood Cutting (SW)
PLANT TYPE: Herbaceous (HB)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

P.I - WK2 - Bidens ferulifolia

 








GENUS:   Bidens 
SPECIES: ferulifolia 
FAMILY: Asteraceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Softwood cutting (SW)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Perennial (HHP)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidens_ferulifolia

P.I - WK2 - Ageratum houstonianum

GENUS:   Ageratum
SPECIES: houstonianum
CULTIVAR: 'Blue Mink'
FAMILY: Asteraceae

(Otherwise known as Floss flower)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Half Hardy Annual (HHA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratum_houstonianum

WK2 - Practical - Softwood Cuttings

First practical session - propagating by use of softwood cuttings. 

• Mix a potting compost of peat and Vermiculite. 
• Fill pot/cell trays with the compost mix (compost should be fairly firm in the pots/cells). 
• Look for young stems with no flower buds on, ideally. 
• Remove lower leaves. 
• Using a sharp knife cut beneath the node (where the lower leaves were removed) - try to avoid squashing the stem with the knife as you slice it. 
• Use a dibber to create a well just deep enough for the stem, the stem should touch the bottom of the well. 
• Firm up the soil around the stem. 
• WATER THROUGHLY. For propagation at home cover with a plastic bag or plastic bottle and keep in shaded and warm place.

RHS guide to Softwood Cuttings

Further research:

What are the pros and cons of using peat/what are the environmental/ecological effects?

P.I - WK1 - Cosmos bipinnatus

GENUS:   Cosmos 
SPECIES: bipinnatus
CULTIVAR: 'Sensation Tall Mix'
FAMILY: Asteraceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Hardy Annual (HA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_bipinnatus

P.I - WK1 - Verbena bonariensis

 

GENUS:   Verbena
SPECIES: bonariensis
FAMILY: Verbenaceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S) / Cutting
PLANT TYPE: Herbaceous (HB)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbena_bonariensis

P.I - WK1 - Lathyrus odoratus

GENUS:   Lathyrus 
SPECIES: odoratus 
FAMILY: Leguminosae

(Otherwise known as Sweetpea)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Climber (Cl) / Hardy Annual (HA)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls) Scented Flowers (SF)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_pea

P.I - WK1 - Dahlia ' Bishop of Llandaff"

GENUS: Dahlia
SPECIES: -
CULTIVAR: 'Bishop of Llandaff'
FAMILY: Asteraceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Division (D) / Stem Cuttings
PLANT TYPE: Herbaceous (HB) / Tuber (Tu)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=621

P.I - WK1 - Hydrangea macrophylla

GENUS:   Hydrangea
SPECIES: macrophylla 
FAMILY: Hydrangeaceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Softwood Cutting (SW)
PLANT TYPE: Shrub
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea_macrophylla

P.I - WK1 - Rosa 'Chinatown'

GENUS:   Rosa 
SPECIES: -
CULTIVAR: 'Chinatown'
FAMILY: Rosaceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Budding (Bud)
PLANT TYPE: Shrub
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls) & Scented Flowers (SF)

P.I - WK1 - Acer platanoides

GENUS:   Acer 
SPECIES: platanoides 
FAMILY: Aceraceae

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Deciduous Tree (T)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Limited Horticultural Merit / Autumn Colour (AC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_platanoides

P.I - WK1 - Crataegus monogyna

 










GENUS:   Crataegus 
SPECIES: monogyna
FAMILY: Rosaceae

(Otherwise known as Hawthorn)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Deciduous Tree (T)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Flowers (Fls) & Fruit (Fr)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataegus_monogyna

P.I - WK1 - Quercus robur

GENUS:   Quercus 
SPECIES: robur
FAMILY: Fagaceae

(Otherwise known as Oak)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Deciduous Tree (T)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Limited Horticultural Merit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_robur

Horticultural Dictionary - Deciduous

Deciduous plants, including trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, are those that lose all of their leaves for part of the year. This process is called abscission. In some cases leaf loss coincides with winter - namely in temperate or polar climates. In other parts of the world, including tropical, subtropical, and arid regions, plants lose their leaves during the dry season or other seasons, depending on variations in rainfall.

Horticultural Dictionary - Biennial

A biennial plant is a flowering plant that takes two years to complete its biological lifecycle. In the first year the plant grows leaves, stems, and roots (vegetative structures), then it enters a period of dormancy over the colder months. Usually the stem remains very short and the leaves are low to the ground, forming a rosette. Many biennials require a cold treatment, or vernalization, before they will flower. During the next spring or summer, the stem of the biennial plant elongates greatly, or "bolts". The plant then flowers, producing fruits and seeds before it finally dies.

Horticultural Dictionary - Perennial

Perennials are plants that live for more than two years.

Horticultural Dictionary - Herbaceous

A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground. Herbaceous plants may be annuals, biennials or perennials.

P.I - WK1- Fraxinus excelsior

GENUS:   Fraxinus
SPECIES: excelsior
FAMILY: Oleaceae

(Otherwise known as Ash)

METHOD OF PROPOGATION: Seed (S)
PLANT TYPE: Deciduous Tree (T)
DECORATIVE MERIT: Limited Horticultural Merit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraxinus_excelsior

No more procrastination

Last Tuesday (20th September) I started both RHS Level 3 Practical Horticulture and Level 2 Principles of Horticulture theory courses. 

I promised myself that this time (the way we all do), I would keep on top of my work load and not leave it till the last minute to do homework etc. Well here we are.. it's Monday afternoon and i'm just starting to organise the stack of paperwork collected last week. I've unintentionally done everything possible to procrastinate...even made this blog.

It's time to start learning plant identifications- I don't know how i'm going to learn how to spell or say these latin names?

Horticultural Dictionary - Angiosperm

Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies (derived characteristics). These characteristics include flowers, endosperm within the seeds, and the production of fruits that contain the seeds.

Horticultural Dictionary - Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms are a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, and Gnetales. The term "gymnosperm" comes from the Greek word gymnospermos, meaning "naked seeds", after the unenclosed condition of their seeds (called ovules in their unfertilized state). Their naked condition stands in contrast to the seeds and ovules of flowering plants (angiosperms), which are enclosed within an ovary. Gymnosperm seeds develop either on the surface of scales or leaves, often modified to form cones, or at the end of short stalks as in (Ginkgo).

Plant Kingdom