Seed Starting

I started with a germination mix (they didn’t have soil less seed mix).

I chose 4 different seeds:

Forget me not
Echinacea
Butternut
Heirloom Tomatoes

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 1 - student project

The packaging on the seed packets are very helpful:

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 2 - student project

Divisions

Notes for plants in an overcrowded pot:

Prepare some wet soil on the side
Take the plant out of the pot
Wet your hands and find a natural division
Separate the plant & soil as gently as possible without hurting the roots
Place the two divisions into separate pots and cover with the wet soil
Trim the dead looking leaves
Water the plants until the water is dripping out of the pot

Cuttings

Herbaceous cuttings can be done on any plant, you need:

Scissors
Glass of water
Pot with soil
Plant

To find a cutting:

Get 10-15cm down the stem
Cut a diagonal cut at the leaf node
Cut off a few more leaves so the plant doesn’t have to focus too much on providing food to all the leaves
Plant in the water and wait 2 weeks

Project

Find a plant to propagate
Make 2 cuttings
Put them in water
Take a photo on day 1, 7 and 14

Day 1

The malva plant

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 3 - student project

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 4 - student project

I also tried an orchard and a potato plant (which was already sprouting nicely)

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 5 - student project

Day 7

The malva plant is still looking good and healthy

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 6 - student project

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 7 - student project

The orchid is starting to sprout

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 8 - student project

My first tomato seed also showed itself today :)

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 9 - student project

Activity - USDA Zone

Search the USDA zone where you live to find out what plants grow well in your area, then make a list of the plants you’d be excited to grow.

Zone: 10a

I have already picked seeds I need to plant, they’ve grown quite nicely:

Butternut
Echinacea
Tomatoes

Week 2 - Progress

The malva plant has started sprouting

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 10 - student project

The orchid has also been sprouting nicely at the bottom. I am wondering how I am going to plant it

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 11 - student project

Look how my seedlings are coming along:

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 12 - student project

My son planted these with me in a little plastic container, it doesn’t have any holes for filtering, these are going to be planted out soon

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 13 - student project

Research Companion Plants

I ideally want a companion plant for my naartjie / citrus tree. I currently have a peppermint plant at the base:

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 14 - student project

Notes: I need to space the mint plant out a little more to give the citrus more room to grow.

Malva and Orchid Cuttings - image 15 - student project

Meghan Pretorius

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