Plant profile vital for growth
OFTEN after giving plants all the care one can, they die. <B>Harriet Birungi</B> talked to Peter Mugeni, a plant consultant at Old Port Bell road and he explains:
OFTEN after giving plants all the care one can, they die. Harriet Birungi talked to Peter Mugeni, a plant consultant at Old Port Bell road and he explains:
“Like humans who need courtship for a
healthy relationship, so it is with plants. Knowledge of a plant’s profile prior to planting, is vital.â€
For instance, the highly demanded erythrina plant also locally known as ‘egirikiti ezzungu’ is a beautiful plant if grown in the right place with the right soil compositions. The plant originated from Mexico. Coming from the coast suggests that for it to grow well, it must be grown in sandy soil, as part of the soil composition. That is why it is grown in a 311-soil environment. Where 311 means three wheelbarrows of soil, one of manure and one of sharp lake sand. If the sand is not available, charcoal dust acts as a substitute,†adds the consultant.
To get seedlings easily and cheaply, Mugeni says layering is the best mode of propagation. Peeling an inch of one mature branch, applying a bit of wet soil to the peeled part and tying the area with a perforated transparent polythene bag, is what layering takes. The wet soil enables root development, while a perforated bag allows in water, air and sunlight, necessary for plant growth.
Mugeni says within three weeks of layering, roots will develop and the seedling will be ready for cutting and transplanting.
“One should wait for two months before transplanting the plant to the garden because its stem has a high chance of rotting and roots take long to become firm,†he says.
For it to stand out, plant erythrina either centrally in the compound or in a corner where it can easily be seen. This type of plant can grow to four metres in height before spreading, giving room for other plants to grow below it.
For its day-to-day care, the plant should be sprayed with Ambush pesticide to kill black ants, which attack it.
“Like humans who need courtship for a
healthy relationship, so it is with plants. Knowledge of a plant’s profile prior to planting, is vital.â€
For instance, the highly demanded erythrina plant also locally known as ‘egirikiti ezzungu’ is a beautiful plant if grown in the right place with the right soil compositions. The plant originated from Mexico. Coming from the coast suggests that for it to grow well, it must be grown in sandy soil, as part of the soil composition. That is why it is grown in a 311-soil environment. Where 311 means three wheelbarrows of soil, one of manure and one of sharp lake sand. If the sand is not available, charcoal dust acts as a substitute,†adds the consultant.
To get seedlings easily and cheaply, Mugeni says layering is the best mode of propagation. Peeling an inch of one mature branch, applying a bit of wet soil to the peeled part and tying the area with a perforated transparent polythene bag, is what layering takes. The wet soil enables root development, while a perforated bag allows in water, air and sunlight, necessary for plant growth.
Mugeni says within three weeks of layering, roots will develop and the seedling will be ready for cutting and transplanting.
“One should wait for two months before transplanting the plant to the garden because its stem has a high chance of rotting and roots take long to become firm,†he says.
For it to stand out, plant erythrina either centrally in the compound or in a corner where it can easily be seen. This type of plant can grow to four metres in height before spreading, giving room for other plants to grow below it.
For its day-to-day care, the plant should be sprayed with Ambush pesticide to kill black ants, which attack it.