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Propagation of natives

Posted by jan_uk QLD/AUS (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 8, 08 at 8:08

Hi,
I've just purchased 5 acres and will be undertaking a massive planting programme in due course. Because of the numbers involved I will be doing the majority of the propagation myself. I've many years of nursery work under my belt in the UK and have done a lot of propagation up in the northern hemisphere. I was thinking of a poly/shade house with a mist unit. If there are any experienced propagators of native plants that can give me their thoughts on the matter I would be very grateful.
many thanks Jan


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Propagation of natives

  • Posted by popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
    Wed, Nov 12, 08 at 20:33

I guess it depends how much money you want to spend. I have spent the last 10 years propagating native plants on my acres. I collected seed from the local bush. I got to know the seeding times for a lot of plants and researched well the methods of propagation of each species.

I just bought bags of prop mix from the nursery. Used punnets, and those plastic trays tomatoes come in as containers.

My main problem was keeping water up the the punnets.

I used a plastic tent with a plant stand that I bought from Big W. That worked well - I could use a plastic spray bottle in there and keep it nice and moist. But I had to be vigilant. Rain was the best water I could get, so often I would madly move my punnets out into the rain.

I purchased a couple of good prop books by Murray Ralph.

When it came to pricking out the tiny seedlings, I would get excited ! I had brilliant potting mix that I bought from a friend who ran a propagation nursery. I had tube pots in trays.

I purchase a large tank system that I could put the tubepots into. They were then able to be watered via capilliary action which got the roots growing downwards.

Many of my plants I have use in my own garden and bushland, an have sold a lot to people in the area for use on their revegetation projects.

I have stopped all that now, as I am going to sell my house and move to the city ! Yes I know that will be very hard, as I have put a lot of attachment to my place, after all the work I have done. I would love someone to buy the place that would appreciate the significance and value of locally produced flora.

I hope this helps you, I wish you well.

Popi


 
 

 

 


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