Vegetative cutting and young plant propagation resources
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EmailA series of recent articles will help greenhouse growers prepare for the peak of spring production season, reduce plant losses and increase plant quality
As we arrive at week nine of the greenhouse production season, growers are hustling to keep up. The young plant propagators are at their peak production time as they are shipping product to growers across the United States. Most other growers are building up to some of the most challenging weeks of the whole season in early to mid-March. Greenhouse growers are still sticking vegetative cuttings or seeding trays, while finished plants are being shipped.
In order to increase profitability, greenhouses must be prepared to “turn” their growing space two to four times. Therefore, many plants must be shipped on time in order for the next round of plants to have a place to grow, which is a logistical challenge if the schedule is altered in any way.
Michigan State University Extension educators have published numerous articles recently that are excellent resources for greenhouse growers as they approach the peak propagation weeks for the 2018 spring season. The resources for the new season include:
- A comprehensive start-up checklist: “Preparing for a New Season: Making a list and checking it twice!,” e-GRO Alert 7.10, posted by Heidi Lindberg on the e-GRO website.
- Five considerations for this season: “Greenhouse growers: Five things to consider while gearing up for spring 2018,” posted by Jeremy Jubenville on the MSU Extension website.
- 2018 pest management recommendations: “2018 Greenhouse disease and insect management recommendations,” posted by Heidi Lindberg on the MSU Extension website.
One of the most challenging aspects of propagating young plants is moisture management of vegetative cuttings. Growers must stick the most delicate and ethylene-sensitive crops first and know how to trouble-shoot issues when vegetative cuttings do not arrive on time from the suppliers. Upon entering the propagation area, growers must maintain enough moisture and humidity to prevent desiccation while not providing too much moisture, which leads to damping off and foliar diseases.
Our faculty, educators and outreach specialists have prepared the following articles for growers rooting vegetative cuttings:
- “Stuck in transit: Delayed shipments can stress vegetative cuttings,” posted by Jeremy Jubenville on the MSU Extension website.
- “Avoid Cutting Losses by Prioritizing Sticking,” e-GRO Alert 7.12, posted by Roberto Lopez on the e-GRO website.
- “Moisture management during vegetative cutting propagation,” posted by Garrett Owen on the MSU Extension website.
- “Rooting hormones improve uniformity among vegetative cuttings,” posted by Garrett Owen on the MSU Extension website.
- “Increasing the Rooting Success of Challenging Vegetative Cutting Species,” e-GRO Alert 5.6, posted by Roberto Lopez and Heidi Lindberg on the e-GRO website.
- “Using Surfactants in Vegetative Cutting Propagation: A Review,” e-GRO Alert 7.13, posted by Heidi Lindberg on the e-GRO website.
