Mastering Cuttings: A Guide to Care and Maintenance

• Biology
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Mastering Cuttings: A Guide to Care and Maintenance

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to effectively care for cuttings by following proper maintenance techniques.

What do you already know about caring for cuttings?

Ideal Growing Conditions

Place cuttings in good light, avoiding scorching direct sunlight. Diffuse bright light with a layer of fleece.

Using a Propagator or Greenhouse

A propagator or greenhouse with bottom heat helps keep cuttings warm and humid for optimal growth

Alternative Option: Plastic Bag Method

If a propagator or greenhouse is not available, a pot with a plastic bag over the top in a light and warm location can also work.

Ventilation

Vent cuttings daily by lifting the lid or plastic bag to prevent excessive moisture and reduce fungal disease risk.

Watering Guidelines

Watering requirements vary between species. Keep cuttings moist in summer and water only when the compost is dry in winter

Pruning Dead and Diseased Cuttings

Regularly remove dead and diseased cuttings to prevent further contamination and promote healthy growth propagation

Potting On

Pot on cuttings once they show signs of strong active growth from roots and new shoots

When should cuttings be potted on?

1. Once they show signs of strong active growth from roots and new shoots
2. Only when they become tall
3. Before they show any growth
4. Immediately after planting

How should cuttings be watered in summer?

1. Water daily
2. Water only when soil is dry
3. Water sparingly
4. Keep moist

What is the purpose of a propagator?

1. To provide a humid and slightly warmer atmosphere
2. To keep cuttings dry
3. To provide direct sunlight
4. To reduce fungal disease risk

When should you pot on the cuttings?

1. Immediately after planting the cuttings
2. When the compost is completely dry
3. Once they show signs of strong active growth from roots and new shoots
4. After a month of being in the pot

When should you water the cuttings?

1. Keep moist in summer and water when the compost is dry in winter
2. Water daily regardless of the season
3. Water only when the cuttings show signs of strong growth
4. Water only when the compost is wet

Why is it important to vent the cuttings daily?

1. To keep the cuttings warm and humid
2. To speed up the growth of the cuttings
3. To provide more sunlight for the cuttings
4. To prevent cuttings from getting overly wet and reduce fungal disease risk

How can you create a warm and humid environment for cuttings?

1. Using a propagator or a pot with a plastic bag over the top
2. Placing cuttings in direct sunlight
3. Keeping cuttings in a dry and ventilated area
4. Using a pot without any cover

What is the ideal growing condition for cuttings?

1. Undercover in a propagator or greenhouse with bottom heat, cold and humid environment
2. Good light, warm and humid environment
3. Scorching direct sunlight, cold and dry environment
4. Diffuse bright light with a layer of fleece, hot and dry environment

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, we learned about the proper care and maintenance of cuttings, including providing ideal growing conditions, using propagators or alternative methods, ventilation, watering guidelines, pruning, and potting on.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.