Young plant
In horticultural parlance, the word young plant describes a plant quality that can be further processed, potted or planted. A distinction is made between sizes and cultivation systems. Depending on the origin, one speaks of a rooted cutting or a young seedling plant that emerged from sowing . Typical of a young plant is the firm root ball, which enables it to continue to grow quickly and safely.
Depending on the genus, the cultivation or rooting time can be between three and eight weeks. In the case of some ornamental plants that grow very fast and herbaceous, clipped young plants are also offered, which have a more compact structure and branch deeper. Another way of saving cultivation time and achieving a handsome product is to put two to three cuttings per plant together at the gardener's.
Today, young plants are often grown by specialized young plant operations.
Cultivation
In commercial horticulture and forestry, cultivation refers to the production phase from sowing to the first change of location, i.e. up to repotting or planting out of the greenhouse on an outdoor bed. The transplanting of seedlings is part of the growth phase, includes but not this usually still on. In technical terms, the term cultivation is only used when using seeds; when planting onions or rhizomes , one speaks of "cultivation" from the start - also because of the fact that there is often no relocation.
The success of cultivation is determined by numerous factors, including
- Germination capacity of the seeds
- Compliance with the germination and growth temperature
- Suitability of the substrate
- Absence of harmful influences.
Only in the case of particularly cost-intensive seeds is the cultivation success measured as the ratio of the amount of seeds applied and usable young plants, otherwise as the ratio of seedlings that have emerged to young plants. This enables a separate evaluation of germination force and external cultivation conditions.
Substrate-filled multi-pot plates made of plastic have established themselves as propagation carriers. As with the cultivation soil for private gardeners, the essential features of the initial substrate are the lack of germs, the water storage capacity and the lack of nutrients. Too nutrient-rich potting soil leads to excessive growth in length with insufficient robustness of the young plant.