Horticulture Science Unit A Horticulture CD

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Horticulture ScienceUnit A Horticulture CD
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Growing Media, Nutrients, Fertilizers

• Problem Area 4

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Understanding Properties of Growing Media

• Lesson 1

Vermiculitegtgtgtgtgt
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Interest ApproachWhat makes a great basketball
team?

• 5 or more members that work well together.
• At least 1 who can score points from 20 .
• At least 1 who can be used inside the key.
• 1 or more who can control the ball.
• 1 or more to push the ball inside.
• Each player has their strengths!

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Interest ApproachWhat makes a great growing
medium?

• Several components that work well together
• 1 or more that hold water.
• 1 or more that hold air.
• 1 or more sources of nutrients.
• 1 or more to help defend against pest.
• Components that are sterilized.

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Interest ApproachWhich Makes the Best Growing
Medium?

• Sand
• Peat Moss
• Field Soil
• Vermiculite
• Pearlite
• Water
• Gravel

or a mixture!
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Student ObjectivesBy the end of this lesson, you
will be able to

• 1. Identify the types of growing media.
• 2. Describe the functions of growing media.
• 3. Explain the relationship between growing media
  and plant growth.

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TERMS

• Aeration the presence of air
• Growing medium material used for plant growth
• Hydroponics growing plants w/o soil
• Leach to remove by percolation
• Pore spaces voids for water or air holding
• Soil outer layer of the earth suitable for
  plants
• Soilless medium sterile product/s used for
  plants

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What are the types of growing media used in
floriculture production?

• Is soil used?
• Soil the earths outer crust is full of life!
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Invertebrates

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What are the negatives of using SOIL for
containers?

• Unknown history of
• Pesticides
• pH
• Fertility level
• High shrink / swell
• Soil shrinks as it dries forming cracks
• Higher disease probability

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So what media should you use?

• Sand? Dries to quickly.
• Peat moss? Dries to slowly.
• Coir? Hard to get wetted.
• Water? To little air.
• Pearlite? To much air.
• Vermiculite? Pricey.
• Potting soil mixes? Just right.

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The 3 basic types of media!

• Soil natural layer of the earth that supports
  life.
• Soilless any material for growing plants not
  containing topsoil.
• Hydroponics plants grown primarily in nutrient
  solution.

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What are the functions of the growing media?
Start Here

• Must provide AIR.
• Must provide WATER.
• Must provide Nutrients.
• Must provide ANCHORE / SUPPORT.

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What effect does growing media have on plant
growth?

• Supplying Nutrients
• Some media cannot hold essential elements for
  plants. Nutrients are leached out to rapidly.
• Stressed plants are prone to disease and insect
  damage increasing loss.
• Reduced growth lower returns

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What effect does growing media have on plant
growth?

• Supplying Air
• As air is reduced, plant stress increases.
• Roots need oxygen and water both in moderation.
• Increasing stress increases pest susceptibility
  and profit loss

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Necrotic line patterns in the foliage of a
cyclamen affected by impatiens necrotic spot
tospovirus (INSV).
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What effect does growing media have on plant
growth?

• Uniformity
• Large scale production demands that all plants
  perform equally.
• This is only possible if all plants get equal
  inputs from a uniform media.

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Review
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What are the 3 types of media?

• Soil
• define
• Soilless
• define
• Hydroponics
• define

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What are the functions of growing media?

• Supply Air.
• Why?
• Supply water.
• Why?
• Supply nutrients.
• Why?
• Supply support / anchor.
• Why?

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Why is it important for media to

• Supply nutrients?
• Increase healthy plants,growth and returns.
• Supply air?
• Reduce diseases and increase profit.
• Supply uniformity?
• Plant schedules require uniform plant growth!