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Carbon Dioxide and Plant Growth

March 26, 2010 by

Ask the Expert: Requirements for Germination/Establishment
Hello,

I was just wondering if the conditions needed for plant growth are different for Germination than those for Establishment.  I would like to know if photosynthesis begins once the plant is established.  I know that germinating seeds need Oxygen, and increased levels of CO2 are detrimental to the process, so I was wondering if once the plant is established, an increased amount of CO2 would be beneficial as in a growing plant, or detrimental as in a germinating seed.  Sorry if this sounds confusing, I don’t really know how to phrase it any better. Let me know if this needs to be clarified.

Thank you so much for your time and sharing your knowledge,
From,
Rob Buelow

Plant Expert Reply:

The Science Daily reported that “elevated atmospheric CO2 actually reduces plant growth when combined with other likely consequences of climate change – namely, higher temperatures, increased precipitation or increased nitrogen deposits in the soil”.

As with every situation, some plants will fair better than others with an increase of CO2 and their growth rate will be greatly improved. Other plants will have the opposite response and the plant growth will be inhibited. So, it is not really a question of whether increased CO2 in established plants will increase growth, but rather what is the optimum CO2 level for the particular plant you are trying to grow and what other envionrmental factors must occur in conjunction with the CO2.

Because we grow a variety of plants in our greenhouse, we don’t supplement the CO2 levels.  We work within the natural CO2. Although, plants exposed to higher levels of CO2 can have an increase in growth, there is a trade off. Plant [Read more…]

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Help, Lucky Bamboo In Soil Is Yellowing!

December 10, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: lucky bamboo plant
My son gave me a lucky bamboo about 1 1/2 years ago. When I received it, it was in soil. One of the stalks is turning really yellow now. Should I put it only in water. I don”t want my son to think I don’t just love it and I don’t want to lose it either. Can you help me to bring it back to life. Shirley

Plant Expert Reply:
Lucky bamboo that has been grown in soil should not be place in a water only environment. If the yellow stalk is completely yellow it will continue to die. You need to remove it from the soil and discard it, unless the stalk contains a healthy green section. If it has a healthy green section, you can propagate a new stalk. Read one of our previous posts that explains how to propagate lucky bamboo which also includes pictures. You can place the newly cut piece in water or soil.

To keep the other stalk from turning yellow, you need to watch out for a few issues. One make sure the soil is moist but not soggy.  Soil that holds to much water and can’t drain will cause lucky bamboo to turn yellow.  Watch your fertilizer – too much can cause lucky bamboo to turn yellow. Last but not least, make sure your lucky bamboo does not receive too much light or a severe change in temperature.

Good luck and keep me posted.

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What To Do When Lucky Bamboo Stalk Can’t Support Itself

November 18, 2009 by 5 Comments

Ask the Expert: Hi,

I have a question about caring for my lucky bamboo plant.  I have had the plant for 2 and a half years, and the branch has gotten so large that it cannot even stand up straight anymore because of the weight.  It seems like the base node of the stalk is too thin to support it, though it is green and looks healthy.  What would you recommend?  Should I try to find some kind of wooden pole for support.  Your advice is highly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Alaina Kiskaddon

Plant Expert Reply:

Lucky bamboo stalks that are flimsy because they are too long need to be topped.  This gives you a great opportunity to create new stalks.

Before you top your lucky bamboo, you will need a few things: a sharp knife, rooting hormone, a container for the new stalks, and a water mist bottle.  I recommend using distilled water with lucky bamboo, but you can use tap water. If you use tap water it will need to aerate it overnight  before you use it.

Once you have assembled your tools, determine how short you want your existing stalk to be after you top it.  Now find a node close to the height you want the stalk to be.  The node is the raised ring on the lucky bamboo stalk.  Cut the lucky bamboo stalk off an inch above the node.  The part that is still attached to the roots will form new leaves and the part (top) that is left will become a new lucky bamboo stalk.  Dip the cut end of the top in rooting hormone and let dry.  When the rooting hormone has dried, place it in the new container filled with water.

In a couple of weeks the top will develop roots.  In a few weeks the existing stalk will form leaves. However, to help the leaves form you new leaves you will need to mist the stalks.  Start misting the stalk a couple of days after you have topped it.  Mist it once or twice a day until the leaves form.

You can create new stalks any time by repeating the process. Good luck and keep me posted.

Picture of a lucky bamboo node.

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Help! I Butchered My Peace Lily

October 27, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: I split and transplanted my peace lilly plant.    It didn’t do well so I cut it way back and now it isn’t growing at all.    Will it ever grow back, or should I throw it out?     How do you start new plants if you want to start from some slips? M Moe

Plant Expert Reply:

Have you or a friend ever died your/their hair, decided it wasn’t just right and then cut your/their hair off to correct the bad dye job, only to be further frustrated by the time it takes for the hair to grow back? I ask because at some point in all our lives this scenario has happened.  What is the one thing that could have prevent all the problems? PATIENCE.

Patience is what your peace lily needs. After you split and transplant a peace lily, it will look a little rough. Provided you didn’t plant the peace lily too deep, it will rebound and form new growth in a few weeks.

If you cut all of the peace lily foliage off, the plant will struggle to complete the photosynthesis process which all plants need to survive.  This doesn’t mean that the peace lily won’t survive.  It does mean that the road to health and beauty will be much longer. Again, it will need patience.

As long as the plant has not turned black, mushy or smell, it should form new leaves and recover.  Make sure the roots stay moist but not soggy. The plant will not use as much water as it did when it had leaves.  You can give it a light solution of vitamin b1 or fertilizer to help stimulate growth.  Be careful not to give it too much fertilizer since the plant is already stressed.

The way to propagate peace lilies effectively is by splitting them.  As long as the piece you separate from the mother plant has a good root system and healthy foliage, it can be planted to start a new peace lily.

So give your peace lily a little time.  You may be pleasantly surprised in a couple weeks with new healthy foliage. Good luck and keep me posted.  If your plant doesn’t make it you can always order a peace lily from your local florist.

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Propagating Peace Lilies

October 26, 2009 by 2 Comments

Ask The Expert: I read your article on Peace Lily  – (Spathiphyllum clevelandii) but didn’t see anything on how to propagate it.

Is it similar to a Hosta, (plantain )lily?

Thanks, JH

Plant Expert Reply:

Yes it is basically the same process.  You create new peace lily plants by dividing them. Propagate by removing the peace lily from it’s container; then take a sharp knife and cut the plant from the roots to the top of the plant – this will ensure that each plants has an ample amount of roots. Take the divide pieces and follow the re-potting instructions.  The new container will need to be same size as original container.

Peace Lily Re-potting Instructions

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) should be re-potted when the root growth has overfilled the container. Use a humus rich potting soil to repot the peace lily. To help the roots to retain soil and prevent the root tearing, re-pot the plant when the soil is somewhat moist. For determining pot size follow this rule of thumb; use a pot that is 1½ times the size of the previous pot. When placing the peace lily in it’s new pot, keep the plant level the same as it was in the old pot (fill the pot so that the top of the root-ball is at the same level as before). After re-potting, water slightly to remove any air bubbles that might have occurred and wait a couple of weeks before fertilizing.

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Poinsettia Cuttings and Heat Stress

August 17, 2009 by

Ask the Expert: what can i do when poinsettias got heat stress
it was after  doing root tredem the temp got up to 101c now they are all drooping will they come out of it any help thank you Theresa

Plant Expert Reply:

When poinsettia cuttings have heat stress issues,  the first course of action is to place them under cooler conditions.  Poinsettia cutting should be grown at an 80-85degree day time temperature and a 70-75degree night time temperature.  Keep the cuttings under a shade cloth until they form roots.  Keep the humidity high and give the plants adequate moisture with out over saturating the soil with water.  Soil that is too soggy will not allow the roots to form and will promote the growth of fungus gnats.  Although the plants look wilted many will recover given the right conditions from here on out.

Good Luck and Keep Me Posted.

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Propagating Bird Of Paradise – Strelitzia

July 31, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask the Expert: where are the seeds on a white bird of paradise?
I want to propagate my white bird of paradise but am unable to get the entire root system of the babies. I’ve attempted it and not been successful, seeing as how they’re too deep in the ground. They stay green for about a week or two then die. Is there a specific time when I should be doing this? I’m thinking maybe the seeds. Are the seeds in the flower itself? If not where? Arcelia

Plant Expert Reply:
To propagate Bird of Paradise (Strelitizia) you divide the root suckers from the plant in the late spring. You want to dig up clumps that have 4 or more shoots. You will separate them into single stems removing the dead leaves & roots. You can wash the roots and even soak them in a bleach water solution (1 part bleach – ten parts water) for ten minutes – this will help with any bacterial problems that can arise. Then you can plant the divisions – be sure they are plant at the same depth as they were originally. It can take up to 12weeks for new roots to form. So be patient. This propagation method will take 1 to 2 years to achieve a mature blooming plant.

You can start Bird of Paradise from seed. However, it will take 3 to 5 years for the seed to become a mature plant. If you plan on harvesting the seeds from your own plant, look for black round seeds that have a fuzzy orange cover on one end. Before you plant them you will need to soften the hard exterior of the seed. Do this by soaking the seeds in room temperature water over night. You will need to also nick the seed before you plant it. Keep you soil moist as the seeds germinate.

Good Luck and let me know how it goes.

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Reproducing Peace Lilies

July 16, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: Can I reproduce my peace lily with the seeds from the flower? Margaret

Plant Expert Reply:

Although peace lilies can technically be reproduced from seed, other methods give greater results. Large scale growers used tissue cultures for peace lily reproduction as tissue culture offer more uniformity and availability. Homeowners create new peace lily plants through division.

If your peace lily (Spathiphyllum) has any size to it, you can divide the plant into two or more pieces to start new plants. The key is having enough roots to support the foliage. So, always divide your plant from the roots up.

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Propagating Golden Pothos

June 24, 2009 by 2 Comments

Ask the Expert: Golden Pothos propagation question
Hi
I would like to propagate my Golden Photos and I have found a lot of instructions and advice on the web. But my question is:
My plant hasn’t branched yet, it’s just one long plant, probably almost three feet if you would unfold it. So there isn’t a side branch to cut of.

Is it advisable to simply cut of the top of the plant – three or four top leaves (this would leave 13 or 12 leaves on the mother plant)? Would the mother plant automaticly start growing one or more branches afterwards if i did it?

I’m surprised it hasn’t branched yet. I got the plant from a friend half a year ago – he had had it in his bathroom and it had only about five sorry looking leaves on it. Now it look really healthy and perky, but it anoys me a bit that it’s just one long snake – that it doesn’t split itself.

I’ve been redirecting it towards the soil surface, so that it could re-root itself ith every new length (because it looked like it needed it). I’m wondering if doing his could have caused it to not branch – the fact that it never grew more than five new leaves away from the latest firmly rooted root. Shold i stop doing this in that
case?

Thanks

David

Plant Expert Reply:

Redirecting the plant as you say is one form of propagation.  Once those section have a strong root system you can cut them off the mother plant and you have a new plant.  When you cut it off the mother plant both plants will start to form new leaves.   You can also propagate a new plant by taking a leaf with a node and stick the node in the soil.  You can do this multply times from one long runner.  By doing this you will encourage more growth from the mother plant and often lateral grow as well.  Many times the plant will begin to form roots at the nodes on their own.  This makes it easy to propagate golden pothos. 

The nice thing about pothos is the tolerance of this plant.  You can cut, abuse it or ignore it and it will still live.  I personally find that trimming my pothos makes it healthier and thicker.  Sometimes I will start new plants from my cuttings and other times I don’t bother with it.  The one thing I do when propagating these plants it to keep the soil moist when the roots are forming.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

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Propagating Draceana Marginata

April 6, 2009 by 2 Comments
Red Margin Draceana

Red Margin Draceana

Ask the Expert: What type of Plant is this
I have had this plant for some time now and I would like to know what it is.  I am looking to see if I can possibly re-plant it shortening the trunks.  I don’t like how deadish it looks and so empty on the stalks. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you were able to view the pictures.  The top leaves seems to be healthy but the bottoms don’t seem as colorful.  Most are falling off dead.

Lisa

Reply:

What you have is a Draceana marginata also known as Madagascar Dragon tree or Red-edge Draceana.  You can shorten the plant and create new ones at the same time.  First cut the stems to the height that you want the plant to be and leave alone for a couple of days.  Then mist the air around the plant every few day. Make sure to water your plant as you always have.  In a few weeks the stems will put out new foliage.  In the meantime, you can take the tops that you cut off and dip them in rooting hormone and place them in a pot with moist soil.   Keep the soil moist but not soggy in a few weeks the plants will start to form new roots.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Filed Under: Plant Propagation Tagged With: , , , ,
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