2. Requirements for Plant Growth Plants require certain environment for ________ growth In greenhouse one must maintain best environment for growth

3. Plant Media Soil –Sand –_______ –Organic Matter

4. Water 1. Gravitational Water (held by gravity) –Drains away –Soils with _______ pores lose water fastest

5. Water 2. Capillary Water –Held against gravity in pores –Held in thin film around particles –Particles have an ______ ______

6. Planting Media Mixes Advantages to ________ media –1. Mix is uniform –2. ________ –3. Lighter in weight –4. Good moisture __________ and ______

7. Planting Media Mixes Disadvantages to soil less media –1. Lightweight –2. ____________missing must be added –3. Hard to transplant into soil

8. Planting Media Mixes Content of mixes –Perlite: volcanic origin Improves aeration Small white pebbles

9. Media contents –_____________: yellow expanded mineral Increases moisture holding capacity

10. Media Contents Sphagnum Moss: acid bog plants –_______ __________, very light __________: decomposed vegetation –Holds moisture

11. Media Contents Tree Bark –Improves aeration

12. Plant Food Water: most _____ –Plant weight = __% water –__% of water absorbed is used, rest is lost through leaves

13. Plant Food Water: –_________: Water lost through stems and leaves Natural air conditioning

14. Plant Food Major Nutrients –__, P, __ –Numbers in fertilizer are those three in order so… 10-15-20 = 10% N, 15% P, and 20% K

15. Plant Food Nitrogen –Makes _____ _____ color –Too much is a problem Lowers disease resistance Weakens stem –“leaching” is a problem

16. Plant Food Phosphorus –Affects maturity –_____ division –Roots –Insufficient = ______ color on underside of leaves

17. Plant Food Potassium –Affects __________ –Root System –Insufficient = also purplish color, much more rare than P

18. Soil Acidity 0-14 0 = acidic 14= basic 7 neutral _____ = add lime _____= add sulphur

19. Other Factors Temperature 65-70 F Light Short and Long Day Plants Plant Diseases –Biggest scares to greenhouses Insects our biggest problem Gases