Ornamental Plants Culture Potluck

The work of growing ornamental plants in pots has been going on since ancient times. Pot plants are grown for flowers, leaves etc. Ornamental plants not only attract humans with their beauty, but they also attract insects. Some of them are harmful and some are beneficial insects. Beneficial insects do cross-pollination. As a result of which seeds are formed. You can also grow ornamental plants in your home and after fulfilling your needs, you can also earn economic benefits by selling them in the market.

It is very important to know many things for growing ornamental plants in pots, which is mentioned below-

• How many types of pots are there?

• Preparing different compost mixtures for different plants.

• Removing the plant from the pot.

• Replanting the plant.

• Planting the plant carefully without damage.

• To know the advantages and disadvantages of pot composts.

What is potting?

Filling a special type of pot with soil-compost mixture for a particular type of plant is called potting.

Why are plants grown in pots?

When land is not available to grow plants, they are grown in pots. Mostly ornamental foliage plants and some indoor plants are grown in pots. Plants grown in pots are easy to handle and can be used to decorate a place. Plants that require special care can be grown in pots and taken good care of.

Types of Pots

Pots made of different materials are used for growing ornamental plants, which have different advantages and disadvantages, mentioned below.

• Earthen Pots - Pots of different sizes are made from clay and baked in a kiln. These are most commonly used because they are porous. They exchange gases and also remove excess water, resulting in good growth and development of plants, increased flower production and leafy plants become healthy and attractive.

• Metallic Pots - These are made of brass and copper. They get heated in hot climates. They are expensive; hence their use is limited. Sometimes they are used to keep attractive plants in a special corner of the drawing room or garden.

• Plastic pots - These types of pots are light in weight, long lasting and suitable for growing different types of plants till their age. Nowadays plastic pots are used on a large scale in developed countries.

• Wooden pots - These pots are painted on both sides with waterproof paint. They are not used much.

• Cement pots - These are heavy and durable, they last for a long time, in which big plants can be grown for many years.

What is Repotting?

Planting a plant from a pot in another pot filled with a mixture of fresh soil and compost is called repotting. This process is carried out until the active growth of the roots is resumed or when the plant is not in a state of dormancy or resting.

"Repotting means a potted plant from one pot to an other having fresh soil compost transferring mixture. It is done when roots are beginning active growth & not when they are dormant or resting."

Why repotting is done?

Repotting of a plant is done due to the following two reasons-

1. When the roots of a growing plant become over-crowded, then it is planted in a bigger sized pot filled with new soil compost mixture. 2. When the soil of the pot becomes old and sour, then the plant is taken out in such a way that its earth ball does not break and the roots also do not get damaged. The extra roots are pruned and it is planted in another pot filled with a mixture of fresh soil and compost. Later it is watered.

Precautions

• Always use new and clean pots and crocks otherwise the fungus/bacteria of old and dirty pots will make the new plant diseased.

• Properly sized pots should be used for planting and replanting the plant. Over sized pots should never be used.

• A hole should be made in the bottom of the pot and some crocks should be placed on it so that the excess water can drain out properly.

• Always use the right soil-compost mixture for a particular plant. So that the plant can grow and develop well.

• Before filling the mixture in the pot, it should be moistened with water.

• The plant should not be planted too shallow or too deep in the pot. There is a risk of damage to the roots by air due to shallow planting.

• If the earthball of the plant is made of clay soil, then it should be broken carefully so that its roots do not break. Then plant it in another pot with fresh soil-compost mixture, spreading its roots properly. By doing this, the roots will not be damaged in any way.

• Do light irrigation; do not do over irrigation even by mistake. • To find out the need of irrigation for the replanted plant, tap the side of the pot with a wooden hammer or rafter. If the soil is moist, it will make a dull sound and if the soil is dry, it will make a metallic kind of sound.

Ornamental Plants Culture Potiron

Materials Required

(1) Clay pot or any other type of pot to be used.

(2) Crocks (broken pieces of clay pot).

(3) Coconut fiber pieces/ dry leaves for drainage of water from the pot.

(4) Spade.

(5) Basket.

(6) Watering Cane.

(7) Soil mixture ingredients.

• Cow dung manure.

• Loam soil.

• Leaf mould.

• Charcoal.

• Sphagnum moss (chopped).

• Powdered charcoal.

• Brick pieces.

• Powdered brick.

• Tank silt

Method

(i) Potting

-Soak the new pots in water for 2 hours. If old pots are to be used for planting, wash and clean them thoroughly.

-Make a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. This hole should be according to the size of the pot.

-Cover the hole of the pot with crocks in such a way that the concave or empty side is upwards. For more water drainage, keep more crocks over the hole. 1/3rd depth of the pot should be filled with drainage material (crocks, brick chips, sand, fibre etc.)

-A layer of 2 to 5 cm should be covered with a layer of sand (according to the size of the pot) as the layer of sand will prevent the soil-compost mixture from flowing.

-Mix the appropriate soil-compost mixture well with the help of a shovel and wet it as per the following table.

-Fill the appropriate soil-compost mixture up to half the depth of the pot.

-Hold the plant in the middle of the pot and spread its roots all around. While doing this work, the roots should not be damaged in any way.

-Then pour the soil-compost mixture over the roots and then press it well and fill the pot up to 1-5 cm. Keep in mind that there should be enough space for the water to stay at the top.

-Then irrigate lightly with a fountain, do not give excess water in any condition.

-Now keep the plants planted in the pot in the shade until they are well established.

-Sometimes these pots should also be kept in the sun.

-Irrigate the plants only when the soil dries up and the plants start wilting. - Liquid manure should be given after every 15 days. The use of this manure should be stopped when the plant is in dormancy.

(ii) Repotting

- Irrigate the plant in the pot.

- After half an hour, loosen the earthen ball of the plant with a wooden hammer or rafter and take out the plant carefully.

- Turn the pot upside down and take out the plant along with the earthen ball carefully. Take care that the plant does not get damaged in any way.

- Carefully remove the pieces kept in the pot below the earthen ball.

- Then cut and remove the rotten and large roots with the earthen ball.

- Repeat the other tasks which have been made in planting the plant in the pot.

Observations

Those who grow plants in pots should pay special attention to the following things-

• Whether the water is draining properly from the drainage hole or not. If the water is not draining properly, then in that case, re-install the pieces of the pot in such a way that the excess water can drain easily from the hole.

• If the roots start coming out from the surface of the pot, then it should be understood that the plant has gone beyond the capacity of the pot. Therefore, arrangements should be made to plant it in another pot.

• Has the plant grown excessively? If yes, then it is the right time to divide it, so they should be separated and planted in a distant pot.

• Dwarf plants should be given nutrients so that they can grow and develop properly.

• Freshly replanted plants should be taken care of properly so that they can be saved from transplanting shock.

Which plants can be grown in pots?

Annuals

All types of annual plants can be grown in pots, these can be grown in 25-30 cm pots.

Bulbous Plants

While selecting the pot for bulbous plants, their height ratio is kept in mind, however most bulbous plants can be grown in 25-30 cm pots.

Shrubs other Plants

Most shrubs; Such as Acalypha, Bougainvilleas, Crotons, Roses,Barleria, Aralia, Crossandra, Eranthemum, Graptophyllum, Pentas, Mussaendra, Duranta, Excocaria, Hamelia, Malpighia, Jasminum sambac, Ixora, Coleus, Dracaena, Rusellia, Cycus, Palms, Achania, Allamanda etc.

Ornamental Plants Culture Potagare

Indoor Plants

All species of plants are suitable for growing indoors. To grow them, pots of different shapes and sizes are required, which are chosen in proportion to the growth of the plants. For example, Ferns, Cacti & Succulents, Pilea, Caladium, Maranta, Moneyplant, Chlorophytum, Iresine, Philodendron, Aglaonema, Peperomia, Dieffenbachia, Ficus elastica, Begonia, Asparagus, Calathea, Aspidistra, Bromeliads, Aspidisira lurida.

Suitable Plants for Planting in Pots

Perennial Plants with Ornamental Leaves

1. Crotonus

2. Coleus

3. Aspidistra

4. Dracaena

5. Asparagus

6. Vigonia

7. Caladium

8. Dieffenwackias

9. Anthurium

10. Fionia

11. Aralias

12. Gloxinia

13. Cyclamella

14. Alocasia

15. Zephyrthans

16. Sanchizia

Ornamental Plants Culture Potimarron

Flowering Perennial Plants

1. Chrysanthemum

2. Geranium

3. Salvia

4. Gerbera

5. Four O’Clock

6. Michaelmus Daisy

7. Perennial Vabena

8. Binka (Evergreen)

Palms

1. Livistonia rotundifolia

2. Seaforthia elegans

3. Coccus flexuosa

4. Cantia courasterithana

5. Trachycarpus excelsa

6. Livistonia maurisiana

7. Kentia sanderiana

Ferns

1. Adiantus tenerum

2. Adiantus trapaziform

3. Adiantus peruvianum

4. Polypodium

5. Nephralepsis

Succulents

1. Euphorbia glovosa

2. Oppensia

3. Stapelia

4. Sansivieres

5. Agave

6. Alope

7. Kalanchoe

8. Bryophylum

9. Cotyledon

10. Sempervirum