Begonias - Sowing Seeds & Propagating
Leaves, Stems and Sections
January 12, 2005
Following an introduction to the benefits of plants and how much we
depend upon them, the 24-member class was divided into five 5-member
teams. Using 
pre-determined team names (oxygen, temperature, water, soil and
light) each student drew a team
name. With the assistance of Master Gardeners, the students sowed Dragon Wing
Begonia seeds in flats and took cuttings from a Dragon Wing Begonia
growing in our Demonstration and Trial Garden. The students prepared
stem cuttings, leaf cuttings and leaf sections and placed them atop a
combination of Pro-Mix and vermiculite in clear plastic salad containers
which will serve as terrariums for this project.
As the semester progresses, students will chart the changes in the
seeds and the cuttings. They will evaluate which method of
multiplying plants is most economical, which is fastest, which is most
labor intensive, etc. Through this page you will be able to read the student's own
observations and summaries of goals, successes and failures.
During the introduction to why we grow plants and how they benefit us,
the class compared seeds and learned they come in a variety of shapes and
sizes. They also learned the parts of a seed and compared monocots
and dicots.
Each of these lessons will
better prepare the students to participate in an upcoming project in which
each team will select a planting goal and manipulate water, light,
temperature, fertilizer, etc. in order to achieve that
goal.
| January 21, 2005 |
This journal entry was provided
by the water team: We observed a bad
thing had happened to our begonias. The propagated begonias started to
mold. Each group had to cut off the molded sections of the leaves and
replace any toothpicks that were covered in the fungus. To hopefully
help eliminate the mold, we also opened the terrariums so that the
begonias and soil would stop absorbing so much moisture therefore
causing the plants to die. |
| January 27, 2005 |
Moisture has been a challenge in this experiment. In preparing
the plastic terrariums, probably too much water was added to the
Pro-Mix. This resulted in the growth of mold. On January 20,
students removed diseased sections of the leaf cuttings. After
allowing the terrariums to remain open a few days, now we are
experiencing a situation in which the potting medium is not retaining
sufficient moisture. Students are misting the soil on a daily
basis which indicates the containers are not sufficiently airtight to
allow condensation to form. |
| February 10, 2005 |
Today's review of the begonia project indicates some success.
Several leaf cuttings remain green, but maintaining good soil contact is
an ongoing challenge. At least one stem cutting has produced a
bud. Five (5) seedlings have emerged from the 22 begonia seeds
that were sown. Today we took additional stem cuttings from rex
begonia and coleus as well as a mystery plant which the students will
have to identify. Today's cuttings were placed in plastic storage
bags (baggies) filled with two cups of moistened Pro-Mix. |
| This Mystery
Plant was brought to class by Master Gardener Brenda Johnson.
Students took stem cuttings from the plant and placed them in baggies
filled with moist Pro-Mix to create a good growing environment.
The class is working to identify the plant during the coming week.
Students must also define "epiphyte" for an upcoming lesson. |
 |
Purchase
Area Master Gardener Association
