Seed and Planting material production, testing and labels

in ornamental crops
T. Janakiram, Sujatha .A. Nair, R. L. Misra, Naveen Kumar and S. P. S. Raghava
Floriculture in India is growing at the rate of 7-10% per annum. The area under
flowers is around 1, 16,000 ha concentrated mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, and West Bengal.
The success of floriculture industry mainly depends on the quality of seed and
planting materials. Because of the diversity in floriculture products, production and
distribution of both vegetatively propagated plant material and also seed propagated plant
materials have emerged as the most important and powerful business world over. Cultivation
of flowering annuals for seed production requires constant attention, in-depth knowledge,
skill and specialization. In most of the western countries, the climatic conditions during
winters are unfavourable for seed production, resulting in higher cost. Therefore, many seed
companies from the USA, UK, Holland, Germany and France have started their seed
production in India, which is being carried done on contractual basis by farmers in different
regions having favourable climate conditions. In India, about 600800 ha area is under seed
production. Of the total production, Punjab alone contributes for 4550%, Sangrur, Ludhiana
and Patiala being major seed-producing centres. The rest is being contributed by Karnataka
(Bangalore and Ranebennur), West Bengal (Kalimpong and Tarai area), Bihar (Ranchi),
Maharashtra (Pune), Haryana (Panipat and Sirsa), Himachal Pradesh (Kulu Valley) and
Jammu and Kashmir (Srinagar Valley). The growers have adopted mostly open-pollinated
cultivars. There is a need to improve the quality of seeds and bulbs produced in India. The
value of flower seed and bulb in international market is about Rs. 1.5 crores annually.
Micropropagation has an edge over traditional propagation in case of vegetatively propagated
floricultural plants. Micro-propagation has become order of the day for rapid multiplication
of disease-free, clean plants in millions in a very short time. Difficult-to-propagate plants can
now be propagated in any numbers through this technology. The other advantages are product
uniformity, season independent production, and easy exchange of germplasm and plant
material. The new Seed Act of 1988 which facilitated import of seeds and planting materials
of international varieties and the liberalization of industrial and trade policies in 1991 paved
way for the development of export-oriented units with strong back up from NHB and
APEDA. A number of units came up with the foreign collaboration. About 122 tissue culture
labs with an aggregate capacity of 245 million plants/annum have been set up in country. The
concentration of labs around Pune and Bangalore is due to climatic advantage and availability
of good infrastructural facilities.
Since most of the ornamental plants and seeds are produced by the nurseries, the
document covers all the related aspects to nursery for production of quality seed and
planting material
Importance of quality planting material
Good quality planting material (seeds, bulbs, etc) is a basic need of a grower. The
quality refers to genuine and diseased free material. Good quality planting material will boost

productivity. Seeds or bulbs etc are the carriers of genetic potential for higher crop
production. The farmers are less sensitive to price when they are sure of quality planting
material its exclusiveness and the monetary compensations that will accrue from higher
production. In case of problems caused by virus and virus like diseases, use of virus free
planting material becomes mandatory. Viability and good germination are of paramount
importance in case of seed propagated ornamental crops (Marigold, Aster, Zinnia, Hollyhock
etc). In ornamental crops very little have been achieved in the production of genuine planting
material free from the diseases. It is perhaps lack of infrastructure facilities and trained
manpower. The nursery registration and certificate act and equipped with modern methods of
plant propagation would only help in filling up the gap between demand and supply. The
demands on production and quality levels are increasing strongly. This development makes
increasing demands on both management and plant material for the nurserymen in our
country. The nursery has not only to cater to the varieties of plants but quality in terms of
genotype and freeness from the diseases has to be ensured.
Important considerations in quality plant material production.
Aspects of quality, which have an effect on plant performance, are either intrinsic or
visible
Visible aspects (In case of plants propagated through budding or grafting. e.g.: rose)
Homogeneity of plants Lack of homogeneity may indicate different grades of inputs or
growth differences in the production field. Source of rootstock and bud wood is
important.
Diameter of rootstock indicates the grade of rootstock and quality of the growth process.
Well-developed fibrous root system. This characteristic demonstrates growth on a wellprepared soil and regular growth during the period of production.
Strong outgrowth of bud or graft. A strong branch has the potential to quickly develop a
branching structure, the basis for flower production. The initial development, fast or slow,
one or more branches, is often variety related.
No mechanical damage, no visible pests and diseases.
Healthy appearance. No growth abnormalities, green branches.
Intrinsic aspects
Strong physiological potential. Stress-free growth during the plant production period will
enable the plant to re-grow easily after planting in the field or green house, because
plants have stored reserve food.
Healthy reproduction material and genetic homogeneity. Selection of source for
reproduction material is based on healthy growth and material i.e. bud wood and root
stock, true to variety.
Free of non-visible diseases, e.g. Agrobacterium, Verticillium. Once the plants are
uprooted, these diseases, if in the early stage, are not visible. During the plant production
process this has to be controlled.
Sources of quality planting material
Since quality of planting material effects the production, it is necessary to collect the
basic material from a genuine and reliable source. Efforts should be made to identify nodal
centers for supply of elite planting material of important ornamental plants in our country. In
recent years several multinational and industrial houses have entered into floriculture
business and are producing quality plant material. Apart from private industries the intensive

research conducted at premier research institutes like IIHR, IARI, NBRI and other SAU, S
had led to development and release of high yielding and disease free varieties . The planting
materials of those elite varieties are supplied from these institutions in small quantities to
users for future multiplication.
Types of nurseries:
Three broad category of ornamental nurseries are:
Field grown nursery: Field production requires soils with good fertility, high
Organic-matter content (3-5%), and fine tilth, sandy-clay to clay-loam soil, which will hold
together in a ball, are ideal.
Container plant production: Container production does not necessarily require good soil
on site. Container growing medium can be brought from remote locations.
However, good soil on site as a resource in media construction may be useful. A firm surface,
which allows for the placing of containers and insures surface drainage, is a must.
The advantages of containerized production include
v High plant densities, use of land unsuited for field production,
v Planting times independent of the weather,
v Lower transportation costs because of lightweight media and less root loss and a
greater chance of survival than with field-grown plants.
The disadvantages are also numerous like
v Small containers need frequent watering, nutrients are rapidly depleted,
v Plants easily become root-bound,
v Containers are costly, labour costs to pot up plants are high and the roots are stressed
by temperature extremes.
There are several factors to keep in mind when deciding which containers to use: cost, design
features that control root growth, how the container affects growing medium moisture content
and temperature, availability, how the container suits the particular needs of the nursery,
durability, and shipping capacity.
Round black-plastic pots are the norm, but they can cause root constriction, leading to plants
with poorly developed root systems. There are other kinds of containers that promote better
root systems. For instance, copper-lined, white, and light-colored containers produce more
root growth, and square and stair-step pots help keep plants from becoming root-bound.
Pot in pot container production This is a technique of growing trees and shrubs in pots that
have been placed inside other pots that are permanently placed in the ground)
The pot-in-pot method of production was developed to alleviate some of the problems
associated with container production, such as blow over and moisture loss. This system
involves burying a holder pot, or moat pot, into the ground, and placing a containerized plant
inside this pot. The greatest drawback to this system is the high initial cost of the moat pot.
But the moat pot is a long-term investment, since it will last for 15 years or more.
LAY OUT AND PLANNING GOOD NURSERY
Nursery is an area for rearing plants. It is the place where all kinds of plants like trees,
shrubs, climbers etc. are grown and kept for transporting or for using them as stock plants for
budding, grafting and other method of propagation or for sale.

The modern nurseries also serve as an area where garden tools, fertilizers are also
offered for sale along with plant material. The area for nursery depends on the volume of
plants maintenance for business and the area may be small to large.
The production and productivity of tree plants depends upon the availability of quality
planting material which in turn largely depends upon the nurseries and nursery activities. The
number of genuine and quality fruit and ornamental plants varieties produced by Agricultural
Universities, State Departments of Horticulture and Research Institutions are very meagre to
meet the demand of large number of growers through out the country. For this reason, most
of the clientile are depending on private nurseries and nurserymen for their requirement of
ornamental plants. Hence, there is a greater scope to prosper for the nurserymen, who can
supply genuine and high quality plant material of different fruit and ornamentals plants
produced on sound scientific lines. Such high quality planting material could be produced by
careful planning, establishment and management of nurseries. The success of any nursery
depends largely upon several factors viz., proper selection of site, careful planning, selection
of crops and varieties which are in good demand and procuring the progeny from the reputed
institutions/nurseries, elite gardens, establishment of mother plants blocks/scion banks,
acquiring scientific information of each variety and skilful management in production of
necessary scions as well as marketing the same. As there is increased demand for the tropical
and sub-tropical fruit plants and ornamentals in recent past the planning of a nursery is
therefore emphasized in this chapter.
For the establishment of ornamental plant nursery on scientific base the following
points have to be considered.
A. Selection of site
Location: The selected site for establishing a nursery should be located in an established
nursery area. By doing so, one can share the experiences of fellow nurserymen and thereby
many mistakes can be avoided in planning, management and marketing of the nursery stock.
The selected site should preferably on a highway or atleast connected with a good
motorable road, which facilitates easy and economic transport of inputs and nursery plants to
the users, orchardists and fruit growers. The selected site should also have electricity and
other communication facilities. These facilities will improve the production as well as
marketing.
The Soil: The success of any nursery depends mainly upon the quality of soil and abundant
supply of good quality potable water. Before selecting the site for nursery, the soil and water
analysis must be done, since most of the fruit and ornamental plants cannot tolerate salinity
and alkalinity. The soil should be light to medium in texture with good fertility and sufficient
water holding capacity along with good drainage. A soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is most suitable for
any nursery. Salinity in soil or irrigation water leads to salt injury resulting in nutritional
deficiencies, marginal browning of leaves and in acute cases death of grafts, layers and
nursery seedlings especially in summer months. Therefore, a careful selection of soil with
good quality irrigation water supply is of paramount importanance for the nursery.
Topography: The topography of the selected land should be plain with one per cent slope.
The slope facilitates smooth flow of irrigation water and also gives a grand panoromic view,
if planned and laid out properly which impresses the customers easily.
The extent of land required for the nursery depends upon the targets of planting
material of different fruit crops and ornamental plants and varieties to be
produced/multiplied. For example to produce about l lakh mango grafts atleast 2 hectares of
nursery land is required.
B. Planning and layout of a nursery
After selection of site for the establishment of a nursery, planning may be done in
consultation with an experienced horticulturist or nurserymen. By doing so the cost on

establishment, production and marketing can be reduced substantially, besides performing

various nursery operations most efficiently and economically.
While planning and layout is being done, the following components are to be taken
care and provision should be made for these.
1. Fence: Prior to the establishment of a nursery, a good fence with barbed wire must be
erected all around the nursery to prevent tress pass of animals and theft. The fence could be
further strengthened by planting a live hedge with thorny fruit plants (like Koranda). This
also adds beauty in bearing and also provides additional income through sale of fruits and
seedlings obtained from the seed.
2. Roads and paths: A proper planning for roads and paths inside the nursery will not only
add beauty, but also make the nursery operations easy and economical. This could be
achieved by dividing the nursery into different blocks and various sections. But at the same
time, the land should not be wasted by unnecessarily laying out of paths and roads. Each
road/ path should lead the customer to a point of interest in the nursery area.
3. Progeny block/Mother plant block: The nursery should have a well-maintained progeny
block or mother plant block/scion bank planted with those varieties in good demand
(Annexure 1). The grafts/layers/ rooted cuttings/seedlings should be obtained preferably from
the original breeder /research institute from where it is released or from a reputed nursery.
One should remember that, the success of any nursery largely depends upon the initial
selection of progeny plants or mother plants for further multiplication. Any mistake made in
this aspect will result in loss of the reputation of the nursery. A well managed progeny block
or mother plants block will not only create confidence among the customers but also reduces
the cost of production and increases the success rate of grafting/ budding/layering because of
availability of fresh scion material throughout the season within the nursery itself and there
will not be any lag period between separations of scion and graftage.
4. Wells, sump, pipelines, generators etc: Fruit and ornamental nursery plants require
abundant supply of water for irrigation, since they are grown In polybags or pots with limited
quantity of potting mixture. Hence sufficient number of wells to yield sufficient quantity of
irrigation water is a must in nurseries. In areas with low water yields and frequent power
failures, a sump to hold sufficient quantity of water to irrigate the nursery plants is also very
much essential along with appropriate pump for lifting the irrigation water.
In areas where electricity failure is a problem which is more common, an alternate
power supply (generator) is very essential for smooth running of pumpset. Since water
scarcity is a limiting factor in most of the areas in the country a well laid out PYC pipeline
system will solve the problem to a greater extent. An experienced agricultural engineer may
be consulted in this regard for layout of pipeline. This facilitates efficient and economic
distribution of irrigation water to various components in the nursery.
5. Office cum stores: An office-cum-stores is needed for effective management of the
nursery. The office building may be constructed in a place which offers better supervision
and also to receives customers. The office building may be decorated with attractive
photographs of fruit ornamental varieties propagated in the nursery with details of it. A store
room of suitable size is needed for storing polybags, tools and implements, packaging
material, labels, pesticides, fertilizers etc.
6. Seed beds: In a nursery, this component is essential to raise the seedlings and rootstocks.
These are to be laid out near the water source, since they require frequent watering and
irrigation. Beds of 1-meter width of any convenient length are to be made. A working area of
60cm between the beds is necessary. This facilitates ease in sowing of seeds, weeding,
watering, spraying and lifting of seedlings. Irrigation channels are to be laid out conveniently.
Alternatively, sprinkler irrigation system may be provided for watering the beds, which offers
uniform germination and seedling growth.

7. Nursery beds: Rising of seedlings / rootstocks in polybags requires more space compared
to nursery beds but mortality is greatly reduced along with uniformity. Nursery beds area
should also have a provision to keep the grafted plants either in trenches of 30cm deep and 1
m wide so as to accommodate 500 grafts / layers in each bed. Alternatively, the grafts/ layers
can be arranged on the ground in beds of 1 m wide with 60cm working place in between the
beds. Such beds can be irrigated either with a rose fitted to a flexible hosepipe or by overhead
micro sprinklers.
8. Potting mixture and potting yard: For better success of nursery plants, a good potting
mixture is necessary. The potting mixtures for different purposes can be prepared by mixing
fertile red soil, well rotten FYM, leaf mold, oil cakes etc. in different proportions. The potting
mixture may be prepared well in advance by adding sufficient quantity of superphosphate for
better decomposition and solubilization. The potting mixture may be kept near the potting
yard, where potting/pocketing is done. Construction of a potting yard of suitable size
facilitates potting of seedlings or grafting/ budding operations even on a rainy day.
c. Structures for nursery
1. Shade houses: Shade houses in nurseries in tropical and sub-tropical regions offer many
advantages like raising of seedlings in bags directly, protecting the grafts from hot summer
months, effective irrigation through upside down overhead microsprinklers. The shade houses
made with shade nets (50% or 75%) for regulation of shade are particularly very useful in
arid regions where the humidity is very low during summer months. The details of shadenets
use is given in the chapter of polyhouses.
2. Green houses/Polyhouses : Grafting or budding of several fruit species under polyhouses
or low cost green houses with natural ventilation will enhance the percentage of graft/bud
take besides faster growth of grafts due to favourable micro climatic conditions of polyhouse.
The design and other details are given in the chapter of polyhouses.

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PUBLIC ROAD

Lay out of a Model OrnamentalNursery

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GENERAL NURSERY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Facilities required for propagating many plant species by seed, cuttings or grafting
and budding include two basic units namely a structure with temperature control and ample
light such as a green house or hot bed where seeds can be germinated or cuttings rooted. The
second unit, is a structure into which the young tender plants can be moved for hardening
preparatory to transplanting and cold frames or lath houses are useful for this purpose.
Propagating structures
i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

Green houses: There are number of types of green houses namely low cost green house
and commercial green houses. In green house construction, a wood or metal frame work
is built to which wood or metal sash bars are fixed to support panes of glass embedded
in putty. In all polyhouses/ green houses means of providing air movement and air
exchange is necessary to aid in controlling temperature and humidity. It is best, if
possible to have in the green house heating and self opening ventilators and evaporative
cooling systems.
Plastic green houses: Green houses covered with various types of plastic film have
become very popular for small home garden as well as for large commercial
installation. Several kinds of plastic materials are available and are cheaper than glass.
Plastic houses are usually of temporary construction except when permanent high cost
coverings are used. Plastic covered green houses tend to be much lighter than glass
covered ones with a build up of excessive high humidity.
a) Polythene film: This is the most inexpensive covering material but it is the short
lasting one. However, UV ray resisting polyethylene film of various thickness is
usually recommended which lasts longer.
b) PVC film: This material is pliable and comes in various thickness and widths
upto 6 ft. It is longer lasting than polythene and is more expensive PVC surface of
film tends to collect dust and lower the light intensity in due course of time.
c) Polyester film: This is a strong material with excellent weathering properties
lasting for 3-5 years and is unaffected by extremes of heat or cold. But is usually
costlier than polythene film/pvc film.
d) Fiberglass: Rigid panels, corrugated or flat fiber glass sheets embedded in plastic
are widely used for green house construction. Fibre glass is strong, long lasting,
light weight and easily applied which is coming in a variety of widths, lengths and
thickness. It is costlier than poly thin film/pvc film.
Hotbeds: The hot bed is often used for the same purpose as a green house but in a
smaller scale. Amateur operations and seedlings can be started and leafy cuttings root
early in the season in such structures. Heat is provided artificially below the
propagating medium by electric heating cables, pot water, steam pipes or hot air blows.
As in the green house, in the hot beds attention must be paid for shading and ventilation
as well as temperature and humidity control.
Lathhouses: These structures are very useful in providing protection from the sun for
container grown nursery stock in areas of high summer temperatures and high light
intensity. Well established plants. also can require lath house protection including shade
loving plants Lathhouses construction varies widely depending on the material used.
Aluminium pre-fabricated lathhouses are available but may be more costly than wood
structures. Shade is provided by appropriate structures and use of shade nets of different

densities allow various intensities of light in the lathhouses.

Miscellaneous propagating structures
i.
ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

Mist beds: These are valuable propagating units both in the green house and out doors
and are useful mainly in rooting of leafy cuttings.
Mist chamber: This is a structure used to propagate soft wood cuttings, difficult to root
plants and shrubs. Here the principle is to spray the cuttings with a minimum quantity
of water. This is achieved by providing the cuttings a series of intermittent sprayings
rather than a continuous spray. The intermittent spraying can be done easily by means
of a high pressure pump and a time switch. The pump leads to a pipeline system inside
the propagating structure. The mist nozzles are fitted to these pipelines and suitably
spaced over the propagating material.
Nursery bed: These are raised beds or boxes made of brick and mortar, provided with
drainage holes at the bottom. The dimensions of the boxes are 60 cm high, 120 cm
broad and length as required preferably not exceeding 10 m. Roof structures for
planting on both sides and forming ridges at the centre are constructed on the top of the
nursery beds. These structures may be made permanent with angle iron or may be made
of wood. Moveable bamboo mats, palm leaf mats are placed over these structures to
protect the seedlin"g from hot sun and heavy rains. Even shade roofing can be used for
this purpose for raising see dings.
Fluorescent light boxes: Young plants of many species grow satisfactorily under
artificial light from fluorescent lamp units. Although adequate growth of many plant
species may be obtained under fluorescent lamps but not up to the mark compared to
good green house conditions.
Propagating cases: Even in green house, humidity conditions are often not sufficiently
high for rooting. The use of enclosed frames or cases covered with glass or plastic
materials may be necessary for successful rooting. In using such structures, care is
necessary to avoid the build up of disease organisms due to high humidity.

Types/species/varieties of plants for production under polyhouse conditions

There are many tender and half hardy plants worth raising each year, all of which can
be propagated from cuttings throughout the year. Some of the varieties / types are:
Tender perennial and half-hardy plants viz : Argyranthemum, Bidens aurea, Calceolaria,
Cheiranthus cheiri, Convolvulus sabatius, Diascia barberae, Diascia rigescens, Diascia vigils,
Epilobium canum, Erysimum linifolium, Fuchsia magllanica, Hebex andersonii, Hebe
ochracea, Hebe rakaiensis, Lavatera olbia, Lavatera thuringiaca, Lotus berthelotii,
Osteospermum, Pelargonium, Pelargonium x fragrans, Penstemon, Salvia argentea, Salvia
lavandulifolia, Salvia uliginosa, Verbena.
Bedding plant viz; Ageratum, Antirrhinum majus, Begonia semperflorens, Callistephus
chinesis, Dahlia figaro, Dorotheanthus bellidiflorus, Gazania x hyubrida, (8) Helichrysum
bracteatum, Ipomoes tricolor, Limonium sinuatum, Nemesia strumosa, Pelargonium, Saliva
splendens, Tagetes erecta, Verbena hybrida, Viola x wittrockiana.
Under Indian conditions, quoset type, multi span green house is most suitable,
because of its low cost and ease of fabrication, ultraviolet resistant low density polyethylene
single film cladding of 200 micron thickness is sufficient for naturally ventilated and fan and
pad green houses. Fan and Pad green houses are most suitable for nursery raising and rooting
of cuttings due to high relative humidity inside. High humidity can be maintained in green
house used for nursery raising or for rooting cuttings by misting or fogging which is also
known as mist chamber.

The containerized transplant production and the hybrid seed production of high value
annual ornamentals have become a service oriented industry in advanced countries.
Thus, the green house technology for production of planting material would be highly
paying, there being a demand for planting material. Nurserymen are enterpreneurs can avail
themselves of the subsidy facilities being provided by the Government of India and technical
guidance provided by the State Department of Horticulture and the Agricultural Universities
for adopting the technology and making covered cultivation or profitable venture.
SHADE NETS
The shade nets are now popular among the modern nurserymen. The shadenets are
primarily used to protect the nursery plants from direct sunlight. The display planting
material is most important consideration in nursery activities. The planting material requires
certain amount of protected cultivation systems, which help in maintaining the freshness and
appeal of the plants. The shade nets are available in desired shading percentages. These are
ultraviolet ray stabilised and can be used for longer time. With many incentives in the form of
subsidies from the:Government, use of shade net is becoming more popular.
v The main effect of shade net is to reduce sunlight to the required intensity
v Though white, green and black are popular colours, red and blue nets are recent
introductions. Transluscent blue shade net gives blue light, which is found to be
excellent for plant growth.
v For general purpose shading nets with open weave pattern are preferred in fan and pad
system, however closed weaving patterns will be useful.
v Shade nets are also used as sunscreen in low cost polyhouses or glass houses used for
production of plant material.
v Movable screen have the advantage that whenever sunlight decreases the shade net
can be moved to one side to let more sunlight.
v Shade nets help increase in quantity (growth) and quality besides having partial
protection from biotic and abiotic stresses.
Fertilization
Commercial synthetic fertilizers (including slow-release and liquid fertilizers) have played a
key role in modern nurseries. As organic production becomes standardized, more and more
nursery growers are adopting organic fertilizers. Unlike synthetic greenhouse fertilizers,
organic fertilizers have been given little research to support their use in a nursery mix recipe.
Regardless of fertilizer typewhether the source is synthetic or organicin sustainable
nursery production the emphasis is on zero runoff. Excessive nitrates and phosphorus are the
most common problems in runoff water.
Organic or synthetic slow-release fertilizers help cut down levels of nitrates in runoff water.
Slow-release and controlled-release synthetic fertilizers, such as Nitroform and
Osmocote, are becoming more common in container production systems. For best results,
they should be incorporated into the growing media, rather
than top dressed. Slow-release fertilizers are often used in combination with liquid
fertilization.
Foliar feeding can be used to supplement soil and liquid fertilization, especially where certain
nutrients are deficient and must be incorporated into the plant quickly
Irrigation
The two most widely used irrigation systems are overhead and drip (or trickle). Overhead
irrigation is designed to cover a large area, and these systems are the least expensive to

install. However, this method produces uneven water distribution, which can slow plant
growth, encourage disease, and contribute to runoff. drip or trickle system, which uses 60%70% less water than overhead systems. Drip irrigation systems cost more to install than
overhead systems, but have superior application uniformity and efficiency. They are also less
affected by wind and crop canopies, and they produce less runoff. Another advantage is that
workers can continue working while the plants are being irrigated. The biggest disadvantage
to trickle irrigation, besides the initial cost, is keeping the pipes and emitters clean. A third,
less-used type of irrigation system is sub irrigation using capillary sand beds. In this system,
water rises into containerized plants through capillary action. Usually, the sand bed is
covered with at least one inch of fine sand, and slopes very slightly from one end to the other.
Water is released at the high end and slowly percolates to the low end. These systems cost the
most to install, but they have no runoff or leaching.
Weed Control
Weed control is extremely important. Weeds not only compete for water and nutrients, but
they can also hinder sales of nursery stock. Weed control efforts should focus on two areas:
in the pot and under the pot. Sanitation is the least costly and most effective method for
controlling weeds. To prevent weed seeds from blowing into pots, attention to a vegetationfree zone both on and surrounding the production bedis critical. Hand weeding is costly,
but it may be appropriate in a small nursery setting. Weeds must be removed when they are
still small, since large quantities of media are lost when big weeds are pulled out of
containers.
Herbicides, on the other hand, are widely used in container nursery production. Even though
weed-free media is used to establish nursery plants, wind and birds and surface irrigation
water are sources of weed seeds that get deposited onto the pot surface. Thus, pre- and postemergent herbicides are commonly used in commercial nursery production to control these
freeloaders.
NURSERY PLANT PROTECTION
Insect pests, diseases are critical factors in the process of multiplication of plant
material under open as well as controlled conditions. Control of insects and diseases are
integral part of the nursery plant production.
Pest management:
Prevention or avoidance of pests and their damage is possible by the following
methods:
Maintain vigorous, healthy plants by using proper culture and management practices

Practice IPM and realize that all culture and management factors can affect pests
Scout plants for pests

Use soaps, oils and botanicals whenever possible

Spot spray only infested plants that exceed the threshold

Destroy heavily infested or injured plants

Conserve and promote beneficial insects by selective pesticide use

Disease management:
Steam Sterilization: Rooting media sterilisation is essential if it has been exposed or

previously used as it may contain undesirable microorganisms, insects, and weeds.

Steam sterilisation is relatively expensive but ecofriendly compared to chemical

sterilisation
Soil Solarization: In solar sterilisation, the soil is ploughed thoroughly and covered
with polythene sheet for few days depending on temperature conditions
Hot Water Treatment (bulbs,corms)
Biological Control (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces and fungi such as
Trichoderma reduces fungal plant pathogens)
Chemical Control

SCALES
Scales are serious pests on many plants. These remain covered inside a hard coating
which looks like a waxy scale and infest lower surface of leaves, veins of branches.
v These insects suck plant sap and as a result plants become weak
v The affected leaves turn yellow, deformed while the branches and the plant may die in severe cases.
v Plants with green shade or semi shade are more prone to attack
v If tender annual flowerings crops are attacked, it is necessary to eradicate them
immediately.
Management: Selection of scale free planting material prevents early build up of pest.
Cutting and burning of infested parts reduces further spread. Sprays of dimethoate, etheon
and chlorpyriphos at 0.05% provides effective control of scales. Application of 10%
pongamia oil to pruned shoots completely controls rose red scale within 3 weeks. Natural
enemies viz., Aphytis spp. Chilocorus nigritus and Pharasymnus horni are common enemies
of red scale in nature. Spraying of fish oil resin soap at 0.5 kg/30 litres of water or methyl
parathion 0.05% or dimethoate 0.05% provides effective control of scales on orchids.
THRIPS
Thrips are minute insects and mainly attack tender leaves and growing buds. These
are sucking insects which affect a large number of plants. Both nymphls and adults can affect
plant parts.
v As a result of sucking nature of the pest, plants become weak and the affected parts
develop brown streaks, with burnt appearance.
v The tender twigs, foliage, flower buds get distorted and dry.
Management: Sprays of oxydemeton methyl or dimethoate or oxydemet on methyl or
acephate given at 0.05% at 10 days interval provides significant control of thrips. A predatory
wasp, Polistes hebraeus preys on R. cruentatus. Soil application of phorate @ 1 kg a.i./ha
also reduces thrips damage. Drenching soil with chlorpyriphos 0.1% also helps in reducing
population.
APHIDS
Aphids are sucking insects which are blackish or brownish or green in colour and
suck sap from tender shoots, leaves and flower buds. The aphids excrete honey-dews on the
foliage causing sooty mould to grow over the foliage.
v Shoots or foliage get deformed
v Affected plants become weak, retard in growth
v In case of ornamental plants, ornamental look may be affected.
Management: Spraying of dimathoate 0.05% or oxydemeton-methyl 0.05% or malathion 0.1
% at 10-15 days interval controls aphid population effectively. To prevent recurrence of the
pest granular insecticides like phorate @ 1.0 kg a.i/ ha should be applied to soil. Application
of 4% alcohol extracts of Solanum indicum and Erythrina indica provides good control of
rose aphid. Water extract of pongamia kernel 4% or pongamia oil 2% sprays cause significant
mortality of aphids, on chrysanthemum. Application of neem oil 1 % also reduces aphid

population effectively. Grubs and adults of coccinellid beetles and maggots prey upon the
aphids and effectively wipe out their population in nature.
MEALYBUG
Mealy bugs are small fleshy insects which remain covered in a white, wooly and
waxy secretions.
v Generally older plants are affected
v The insects suck the sap as a result of which plants weaken, leaves turn yellow & get
deformed.
v In severe cases affected plants may even die
v Mealy bugs secrete honey dews which stick to the foliage and as a result of which
sooty mould cover the leaf surface impairing the normal activity of the leaves
Management: Prompt collection and desctruction of infested parts reduces spread of the
pest. Crawling of ants on plants is the sign of beginning of mealybug infestation. Spraying
should be taken up at this stage. Sprays of methyl parathion 0.05% or dimethoate 0.05% or
acephate 0.1 % at 15 days interval effectively controls mealybug infestation. Application of
pongamia oil 2% also provides good control of mealy bugs, if plant is not sensitive to oil
sprays. Release of coccinellid predator, Cryptolamus montrouzieri and a parasitoid,
Leptomastridia abnormis reduces mealy bug population in glass house grown ornamentals.
WHITEFLIES
Whiteflise are tinny insects, white in colour and are very active.
Management: Excessive dampness and dark conditions should be avoided for crops grown
under protected conditions. Removal and burning of heavily infested leaves checks
multiplication of the pest. Clean cultivation, using of insect screening nets and Proper closing
of doors help in preventing incidence of whiteflies. Spraying of phosphamidin 0.05%
alternated with triazophos 0.05% at an early stage of infestation effectively contains pest
build up. Sprays of methomyl and acephate at 0.05% significantly reduce nymph and pupal
population. A management package of spraying dichlorvos 0.05% for adults, triazophos or
Spark at 0.05% alternating with pongamia oil 1% for nymphs and soil application of
carbofuran @ 1 kg a.i./ha provides effective control of whitefly on gerbera. Release of a
parasitoid, Encarsia formosa (6 adults/m2), and use of yellow sticky traps gives significant
control of whiteflies on green house ornamentals.
MITES
The mite is a minute dot sized pest red in colour almost invisible to the naked eyes,
resembling the spider but not a true spider. This is a sucking type of pest if established once,
they may become a serious problem.
v The tender shoots affected by mites develop spots and turn yellow, dry and drop.
Management: Cutting and burning of severely infested plant parts reduces further
multiplication of mites. Proper ventilation, irrigation and clean cultivation are essential to
keep the pest population under control. Acaricides like dicofol 0.05% and wettable sulphur
0.3% sprays (2-3) at 15 days interval gives considerable control of mites. Spraying of
triazophos 0.05% or dimethoate 0.05% followed by a spray of pongamia oil 1 % provides
significant control of T.urticae on carnation. New acariades like vertimec, pentac Apollo,
Mitac, Cascade are also used to combat mite problem in nurseries. Commercial neem
formulation (3500 ppm azadirachtin) application against T. urticae Causes mortality, growth
retardation, reduction in egg hatchability and egg laying. Methyl parathion 0.05%, fluvalinate
0.012% and ethion 0.05% also offer significant control of mites that infest various
ornamentals. Use of dicofol, 0.05%, protenofos 0.05% and wetlable sulfur 0.05% brings
down mites population considerably on ornamental crops. Release of predatory mite,
Amblyseivs sp @ 20/plant successfully contains T.uritcae population on Rose.

LEAF EATING CATERPILLARS

Caterpillars feed on foliage
v They damage leaves by feeding
Management: Collection and destruction of egg masses and leaves infested with early larval
instars of hairy caterpillar and S.litura reduces pest build up. Setting up of light traps attracts
adult moths and helps in monitoring pest population. Spraying of quinalphos 0.05% or
chlorpyriphos 0.05% gives protection to foliage from semiloopers, hairy caterpillars and
S.litura. Application of Bacillus thuringiensis dust and spray (3 x 106 spores) gives effective
control of these caterpillars on rose. Spraying of plant derivatives like neem oil 1 % or neem
kernel extract 4% checks damage by early instar larvae.
LEAF BEETLES AND WEEVILS
Management: Soil application of phorate or carbofuran @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha controls
grubs. Setting up of light traps helps in collecting adults and monitoring pest incidence.
Fortnightly sprays of quinalphos 0.05% or methyl parathion 0.05% or chlorpyriphos 0.05%
taken up in the evening protects foliage from betles and weevils on rose. Ethanol extract of
neem kernel at 2.5% or neem oil 1 % inhibits feeding by chafer beetles on rose.
CUT WORMS
These are essentially found in a nursery. The insect remains in the soil and attacks the
seedlings at ground level.
Management: Use of light traps collects adult moths. Poison bait consisting of carbaryl or
malathion at 0.1% , wheat bran andmollasses scattered in the fielkd, controls larvae. Sprays
of methyl parathion 0.05% or quinalphos 0.05% provides protection to foliage from cut
worms. Application of granulosis virus causes 90-94% mortality of cutworm on ornamentals.
LEAFMINERS
The larvae of the insects mines into leaves between epidermal layers leaving excreta on leaf
surfaces
v The affected leaves become brittle turn brown & dry.
Management: Removal and destruction of severely mined leaves reduces further damage.
Sprays of deltanethns 0.05% triazophos 0.06% and pongamia oil 0.5% causes significant
mortality of larvae. Drenching of soil with Margosan (0.33%) and spraying with same
chemical at 0.94 and 1.25% effectively reduces number of pupae and adults. Use of yellow
sticky traps coated with chlorpyriphos or permethrin reduces adult population. Release of
eulophid parasitoid. Diglyphus intermedius @ 1000 at weekly intervals gives considerable
reduction of leaf miner population on chrysanthemum.
SNAILS AND SLUGS
Snails are one of the important pests found in nursery
v They cut the young plants at general level and damage seedlings during rainy season.
Management: Hand picking and killing by putting them in 5% salt solution is the most
effective method to bring down the population. Spreading of 'Snail kill' (3% metaldehyde
pellets) in the field kills snails and slugs. Spraying of neem oil 1 % and water extract of
soapnut 5% protects foliage from snail damage.
DISEASES
i) Damping off: This is a major disease of germinating seeds which is caused by three
separate fungi mainly species of Pythium Rhizoctonia and. Phytophthora. The disease
is expressed either by the failure of the seedling to emerge or by the death of the
seedling soon after emergence. A common symptom is the girdling of young seedling
stems at the soil surface. Damping off usually occurs only in youmg, succullent
seedlings during or shortly after germination, but older plants may be affected in
severe cases.

Control measures involves direct control by use of Captan 0.2% or Bavistin

0.15% or Kavach 0.2%, drenching or use of organomecuerials such as Cersan or
Thiram or Agrosan as seed treatment chemicals at rate of 2g/ ka of seed. Regulation of
environmental conditions such as excess humidity, water also plays an important role in
spread and control of disease.
ii) Anthracnose: This is a kind of leaf spot formed in young plants and spots are
circular, slightly raised concentric and are studded with large number of raised black
or red bodies. The infection spreads rapidly under high humid conditions, spraying
with copper fungicides 0.2% or Bavistin 0.15%, will control the disease.
iii) Blights: These also sometimes causes damage to the nursery stock in high humid
areas. The blights are kept under control by constant and timely spray of copper
fungicides 0.2% or Dithane Z-78 0.2%
iv) Dieback: This is serious in some of the grafts/buddlings at the young stage. The
disease may be due to fungi. The symptoms are drying up of the margin of the leaf
and drying slowly spreads to young shoots in severe cases. Control measures involves
dipping of scion sticks in Bavistin or Benlate 0.2/" solution and prophylactic sprays
with Topsin M 0.15% or Bavistin 0.15%.
v) Leaf spots: The disease is very common in grown up plans and number of fungi as
well as bacteria is involved. The leaf spots vary in size shape colour and extent of
damage. The symptoms vary according to the pathogen involved. Spraying with
Copper fungicide 0.2% or Bavistin 0.15% or Dithane Z-78 0.2% will control the
disease.
vi) Powdery mildews: This is a common malady in most of ornamental crops during dry
cool weather and when plants produce new flesh. The powdery mildews are easily
recognised by the presence of scattered areas showing powdery growth mostly on the
young leaves. Spraying with wetable sulphur sulfex 0.2% or Calixin 0.15% will
control the disease.
Precautions for handling plant protection euipment
v They should be kept away from food or feed stuffs and medicines.
v The instructions found on the labels should be carefully read and strictly followed.
v Bags and containers of pesticides should be cut open with a separate knife intended
for such purposes.
v The empty containers, after the use of the chemical, should be destroyed and should
not be put into some other use.
v While preparing the spray solutions bare hands should not be used for mixing the
chemical with water.
v Inhaling of pesticide sprays or dusts and smoking, chewing, eating or drinking while
mixing or applying the chemicals should be avoided Spilling of pesticides on skin or
clothing should as far as possible be avoided. The clothes should be washed after each
operation
v Particles or drops of pesticides which may accidentally get into eyes should be
flushed out immediately with large volumes of clean water
v It is preferable that protective clothings and devices are used while handling
poisonous chemicals to avoid exposure to sprays or drifts Dusting or spraying should
never be done against the wind and it is preferable to have them done in cool and
calm weather
v Sprayer nozzles should not be blown by mouth if gets blocked while spraying.
Washers and other contaminated parts should be buried After handling pesticides

hands, face and body should be washed and clothing changed

v Washing of equipment after use and containers in or near wells, or streams should be
avoided
v Persons engaged in handling pesticides should undergo regular medical check up
v In case of any suspected poisoning due to insecticides the nearest physician should be
called immediately.
SYMPTOMS AND MANAGEMENT OF NUTRIENTS
Plant performance in nursery depends on nutrient status in plant media, but nothing has been
worked out owing to its short duration of plant with nursery. Nutrients are necessary for
growth and productivity of crops. Apart from the N,P,K,Ca,Mg and S, micronutrients such as
Zn, Fe, Cu, B, Mo, Mn, el, etc are also necessary for maintaining the normal health and
metabolism of plants. However, nutrient deficiency can lead to poor and stunted growth of
plants resulting in poor performance. Often nurserymen are encountered with some
deficiency symptoms appearing in nursery plants and they should have sufficient knowledge
to identify the nutrient deficiencies in nursery plants to take up appropriate steps to correct
the nutrient deficiencies. The deficiencies are manifested in various plant parts. The
appearance of plant parts can be used by nurserymen to help indicate plant health in general
and nutrient deficiencies in particular. The expression of deficiency symptoms are varied
among the plant parts viz., whole plant, leaves, stem, roots etc., depending upon the role of
the element and nutrient content. The deficiency symptoms of different micro and macro
nutrients and their corrections are given hereunder.
Nutrient deficiency symptoms in plants
SYMPTOMS
A Older or lower leaves affected
1. Effects mostly generalised over whole plant, more or less drying,
scorching of lower leaves, plant light or dark green.
(a) Plants light green light yellow, drying to light brown colour,
stalks short and slender if element is deficient in later stages of
growth.
(b) Plant dark green, often developing red and purple colour, lower
leaves sometime yellow; turning to greenish brown black colour.
2. Effects mostly localised, mottling or chlorosis with or without
spots of dead tissue on lower leaves, little or no drying up of lower
leaves
(a) Lower leaves mottled or chlorotic, without dead spots, leaves
may redden as with cotton, sometimes with dead spot tips and
margin turned or curved upwards, stalks slender.
(b) Lower leaves mottled or chlorotic, with dead spots
(i) Spots of dead tissue small usually at tips and between veins, more
marked at margins of leaves, stalks slender
(ii) Spots generalised, rapidly enlarging and generally involving
areas between veins eventually involving secondary and even
primary veins, leaves thick, stalks with shortened inter nodes.
B. New or bud leaves affected (symptoms localised)

DEFICIENCY
Nitrogen (or
posphorus)
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Magnesium,
Potassium
or Zinc
Magnesium
Potassium or Zinc
Potassium
Zinc

1. Terminal buds, following appearance of distortions at tips or bases

of young leaves.
(a) Young leaves of terminal bud at first typically hooked, finally
dying back at tips and margins so that latter growth is
characterised by a cut out appearance at these points, stalks finally
die at terminal bud.
(b) Young leaves of terminal bud becoming light green at bases,
with final break down here; in later growth, leaves become twisted,
stalk finally dies back at terminal bud.
2. Terminal bud commonly remains alive, wilting or chlorosis of
younger or bud leaves with or without spots of dead tissues, veins
light or dark green
(i) Young leaves permanently wilted or marked chlorosis; twig or
stalk just below tip and seed head often unable to stand erect in later
stage when shortages are acute.
(ii) Young leaves not wilted, chlorosis present or without spots of
dead issue scattered over the leaves
(a) Sports of dead tissue scattered over the leaves smallest veins tend
to remain green producing a checkered or reticulated effect
(b) Dead spots not commonly present, chlorosis may not involve
veins making them light dark green in colour
(i) Young leaves with veins and tissue between veins light green in
colour
(ii) Young leaves chlorosis, principal veins green, stalks short and
slender
(c) Stems
i) Stunted shade plants but have stronger stems
ii) Thin and erect stems
iii) Stocky appearance with short internodes
iv) Slender and weak stems with poor lignification spilling or
cracking on the barks

Calcium or Boron
Calcium

Boron
Copper, Manganese,
Sulphur or Iron
Copper
Manganese or iron
Manganese
Sulphur or Iron
Sulphur
Iron
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Pottassium
Copper

Control measures
Nutrient deficiency can be easily rectified by applying the deficient element either by
soil application or by foliar application or by the combined application of soil + foliar spray.
Nitrogen: Applying recommended doses of N fertilizers. If the
deficiency is observed during the growth phase, 1% of urea can be used.
Phosphorus: Recommended doses of P and foliar spray of 2% DAP or 1 % super
phosphate extract.
Potassium: Recommended doses of K and foliar spray of 1 % KCl or 1% K2SO4
Calcium: Lime application depending upon the pH and foliar spray of 1 % calcium
nitrate (Fruit crops)
Magnesium: Soil application of Domolite or Gypsum Salt MgSO4,7H2O depending
upon the deficiency and 0.5% of Gypsum salt as foliar spray.
Zinc: Soil application of Zinc Sulphate at 12.5 - 25 kg/ha and foliar spray of 0.5%
Zinc Sulphate.
Iron: Soil application of Ferrous sulphate at 50kg/ha and foliar spray of 0.5% Ferrous
sulphate (for calcerous soil, only foliar spray is recommended)
Manganese: Soil application of Manganese sulphate at 25 kg/ha and foliar spray of

0.2-0.4% MnS04
Copper :Soil application of Copper Sulphate at 10kg/ha and foliar spray of 0.5%
CuSO4
Boron: Soil application of Borax at 15-20 kg/ha and foliar spray of 0.2% Borix acid
Molybdenum: Soil application of 500g to 2 kg of Ammonium molybdate and 0.1 %
foliar spray of ammonium molybdate
Nutrients can be sprayed on the foliage of the crops either in the morning or late
evening. Spray can be repeated 2 to 3 times with an interval of 15-20 days with 400 litres of
spray fluid per ha. Spray fluid should be prepared only with clean water. Spraying can be
done with hand operated sprayer. Care should be taken to ensure that the entire foliage should
be thoroughly wet. Spray fluid can be mixed with any wetting agent at 1 ml per litre of spray
fluids. Spraying on young foliage yields better results than spraying on the old mature leaves.
Common fertilizers and their nutrient contents:
Per cent
Fertilizer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5.
6.
7.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Ammonium Sulphate
Ammonium Chloride
Ammonium Nitrate
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate
Urea
Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
Diammonium Phsophate
Ammonium Sulphate
Rock Phosphate
Potassium Chloride (MOP)
Potassium Sulphate (SOP)
Potassium Nitrate

N
20.5
28.0
32.5
26.0
46.0
20.0
20.5
13

P2O5 K2O Ca Mg
-

16
54
20-23
-

23.4

- 23 - - - - - 34
60 48 - 37

10
23.4
18

PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES
Rose: Roses can be propagated by cuttings, layering, budding and grafting. Among all these
methods, budding on a rootstock is widely practiced.
Roses are mainly propagated through budding. In the budding technique, T budding
is commonly practiced. The rootstocks used are Rosa multiflora (Karnataka, West Bengal and
Bihar), Rosa indica (North India) and Rosa bourbaniana (North India),
A thornless rootstock namely NISHKANT has been developed at IIHR Since it is
devoid of thorns, close planting of rootstocks can be taken up for budding operation.
Budding Technique
The rootstocks are normally propagated through cuttings. The dormant buds from a
selected variety are carefully removed with a sharp, Knife along with a small portion of stem.
The selected rootstock is pruned to about 7-10 cm height and on a pencil thick stem, a T
shape cut is made and the bark is slightly loosened to accommodate the selected bud. After
inserting the bud the bark portion of the rootstock is covered and tied with a film of
polythene. The dormant buds get incorporated into the rootstock and sprout to produce new
flush.

Cacti:
Cacti can be grown from seeds which is a very slow process requiring 2 to 3 years to
flower and seed. The seeds are very fine and require all the precautions needed for growing
very fine seeds. The easiest and common practice for propagation is to detach offsets and root
them in sandy soil. The best method however, is to graft them on cereus etc, which grow
easily from cutting. The most suitable roots stocks are mytiIlocatus gcometricans, cereus
qudransularis and cleistocatus. While growing grafted cacti one must be doubly caustious in
watering as the root stock as well as scion are both susceptable to rotting due to over watering
other precautions for grafting as follows:
v
The rootstock should be in full leaf and be well watered 48 hours before grafting so
that it is quite turgid.
v
Only carry out grafting when daytime and night-time temperatures reach a minimum
of 18C (64P).
v
Use sharp, disinfected tools.
There are a number of different methods of grafting, depending on the species
selected. The general principle is to put together the root-stock (with the top cut off) and the
scion (cut with the same diameter as the rootstock) so that their conductive tissues meet. Hold
them together with an elastic band, maintaining a firm but moderate pressure. After about a
week the graft will be established.
Palms: Most of the palms are propagated from seeds. A few others such as Rhapis and
Cyrotostachys species produce suckers from the ground level and can be propagated by
division of the clumps. The size of the seed may vary from the size of a pea to that of a
coconut or even larger in some kinds. It is difficult to generalize the rate of germination and
growth, but many seeds take a long time to germinate and it may not be a surprise if some
germinate a year after sowing. Therefore, pans in which palm seeds have been sown should
not be disturbed for a long time even if there is no immediate germination. The hardest seeds
may be soaked for a couple of hours in water a little below boiling point to soften the seed
coat before germination. The stratification method may be followed for some hard coated
seeds if these do not germinate properly. The compost for sowing consists of garden soil and
sand in the proportion of 2:1. The pans should have a good drainage, as the seeds will remain
in the pans for quite a long time. The seeds are sown thickly and be kept under bottom heat
for proper germination. Seeds can be sown any time of the year, but some people prefer to
sow during the spring while others during the rains. Sowing during the rainy seasons appears
to be more reasonable in the plains of India. As soon as the first pair of leaves develop fully,
the seedlings should be potted in small pots of a size sufficient to hold the roots and the seed
and never in over sized pots. As the palms grow they are transplanted to slightly bigger pots
holding about 2-3 cm more soil around the plant than the previous ones. Palms develop long
roots; therefore, seedling should not be delayed for transplanting.
Bougainvillea: Bougainvilleas are usually propagated by cuttings, ground or air layering and
budding. Normally pencil thick hardwood leafy cuttings of 15-25 cm length are preferred.
The cutting are treated with growth regulator such as IBA (Indole butric acid), in solution
or talc form. The concentration used is generally between 1,000 and 3,000 ppm in the quick
dip- method.
Time for making cuttings.
v
Delhi: July August or February March
v
Eastern India: Monsoon season
v
Bangalore like climate: Throughout the year (preferably June to October)
The cultivars, which do not respond to propagation by cuttings, are raised through
layers. For propagation by air layering the media used is mold or leaf mold with farmyard

manure or farmyard manure with soil and sand. T or shield budding raises the varieties,
which do not respond to above methods. Generally Dr. R.R. Pal robuts cultivar is used as
rootstock. The best time for budding is February to March.
Jasmine: cuttings on commercial scale multiply Jasmine. However, propagation by layering
and even by grafting (approach or inarching) and budding is possible. To facilitate the rooting
in layering (ground or air layering) or cuttings, a 1000-2000 PPM of IBA preparation is
applied to the basal portion for rooting. Fifteen centimeters long shoot tip cutting with four
leaves and five distal buds are placed in a rooting media of vermiculate or good soiled and
then rooted in a mist chamber. In the open, hardwood or semi-hardwood (15-20 cm long)
cuttings with or without leaves are used for multiplication. The hardwood cuttings of j.
sambac may be planted directly in situ during rainy season by which a success of 70-80 per
cent rooting may be obtained. Layering of tender shoots ensures better and quick rooting and
multiplication is done in rainy season or June-July, High humidity is maintained to promote
rooting of the cutting.
Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemum is propagated vegetatively either through sucker, cutting
or through micro propagation.
A.
Suckers: After flowering, the stem is cut back first above the ground. This induces
the formation of side sucker, which are separated from the mother plant and are planted in
sand bed. Well rooted sucker can be used for planting
B.
Terminal cuttings: These cuttings are taken from a healthy stock plant, 5-7, cm
length cuttings are made by shearing basal leaves and cutting half of the open leaves., the
cutting are dipped in 2500 ppm Indole butyric acid or either in seradix/ karadex (rooting
hormone). These cutting are put in sand beds I semi shade conditions and watered
immediately and thereafter regularly.
Canna: Easily propagated by division of rhizomes i.e., rootstock. This rootstock is a
branchy mass with many large buds, while dividing the rootstocks, it is better not to cut too
close but to leave several strong buds on each piece and may be planted directly in the beds.
If stock is not abundant, only a few plants should be made retaining at least one bud on each
piece. It will be worthwhile to bear in mind that weak buds produce only weak plants. The
one-bud plants are usually better suited for planting in pots. Propagation by seeds in quite a
difficult process and is normally not adopted unless and until it is for the purpose of raising
new hybrids.
Gladiolus: corms propagate it, which remains dormant for about three months after harvest.
Dormant corms do not sprout. After harvest, the corms of at least 4 cm diameter should be
planted.
Carnations: Terminal cutting measuring 10-15 cm from vegetative plants and treatment
with IBA (50ppm) + NAA (100 ppm) and planted in sand medium and also propagated
through tissue culture.
Gerbera: Propagated through suckers and tissue culture
Poinsettias, Duranta: Pre-treatment of semi- hard wood cutting with IBA+NAA 3000 ppm
and planted in sand medium
Ixora: Dipping of soft wood cutting in IBA at 2000 ppm for 3 minutes and planting in
sand medium under mist.
Euphorbias: Terminal cuttings dipped in IBA at 3000 ppm for 3 minutes and planting in
sand medium under mist.
Nerium : Pre treatment of hard wood cuttings in IBA at 3000 ppm for 7 mts ana planting in
sand medium under mist.
Juniper : Cuttings, layers (in slow growing and prostrate forms)

METHODS OF PROPAGATION ADOPTED FOR OTHER IMPORTANT

ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
Name
Propagation
Common garden plants and trees
Bauhinia
Seeds
Celiba pentandra (Silk Cotton)
Seeds
Cassia excelsa
Seeds
Cassia javanica
Seeds
Erythrina indica (Pangra)
Cutting
Glyricidia maculata
Seeds
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Seeds
Lagertemia flosreginae
Seeds
Michelia champaka
Seeds and grafting
Gulmohar
Seeds
Peltophoraum
Seeds
Foliage trees (ever green)
Alstonia
Seeds
Araucaria (Monkey puzzle)
Seeds
Artocarpus (Bread fruit)
Seeds
Casuarinas
Seeds
Thuja
Seeds and heek cutting
Felicium decipens (fern leaved tree)
Seeds
Ficus benjamina
Seeds
Ficus elastica
Cuttings, Air layering
Grevilea robusta (Sliver Oak)
Seeds
Kigelia pinnata
Seeds
Polyalthia longifolia
Seeds
Royal palm (Oreodoxa Regia)
Seeds
Flowering shrubs
Achania
Cuttings
Barleria
Cuttings & Seed
Buddleacaesalpinia pulcherrima (Peacock flower)
Cuttings & laters
Cestrum noctumum (Night Queen)
Seed
Hibiscus
Cuttings
Ixora
Cuttings & layers
Jatropha
Cuttings & Seed
Lantana
Cuttings & layers
Lagerstromeae Indica
Cuttings & layers
Nerium (Oleander)
Cuttings & layers
Poinsettia
Cuttings & layers
Tabernae Montana
Cuttings & layers
Rose
Cuttings & bidding
Thevetia
Cuttings & Seed
Foliage shrubs
Acalypha
Cuttings
Anthurium
Rhizomes
Aralia
Cuttings

Arunda donax
Coleus
Crotons
Dieffenbachia
Dracaena
Duranta
Eranthemum
Maranta
Panax
Iresene
Phyllanthus (variegated)
Creepers
Allamanda
Antigonon
Aristolochia elegans
Bignonia gracillis
Bigonia venusta
Clematis
Clerodendron
Echites
Honeysuckle
Ipomea horsfolleae
Monstera edulis
Passion flower
Pothos
Quisqualis indica
Flowering annuals
Aster, Snapdragons, Marigold, Celosia, Cosmos,
Comphrena, Helianthus annum Helichrysum,
Impatients, Lobella verbena, Plox, Zinnia, etc.

Suckers
Cutting
Cuttings, layers
Cuttings & Suckers
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings & Suckers
Cuttings
Seed, Tubers
Seeds & Layers
Cuttings & Layers
Cuttings & Layers
Cuttings
Cuttings
Layering
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Cuttings
Root suckers
Seeds

The Important methods of propagation

1.Seed Propagation
Propagation by seeds is the major methods by which many ornamental plants are
perpetuated. It is one of the most efficient and widely used propagation method. Various
types of seasonal shrubs and ornamental flowering and avenue trees are being multiplied by
the seeds.
v Some annual creepers like chitoria ternatea, Cobaea Scandens, Lathyrus odoratus,
Ipomea Spp. Quamocut pennata, thunbergaia alata, Tropaeolum majus etc. are raised
through seeds Several ornamental
shrubs like Adenium obesum, Asclepias
curassavica, Bahunia acuminate, B. galpinnii, Caesalpinia pulcherrina, casiia biflura,
Galphima gracillis, Memcylan edula, Nyctanthes arbor tristis,
Rauwolfia
Canescens, Thevetia neriifolia are also propagated from seeds.
Flowering annuals propagated by seeds.
Nursery preparation and sowing of seeds: Annual ornamental seedings are in great demand
for home gardens as well as landscape purpose in larger quantities. It is required to raise the
seedings at nursery before they are sent for marketing.

The seeds can be sown in seed pans, seed frames, pots or in baskets. For larger
requirements, permanent seed frames could be constructed for sowing the seeds. Adequate
drainage facilities should be provided in the sowing media in order to drain out the excess
moisture.
The soil for sowing seed should be light and porous. A mixture made up of one part in
each of loam and sand and two parts of leaf mould is ideal for sowing.
The seeds should be sown in the nursery beds evenly and thinly. The seedings in the
thickly sown seed bed will be lanky due to competition for nutrition and also subject to
damping of disease easily. After sowing the seeds they should be covered with fine sand or
leaf mould twice the thickness of the seeds. As a general rule large sized seeds should be
sown a bit deeper. Tiny seeds such as Petunia, Antirrhinum, etc. should be mixed with 8-10
times of their bulk with fine sand and sown to get uniform spread. The seedling may also be
raised in portrays and can be sold.
2. Cutting
Propagation by cutting is a simple and less expensive method. Cutting is a process by
which a plant is produced by severing a vegetative portion from the plant and rooting it in a
favourable medium under optimum conditions. Plant parts such as stems, roots, leaves and
modified stems such as corms, rhizomes, tubers, runners and bulbs are used for this purpose.
The stem cutting can be categorized into 3 types.
Softwood cuttings: These types of cutting can still be sub-divided into two groups. In the
first group comes those cuttings which are taken from herbaceous plants such as coleus,
carnation, dahlia, chrysanthemum etc. the second group consists of cuttings taken from the
unripened tips of woody plants, such as most of the ornamental shrubs and some tree. The
cutting should be detached from the mother plant from below a node.
Semi-hard- wood cuttings: Semi-hard-wood cuttings are those which have passed
the soft-wood stage but yet to ripen fully., Jasmines and hydrangeas are example of plants
from which such cuttings are taken for propagation.
Hard wood cuttings: the cuttings which are taken from the mature current years
growth, as in some shrubs and tree. While in the first tow categories of cuttings the length of
cutting remains between 2.5 to 10 cm and 15 to 25 cm, but in case of hard-wood cuttings the
length depends upon the nature of plants and prevailing climatic conditions. But normally,
for many hare-wood cuttings the length varies between 15 and 30 cm.
The stem cuttings are further categorized into 3 groups.
(i.)
Terminal cuttings: Such cutting are obtained from terminal portion of a shoot. The
leaves from the lower portion of the cutting are removed by nipping (and not by tearing off),
while 2-4 leaves are retained in the apex. If the size of the leaves is very larger, these may be
cut into halves. Most of the cuttings are to be inserted in the rooting media as early as
possible, after being detached from the mother plant. But in case of cacti and some other
succulent plants these are air dried for 2-4 days before inserting in the rooting media.
(ii.)
Heel cutting: when lateral shoots are pulled off from the stem with a portion of the
stem attached to it, these are called heel cuttings. Heel cuttings root more easily. If needed,
the basal end could be smoothened off with a sharp knife. Sometimes carnation cutting are
prepared in this way.
(iii.) Node cuttings: Plants like Dracaena and Dieffenbachia are propagated from single or
multiple node cuttings. Such cuttings are normally placed horizontally on the rooting media.
(iv.) Root cuttings: Root cuttings should be taken from young roots of average thickness
and the length may vary from 2.5 to 15 cm with one or a few buds. The cuttings are placed
horizontally or vertically in light soil or sand. The horizontally placed cuttings are covered

sufficiently. The adventitious buds give rise to new shoots and roots to grow from the base of
these buds or from the cut sections of the old roots.
(Gypsophyla, Caillardia, Aralia, Yucca etc. are some of the ornamentals propagated by this
method
Leaf cuttings: In this method the leaf stalk when notched and placed in rooting medium,
they produce individual plants.
(Rex begorua, Bryophyllum, Saint paulia are some of the examples)
Factors affecting rooting in cuttings: Age and nutritional environmental factors affect the
rooting of cuttings. Age and nutritional condition of the stock plant, position of the shoot on
the parent plant, maturity of the tissue at the base of the cuttings and presence of leaves and
buds on the shoot are the internal factors affecting the rooting of cuttings. Light, temperature,
humidity and rooting medium are the external factors affecting the rooting wounding,
defoliation treatment with growth regulators is used especially in ornamental like
Bougainvillea (2000 ppm of IBA+NAA mixture by quick dip method) and Ixora (IBA 200
ppm). Vase on shrubs like Tagar, Crotons, Hemelia and Climbers and creepers as well as
trees like Pangara and peltoforum are being propagated by cuttings.
3.Layering
Layering is done when a clone can not be rooted through stem cutting. It is an
important method of commercial propagation in ornamental like Jasmine, Hibiscus, Ixora,
Mussanda. Generally the plants, which are difficult to multiply by cutting, can be raised by
one or other method of layering. In this method since the twigs are attached to the mother
plant, the supply of food and water supply is not discontinued; this helps in rooting in layer
than cuttings.
Rooting of layering is encouraged by etiolating. Presence of sufficient oxygen,
moisture and temperature and application of root promoting substance at the time of layering
help to get profuse root in a short time. Root promoting substance are applied as powder or in
lanolin.
Simple or ground layering: is the common and simplest from of layering. Majority of
the variegated plants which are difficult to root from cuttings (e.g. Bougainvillea cv.
Thinmma, Duranta Plumeri Vaeiegation) could be rooted through this method of layering.
Some clumbers are also rooted through this.
Air layering: Air layering or gootie is one of the most widely used method of layerage in
ornamental plants. A large number of shrubs, foliage plants and even ornamental trees are
raised by this method.
Generally branches of plants which are not prone to bending upto the ground level
for layering are propagated by this method. Generally terminal portions are used for air
layers. The mature branch is slit or nitched below a node at the desired height. The part of the
wounded stem, as well as 5 cm on either side of the wound, is covered with damp sphagnum
moss and this is covered over by polythene paper and secondly tied at both ends the
polythene paper around the moss to form a bag and fold the ends several times inwards to
prevent the moisture in the moss from coming out. The two ends are tied firmly on the two
sides of the stem layered.
4. Grafting
Grafting is the method of propagation used for perpetuating clones that cannot be
readily maintained by several methods of propagation.
It is used for obtaining special forms of plan growth etc. This method of propagation
is limited for plants. In ornamental grafting is followed only for few crops like cacti.
Sometimes approach grafting is done for propagation of delicate Hawaiian cultivars of
Hibiscus.
5. Budding

In budding, a single bud, as against a scion wood containing a number of buds in the
case of grafting is inserted on the rootstock in a manner that both will unite and continue to
grow as a single plant. Three to five weeks after the budding operation, the portion of the
rootstock about 3-5 cm above the union, is cut off. Mostly T budding is employed for
propagation of most of the ornamental plants. The patch budding is generally not popular.
This method is sometimes used for multiplication of hibiscus hybrids. The optimum time of
budding is when the stock plant is actively growing and the bark separates easily from the
wood.
6. Others
Suckers
In some plants new stems are produced from the adventitious buds on their roots.
Such new growths are called suckers. These suckers can be perpetuated as individual plants.
(e.g. chrysanthemum)
Division
This type of propagation is the simplest method of propagation for increasing the
number of stock plants. It involves simply dividing the plants into small pieces each of which
must contain a portion of the rootstock with leaves or buds or as a few roots.
Division must be carried out during the dormant season. The clumps are lifted with a
fork and are divided by separating them into suitable sized portions. Each portion shows
contain about 3 or 4 buds or stems and the outside portions of the clumps should be selected,
as these are the most vigorous. Some of the clumps are easy to divide by pulling them apart
after shaking of the loose soil, others are more difficult, and the rhizomes or rootstocks have
to be separated with or without knife or through with a spade. The divided portions must be
planted firmly and well watered within an hour or two.
Majority of herbaceous ornamentals can be increased through this method. (e.g.
Alstroemaria, Delphinium, Campanula, Armeria, Daisy etc.)
Rhizomes
Rhizomes are sub- terrnean stems that arise from a lateral bud from the main stem at
ground level and extend underground near the surface horizontally. The aerial shoots develop
from the laterial buds.
Generally rhizomes are cut into small pieces having one or more buds and planted for
multiplication (e.g. Canna)
Stolons
A slender branch, which normally produces roots and bears a bud at this extreme, this
forming a new plant e.g. Chlorophytum.
Tubers
They are short, thickned part of subterranean branches, which store large quantities of
plant food, mainly starch. Tubers contain buds in the axils of reduced leaves.
Corm
These are underground stem with a short, fleshy, vertical axis covered with dried leaf
bases.
e.g. gladiolus

Plug production of flower seedlings

There has been a shift from growing seedlings on flat and raised nursery beds in open field
towards growing value added transplants in specially designed containers such as plug trays.
A major advantage of block or modular raised seedlings as compared with that of bare-root
transplants is the significant reduction of the transplanting shock resulting in improved crop
establishment and yield of several annuals. Container raised seedlings are easy to handle,

grade, shift and transport manually as well as mechanically. Further, it provides good control
of young plants in the nursery due to better water drainage, aeration, sanitation, quick takeoff and uniform growth in nursery and in the field after transplanting.
Production of healthy seedlings is a prerequisite for good initial crop growth that results in
optimum vegetative growth that gets finally transformed into the potential economic yield.
Healthy growth of the plant from the beginning also ensures better use efficiency of scarce
and costly inputs like water, nutrients and better tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses.
Advantages of growing seedlings in plastic trays under protected structures:

Seeds germinate properly.

Mortality of seedlings is very rare,
There is no loss of expensive seeds of hybrids.
There is adequate space for each seedling to grow properly.
Equal and healthy growth of each seedling.
Damage due to pests and diseases are very rare.
Seedlings do not wither during transport.
Promotes better root growth.
Damage to roots is very rare during shifting and planting.
Hassle free planting.
Facilitates uniform maturity of the crop.

Protective structure for seedling production

Seedlings of ornamental crops are being grown in low cost poly houses and net houses. The
mainframe can be of steel pipes, wooden poles or even granite stone pillars. Poly houses are
clad with 200 micron UV stabilized polythene sheet on the roof and the sides are covered
with 40 mesh insect-proof nylon net. A retractable (50%) shade net is provided below the
roof to be used during the days of bright sunlight and high temperature. Foggers may also be
provided to bring down the temperature during summer days. The mainframe can also be
erected with wooden poles or granite stone pillars bringing down the expenditure further.
In recent years net houses are becoming popular to raise the seedlings. Granite stone pillars of
6 to 8 feet long are erected as the mainframe of the net house. The roof is generally covered
with a shade net and the sides are covered with the insect proof net. However, it is advisable
to cover the roof also with the insect proof net above the retractable shade net to have better
control over the entry of insect vectors like white flies which may be carried by the air
currents and gain entry into the greenhouse. Further it is essential to harden the seedlings
before transplanting. A retractable shade net will be useful to regulate the shade in the
greenhouse depending on the light levels prevailing in the greenhouse. Plastic pipes of inch
are bent in arch shape over the nursery beds and are covered with a plastic sheet to protect the
seedlings from rain as and when required.
This structure provides adequate light, shade and humidity and also protects the seedlings
from thrips and white flies that spread the virus diseases. Individual farmers can also grow
vegetable seedlings in plastic trays on a small scale in a low-cost net house measuring about
20 feet long, 10 feet wide and 8 feet high in their farms.
Plug Trays

Plug trays are also called as pro-trays (propagation trays). The most commonly used are 98celled trays . The dimensions of the trays are generally 54 cm in length and 27 cm in width
with a cavity depth of 4 cm. These trays are made of polypropylene and are re-usable up to
five to six times depending on the care with which they are handled. Before using every time
it is necessary that these trays are thoroughly washed and disinfected with a fungicide. The
holes at the bottom of the cells control the moisture properly. Equal spaced cells facilitate
equal growth of the seedlings.
Coir dust (Coco peat)
Well decomposed and sterilized commercial growing medium is better as the incidence of
seedling diseases is less or nil and it contains in it right amount of moisture to support seed
germination. The most commonly used growing medium is coir dust (coco peat), which is
steam sterilized to prevent nursery diseases. Coco peat is a by-product of coir industry and it
has high water holding capacity. It should be well decomposed, sterilized and supplemented
with major and micro nutrient sources before using it as the growing medium. Neem cake
enriched with Trichoderma (100:1) is applied @ 100 kg per tonne of the medium to prevent
seedling diseases.
Technique of raising seedlings
Fill the seedling tray with appropriate growing medium such as coco peat or vermin compost
+ sand mixed in equal proportion. About 1-1.25 kg of coco peat is required to fill one 98celled tray. Make a small depression for sowing (0.5 cm) by fingertip or a dibbler in the
center of the cell. Sow one seed per cell and cover the cells with the coco peat. Irrigation is
not required before or after sowing till seeds germinate if coco peat having adequate moisture
is used as the medium. Keep about 10 trays one over the other for 3 to 6 days, depending on
the crop. Cover the entire stack of trays with a polyethylene sheet to ensure conservation of
moisture and warmth that hastens germination. Care must be taken for spreading the trays
when the seeds start sprouting. The trays with sprouted seeds are placed in pairs over a bed
covered with polyethylene sheet. Seedling trays are watered daily, or as needed (not too wet
or too dry) using a rose can or a hosepipe with a rose. The trays are also drenched with a
fungicide as a precautionary measure against seedling mortality. Spray (3g / L) 100 percent
water-soluble fertilizer (19 per cent NPK plus trace elements) twice (12 and 20 days after
sowing). Protect the seedlings from rainfall by covering the arch erected on the beds with
polyethylene sheet whenever it rains.
Hardening of seedlings
Tray grown seedlings in a green house especially need hardening as they are raised with
lower light levels. Harden the seedlings by withholding irrigation and reducing the shade
before transplanting.
Pest Management
Drenching plug trays with copper oxy chloride (0.4 %) before filling them with growing
medium prevents seedling diseases. Spray systemic insecticides like Imidacloprid (0.3
ml/liter) 7-10 days after germination and before transplanting. The seedlings will be ready in
about 21-42 days for transplanting into the main field depending upon the crop.

ROOTING AND GROWING MEDIA

Potting Media
Field soil is sometimes used in container mixes (10%-30% by volume), but soil is heavy and
requires the additional step of pasteurization to eliminate diseases and weed seeds. The
standard replacement for soil is peat moss, but there has been concern over the past few years
that peat is a non-renewable resource. Consequently, research is being conducted to
determine what materials can be used to replace peat.
Calculating substrate quantity
The volume of the container has to be determined by filling the container with water. The
total amount of water added is the volume of the container. The volume of the container has
to be multiplied with the number of seedlings/plants to be produced. The resulting volume
can be divided by 20, the capacity of one big bucket, to get approximately the number of
buckets of substrate needed to fill all containers. In general, small polybags usually hold 0.5
litres of water, large bags more than 1.5 litres and root trainers less than 0.5 litres.
Media for plant growth and seed germination has great significance in nursery
business.
Propagating medium plays an important role in raising of successful plant material in
nursery production. Propagating medium is the substance, be it peat, sand, cocopeat,
vermiculite or other material, into which the unrooted cuttings are inserted or seeds are sown
for germination. The material for rooting and growing media may be used either alone or
incorporated with one or more products in combination. The materials used for rooting media
may be naturally occurring or max; be manufactured artificially. In many cases, the waste or
surplus products from the industries viz., saw dust is used for this purpose.
Qualities of a ideal rooting media:
v The substance must have appropriate physical and chemical properties
v They must retain sufficient water and air
v They must allow sufficient drainage
v The substance must be free from weed seeds, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and insect
pests
v The acidity or alkalinity should be in optimum for different species
v The medium must be sufficiently firm and dense to hold the cuttings or seeds in place
during rooting or germination. Its volume must be fairly constant when either wet or
dry
v It must be capable of being sterilized
v The rooting media should support the cuttings to avoid lodging. This is particularly
important whenever larger level cuttings are used under mist chamber conditions
Selection criteria for media
v Always consider utilizing local products to save transportation costs.
v Check the quality of the product before buying
v Check for the grade or particle size and freedom from impurities such as silt and
harmful salts.
v Obtain local guidance of agricultural officers for selecting appropriate media
v The pH of the media should be checked. An optimum pH for the rooting medium
should be 5.5 - 6.5, with a range of 4.0 - 5.0
v Select a rooting media which has optimum air filled porosity range of around 34%

v The media must provide sufficient oxygen to the base of cuttings

v Ensure that the product is well graded
v Select a media which can retain structures during rooting particularly where mist and
fogging units are used for mist propagation
v Select a medium which does not require any mixing
Media for propagation and growing nursery plants
There are several media and mixtures of different kind are available for use in
propagation such as in seed germination, rooting of cuttings and for growing container stock.
Commonly used media with a brief description of properties are given below:
i) Soil: A soil is composed of materials in the solid, liquid and gaseous states. These
materials must exist in the proper proportions for satisfactory plant growth. The
texture of a soil depends upon relative proportions of sand, silt and clay. Maintenance
of a favourable granular and crumb soil structure is very important.
ii) Sand: Sand consists of small rock grains (0.05 to 2.0 mm) formed as result of the
weathering of various rocks. Its mineral composition depends on type of rock. Quartz
sand is generally used for propagation and plastering grade is used for rooting of
cuttings. Sand should be preferably sterilised before use.
iii) Peat: There are different types of peats available because of mode and circumstances
of its formation, the plant species from which it is formed. Peat consists of the
remains of aquatic, marsh, bog or swamp vegetation which has been preserved under
water in a partially decomposed state. Composition of peat varies widely depending
upon the vegetation, decomposition and degree of acidity.
v
The main advantage of moss peat is that it is a uniform product.
v
It is free from pests, diseases and weed seeds
v
Useful for growing rooted cuttings or seedlings
v
Peat is easily compressed and can be purchased in polythene covered bags
v
Peat is the material most commonly used and forms the basis of many
different propagation media when mixed with other components
v
Peat can be mixed, with either fine or coarse sand, perlite or vermiculate,
sawdust
v
Peat is formed by the partial decomposition of plants in areas of high
rainfall and the types of peat can vary considerably in color and structure
v
A medium grade sphagnum peat is generally recommended
iv) Sphagmum moss: The sphagmum moss is the dehydrated remains of acid-bog plants
of the genus Sphagmum. It is relatively sterile, light in weight and has a very high
water holding capacity and contains specific fungistatic substances. It is very popular
media per propagation of pomegranate in Maharashtra by air layering.
v) Vermuculite: It is a micaceous mineral which expands markedly when heated. It is
chemically a hydrated magnesium - aluminium - iron silicate. It is very light in
weight, neutral in reaction with good buffering properties and insoluble in water.
v It can absorb large quantities of water
v Normally has pH range between 6.0 - 6.5, has a buffering action
v Vermiculate will not re-expand if excessively firmed or compressed
v It is normally mixed with peat moss, because vermuculite alone will not support the
cuttings
v It is suitable for rooting cuttings intended for export to overcome specific plant
quarantine regulation
vi) Perlite: It is a gray white material of volcanic origin mined from lava flows and has
neutral reaction with no buffering and no cation exchange capacity and no mineral
contents.

v
v
v
v
v

Chemically perlite is made up of alumino - silicates

It is light, sterile, contain no nutrients
It has pH of 6.0 - 7.5 range
It may be used alone but is best used with peat moss for woody ornamentals
Since it is light in weight, it is useful for mist propagation benches because there is
little chance of damages to the structure from weight stress
v It is a useful material for rooting and shipping cuttings when there are specific plant
quarantine regulations.
vii) Pumice:
v It is a gray or white volcanic rock, which is originally frothed by gases to give it
sponge like and porous character.
v It is made up of aluminium silicate and also contain small quantities of potassium and
sodium
v It provides good aeration and drainage to the media
viii) Leaf mold:
v Maple, Oak, Sycamore and elm are among the leaf types suitable for leaf mold. This
material is little used in modern large scale propagation procedures.
v Leaf mold in easily available in India.
v It has a very low bulk density i.e. 0.1 - 0.25 gms/cm3.
ix) Sawdust and woodshavings: These are used mostly for propagating media.
v A biproduct formed during the processing of wood material
v It is free from harmful substances, freedom from salts, nitrogen deficiency
v If sawdust is excessively composted, there is a problem of drainage
v Controlled release fertilizers can be used along with sawdust
x) Cocopeat
v It is also called cocodust. A by product of cutting and sifting coconuts for fibre
production. It is the most popular growing media available these days
v Cocopeat has excellent aeration of 15 to 25% because of its fine structure
v Coco substrates are expected to degrade slower than substrates such as peat moss
v Do not add potassium to media as it is already available in coir
v In cocopeat media add more nitrogen as micro organism in coco peat need to break
down the few easily degradable substances present in peat
Soil mixtures for container growing
In propagation procedures, young seedlings or rooted cuttings are sometimes planted directly
in the field but frequently they are started in a soil mix in some type of container such as peat
or plastic pots or clay flower pots or metal cans.
Potting mixture for rooted cuttings and young seedlings
The general potting mixture for rooted cuttings and seedling is 1 or 2 parts of sand, 1 part of
loam soil and 1 part peatmoss or shredded bark or leaf mold. For container grown general
nursery stock, it is 1 part sand, 2 parts loam soil and 1 part peat moss or shredded bark of leaf
mold is generally recommended potting mixture.
General standards of media / substrate
water content (% by weight) maximum 80%
organic content (% of dry matter) minimum 90%
pH of water - maximum 4.5
Ec (mS/cm at 25 C in the 1:1.5 volume extract) maximum 0.5

HORMONAL POWDERS, SOLUTIONS AND PASTES

The hormones and growth regulators play vital role in seed germination, rooting of
cuttings and layers. Though there are some proprietory products available in the market best
results are obtained if one can prepare the desired concentrations depending upon the
requirement of a particular species. Following are the different methods of preparation of
hormonal powders, solutions and pastes based on the formula that, one milligram of pure
hormone mixed in one kg. of inert talc, or one litre of distilled water or 1 kg of lanolin, will
give 1 ppm strength of that hormone.
a. Preparation of hormonal powders
The required quantity of pure hormone may be weighed in a physical or electronic
balance of high precision. It is then dissolved in 1/2 litre of ethanol or methanol or acetone in
a beaker. One kg of inert talc is taken in a porcelene mortor and the hormone dissolved in
alcohol/acetone is then poured to it and thoroughly mixed with a glass rod.
The slurry is kept in open air for few hours. The alcohol gets evaporated leaving the
talc mixed with hormone. When the alcohol is evaporated fully, the dried talc is ground to a
fine powder with the pestle. The hormonal powder thus prepared is kept in air tight container
and used subsequently for treating the cuttings and layers.
b. Preparation of hormonal solutions
The required quantity of hormone is weighed accurately. Since most of the hormones
do not dissolve in water directly, they are to be dissolved in a suitable solvent. Most of them
dissolve in ethyl or methyl alcohol or acetone. Few ml of these solvents may be taken into a
measuring flask and the hormone powder previously weighed is poured cautiously and then
shaken thoroughly till it is completely dissolved. Then the flask is filled slowly upto the mark
with distilled water with occasional shaking. If there is any delay in use, the prepared solution
may be kept in a refrigerator.
c. Preparation of hormonal paste
The required quantity of hormone is to be weighed accurately. Appropriate quantity
of lanolin is taken in a beaker and kept on gentle flame/hot plate, when the lanolin is liquified
it is to be removed from the flame and kept aside. Then the previously weighed, hormonal
powder is poured slowly into it with constant stirring with a glass rod. The liquid is stirred
well for an even mixing of the powder. Then it is allowed to cool down. The lanolin with
hormone attains semisolid conditions. After complete cooling, it is transferred in an airtight
container and stored in a cool dry place.
The use of root promoting growth substances are now widely used in the rooting of
cuttings and layers. These are readily available either as specific chemicals itself, or in the
form of proprietory powders of various strengths or as tablets which can be used to make up
the desired solutions.
Root promoting substances not only increase the rooting percentage in the more
difficult genera but are also found to be advantageous with many easily rooted cuttings in
increasing the rooting.
Generally IBA (indole butric acid), NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) is effective on
some species. At present, powder forms are widely used and are very convenient.
General precautions to be followed while using growth substances
v Check for shelf life and storage conditions of these preparations
v Do not buy more than required at a time
v Always keep the containers in a cool dry place. Deterioration is more likely to set in
under the warm humid conditions
v Care to be taken not to contaminate the bulk of the powder

v Always tap out as much as is likely to be required into a separate shallow container
(not the lid of the tin or container in which the powder is stored).Any left over should
be destroyed and never put it back into the tin or container
v When inserting treated cuttings into the rooting medium, use a dibbler, as pushing the
cutting into the substrate displace much of the powder
v Liquid preparations are preferred compared to paste or powder formulations
Techniques of application of growth substances to cuttings
a) Polonged soaking method: This method involves dipping the cuttings with the bottom
width (2.5 cm) of the stem immersed in the solutions for 24 hours. This should be done
in a cool place to avoid concentration of the solution through evaporation. The
concentrations used vary from 20 ppm (parts per million) for easy rooting species to
200 ppm for the more difficult kinds.
b) Quick-dip method: This is an improved technique developed for use with some more
difficult to root hardwood cuttings. A high concentrated solution of growth promoting
substance is used ranging from 500 to 10,000 ppm, though 4000 ppm is a generally
used strength. This method involves dipping the basal portion of cuttings for 5 seconds
to 2 minutes depending upon the nature of the cuttings, whether they are soft or hard
wood cuttings.
c) The third technique is to dip the wet basal portion of the cuttings in talc mixed with
growth substance ranging concentrations of 500 ppm to 12,000 ppm.

GENERAL SEED AND CLONE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

Aster
(Callistephus spp. (Linn.) Nees Syn.
(Aster spp. Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards arc basic and, together with the following specific
standards constitute the standards for certification of aster.
II.

Land to be used for seed production of aster shall not be eligible e for
certification .if planted on 1and on which the same kind of crop (including astersingles) was grown in the previous year Unless the crop (s) as grown in the
previous year was/were of the same variety and of an equivalent or higher class
of certified seed and was/were certified.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first at pre-flowering stage, the
second during flowering and the third before (harvesting pappus or fuzz"
begins to show.

Field standards

General requirements
I. Isolation
Aster seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in column 1 of the
Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table.
Contaminants
(meters)
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal
purity requirements for certification
Specific requirements
Factor
(%)*
Certified
Off types at and after flowering
**Plants affected by designated diseases

Minimum distance
Foundation
600
600

400
400

Maximum permitted
Foundation
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for designated
diseases at final inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be
wilt (fusarium Oxysporum f.. cryptogea (Beach) Synd. & Hans.)

Collar rot (Phytophthora cryptogea)

Canker (Phomopsis callistephi)
Alternaria leaft spot (Alternaia alternate (Fr.) Keissler Syn A.Tenuis Nees
Yellows
Chrysanthemum Mosaic Virus
Seed standards
Factor
class
Certified
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Standards for each

Foundation
98.0%
2.0%
10/kg
5/kg
60%
9.0%
6.0%

98.0%
2.0%
20/kg
10/kg
60%
9.0%
6.0%

Annual Chrysanthemum
(Chrysanthemum spp. Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards arc basic and, together with the following specific
standards constitute the standards for certification of annual chrysanthemum.
II.

Land requirements
A seed crop of annual Chrysanthemum shall not be eligible for certification if planted
on land on which the same land of crop was grown in the previous year Unless the
crop(s' of annual chrysanthemum grown in the previous year was/were of the same
variety and of an equivalent or higher class of certified seed and was/were certified.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as under:
1.

2.
3.
IV.

the first inspection shall be made at pre-flowering stage in order to

determine land requirements, isolation, volunteer plants and other
relevant factors;
the second inspection shall be made during flowering to variety relevant
factors;
the third inspection shall made at maturity prior to harvesting .

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Annual chrysanthemum seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants
shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2
and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
(meters)
Certified

Minimum distance
Foundation

Fields of other varieties

Fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal
purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
(%)*
Certified
Off types at and after flowering
**Plants affected by designated diseases at final
inspection
Designated diseases shall be,

600
600

400
400

Maximum permitted
Foundation
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. chrysanthemum (Litt.)

Grey mould (Betrytis cinerea pers.)
Blotch (Septoria chrysanthemumilla Sacc.)
Ray Blight (Ascochyta chrysanthemi stev.)
Verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berth)
V.

Seed standards
Factor
class
Certified
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Standards for each

Foundation
98.0%
2.0%
10/kg
5/kg
50%
8.0%
6.0%

98.0%
2.0%
20/kg
10/kg
50%
8.0%
6.0%

Marigold Hybrids
(Targets spp. Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

A.

The General Seed Certification Standards arc basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of hybrid marigold seeds.

B.

General standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to the hybrids of

marigold.
1.

Eligibility requirements for certification

a.

An inbred line to be eligible for certification shall be from a source such that
its identity may be assured and approved by the Certification Agency.

b.

Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the progeny of two

approved inbred lines, one of which shall be male sterile.

2.

Classes and Sources of seed

a. An inbred line shall be a relatively true breeding strain resulting from selfpollination with selection and/or developed through in-vitro culture.
b. The foundation seed class shall consist of an approved male sterile
(apetalous) line to be used as a female parent and an approved inbred line to
be used as a male parent for the purpose of producing hybrid seed.
c. *A male sterile line shall be a monogenic recessive strain carrying genetic
male sterility, which sheds no viable polen and is maintained by the
monogenic dominant hetrozygous strain and is used as maintainer in
propagation blocks.
d. The certified class seed shall be hybrid seed to be planted for any use except
seed production.
II.

III.

*(Applicable if male sterile line is used)

Land requirements
A seed crop of hybrid marigold shall not be eligible for certification if planted on land
on which the same kind of crop was grown in the previous year unless the crop(s)
grown in the previous year was/were of the same variety and of an equivalent or
higher class of certified seed and was/were certified.
Field Inspection
A minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made at the stage of 6-7 pairs of leaves in order
to determine the isolation, volunteer plants out crosses, planting ratio
(demarcation between female and male block if planted separately) and other
relevant factors;
2. the second and third inspection shall be made during flowering to check

isolation, pollen shedding heads in seed parent, offtypes and other relevant
factors;
3. the fourth inspection shall made at maturity and prior to harvesting to varify
the designated diseases, true nature of plant and capitulum and relevant
factors.
IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1.
Seed fields of marigold hybrids shall be isolated from the contaminants
shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in
columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
(meters)
Certified
Fields of other varieties including commercial hybrids of
the same cultivar
Fields of the same hybrid (code designation) not
conforming to varietal purity requirements for
certification
Between blocks of parental lines in case seed parent and
pollinator are planted in separate blocks
B. Specific requirements
Factor
(%)*
Certified

V.

Minimum distance
Foundation
600

400

600

400

Maximum permitted
Foundation

Off types in seed parent at and after flowering

0.050
0.10
Off types in pollinator at flowering
0.050
0.10
Pollen shedding heads in seed parent at flowering
0.050
0.10
**Plants affected by designated diseases at final
0.10
0.20
inspection
**Designated diseases shall be;
Leaf spot
(Alternaria tagetica shome and Mustafee)
Flower bud rot
(A. alternata (fr.) Keissler & A. dianthi stevans & Hall)
Collar rot
(Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)
Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)
Seed standards
Factor
Standards for each
class
Foundation ertified
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

97.0%
3.0%
10/kg
5/kg
70%
9.0%
7.0%

97.0%
3.0%
20/kg
5/kg
70%
9.0%
7.0%

Petunia Hybrid
(Petunia spp.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards arc basic and, together with the following specific
standards constitute the standards for certification of petunia seeds.
II.

Land requirements
Land to be used for seed production of petunia shall be free of volunteer plants.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first before flowering, the
second during flowering and fruiting stage and the third at maturity prior to
harvesting.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1.

Isolation

Seed fields of petunia shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in

Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of
the said Table:
Contaminants

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation Certified

Fields of other varieties

Fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal
purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor

600
600

400
400

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
ertified

Off types
**Plants affected designated diseases

0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for designated
diseases at final inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be
Leaf-blotch (Cecospora petuniae (Saito)Muller & Chupp)
Leaf spot
(Ascochyta petuniae)
Phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllostica petuniae Speg.)
Leaf blight
(Alternaia alternata (Fr. Kiessler)
Crown rot
(Phytophthora parasitica Dast.)
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

V.

Seed standards
Factor
class
Certified
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Standards for each

Foundation
98.0%
2.0%
10/kg
5/kg
75%
8.0%
6.0%

98.0%
2.0%
20/kg
10/kg
75%
8.0%
6.0%

Petunia
(Petunia spp.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

A. The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of petunia seeds.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to the hybrids of
petunia.

1.

Classes and source of seed

a) Only the class Certified shall be recognised.
b) A hybrid to be certified must be produced from certified foundation seed or seed
stocks approved by the certification agency.

2.

Eligibility requirements for certification

a)
A hybrid is one to be planted for any use accept seed production. It may be
one of the following:
(i)

Single cross - the first generation resulting from controlled crossing of two
approved self-incompatible but cross-incompatible but cross-compatible
inbred lines. It may be of three types depending upon procedure of seed
production.
- Seeds of only female parent are harvested and certified;
- Seeds of both the parents are harvested separately and certified and;
- Seed of both the parents are harvested together, mixed and certified.

(ii)

Double cross The first generation resulting from the controlled crossing of
two approved self-incompatible but cross-compatible single crosses.

(iii)

Three way cross - The first generation resulting from controlled crossing of an
approved inbred line and certified foundation single cross being selfincompatible individually but cross-compatible to each other.

II.

Land requirements
Land to be used for seed production of petunia hybrid shall be free of volunteer
plants.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made at pre-flowering stage to check isolation,
out crosses, and other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made during flowering to check isolation,
offtypes and other relevant factors;
3. the third inspection shall be made before harvesting to check offtypes,
designated diseases and relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Seed fields of petunia hybrids shall be isolated from the contaminants

shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2
and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
(meters)

Minimum distance
Foundation

Fields of other varieties including commercial

hybrid of some cultivar
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
Between blocks of the parental lines in case seed
parent and pollinator are planted in separate
blocks.
B. Specific requirements
Factor
(%)*

Certified

600

400

600

400

005

Maximum permitted
Foundation

Certified

Off types in each parent

0.050
0.10
**Plants affected designated diseases
0.10
0.20
*standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for designated
diseases at final inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Leaf-blotch
(Cecospora petuniae (Saito)Muller & Chupp)
Leaf spot
(Ascochyta petuniae)
Phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllostica petuniae Speg.)
Leaf blight
(Alternaia alternata (Fr. Kiessler)
Crown rot
(Phytophthora parasitica Dast.)
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
V.

Seed standards
Factor
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified
98.0%
2.0%
10/kg
5/kg
75%
8.0%
6.0%

98.0%
2.0%
20/kg
10/kg
75%
8.0%
6.0%

Snapdragon
(Antirrhinum spp. Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of snapdragon seeds.

Land requirements
Land to be used for seed production of snapdragon shall be free of volunteer plants.
Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first before flowering, the
second during flowering flowering and the third at maturity prior to harvesting.
Field standards
A. General requirements
B. 1. Isolation
Seed fields of snapdragon shall be isolated from the contaminants shown
in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of
the said Table:
Contaminants
(meters)

Minimum distance
Foundation

Fields of other varieties

Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
C. Specific requirements
Factor
(%)*

600
600

400
400

Maximum permitted
Foundation

Off types
**Plants affected designated diseases
*standards for off types shall be met at and after
diseases at final inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Anthracnose (Collectotrichum antirrhini & C. fuscum)
Blight (Phyllosticta antirrhini syd.)
Cucumber Mosaic virus (CMV)
Seed standards
Factor
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Certified

Certified

0.050
0.10
0.10
0.20
flowering and for designated

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified

98.0%
2.0%
10/kg
5/kg
70%
8.0%
6.0%

98.0%
2.0%
20/kg
10/kg
70%
8.0%
6.0%

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum spp. Linn.) Hybrids

I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

A. The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Hybrids Snapdragon
seeds.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to the hybrids of
Snapdragon.

II.

Eligibility requirements for certification

a. An inbred/parental line to be eligible for certification shall be from a source that
its identity may be assured and approved by the certification agency.
b. *Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the progeny of two approved
inbred/parental lines, one of which shall be male sterile.

2.

Classes and source of seed

a.
An inbred/parental line shall be a relatively true breeding strain
resulting from
self-pollination with selection and/or developed through in-vitro culture.
b.

The foundation seed class shall consist of an approved male sterile line
(genetic
male sterility-apetalous sterile line) to be used as a female parent and an
approved inbred line to be used as a male parent for the purpose of
producing hybrid seed.

c.

*A male strile line shall be a monogenic recessive strain carrying

genetic male
sterility, which sheds no viable pollen and is maintained by the monogenic
dominant heterozygous strain and is used as maintainer in propagation
blocks.

d.

The certified class seed shall be hybrid seed to be for any use except
seed.
production.
*(Applicable if male sterile line is used)

III.

Land requirements
Land to be used for seed production of hybrid Snapdragon shall be free of volunteer
plants.
I.

Field Inspection

A.
Foundation seed
A minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:
a. the first inspection shall be made before flowering in order to determine the
isolation, volunteer plants, out crosses, and other relevant factors;
b. the second & third inspection shall be made during flowering and podding
stage to check isolation, offtypes and also fertile segregants in seed parent
and other relevant factors;

c. the fourth inspection shall be made at pod maturity and prior to harvesting
to check offtypes, the designated diseases and other relevant factors.
B.

Certified seed

A minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:

1.
2.
3.
IV.

the first shall .be made before flowering in order to determine the
isolation, volunteer plants, outcrosses, and. other relevant factors;
the second and third inspections shall be made during flowering and
podding stage to check isolation, offtypes, fertile segregants in seed parent
and other relevant factors;
the fourth inspection shall be made at pod maturity .and prior to
harvesting to check relevant factors.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Seed fields of Snapdragon hybrids shall be isolated from the contaminants
shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2
and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
(meters)
Fields of other varieties including commercial
hybrid of some cultivar
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
(%)*

Minimum distance
Foundation

Certified

600

400

600

400

Maximum permitted
Foundation Certified

Off types in seed parent

0.050
0.10
Offtypes in pollinator
0.050
0.10
Fertile segregants (pollen shedding spikes) in seed
0.050
0.10
parent
**Plants affected designated diseases
0.10
0.20
*standards for off types and fertile segregants (pollen shedding spikes) in seed
parent shall be met at and after flowering and for designated diseases at final
inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Anthracnose (Collectotrichum antirrhini & C. fuscum)
Blight (Phyllosticta antirrhini syd.)
Cucumber Mosaic virus (CMV)

V.

Seed standards
Factor
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Standards for each class

Foundation Certified
98.0%
2.0%
10/kg
5/kg
70%
8.0%
6.0%

98.0%
2.0%
20/kg
10/kg
70%
8.0%
6.0%

Ornamental Sunflower
(Melianthus spp.L.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Ornamental
Sunflower seeds.

II.

Land requirements
A seed crop of Ornamental Sunflower shall not be eligible for certification if planted
on land on which the same kind of crop was grown in the previous year unless the
crop(s) grown in the previous year was/were of the same variety and of an equivalent
or higher class of certified seed and was/were certified.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
a. the first inspection shall be made at the stage of 6-7 pairs of leaves in order to
determine the isolation, volunteer plants, designated disease and other
relevant factors;
b. the second inspection shall be made during flowering to check isolation,
offtypes and other relevant factors;
c. the third inspection shall be made at maturity and prior to harvesting to
verify designated disease, true nature of plant and head, and other relevant
factors.

IV.

Field standards

A.

General requirements
1. Isolation
Ornamental Sunflower Seed fields shall be isolated from the
contaminants shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified
in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified

Fields of other varieties

Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
C. Specific requirements
Factor
Off types at and after flowering
Plants affected with downy
(Plasmopara halstedii (farl.)

400
400

200
200

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified
mildew

diseases

0.10
0.050

0.20
0.50

(Plasmopara halstedii (farl.)

Plants infested with orobanche cumana Guss, Non- None
wallr. At final inspection
*Sterile plants of the same variety shall not be consider as offtypes.
V.

Seed standards
Factor
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Huskless seeds (maximum
Crops seeds ( maximum)
Seeds infested with Orobanche
cumana
Guss,
Non-Wallr.
(maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For
vapour-proof
Containers
(maximum)

None

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified
98.0%
2.0%
2%
(by number none)
5/kg
None
70%
9.0%
7.0%

98.0%
2.0%
2%
(by number
one)
5/kg
None
70%
9.0%
7.0%

Ornamental Sunflower (Helianthus spp.L.) Hybrids

1.
A.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Ornamental
Sunflower hybrid seeds.
B.
The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to the
hybrids of Ornamental Sunflower.

1. Eligibility requirements for certification

a. An inbred line to be eligible for certification shall be from source that its identity
may be assured and approved by the certification agency.
b. *Hybrid seed to be eligible for certification shall be the progeny of two approved
inbred/parental lines, one of which shall be male sterile.
2.

Classes and source of seed

a. An inbred line shall be a relatively true breeding strain resulting from selfpollination with selection;
b. The foundation seed class shall consist of an approved male sterile to be
used as a female parent and an approved inbred line to be used as a male
parent for the purpose of producing hybrid seed;
c. A male sterile line shall be a strain(A) carrying cytoplaasmic- genetic male
sterility, which sheds no viable pollen and is maintained by the normal
sister strain (B) which is used as maintainer in propagation blocks.
d. The certified class seed shall be hybrid seed to be for any use except seed.
production.

II.

Land requirements
A seed crop of Ornamental Sunflower hybrid shall not be eligible for certification if
planted on land on which the same kind of crop was grown in the previous year unless
the crop(s) grown in the previous year was/were of the same variety and of an
equivalent or higher class of certified seed and was/were certified.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:
a. the first inspection shall be made before flowering in order to determine the
isolation, volunteer plants, out crosses, and other relevant factors;
b. the second & third inspection shall be made during flowering and podding
stage to check isolation, offtypes and also fertile segregants in seed parent
and other relevant factors;
c. the fourth inspection shall be made at pod maturity and prior to harvesting
to check offtypes, the designated diseases and other relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation

Seed fields of Ornamental Sunflower hybrids shall be isolated from the

contaminants shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified
in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified

Fields of other varieties including commercial

hybrid of some cultivar
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor

600

400

600

400

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified

*Off types in seed parent at and after flowering

0.20
0.50
Offtypes in pollinator at and after flowering
0.20
0.50
pollen shedding heads in seed parent flowering
0.50
0.50
0.050
Plants affected
with downy mildew disease
0.50
(Plasmopara Halstedii (Fari.) Barl & do T.) at each
inspection
Plants infested with Orobanche cumana Guss. Non- None
None
Wallr.) at final inspection
*Sterile plants of the same strain shall not be considered as offtypes.
V.

Seed standards
Factor
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Husldess seeds (maximum
Other crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Seeds infected with Orobanche cumana
Guss. Non-wallr. (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified
98.0%
2.0%
2.0%
(by
number)
None
5/kg
None

98.0%
2.0%
2.0%
(by number)

70%
9.0%
7.0%

70%
9.0%
7.0%

None
10/kg
None

Annual Carnation
(Dianthus Caryophyllus Linn.).)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification standards.

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of the seeds of Annual
Carnation

II.
Land requirements
Land to be used for seed production of Annual Carnation shall be free of volunteer plants.
III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first after transplanting, the
second during flowering and the third before (harvesting) capsules start opening
(shattering)

IV.

Field standards
A.

General requirements
1. Isolation

Annual Carnation Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants

shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2
and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified

Fields of other varieties

Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B.

Specific requirements
Factor

600
600

400
400

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified

Off types
0.050
0.10
**Plants affected by designated diseases
0.10
0.20
*standards for off types shall be met at and after flowering and for designated
diseases at final inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Leaf spot (Alternaria dianthi Stevens & Hall)
Septoria leaf spot (S. dianthi Desm.)
Canker, Die-back

Fusarium culmorum

(W.F.Smith) Sacc.
F.avenaceum (Fr.)Sacc.)
Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum F.sp.dianthi)
Streak mosaic virus
Mosaic virus
Mottle virus
Ring Spot Virus
Vein mottle virus
Etched ring virus
V.

Seed standards
Factor
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other Crops seeds ( maximum)
Weed Seeds. (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For
vapour-proof
Containers
(maximum)

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified
97.0%
3.0%
10/kg
5/kg
75%
8.0%
6.0%

97.0%
3.0%
10/kg
10/kg
75%
8.0%
6.0%

Rose
(Rosa spp. L.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General clone standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of the seeds of rose clones.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to rose;

All Certified Classes shall be produced by budding (Scion) and cutting (Rootstock), and/or invitro cultured explants whose source and identify may be assured and approved by
the Certification Agency.
II.

Land requirements
a.
land to be used for clone propagation of rose shall be free of volunteer
plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided;
b.
avoid rose residue and drainage from other rose fields.

III.

Field Inspection
a.
Root stock:
A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first and after flowering and the
second before the rootstock attains the age of budding after establishment in the
nursery to verify relevant factors.
b.
Scion:
A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first during peak flowering and
second during excision of scion to verify relevant factors.
c.
Budded clones:
A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first after budding and second prior
to attaining the specified size of clones to verify relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A.

General Recruitments

1.

The c1one propagation blocks of rose shall be isolated from the contaminants.
shown in column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2
and 3 of the said table:

Contaminants
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B.

Specific requirements:

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified
3
3

3
3

*a.

Foundation (Rootstock & Scion) Clones

1.

Foundation clones being a group of common ancestry shall be genetically pure

in absolute terms being limited population. The clones possessing lethal
sports (somatic mutants) in full or any vegetative part arising out of
biologically, and/or chemically, and/or physically, and/or due to any other
cause shall be wholly discarded by uprooting alongwith root system followed
by burning thereof under the supervision of Certification Agency;

**2. The grower may, if desires so, utilize non-lethel sports (somatic mutants) for
the purpose of breeding programme or otherwise with the permission of certification
agency provided such mutants are wholly removed alongwith root system from the
clone fields offered from certification;
3.
The shrubs infected with designated diseases given at Para TV (B-b) shall not
be in excess of 0.10% for foundation class irrespective of size of population;
4.

The shrubs shall be absolutely free from the infestation offered scale insects.

b.

Certified class

Factor

Maximum permitted (%)*

Certified

Off types
**Shrubs infected with designated diseases
Shrubs infested with red scale insects

0.10
0.20
None

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for shrubs infected with
designated diseases and red scale insects each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Die-back (Diplodia rosarum Fries.)
Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa pv.rosae (Wallr.) Lov.)
Black-spot (Diplocarpon rosae Wolf.)
Yellow Mosaic
V.

Clone Specifications

A.

The specification in respect of size of clones for foundation and certified classes shall
be as follows:
1.

The clones shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonably clean and free
from snags and suckers.

2.

Bush roses

Roots shall arise within 6.5 cm from the base of the union and the root system should
include a minimum of three major roots. If the plants are lifted with earthball, the
diameter of the earthball should be alteast 15 cm. The plants should atleast two shoots
arising from the union or one shoot which produces branches not more than 6.5 cm.
Above the union. The sum of the diameters of the shoots or shoots arising directly
from the union shall exceed 3 cm. These shoots should be hard and ripte and shall not

yield to normal pressure of for-finger and thumb at 7.5cm above the budded portion.
3.

Standard Roses

The stem should have a minimum diameter of 2.5 cm below the lower union. The
earthball should measure atleast 20 cm in diameter and 25 cm in height. The root
system should not be exposed in any case. Like bush roses, the shoots of standard
roses shall also be ripe and hard and shall not yield to normal pressure of fore finger
and thumb at 7.5 cm above the union.
4.

Double Budded Roses

The union shall be as close as possible on opposite sides and shall not be more than
7.5 cm apart. At each of the two unions, the sum of the diameter of the shoots arising
from the union should not be less than 4/5th of the diameter of the stem, measured
2.5 cm below the lower union.
5.

Climbers, Ramblers and Pillar Roses

The plants should have alteast two shoots of not less than 50 cm in length, measured
from the union.
6.
IV.

In a clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more
than 5.0% (by number).

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure living clones (Minimum)
Other living plants including their
stem cutting (Maximum)
Shrubs infested with red scale insects

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified
99.5%
(by number)
0.5%
(by number)
None

98.0%
(by number)
2.0%
(by number)
None

Anthurium
(Anthurium spp.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General clone standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of anthurium clones.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to anthurium;

All Certified Classes shall be produced by division off shoots with aerial roots from main stem
and/or in-vitro cultured leaf explants whose source and identify may be assured and
approved by the Certification Agency.
II.

Land requirements
a. land to be used for clone propagation of anthurium shall be free of volunteer
plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided;
b. avoid anthurium residue and drainage from other rose fields.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over the clonal propagation
period to verify the isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, pests and relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General Recruitments
*Isolation:
Anthurium clone fields shall be isolated from the contaminants. shown in column 1 of
the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said table:
Contaminants
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification

B.

Specific requirements
Factor
Off types
Plants infected with designated diseases

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified
3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Certified
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

plantsw infested with scale insects

None
None
*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with

designated diseases and red scale insects each inspection.

**Designated diseases shall be:
Anthracnose
V.

(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penzig)

Blight (Xanthomonas compestris Pv. Diffenbachiae)

Clone Specifications
A. The specification in respect of size of offshoots and age of the crop for Foundation
and Certified classes shall be as follows:
1. Age of the crop:

350-370 days.

2. Approximate height of offshoots;

15-20 cm

3. The offshoots shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonably clean and firm. In a
clone lot, the clones not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more than 5.0%
by number.
VI.

Clone standards
Factor
Pure living clones (Minimum)
Other living plants including their
stem cutting (Maximum)
Offshoots infested with red scale
insects

Standards for each class

Foundation
Certified
99.5%
(by number)
0.5%
(by number)
None

98.0%
(by number)
2.0%
(by number)
None

Daffodil
(Narcissus spp.L.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Daffodil Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Daffodil Clone
All Certified Classes shall be produced from bulbs/bulbuls and/or in-vitro cultured
explants whose source and identity may be assured and approved by the Certification
Agency.

II.

Land requirements
a.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of daffodil shall be free of volunteer
plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided;
b.
A crop of daffodil shall not be eligible for certification if grown on a field
infested with;
Stem and bulb eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci)
Bulb and leaf eelworm (Aphelenchoides subtenus)
Root lesion eelwom (Pratylenchus spp.)

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made when plants are large enough to verify
isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, and other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made after 4-6 weeks of flowering to check
removal of leaves and other relevant factors;
3. the third inspection shall be made after the senescence of foliage and before
lifting of bulbs to verify relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of daffodil shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in
Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the
said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements

3
3

3
3

Factor

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified

Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases
***Plants infested with nematodes
*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and
designated diseases and nematodes at each inspection.

0.050
0.10
0.10
0.20
None
None
for plants infected with

**Designated diseases shall be:

Smoulder (Botrytis narcisscola)
White mould or Ramularia blight (Ramularia vallisumbrosae)
Leaf scorch (Stagonospora curtisii)
Cucumber Mosaic virus (CMV)
Narcissus Yellow Strips Virus (NYSV)
Narcissus White Streak Virus (NWSV)
Grand Soleild or (GSV)
Jonquil Mild Mosaic Virus (JMMV)
Arabic Mosaic Virus ((AMV)
Raspberry Ring Spot Virus (RSPV)
Strawberry Latent Ring Spot Virus (SLRV)
Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)
Tobacco Ringspot Virus (TRSV)
Tomato Black Ring Virus (TMRV)
**Designated diseases shall be:
Stem and bulb eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci)
Bulb and leaf eelworm (Aphelenchoides subtenus)
Root lesion eelwom (Pratylenchus spp.)
V.

Clone Specifications
A.
The specification in respect of size and weight of bulbs/bulbils for Foundation
and Certified classes shall be as follows:
1.
2.

VI.

The diameter of each bulb/bulbil shall be in the range of 2.5-3 cm or 15-30g in

weight. In a clone lot, bulbs/bulbils not conforming to specified size shall not
exceed more than 5.0% by number;
The bulbs/bulbils shall be reasonably elean, healthy, firm and shall confirm to
the varietal characteristics of the variety. The bulbs/bulbils not conforming to
varietal characteristics shall not exceed 0.050% and 0.10% by number for
Foundation and Certified classes respectively;

Clone Standards
Factor

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
Pure clones (minimum)
98.0%
98.0%
Inert matter including cut, bruised, cracked, immature 2.0%
2.0%
bulbus/bulbils or those damaged by insects, slugs,
snails and worms (maximum)
a. DISEASES
- Smoulder (Sclerotia harcisscola)
- Pennicillium bulb rot (Pennicillium corymbiferum) None
None
b. INSECTS
Large narcissus fly (Merodon equestris)
None
None
Small Bulb Fly (Emerous tuberculatus & None
None
E.strigatus)

Bulb scale mite (Tarsonemus laticeps)

Bulb mite (Rhizoglyphous echinopus)
c. NEMATODES
Stem & Bulb eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci)
Bulb & Leaf eelworm (Aphelenchoides subtenuis)
Root lesion eelworm (Pratylenchus spp.)
Sprouting (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)

None
None

None
None

None
None
None
90%
75%

None
None
None
90%
75%

Narcissus
(Narcissus spp.L.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Narcissus Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Narcissus.

All Certified Classes shall be produced from bulbs/bulbuls and/or in-vitro cultured
explants whose source and identity may be assured and approved by the Certification
Agency.

II.

Land requirements
a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of Narcissus shall be free of volunteer
plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided;
b. A crop of Narcissus shall not be eligible for certification if grown on a field
infested with;
Stem and bulb eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci)
Bulb and leaf eelworm (Aphelenchoides subtenus)
Root lesion eelwom (Pratylenchus spp.)

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made when plants are large enough to verify
isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, and other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made after 4-6 weeks of flowering to check
removal of leaves and other relevant factors;
3. the third inspection shall be made after the senescence of foliage and before
lifting of bulbs to verify relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of Narcissus shall be isolated from the contaminants shown
in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of
the said Table:
Contaminants

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified

Fields of other varieties

Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases
***Plants infested with nematodes

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified
0.050
0.10
None

0.10
0.20
None

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
Designated diseases and nematodes at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Smoulder (Botrytis narcisscola)
White mould or Ramularia blight (Ramularia vallisumbrosae)
Leaf scorch (stagonospora curtisii)
Cucumber Mosaic virus (CMV)
Narcissus Yellow Strips Virus (NYSV)
Narcissus White Streak Virus (NWSV)
Narcissus Latent Virus (NLV)
Grand Soleild or (GSV)
Jonquil Mild Mosaic Virus (JMMV)
Arabic Mosaic Virus ((AMV)
Raspberry Ring Spot Virus (RSPV)
Strawberry Latent Ring Spot Virus (SLRV)
Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)
Tobacco Ringspot Virus (TRSV)
Tomato Black Ring Virus (TMRV)
**Designated nematodes shall be:
Stem and bulb eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci)
Bulb and leaf eelworm (Aphelenchoides subtenus)
Root lesion eelwom (Pratylenchus spp.)
V.

Clone Specifications
A. The specification in respect of size and weight of bulbs/bulbils for Foundation and
Certified classes shall be as follows:
1. The diameter of each bulb/bulbil shall be in the range of 2.5-3 cm or 15-30g in
weight. In a clone lot, bulbs/bulbils not conforming to specified size shall not
exceed more than 5.0% by number;
2. The bulbs/bulbils shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm and shall confirm to the
varietal characteristics of the variety. The bulbs/bulbils not conforming to varietal
characteristics shall not exceed 0.050% and 0.10% by number for Foundation and
Certified classes respectively;

VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure clones (minimum)
Inert matter including cut, bruised, cracked, immature
bulbus/bulbils or those damaged by insects, slugs, snails
and worms (maximum)
a. DISEASES
- Smoulder (Sclerotia harcisscola)
- Pennicillium bulb rot (Pennicillium corymbiferum)
b. INSECTS
Large narcissus fly (Merodon equestris)
Small Bulb Fly (Emerous tuberculatus & E.strigatus)
Bulb scale mite (Tarsonemus laticeps)
Bulb mite (Rhizoglyphous echinopus)
c. NEMATODES
Stem & Bulb eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci)
Bulb & Leaf eelworm (Aphelenchoides subtenuis)
Root lesion eelworm (Pratylenchus spp.)
Sprouting (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
98.0%
98.0%
2.0%
2.0%

None

None

None
None
None
None

None
None
None
None

None
None
None
90%
75%

None
None
None
90%
75%

Hyacinth
(Hyacinth orientalis L.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Hyacinth Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Hyacinth.

All Certified Classes shall be produced from bulbs/bulbuls and/or in-vitro cultured
explants whose source and identity may be assured and approved by the Certification
Agency.

II.

Land requirements
a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of Hyacinth shall be free of volunteer
plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided;
b. A crop of Hyacinth shall not be eligible for certification if grown on a field infested
with;
Stem eelworm (--------------------------------------------)
Bulb eelworm (---------------------------------------------)

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
1. the first inspection shall be made when plants are large enough to verify
isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, and other relevant factors;
2. the second inspection shall be made after 4-6 weeks of flowering to check
removal of leaves and other relevant factors;
3. the third inspection shall be made after the senescence of foliage and before
lifting of bulbs to verify relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of Hyacinth shall be isolated from the contaminants shown
in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of
the said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B.
Specific requirements
Factor
Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases
***Plants infested with nematodes

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation Certified
0.050
0.10
None

0.10
0.20
None

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases and nematodes at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Blight (Xanthomonas compestris pv. Hyacinthi (Wakker) Dye
Bacteria soft rot (Erwinia reapontici (Millard) Burkholder
Fire disease (Botrytis hyacinthi (Westerd & V. Beyama)
Blackslime (Celerotinia bulborum (wakker) Rehm.
Hyacinth Lisser disease (MLO)
Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)
*** designated nematodes shall be:
Stem eelworm (--------------------------------------------)
Bulb eelworm (---------------------------------------------)
V.

Clone Specifications
1. The specification in respect of size and weight of bulbs/bulbils for Foundation and
Certified classes shall be as follows:
2. The diameter of each bulb/bulbil shall be in the range of 2.5-3 cm or 15-30g in
weight. In a clone lot, bulbs/bulbils not conforming to specified size shall not
exceed more than 5.0% by number;
3. The bulbs shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm and shall confirm to the varietal
characteristics of the variety. The bulbs not conforming to varietal characteristics
shall not exceed 0.050% and 0.10% by number for Foundation and Certified
classes respectively;

VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure clones (minimum)
Inert matter including cut, bruised, cracked, immature
bulbus/bulbils or those damaged by insects, slugs, snails
and worms (maximum)
a. DISEASES
- Grey bulb rot (
)
- Soft rot (
)
- Storage rot (
)
b. NEMATODES
- Bulb eelworm (
)
Sprouting (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
98.0%
98.0%
2.0%
2.0%

None
None

None
None

None
90%
75%

None
90%
75%

Tulip
(Tulipa gesnariana Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Tulip Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Tulip.

All Certified Classes shall be produced from bulbs/bulbuls and/or in-vitro cultured
explants whose source and identity may be assured and approved by the Certification
Agency.
II.

Land requirements
a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of Tulip shall be free of volunteer plants.
Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided;

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over clonal propagation
period to verify relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of Tulip shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in
Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the
said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation Certified
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Fire or Botrytis blight (Botrytis tulipae Lind)
Anthracnose (Gloeosporium tulipae)
Blossom blight (Phytophthora cactorum) Leb. & Cohn. Schroet
Tulip-breaking virus (TV)
V.

Clone Specifications

1. The specification in respect of size and weight of bulbs/ for Foundation and
Certified classes shall be as follows:
2. The diameter of each bulb shall be in the range of 2.5-3 cm or 8-12g in weight. In
a clone lot, bulbs not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more than
5.0% by number;
3. The bulbs shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm and shall confirm to the varietal
characteristics of the variety. The bulbs not conforming to varietal characteristics
shall not exceed 0.050% and 0.10% by number for Foundation and Certified
classes respectively;
VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure clones (minimum)
Inert matter including cut, bruised, cracked, immature
bulbus or those damaged by insects, slugs, snails and
worms (maximum)
Sprouting (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
98.0%
98.0%
2.0%
2.0%
90%
75%

90%
75%

IRIS
(Iris spp. Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A. The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of IRIS Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Iris.

All Certified Classes shall be produced from bulbs and/or in-vitro cultured explants
whose source and identity may be assured and approved by the Certification Agency.
II.

Land requirements
Land to be used for clonal propagation of IRIS shall be free of volunteer plants.
Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over clonal propagation
period to verify relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of IRIS shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in
Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the
said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation Certified
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Ink disease (Drechsler iridis)
Leaf spot (Mycosphaerella macrospora (Kleb) J. Forstad & Didymelina macrospora
(Kleb)

Grown rot (Schlerotium rolfsii Sacc.)

V.

Clone Specifications
1. The specification in respect of size and weight of bulbs/ for Foundation and
Certified classes shall be as follows:
2. The diameter of each bulb shall be in the range of 2-3 cm or 6-10g in weight. In a
clone lot, bulbs not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more than 5.0%
by number;
3. The bulbs shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm and shall confirm to the varietal
characteristics of the variety. The bulbs not conforming to varietal characteristics
shall not exceed 0.050% and 0.10% by number for Foundation and Certified
classes respectively;

VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure clones (minimum)
Inert matter including cut, bruised, cracked, immature
bulbus or those damaged by insects, slugs, snails and
worms (maximum)
Crown rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.)
Fusarium basal rot (F. oxysporum Schlecht.)
Blue mould (Pennicillium spp. Link ex-Fr.)
Neck and bulb rot (Rhizoctonica solani Kuhn)
Sprouting (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
98.0%
98.0%
2.0%
2.0%
None
None
None
None
90%
75%

None
None
None
None
90%
75%

Gerbera
(Gerbera jamesonii Bols Ex-Hook.f)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Gerbera Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Gerbera.

All Certified Classes shall be produced by division of large clumps into small units
and/or in-vitro cultured shoot tip explants whose source and identity may be assured
and approved by the Certification Agency.

II.

Land requirements
a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of gerbera shall be free of volunteer plants.
Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided.
b. avoid gerbera residue and drainage from other gerbera fields.

III.
A.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over clonal propagation
period to verify relevant factors.

B.

General requirements
1. Isolation
Gerbera Clones fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in
Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the
said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B.
Specific requirements
Factor

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation Certified

Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases

0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Ascochyta leaft spot (Ascochyta gerberae)
Blossom blight & stalk rot (Phytopthora palmivora Butler)
Anthracnose (Colletorichum gloeosporioides
)

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)

V.

Clone Specifications
A. The specification in respect of size of clones for Foundation and Certified classes
shall be as follows:
1.
Age of the crop:
350-370 days
2.
Approximate diameter (at base); of the sister clump:
3.
Approximate number of the leaves attached to sister clump: 4-6
4.
The sister clumps shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonable clean
and firm.
5.
In a clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more
than 5.0% by number.

VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure living clones (minimum)
Other living plants incldung their stem cutting

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
99.5%
98.0%
(by number) (by number)
0.5%

2.0%

Gladiolus
(Gladiolus spp.L.))
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Gladiolus Clone.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Gladiolus.

All Certified Classes shall be produced from corms and/or in-vitro cultured
corm/meristem/terminal bud explant whose source and identity may be assured and
approved by the Certification Agency.

II.

III.
1.
2.
3.
IV.

Land requirements
Land to be used for clonal propagation of Gladiolus shall be free of volunteer plants.
Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided.
Field Inspection
A.
A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:
the first inspection shall be made when plants are large enough to verify
isolation, offtypes, designated diseases and other relevant factors;
the second inspection shall be made at the time of bud formation to verify tat all
spikes have been removed before opening of florets and other relevant factors;
the third inspection shall be made before lifting of corms to verify the relevant
factors.
Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of gladiolus shall be isolated from the contaminants shown
in Column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of
the said Table:
Contaminants
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification

V.

Specific requirements
Factor
Off types
**Plants infected with designated diseases
Plants infested with slugs and snails

Minimum distance (meters)

Foundation
Certified
3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation Certified
0.050
0.10
None

0.010
0.20
None

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with

designated diseases at each inspection.

**Designated diseases shall be:
Botrytis blight (Botrytis gladiolorum)
Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum ) - gladioli)
Curuvalaria blight (Curuvalaria spp.)
Bacterial Scab blight (Neckrot). (Pseudomones spp. & Xanthomonas spp.)
Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)
Tomato Ring Spot Virus (Tom R)
Aster Yellows
Tobacco ring spot virus (TRSV)
Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)
VI.

Clone Specifications
A. The specification in respect of size of clones for Foundation and Certified classes
shall be as follows:
1. The diameter of each corm shall be in the range of 2.5.-4 cm or 30-50g in weight.
In a clone lot, corms not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more than
5.0% by number;
2. The corms shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm and shall confirm to the
varietal characteristics of the variety. The corms not conforming to varietal
characteristics shall not exceed 0.050% and 0.10% by number for Foundation and
Certified classes respectively;

VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure living clones (minimum)
Inert matter including cut, bruised, cracked,
immature tubers or those damaged by insects, slugs,
snails and worms (maximum)
Dry or neck rot (Sclerotium gladioli.)
Soft rot (Botrytis gladiolorum)
Curuvalaria blight (Curuvalaria spp.)
Sprouting (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
98.0%
98.0%
(by number) (by number)
2.0%

2.0%

None
None
0.5%
(by number)
90%
75%

None
None
1.0%
(by number)
90%
75%

Chrysanthemum
(Chrysanthemum spp.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Chrysanthemum Clones.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Chrysanthemum.

All Certified Classes shall be produced from planting stakes (Terminal stem cuttings)
and/or suckers, and/or in-vitro culture shoot tip explants whose source and identity
may be assured and approved by the Certification Agency.

II.

Land requirements
a.
Land to be used for clonal propagation of Chrysanthemum shall be free of
volunteer plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided.
b.
avoid Chrysanthemum residue and drainage from other Chrysanthemum
fields.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over clonal propagation
period to verify the isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, pests and other
relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A.
General requirements
1. Isolation
Chrysanthemum Clones fields shall be isolated from the contaminants
shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified in columns 2
and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation Certified
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Fusarium wilt

(Fusarium oxysprum f. chrysanthemum Litt.)

Grey mould
(Botrytis cinerea Pers.)
Ray Blight
(Ascochyta chrysanthemi Stev.)
Verticillium Wilt
(Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Barth)
Chrysanthemum Stunt Virus
Tomato spotted wilt virus
Tomato Aspermy virus
Chrysanthemum flower distortion virus
Chrysanthemum mosaic
Chrysanthemum rosette
V.

Clone Specifications

A.

The specification in respect of the planting stakes for Foundation and Certified classes
shall be as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

B.

Specification in respect of the suckers for foundation and certified classes shall be;
1.
2.
3.
4.

VI.

Age of the crop:

350-370 days
Diameter of the planting stakes: 3.2 to 4.8 cm at base
Approximate length of the planting stake: 4-6 cm
the planting stakes shall be cut from young plants and not from over wintered
plants.
the planting stakes shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonably clean
and firm.

Diameter of sucker:
Weight of sucker:
In a clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more
than 5.0% by number.
The clones shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonably clean and firm.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure living clones (minimum)
Other living plants including their stem cutting
(maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
99.5%
98.0%
(by number) (by number)
0.5%
(by number)

2.0%
(by number)

Perennial Carnation
(Dianthus caryophyllus. Linn.)
I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of Perennial Carnation
Clones.
B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to Perennial

Carnation.
All Certified Classes shall be produced from planting stakes (Terminal stem cuttings)
and/or in-vitro cultured explants whose source and identity may be assured and
approved by the Certification Agency.

II.

Land requirements
a. Land to be used for clonal propagation of Perennial Carnation shall be free of
volunteer plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be avoided.
b. avoid Carnation residue and drainage from other Chrysanthemum fields.

III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over clonal propagation
period to verify the isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, pests and other
relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
B.
General requirements
1. Isolation
Clones fields of Perennial Carnation shall be isolated from the
contaminants shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances specified
in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor
Off type
**Plants infected with designated diseases

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified
0.050
0.10

0.10
0.20

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Leaf spot (Alternaria dianthi Stevans & Hall).

Deptoria leaf spot (S. Dianthi Desm.)

Canker, Die-back, Stem-or Crown rot (Fusarium culmorum (W.G.Smith) Sacc.,
F.Avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc), Rhizoctonia Solani) wilt (Fusarium oxysporum F.
sp.dianthi)
Streak Mosaic Virus
Mosaic Virus
Mottle Virus
Ring Spot Virus
Vein Mottle Virus
Etched Ring Virus
V.

Clone Specifications

A.

The specification in respect of size of clones for Foundation and Certified classes shall
be as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Age of the crop: 180-120 days

Diameter of the planting stakes: 2.5-4.0 mm
Approximate length of the planting stake: 7.5-10 cm
Approximate number of nodes in planting stake: 2-4
Approximate number of leaves attached to the planting stake;
The planting stakes shall be cut from those plants only which have not been
allowed to flower by making a longitudinal slit in base just below the node.
7. The planting stakes shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonably clean and
firm. In a clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more
than 5.0% by number.
VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure living clones (minimum)
Other living plants including their stem cutting
(maximum)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
99.5%
98.0%
(by number) (by number)
0.5%
(by number)

2.0%
(by number)

Orchids
(Aerides spp. (Logr.)

Masdevallia spp. (R&P)

Anoectochilus spp. (BI.)

Miltonia spp. (Ld.)

Arachnis spp. (BI.)

Odontoglossum spp. (HBK)

Ascocentrum spp. (Schltr.)

Oncidium spp. (Sw.)

Brassavola spp. (R. Br.)

Paphiopedilum spp. (Pfitz.)

Brassia spp. (R. Br.)

Paraphalaenopsis spp. (A.D.Hawkes)

Broughtonia spp. (R. Br.)

Phaius spp. (Lour.)

Bilbophyllum spp. (Thou.)

Calanthe spp. (R. Br.)

Phalaenopsis spp. (Bi.)

Catteya spp. (Ldl.)

Renanthera spp. (lour.)

Cochlioda spp. (Ldl.)

Rhynchostylis spp. (Bi.)

Coelogyne spp. (Ldl.)

Rodriguezia spp. (R&P)

Cymbidium spp. (Sw.)

Sophronitis spp. Ldl.)

Cyprepedium spp. (L.)

Spathoglottis spp. (Bl.)

Dendrobium spp. (Sw.)

Thunia spp. (Rchb.f.)

Diacrium spp. (Bth.)

Vanda spp. (Jones)

Epidendrum spp. (L.)

Vandopsis spp. (Pfitz.)

Euanthe spp. (Schltr.)

Zygopetalum spp. (Hook)

Leelia spp. (Ldl.)

Lycaste spp. (Ldl.)

I.

Application and Amplification of General Clone Certification Standards.

A.

The General Clone Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following
specific standards constitute the standards for certification of orchids clones.

B.

The General Standards are amplified as follows to apply specifically to orchids.

All Certified Classes shall be produced by division of offshoots (Kiekis), Pseudobulbs
specific to the genera/spp. and/or in-vitro cultured explants whose source and identity
may be assured and approved by the Certification Agency.

II.

Culture requirements
a. Orchids are both epiphytotic and terrestrial type. The culture media including land
shall be free of volunteer plants. Swampy and shaded conditions might be

avoided.
b. avoid Carnation residue and drainage from other orchids fields.
III.

Field Inspection
A minimum of three inspections shall be made staggered over clonal propagation
period to verify the isolation, offtypes, designated diseases, pests and other
relevant factors.

IV.

Field standards
A. General requirements
1. Isolation
Epiphytotic and terrestrial orchid clones culture media shall be isolated
from the contaminants shown in Column 1 of the Table below by; the distances
specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Contaminants
Minimum distance (meters)
Foundation
Certified
Fields of other varieties
Fields of the same variety not conforming to
varietal purity requirements for certification
B. Specific requirements
Factor

3
3

3
3

Maximum permitted (%)*

Foundation
Certified

Off type
0.050
**Plants infected with designated diseases
0.10
Plants infested with scale insects.
None
Plants infested with nematodes (Apheleuchoides None
ritzema-bosi)

0.10
0.20
None
None

*Standards for offtypes shall be met at final inspection and for plants infected with
designated diseases, scale insects and nematodes at each inspection.
**Designated diseases shall be:
Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. cattleyae)
Bacterial soft rot (Eryinia carotovora)
Bacterial brown rot (E. Cypripedii)
Bacterial brown spot (Xanthomonas sattleyae)
Cymbidium Mosaic Virus (Cy, MV)
Odontoglossum ring spot virus (ORSV)
Tomato Mosaic Virus-) TMV-O)
V.

Clone Specifications
A. The specification in respect of size of offshoots (Kiekis) and pseudobls and age of
the crop for Foundation and Certified classes shall be as follows:
1.
2.

Age of crop:
350-370 days
(a) Height of offshoots: 15-20 cm
(b) Diameter of pseudoblbs:
1.5-3 cm
(c) Corresponding weight of pseudobulbs: 20-30 g
5. The clones shall be maiden, materially undamaged, reasonably clean and firm. In
a clone lot, clones not conforming to specified size shall not exceed more than

5.0% by number.

VI.

Clone Standards
Factor
Pure living clones (minimum)
Other living plants including their stem cutting
(maximum)
Clones infested with scale insects
Clones infested with nematodes (A. retzdma-bosi)

Standard for each class

Certified
Foundation
99.5%
98.0%
(by number) (by number)
0.50%
(by number)
None
None

2.0%
(by number)
None
None

(Source: R.L.Misra, Naveen Kumar, S.P.S.Raghava, AICFP ( Flori )IARI, New

Delhi)
CARE OF NURSERY PLANTS
Care of nursery plants is an important operation of the nursery activities. The young seedling
stock and rooted cuttings as well as nursery plant require proper care and nourishment. The
following operations are to be attended to regularly in the fruit and ornamental plant
nurseries.
a. Shifting of plants: The nursery plants grown in the pots or polybags are to be shifted once
in 2-3 months to avoid root penetration into the soil. If the tap root penetrates deep into the
soil the chances of mortality increases. Hence shifting of grafts and potted plants has to be
done at the said intervals.
b. Removal of rootstock sprouts: One has to keep a constant eye on the sprouts arising on
the rootstock which are to be nipped off as and when observed. This encourages rapid growth
of scion shoots.
c. Nutrient management: To get good growth of grafts and potted plants they are to be fed
with all major and minor nutrient elements. Application of one tea spoonful of neem cake at
45 days interval and DAP 0.5% solution will enhance the growth of nursery plants. Foliar
sprays with soluble fertilizer mixtures like 1 % polyfeed (19:19:19 + ME) and correction of
micro nutrient deficiencies is also of paramount importance in maintaining the healthy
nursery plants.
d. Pest and disease management: Root rot, leaf spots, die back and canker in citrus are
some of the important diseases, which are commonly observed in fruit nurseries. Against root
rot diseases, drenching with 0.3 per cent - Blitox or 0.2 per cent Ridomil or Kavach is useful
in checking the incidence. Bavistin 0.1 % or Mancozeb 0.2% or Captan 0.2% or Blitox 0.3%,
are effective against leaf spot diseases. For controlling canker in citrus, streptocylline
sulphate 60-100 ppm with 0.3 per cent COC is found useful. For control of die back disease
the affected portion may be pruned up to the healthier portion and the cut end has to be
smeared with Bordeaux paste / Blitox paste. The detailed information on this aspect is given
in chapter on nursery plant protection.
Pests like leaf eating caterpillars, thrips, ash weevil etc. can be checked by prophylatic sprays
with Monocrotophos 1.6 mllit or endosulphan 2 ml/lt.
e. Weeding: Always the nursery beds, polybags, trenches, channels and bunds, paths and
roads are to be kept weed free, which not only encourages good plant growth and also
improves the image of the nursery.
f. Provision of partial shade: It is essential to provide partial shade to the nursery plants in
summer season especially in arid regions where the humidity and water availability are less.

Depending upon the climatic conditions prevailing in the area, 50% or 75% shade nets can be
utilized for this purpose, details are given in the chapter on polyhouses.
g. Removal of bandage material: When the successful graft/bud union has taken place as
indicated by the production of two growth flushes, the polythene strips or wax cloth used for
bandaging the union should be removed to prevent girdling of graft joint and ultimate death
of grafts/ buddlings.
h. Watering: Nursery plants require adequate and regular supply of water to keep the potting
mixture in pots/bags moist. If the grafts are kept in trenches they are to be irrigated once in 34 days, while in open beds, daily watering is essential in winter and twice a day in summer
season. For green house grown plants, watering once in two days with overhead upside down
microsprinklers (arranged at 4' distance) is optimum. Avoid stagnation of water in polybags
by puncturing the bags at the lower side with a sharp 18 guage rod.
HARVESTING, PACKING, STORAGE AND MARKETING OF NURSERY PLANTS
Multiplication of true to type planting material or seed material and making it available to the
consumer is the primary responsibility of the nursery industry. The recent changes that are
going on in the nursery industry in our country also have their effect on the way traders buy
their products. It is not just enough to produce fruit and ornamental plants in a nursery, but it
is also very much important to consider the post production management practices like,
harvesting, packing, storage and marketing of nursery plants for successful industry. There is
virtually no published work on these aspects. The above aspects are discussed in brief in this
chapter.
Harvesting: Harvesting is one of the important factors considered especially when
nurserymen are producing seeds, bulbs etc. The seeds, bulbs should be harvested at proper
maturity stages depending on the plant species. Seeds are generally harvested when they are
fully ripe. In some of the annuals and perennials, seeds are likely to fall from the plant at
ripening either due to bursting of the fruit/ capsule or due to wind. (for example calendula,
balsam). In such cases, it is better to cover with muslin cloth or butter paper bags. Bulbs,
corms and tubers are harvested when mature leaves start yellowing or drying up. They are
carefully dug out without injury, along with cormels or bulblets. In case of shrubs and trees, it
is ensured that the tissues are hardened enough to resist water and shrinkage losses. Generally
the leaves are removed from shrubs and trees before they are dug out to avoid damage during
distribution.
Packaging: Packaging is an important step in the marketing of nursery plant material. The
package should provide a convenient mode used for marketing and distribution. It protects
the contents from undue damage during distribution. Also it is important that appropriate
packaging should use to reserve quality of material along with maximum survival during
transit. Proper packaging of plant material (fruit plants/ ornamental plants/ seeds) ensures
quality during storage, distribution and transport.
Points to be considered in planning for packaging
v While selecting the packaging material its cost, durability, suitability, its availability
to be taken into consideration.
v A good package is designed to deliver the plants conveniently and cheaply with
quality unimpaired.
v It should ensure sufficient protection against drying out and mechanical injury.
v The good package is well adapted for convenient and economical packing and
handling.
v The good package is well adapted for transport, loading with security and economy at

space.
v Packaging material should have minimum weight, consistence with other objectives.
Packaging Seeds: The collected seeds are thoroughly cleaned and dried before packing.
Before packing, seeds are dried first in shade for 2-3 days and then in the sunlight for a
couple of days. In husked seeds, the husks are removed before packing. The seeds are packed
in closed bottles, tins, paper covers, paper cover lined with aluminium foil and polythene
papers.
Packaging Plants: The method of packaging plants depends on plant and the distance to be
covered. The main objective of the packing is to deliver the nursery stock or plants in healthy
conditions at their destination. Nurserymen should ensure that the container is neither over
packed nor packed in such a manner that the contents will move about inside the containers.
Packaging material: There are different materials available in the market for packaging.
i. Hessian and sacking cloth: It is traditionally made for packaging by majority of the
nurserymen. It is used for balling and burolopping of plants grown in the nursery beds. The
hessian and sacking cloth is manufactured from the jute fibre. It is woven fabric made from
white jute of best quality weighing 200 - 340 g/m2. Sacking cloth is fabric made from lower
grades of jute fibre weighing approximately 340 - 550 g/m2. The cloth holds the ball of earth
compact.
ii. Plastics: The modern nurserymen use plastics and plastic derivatives extensively in
packaging of nursery plants. The characteristic features of different plastic material are given
below:
Low Density Polythelene (LDPE)
v It is a polymer of ethylene and widely used in packaging
v It is low cost film and inert chemically
v It is having good impact, strength, and can be processed even in low cost machines
v It acts as a good water vapour banner (21.7g/m2/25.4 micron thickness / 24h at 37.8C
and 90% R.H.)
v Permiability for oxygen is high (7750 cm/m2 125.4 micron thickness / 24 hi at 25C)
v Permiability for CO2 is still higher than 0 (41,850 cm/m2)
v Permiability for nitrogen is lesser (2790cm3/m2)
v It absorbs negligible amount of water (0.01 per cent by weight in 24hrs/immersion
test)
High Density Polyethelene (HDPE)
v It has very high mechanical strength
v Environmental stress crack resistance
v Excellent rigidity compared to LDPE can be obtained at lower wall thickness and at a
lower cost
v It is poor in water vapour transmission (4.6 g/m2 transmission)compared to LDPE
v There is absolutely no water absorption
v The elongation percentage of HDPE is 150 - 650.
Polypropylene (PP)
v Similar chemical like LDPE and HDPE
v It is harder than LOPE or HDPE
v It cannot be subject to stress working unlike LOPE and HDPE
v The gas transmission ranging 2325 - 37250 cm3/ml for O2 7750-12400 cm3/m2 for
CO2, and 620-744 cm3/m2 for N2,
v Water vapour transmission is 10.881 m2
v It has tensile strength at 45-100 p.s.i.: teaming strength of 32 1750 p.s.i. and its
bursting strength is very high

v The elongation percentage is 400 - 600

Polyamides (Nylons)
v Tough materials with high tensiles strength 138- 170 p.s.i.
v Moderate teaming strength of 50 p.s.i.
v They are fairly high moisture vapour permeable (248 - 341g/m2)
v Poor in gas transmission 40.3 cm3/m2 for 02, 14 cm3/m2 for nitrogen and 155- 186
cm3/m2 for CO2
Plants in containers:
With advancement of technology, the container grown plants are widely adopted and
practiced by the nurserymen. The advantages of container grown plants are:
v They are not prone to damage during packaging and transport. These are widely used
for many fruit and ornamental plants.
v Out of the following types of containers, namely clay parts/fibre parts/plastic pot, the
plastic pot is durable and can be used repeatedly. Other one namely paper container is
perishable and disintegrates in the plant pit after planting
The different containers and their characteristic features are given below
Clay pots
v Available in different shapes and sizes
v Used for raising both fruits and ornamental plants
v Round shape pots are generally avoided since they are not economical for space
v If used continuously they tend to accumulate salts in the micropores of the earthen
walls
v Porus nature of the pots permits aeration and water movement
Rigid plastics
v Plastic pots are available in different sizes and shapes
v Reusable, light in weight
v Non-porus and require little space for storage
v They can be dipped in water at 70C for 3 minutes for sterilisation to prevent
pathogens
Fibre Pots
v These are manufactured from peat and wood fibre
v They are available in different shape and sizes.
v Bio-degradable one and can be put right into the soil with the plant
Polyethelene bags
v Polythene film in the firm of containers is widely used nowadays replacing many
traditional containers
v Water proof, tough and flexible
v Light in weight and readily available, good for transport
v Available in all sizes and thickness
v Water loss is minimum compared to clay containers
v It is cheaper than clay parts but can not be reused.
Coated paper containers
v Paper, cardboards and compressed fibre, material are impregnated with pariffin wax
or bitumen or other water repellent materials of non-poisonous nature, make excellent
transporting containers for the nursery stock
v Light in weight, readily available for storage and transport
v Desirable to remove them while planting
v Comparatively inexpensive compared to other container
Packaging for transport
Nursery plants need to be further packed in secondary containers irrespective of the

fact that they are balled or containerised. The secondary containers for packaging are boxes,
cases, baskets or containers.
For domestic consumption and within the country, majority of the nursery products
are sent by surface transport either by rail or trucks. The plants are wedged into the box or
basket and packed firmly by placing grass or any other filling material in between the
containers or ball of earth. Several split - bamboo stakes, a little larger than the packed plants,
are firmly fixed on the sides of the basket interlocking it in between the woven surface. They
are bent inwards and tied together over the baskets to form a balloon like structure. The
plants are then tied with strong threads along the edges of the basket to hold them in position.
The bamboo stakes are also tied with each other by passing threads in two to three parallel
lines. Finally the whole thing is covered with gunny cloth or mats of palm leaves.
If plants are to be sent by air, folding paper board containers are used for packaging
the plants. A folding container is made from bending type box. These boxes are made after
die cutting and securing properly to fold into the desired form. These are supplied by the
maker as a flat blank, pre-glued or partially glued and collapse form. The plants are arranged
in these container cartons with straw or other packaging material and packed. Usually
ventilation is provided on the sides of these containers.
Points to be considered for preparation of plants for the transit
v During transit, lot of water is lost from the plants due to transportation resulting in
desication of plants. This adversely affects the plant appearance and plants also tend
to wilt. To avoid the above situation, plants are first watered and then taken out of the
pots or lifted from the ground along with ball of earth around the roots. The ball of
earth is soaked in water and made into an oval shape covering the roots and then
wrapped in gunny cloth.
v For long distance transport, the ball of earth is soaked in water and covered with a
thick layer of wet moss.
v Select plants having a well developed root system for long distance travel
v When plants are to be sent by air, a minimum amount of earth is used to prepare the
ball and only light packing materials should be used.
Packaging Bulbs
Bulbs, tubers, corms are transported in bamboo, matted boxes or carol boxes arranged
with layers of straw in between. Generally they withstand rigorous handling. Rhizomes of
water lily and lotus are wrapped in moist sphagnum moss and polythene and then packed in
baskets or containers.
Storage
Nursery plants are not stored for a long time due to obvious reasons. But between
lifting and packaging these plants are kept in shade. If plants need to be stored for a longer
time, it is better to keep them with cool, humid glass house or plastic houses.
Seeds are stored in a cool, dry place or kept in a desicator. The bulbs, corms and
tubers are stored in single layers over dry and in flat wooden trays or racks in a well aerated
store room with low temperatures and low humidity. Before storing, fungicidal treatment
(Captan or Bavistin 0.1-0.2%) is done for 15-30 minutes along with drying. These can be
stored in cold storage rooms.

Annexure I
TOOLS FOR NURSERY
In a commercial nursery, several operations are carried out everyday. The activities
include breaking of soil clods, weed control, planting and removal of nursery plants,
manuring, watering and plant protection operations. All these operations require different
types of tools, instruments, sprayers etc. apart from the other nursery materials for various
other purposes in the nursery. The persons involved in nursery activities should be well
aquainted with the different types of tools & implements commonly used in nursery.
The different types of tools and implements commonly used for carrying out various
operations in nursery are briefly given below.
Soil digging
Kudali: It can keep digging the soil upto a depth of 15 cm in one strike. The tool consists of
metal blade and wooden handle.
Garden Fork: When garden fork is pressed the teeth of the fork go deep into the soil, uses
for breaking soil clods and preparation of nursery plants.
Weeding, interculture operations:
Weeding Fork: It loosens soil and takes out the weeds. The instrument with its long handle
can reach the centre in the bed and trampling of small seeds may be avoided by using the
tool.
Khurpi: Widely used tool for interculture operations. It consists of sharp edge triangular
blade fitted with wooden handle.
Crow bar: It is an iron rod pointed at one end and the other end is wedge shaped. It is mainly
used for making deep holes as well as for digging pits and also spencing operations.
Watering
Watering Can: These cans are made of galvanised iron sheet and capacity varies from two
to two and a half gallons and which are best. Water cans are fitted with rose or spreader over
the nozzle which is very useful for wide distribution of water. Nowadays water cans are
available made up of plastic which are light in weight.
Syringe: This is usually 40-50 cm long, brass narrow cylinder fitted with a mouth having
many pores. This syringer is used for sprinkling water on the foliage plants.
Hosepipe: Hosepipes are required to draw the water from the pipe lines. Usually rubber or
polythene hose pipes are used in nurseries. The hoses usually have smooth or corrugated
outer surface having one or two rows of threads which are embeded in the rubber. Polythene
pipes are light and are easy to handle.
Pruners
Secateur : A very useful handy tool for pruning of branches upto moderate thickness.
Generally it is used for preparing stem cuttings (hard wood, semi - hardwood & herbaceous)
needed for propagation.
Knives: A 'budding' are grafting knife is rarely needed by the ordinary mali. The one he
carries should be either a pruning knife with a single curved blade or a single bladed garden
knife.
Sprayers and Dusters
Numerous insects and diseases greatly damage the nursery plants and may kill them if
proper care is not taken to remove or destroy them at the earliest opportunity. Effective
insecticides and fungicides are now easily available in the market but application to all parts
of plants becomes a problem without proper plant protection equipment. Insecticide or
fungicides are now mostly used as spray and a sprayer will save time and material.

Nowadays, a number of sprayers are available in the market. The following types, however,
are most popular.
a. Hand Sprayer: Ganesh brand is the most popular This is an excellent pneumatic hand
sprayer for pest control fitted with fine spray mist nozzle and can contain about 825 ml. of the
insecticide / fungiside solution. The Aspee poly sprayers have a polythene body with a
capacity of 600 ml. and are very hardy. For small nurseries the Aspee continuous atomiser
can also be used for spraying operations.
b. Knapsack sprayer: In this group Akela and Shabnam sprayers are found to be the
most commonly used ones. Akela has a high density polythene container of 5litres capacity
and the double action hand sprayer gives fine mist spray. Shabnam sprayer is durable and
dependable having a brass container of 9 litres capacity.
c. Bucket or Stirrup sprayers: These are simple to use and the parts can be easily detached
for quick and efficient cleaning. With the help of the long delivery hose, spraying can be
done very conveniently. Dipro and the Aspee Leader are the two popular brands.
d. Dusters: Among the hand rotary dusters, the Orient brand is the most recommended one.
This is a well balanced duster to rest comfortably on shoulder and is very easy to operate and
the hopper capacity is 5 kg.
A few other useful tools and implements
Garden rakes: A rake of 12 prongs is useful. This is useful for collecting stones and brick
bats in a beaten out bed, scarifying the grass surface, gathering leaves together, etc.
Wheelbarrow: Wheelbarrow is used for carrying materials like soil, manures, pots, etc. and
collecting nursery refuses. It is of two types - pan and box. Both the types are made from iron
sheets and two iron handles are provided to operate the wheelbarrow.
Baskets: Compared to the bamboo baskets, the cane baskets though heavier and more
expensive, last longer. Baskets of medium size should be purchased and immediately
strengthened by wearing the edges held down by coir rope. Woven in between the bamboo
circles passing from the top to the bottom on four sides will double the life of a basket.
Shovel: It is often used to handle the manures, fertilizers, soil, sand and leaf moulds, etc.
Sieve: It is necessary for screening soil and leaf mold, etc. Screened soil and leaf mold are
necessary for the preparation of seed compost or pot mixture.
Labels: Among the different types of labels, viz., paper, cardboard, wooden, celluloid,
aluminium and plastic are common. The aluminium, plastic labels are preferred. Paper or
card board labels are for temporary use. Wooden labels painted with white paints will last
longer but are gradually becoming outdated. Aluminium labels will retain writing clearly.
Nowadays plastic labels are becoming very popular and are widely used in different forms
and shapes.
POTS AND PANS
Earthen pots: Always purchase well baked earthenware pots; sound them before use for
cracked ones, or half baked or camouflaged with red colour. Pots made with clay soil and
well baked with last longer than those made with sand or loamy soils. Different sizes of pots
are available depending on the use. Four inches (10 cm) pots are suitable for small annual
seedlings, six inches (15 cm) for small palms, ferns, etc. eight inches (20 cm) pots are used
for single specimen plants of annuals. Ten inches (20cm) pots are for big container plants and
are also best for tall palms. Fourteen to eighteen inch pots should be placed in semipermanent position as they should not be moved very frequently. Plastic pots are also
available which are durable and easy to handle. As the water does not evaporate from the
sides, watering should be done carefully and very light compost be used in such pots.
Seed pans: The seed pans are shallow pots, used for raising seedlings and growing shallow
rooted annuals and ferns. Boxes are often used for raising of seedlings. The size may vary
from 25 to 40cm in diameter.

Wooden tubs and other containers: Oil cans cut into half and charred inside to remove the
oil, are the most long lasting than the wooden tubs, unless these are prepared from seasoned
teak wood. Pots made of cement are also useful for growing, perennial plants in permanent or
semi-permanent positions.
Seedling trays / Protrays
Seedling trays / protrays are useful for hardening the tissue culture plants and germination of
different fruits, flowers.
v Provides independent area for each seed to germinate
v Helps in proper germination
v Eliminates the mortality rate
v Uniform and healthy growth of all the seedlings
v Optimum requirement of media, water and space results in healthy growth of
seedlings
v Economical in transportation
v Reusable
v The sizes available are 25, 30 36 49 50, 98 120, 240 cavities and the nurserymen can
choose them depending on their requirements
Tying materials
These vary from raffia and specially prepared garden twist to local twines of cotton,
jute or hemp, coir, jute and nylon rope can be used to tie large plants. Galvanised wire should
be carefully used as it is liable to cut the stem of plants and cause damage. Whatever the
tying material used, it should be loosely tied to allow a little ply between the stake and the
stem.
Plant supports
Bamboos are the most serviceable material used in nursery. If made of well seasoned
bamboo, these stakes will last for years. Prepare stakes of various lengths to use them on
plants of different heights. Dip the lower portion in tar or creosite oil and paint the rest green.
Thin iron rods last long. Circular rings, supported by straight rods are also used for carnation,
petunia, etc.

Annexure II
IMPORTANT ORNAMENTAL NURSERY PLANTS AND THEIR FEATURES
A) INDOOR PLANTS: AESCHYNANTHUS
A. marmoratus
A scandant plant with ovate acuminate leaves, having purple bands below.
A. radicans
A scadant creeper with ovate green leaves bearing reddish flowers at the tip of the branches.
AGLAONEMA
These attractive plants, good for indoors, have variously marked leaves on cane-like stems.
Requiring minimum care, these flourish under warm moist conditions in shade.
A. Abidjan
A very robust plant with broad, lanceolate leaves. Milky green, feather-like variegation
makes the plant very attractive.
A. commutalum
A hardy, durable plant with leathery leaves. The long leaves are coloured deep green with
markings of silver grey
A. crispum (Schismatoglottis roebelinii)
A plant with large, pointed leathery leaves, slightly greyish green and largely variegated with
silver colouration
A. 'fransher'
A slender plant with fleshy lanceolate, milky green, variegated leaves. Plants are of freesuckering type.
A. ' Malay beauty'
A free-growing variation of A. "Pseudobracteatum', but with broader and stouter leaves and
stem. Leaves are a foot or more long, deep green, marbled with milky green.
A. marantifolium
A robust plant of compact habit.. Leaves are broad lanceolate with midrib and margins glossy
dark green, the middle portion richly overlaid with silver-grey feather design. Leaf margin
wavy.
A.modestum
A hardy plant for indoors. The slender stems carry durable, leathery, waxy green leaves,
known as Chinese ever green.
A. modestum ' Variegatum'
A beautiful variation of A. modestum. Leaves are with 'distinct creamy white variegation.
A.'Pseudobracteatum'
A colourful, free growing plant with lomng, showy leaves; deep green background,
variegated with light green and Yellow centre. Very attractive and hardy, it is good as an
indoor plant
A. 'Silver Queen'
A very attractive plant with thin, leathery lanceolate leaves with greenish silvery blotches on
a deep green background; freely branching and suckering for bushy effect, with excellent
keeping qualities.
A. treubli
A slender plant with narrow, leathery bluish green leaves, attractively marked with silver
grey. The petioles are marbled.

ALOCASIA
With broad leaves of different shapes and wavy margins, this is good as a house plant, even
in the absence of colouration. These are easy to cultivate and some grow to a very big size.
During winter, the leaves may die and regrow on the onset of summer.
A. macrorhiza ' Variegata'
The stem is very thick; the leaves are fleshy with light green blotches mottled with white. The
edges are waxy.
Ananas comosus 'Variegatus'
A very attractive plant with gradually arching leaves. The leaves have broad ivory bands
along with margin and red spines; the rosette centre is rosy red.
Anthurium clarinervium Hybrid
A dwarf, compact plant with dark green, velvety, heart-shaped leaves, bearing showy silvery
grey veins.
Araucaria cookii
The plants grow to a height of 12m with a spread of'O.5 to 1 m if grown in a small container.
They bear tiered whorls of branches with awl-shaped, bright green, needle like leaves. Needs
ventilation and bright light. They can also be planted outside.
ASPARAGUS
The ornamental varieties of these hardy plants are suitably for indoor or green house
cultivation. With very attractive feathery foliage, these have different habits. Useful as a long
lasting aid in flower arrangements.
A. densiflorus ' Myers'
This showy ornamental plant bears stiffly erect, plume like branches (fox-tail) up to 60 cm in
height. The needle like foliage is dark green.
A. densiflorus ' Sprengeri'
An arching semi-prostrate variety, this grows to a height of about 30cm. The branches spread
over 90-120cm. The wiry stems bear clusters of bright green phylloclades. Very good for
hanging baskets.
A. falcatus
A wildly climbing plant with slender, straw coloured branches. The bright green leaves are
sickle shaped and grow in clusters.
A. myriocladus
This erect shrub has profuse branches with dark green leaves, which are long and thread-like.
The grey stems bear zigzag branches.
A. setaceus (plumosus)
This attractive ornamental climber has lacy, fern like dark green fronds of needle-like branch
lets. Stems are wiry with prickles. The fronds are useful for flower arrangements and are long
lasting.
A.setaceus ' Pyramidalis'
A form of the above, but with needle like cladodesd and stems growing erect in a thick
cluster.
ASPLENIUM
Asplenium nidus
The birds-nest fern is an attractive plant with thin, leathery, broad leaves, stiffly spreading out
in a rosette.
BEAUCARNEA
B. recurvata
A graceful succulent plant with a thick, swollen base topped by a rosette of thin, linear,
pendulous, recurved, green leaves. They are capable of storing water and stay without
watering for months when planted in the ground. A very decorative plant.

BEGONIA
The perennial evergreen plants, grown for their foliage and flowers, range in height from a
few centimeters to a tall shrub. They are very well suited as home plants and some can be
used as bedding plants.
B. auriculata
A dwearf plant with long petioles, bearing waxy leaves of coppery olive green colour; centre
of the leaves are marked silvery green and are wavy.
B. braemar'
A leggy plant with hairy stems and large, orbicular - pointed dark, lustrous green leaves,
glossy red beneath.
B. 'Cleopatra'
They very attractive, easy-to-grow plant has a bushy growth. Are nilegreen with chocolate
red areas towards the margin. The clusters of perfumed flowers are pink.
B. masoniana (Iron Cross)
The spectacular variety has reddish stems covered by white hairs. The large roundish, firm
and puckered nile green leaves are marked with brown cross bands in the centre.
B-rex
These are noted for very attractively coloured leaves. Being perennial and showy, these make
very good house plants. These should be kept in the house in a well-lit area, but out of direct
sunlight. A moist, warm climate is required.
B.semperflorens
These free flowering begonias are ideal as bedding plants. Can also be grown in pots and
baskets. These thrive well both in sun and shade.
BRASSAIA
An attractive ornamental tub plant, it can be grown to the required height. The palmatelylobed compound leaves form an umbrella like canopy. The soft leathery leaves are lacquered
green.
B. actinophylla
The brown branches have palmately compound leaves, forming umbrella like loops which are
very decorative.
B.actinophylla ' Compacta'
Slow growing, it has broad, palmate leaflets.
CALATHEA
The leafy ornamental plants thrive in diffused sunlight or partial shade, prefer humid air.
C.insignis
A very pretty plant with narrow, linear and erect foliage, waxy at the margins. Yellow green
with lateral ovals alternately, large and small of dark green hue; underside a showy maroon
red.
C.makoyana
A stunningly beautiful plant called Peacock Plant The ovate leaves have a leathery design
on a translucent, pale yellow green background
C.zebrina
A vigorous plant with deep velvety green leaves and yellow green lateral veins.
CHLOROPHYTUM
C.comosum ' Vittatum'
A clustering rosette with channeled, narrow, linear, recurving leaves; dark green banded
white in centre. A very decorative basket plant.
CISSUS
Woody, evergreen climbers with very beautiful and attractive foliage. While these are good
house plants, some are suitable for hanging baskets also.

C, antarctica
This has flexible stems, bearing big, shiny, saw toothed, green leaves. Does well in diffused
sunlight. Good for hanging baskets and on poles.
C .rhombifolia
The grape ivy is vine-like. The brown, hairy branches bear 3 rhombic- ovate, shinning hairy
leaves. The leaves <are metallic green with brownish veins. A very useful house plant, also
suitable for hanging baskets and on poles.
C.rhombifolia Ellen Danica
A vigorously growing vine of busy habit with deeply lobed leaflets. Idealy suited for indoors.
C.rhombifolia Mandalana
The fleshy leaves on compact, thick stems have broad, leathery recurved shinning leaflets.
The attractive and hardy plant is suitable for indoors.,
C.rotundifolia
A climbing plant with rounded, waxy, fles4y leaves, toothed, at margins.
CODIAEUM
C.variegattun
These are colourful tropical shrubs. The leaves are variously shaped and are marked coloured
patterns of yellow, scarlet red, green, pink and white.
C.variegatum 'Bangkok'
A dwarf plant with roundish leaves having yellow margins
C.variegatum Bravo
A dwarf plant having broad, smoothly lobed leaves. Very pretty.
C.variegatum Excellent
Another dwarf plant with attractive foliage. The leaves are smoothly lobed.
C.variegaturn Gold'Finger
A narrow leaves dwarf croton with creamy variegation all along the veins
C.variegatum 'Gold Moon'
A dwarf croton with oblanceolate leaves. Yellow variegation all along the veins
C.variegatum 'Gold Star'
It is a dwarf croton with yellow variegation all over the narrow lamina
C.variegatum 'Gold Sun'
Leaf shape is similar to Gold Moon. Here the leave's are covered with mottled yellow
variegation.
C.variegatum Hollufiana
Variously coloured leaves are oblong and abruptly narrowing down at the tip.
C.variegatum Iceton
A dwarf plant with small leaves having cream, pink, green and copper variegation.
C.variegatum Nervia
A dwarf plant with narrow leaves, smoothly lobed.
C. variegatum Norma
A dwarf plant with obovate leaves.
C. variegatum Petra
The plant is dwarf with closely knit leaves. The leaves are almost like Orba but very rich in
colour.
C.variegatum Philip Geduldig
A compact plant with a broad lamina in the middle, tapering smoothly to the tip.
C.variegatum 'Pictum'
Leaves are very narrow with mottled yellow variegation
C.variegatum (Triobed)

A compact plant with distinct trilobed leaves variegated with yellow and green
CODONANTHE
C. crassifolia
A slender vine. with small, ovate acuminate leaves bearing white flowers and red berries. A
very useful plant for hanging baskets.
COLEUS
These sun-loving plants thrive in a very warm climate. Having a wide raJ,1ge of foliage
shape, colours and patterns, these can withstand overwatering to a certain extent.
C. blumei
The dwarf plants of different colours are very attractive and easy to grow
COLUMNEA
D. X cayugan
An erect spreading plant with unequal pairs of green narrow leaves and reddish orange
flowers; suitable for hanging baskets.
B. microphylla 'Variegata'
A creeping vine with small, rounded and variegated leaves. Good for hanging baskets.
CORDYLINE
Ever green palm like shrub or tree grown for their attractive foliage. Some are tender species,
requiring green house treatment, suited to a warm living room.
c.australis
A pot plant, the stem growing upto 90 cm in height, has long, narrow, strap shaped green
leaves in dense dusters at the tip of the branches
C. 'Manuloa Snow'
C. A compact plant with cream coloured top leaves.
B. terminalis 'Red Edge'
It is a dwarf plant with narrow, concave, gracefully recurved leaves which are deep metallic
green with a red border.
CRYPTANTUS
Cryptanthus sp.
The graceful plants with highly coloured rosette leaves are excellent foliage plants for the
home or a bottle garden
CYCAS
C.revoluta
The Sago palm is very slow growing. It has a stout trunk and a crown of stiff, glossy, deep
green pinnate-divided leaves in a rosette evergreen.
DIANELLA
Dianella sp. 'Variegata'
An attractive plant of the lily group with two rows of rough-edged variegated leaves.
Putsforth inflorescence of buff white flowers.
DIEFFENBACHIA
Evergreen perennial famed for its striking leaves. Suitable for green house cultivation. These
are popular home plants, suitable for outdoor shaded areas and indoor lighted areas.
Requiring warm and humid conditions, they grow all the year round. Easy to multiply by
planting cuttings of the cane. Do not over water.
D. amoena
With a robust growing habit, it has large, oblong, pointed leaves; deep green and white
variegation along the veins
D. amoena 'Tropic Snow'
A plant of very compact habit; showy, leathery foliage is glossy and deep green; highly
variegated form, the centre with cream and nile green.

D. 'Exotica'
The plants with slender and narrow habit, have small ovate pointed leaves with a highly
variegated cream-white band and blotches along the lateral veins.
D.'Exotica Perfection'
With a compact habit the small leaves are broadly bordered with deep green; lamina
variegated with greenish ivory.
D.'Jupiter'
The plant is dwarf with enormous number of basal suckers covering the base of the plant
making the plant very bushy. The leaves are cream coloured with very thin green margins.
D. maculata (picta)
With glossy, grass-green, oval leaves having ivory white blotching and marbling, the plant is
very hardy, tolerates extremes and is easy to grow.
D. maculata jenmannii
It has green, glossy, long-oblong leaves with ivory coloured feather design bars.
D. maculata 'Pia'
A compact plant with yellow lamina and green spots; margin distinctly green.
D.maculata 'Rudolph Roehrsd'
The oblong, pointed leaves are almost entirely light yellow with ivory white blotches. Only
the midribs and margins are green.
D. 'Marianne'
A very compact plant has creamish leaves with a dark green border. Suckers freely.
D.'Mars'
The plant is very sturdy to look at. The habit of growing is same as that of 'Jupiter'. White
variegations on green background make the plant very attractive.
D.'Mercury'
The plant is dwarf with suckering habit. Leaves are little narrow, white with prominent green
margins.
D.'Neptune'
The plant habit is same as 'Jupiter'. The leaves are broader with more cream variegations on
green background.
D.'Saturn'
The plant grows little lanky in the initial stages. The plant has a tendency to bend a little at
the base and soon the basal suckers start growing making the plant bushy. The cream mottled
leaves look attractive.
D.'Veerle'
A compact plant like 'Exotica Perfection' but with more cream white variegation..
D.'Venus'
The plant grows tall. The basal suckers emerge very late. The leaves are big, cream coloured,
mottled with green spots.
DIZYGOTHECA
D.elegantissima
The mottled, slender stem carrying palmately compound leathery leaves with metallic, redbrown, thread like narrow segments. An attractive house plant.
D.elegantissima 'Castor'
A compact growing, freely branching plant with palmately compound, purplish green leaves.
DRACAENA
The slow growing plant retain their ornamental foliage for a long time. They are thin and
palm like. Suitable for both outdoor and indoor arrangement, these need adequate light.
Provide good light when indoors. They can withstand low humidity.
D.deremensis ' Bausei'

Plant with dark green leaf margins and distinct white centre
D.deremensis 'Compacta Golden' Leaves broad, green and yellow with prominent green
veination. D.deremensis 'Warneckei'
Long, sword-like leaves have glossy, dark green margins with two longitudinal white strips
bordering the milky green band in the middle.
D.fragrans
This robust plant with broad, recurved, oblanceolate, soft feathery, sessile dark green leaves
is ideally suited for indoors.
D.fragrans 'Lindenii'
Young leaves have broad gold margins and a green centre
D.fragrans'Massangea'na'
This attractive plant has leaves with- wide green margins and a gold centre
D.fragrans 'Victbriae
This has pendant, broad, soft 'and leathery leaves which are green streaked with silver grey at
the centre and bordered with broad margins of golden yellow or cream.
D.godseffiana Florida Beauty
This branching shrub with thin stems bears whorls of 2 to 3 leaves. The leaves are leathery,
thick and almost entirely covered with creamy white blotching.
D.marginata
A robust growing plant of branching habit. Each cane is topped by a dense terminal rosette of
thick, fleshy, narrow, linear leaves of deep olive green colour with red edge. .
D.marginata Colorama
The distinct, red-bordered leaves are narrower than 'Tricolour'
D.marginata 'Tricolour'
The slender trunk bears at the tip rosette of thick, fleshy! narrow, long, tricolour leaves. A
very attractive plant.
EPISCIA
These are noted for their decorative foliage and vividly coloured flowers. Suitable' for
hanging baskets. Grows well indirect sunlight and warm temperature.
E.cupreata
With silver leaves having dark brown markings. It bears orange red blossoms.
E.cupreata 'Chocolata Soldier'
Quilted chocolate - coloured leaves form mound and spread fast. The plant produces red
flowers.
ECONYMUS
The small bushy, evergreen shrubs have attractive foliage. These grow in the sun or partial
shade. E.japonica
These dense, leafy; evergreen shrubs bear leathery and glossy, dark green oval leaves.
E.japonica Albo-marginata
The leaves are bordered with white variegations.
E.japonica Medio-picta
The waxy oval leaves are green at the margin and golden yellow at the centre.
E. japonica 'Microphyllus'
The very dwearf, erect shrub has closely arranged small toothed, glossy green leaves.
E.japonica Variegatus'
It is a beautiful tiny plant with tiny leaves having a white border.
FICUS
'Microphyllus
This adapts to a wide range of growing conditions, but prefers warm, moist conditions. It is a
good indoor plant too, but should be placed in lighted areas. It can be grown in pots or in the

outdoor for which the water requirement will be higher.

F.benjamina 'Exotica'
A plant of dense growth with branches of drooping habit. The slender, pointed, long ovate
leaves are shiny, deep green. Very compact and bushy.
F.benjamina 'Golden King'
The plant is like Ficus benjamina, but the leaves are thinly bordered with cream variegation.
F.benjamina 'Golden Princess'
A graceful plant with drooping branches have narrow leaves which are marginally variegated.
F.benjamina 'Nuda'
Small narrow and shiny leaves grow in tufts at the end of small zigzag branches. The leaves
taper towards the base.
F.benjamina 'Rijsenhout'
The leaves are narrower than Ficus benjamina and they tend to droop down.
F.cyathistipula
The bushy
plant has long obtanceolate, leathery dark green leaves; globular fruits are
found even at the young stage.
F.elastica ' Belgica'
A closely jointed plant with deep, waxy green, corrugated leaves. The midrib is pink or cream
coloured. F.elastica 'Decora'
The large, broad, thick deep glossy green leaves have an ivory midrib. The growing tips are
red.
F.elastica 'Decora Rubra' or 'Black Prince'
Large, broad, thick leaves with metallic purple coloured leaves.
F.elastica 'Decora Schrijveriana'
The glossy, deep green, broad leaf is irregularly variegated grey green at the centre and light
green or cream and light yellow towards the margin. Petioles are red and the midribs cream
coloured.
F.elastica 'Doescheri'
The strikingly coloured leaves vary from green with grey to white and cream yellow. The leaf
stalk and midrib are pink.
F.elastica 'Hondurus'
The large, broad, thick leathery leaves have mottled variegation.
F.elastica 'Robusta'
The large, broad, thick green leaves are almost round. The internodes are short.
F.elastica 'Rubdra'
The young leaves are maroon red, while the older leaves are short, pointed and oval with red
midrib. F.elastica 'Sophia'
Dwarf plant with smaller leaves than Ficus elastica. Petioles and internodes are very short.
F.elastica'Variegata'
The leathery, broad leaves are variegated grey and edged creamy yellow.
F.elastica Zulushield
The large, broad, thick leathery leaves with creamish white variegation are very pretty.
F.Long Island
A dwarf plant with densely formed thick ovate leaves. The plant is very ideal for growing
outdoors and also for making 'Bonsai'
F.Iyrata
The large, thick, leathery leaves are fiddle-shaped, having a round apex. Deep waxy green,
the plant can grow into a big tree.
F.macrophylla
A plant with thick, leathery, ovateto-broad, oblong leaves; has a tendency to produce profuse

branches, even when grown in pots.

F.nitida
This attractive plant can grow into a tree. The long small, leathery, elliptical leaves are
smooth, waxy and dark green. A good tub plant, it can be trimmed to any shape.
F.nitida 'Hawaii'
The small bushy plant has small, elliptical leaves which are glossy, light green, margined and
variegated with ivory white.
F.'Panda'
A plant with thick, leathery, ovate, dark green leaves. The young leaves develop creamish
yellow colour, if kept under the sun.
F.panduriformis
A small sturdy plant, bearing leathery leaves which are glossy, elliptical and dark forest
green. The ivory mid rib and lateral veins make the plant look very attractive.
F.repens (pumila)
This freely branching creeper with small, dark green leaves clings to walls with aerials roots
like ivy.
F. triangularis
A dwarf plant with dense, almost triangular shaped dark green leaves and innumerable small
berries.
F.triangularis'Variegata'
The dwarf plant has creamish yellow variegated leaves.
F.'Westland'
The leaves are like that of Ficus benjamina 'Nuda', but have creamish yellow variegation
which require good light for colour development.
GUZMANA
Guzmania sp.
The ever green perennials are suited for cultivation as indoor plants. Having rosettes of
glossy, smooth edged leaves forming water holding vases, these need high humidity and
thrive well in partially shaded interiors. The wide range of flowers and leaf colour make the
plants very attractive.
GYNURA
G.sarmentosa
An attractive velvety vine. The stems and leaves are covered with violet or purple hairs. Fast
growing. It is very attractive as a small house plant.
HEDERA
The attractive group of creeping ivy plants have differently shaped, shiny leaves. Thriving in
any soil and in any situation, the variegated form performs very well in partial sunlight.
H.carnariensis 'Variegata'
Very colourful, it has thin, leathery leaves which are green in the centre and creamy white at
the margins.
H.helix
The English ivy is a versatile trailer, suitable for cultivation under varied conditions. The
climbing vine has 5-lobed, glossy, dark green leaves with creamy veins.
H.helix cristata 'Curlilocks'
Young growth sprouting from each axil forms densely bushy vines.
H.helix't'
The reddish stems bear small, 3-5 lobed, pointed leathery green leaves with golden yellow
and cream centre
H.helix ' Harald'
A medium, small-leaved, robust vine has creamy variegation on the leaf margin

H.helix 'Pittsburgh'
This strong, bushy plant has small, long-pointed light green leaves.
H.helix 'Variegata'
Portions of the leaves are variegated white.
HELXINE
H.solieorolii
Popularly known as 'Baby's tears', this creeping herb has small, round, dark green leaves,
ideal for the hanging basket.
HOYA
These ever green trailing or climbing plants are grown for ornamental foliage and attractive
flowers. The leaves form only when whole new stem has developed.
H.bella
This dwarf shrub has branches which grow straight and then droop. The deep green, thick
leaves have a brown band at the midrib. The flowers are waxy white with a purple centre.
H.carnosa
Called the we ax plant for its fleshy, waxy leaves, it bears pinkish white, fragrant flowers
which are waxy and wheel shaped, growing in clusters in umbels.
H.carnosa ' Compacta'
This curious vine with densely compacted, folded and cupped thick green leaves is slowgrowing.
H.carnosa 'Compacta Regalis'
The plant is same as 'Compacta' but the leaves are prettily bordered with ivory to rosy
margins.
H.carnosa ' Exotica'
The waxy leaves are in two shades of green' the centre is variegated yellow and pinkish
cream. The flowers are pinkish white.
H.carnosa ' Silver Pink'
This attractive plant is marked with raised silver blotching on the waxy green leaf and red
petioles
H.carnosa 'Variegata'
The green or bluish green leaves have broad edges which are pink and creamy white.
HYPOCYRTA
H.glabra
A dwarf plant with closely formed ovate leaves, it bears orange coloured flowers on the leaf
axils
LEEA
L.coccinea
The shrub with long, 3-pinnate, glossy green leaflets, having waxy margins, is a good indoor
plant.
L.coccinea 'Burgandy'
Plants are similar to Leea coccinea but the leaves are chocolate coloured. The plant is very
attractive as a pot plant and can be used as a shrub in a lawn
MONSTERA
The evergreen climbers clining to their supports by aerial roots produced at each node are
characterized by their broad, dark green, perforated leaves. Requiring staking, these do well
under shaded conditions. The attractive house plants can be kept to cover corners.
M.deliciosa
Has dark green, deeply notched leaves with numerous symmetrical perforations. The leaves
may grow to 120 cm in length and 60 cm in width.
M.obliqua expilata

A climber with pale green leaves, it may grow upto 60 cm. The elliptical leaves develop a
large number of ovate perforations arranged in double rows, making the leaf appear like a
perforated lace leaf. An attractive indoor plant.
M.standieyana
The internodes of this attractive plant are very short, leaves small and thick, leathery, with
broadly winged petiole.
NEOREGELIA
The evergreen perennials have varied, coloured leaves. They have spiny, strap-shaped leaves
growing in rosettes, with water holding reservoirs in the centre. Very attractively coloured,
these are hardy house plants.
N.carolinae ' Flandria'
The strap-like rosette leaves are bordered with creamish yellow. During flowering, the leaves
at the centre become red.
N.carolinae'Meyendorffi'
The rosette of flat, olive green leaves is copper tinted. The inner leaves are dark maroon at
flowering time.
N.carolinae ' Perfecta Tricolor'
The glossy green leaves have ivory white lengthwise bands in the middle, becoming rose
tinted in light. At flowering, they become carmine red. Very attractive.
NEPHROLEPIS
Nephrolepis sp.
These ferns grow rapidly and can be multiplied easily. They make good house plants and
stand up well to room conditions if kept moist. Their dense green foliage with curious shapes
make them very attractive.
PANDANUS
The plants have foliage resembling that of pineapple. The young plants make very good
house plants, thrive under warm, humid conditions. Inside the house, place it in lighted areas,
keeping it moist.
P.baptistii
The stiff channeled leaves are spirally arranged gracefully arching and tapering to a long
point. The leaves are blue green, with several yellow striped at the centre; leaf margin
smooth.
P.veitchii
The rosette of leaves, each about 60 cm or longer, narrowing to a long point, is dark green
with a broad, creamy white margin.
PEDILANTHUS
P.tithymaloides 'Variegatus'
Branching succulent with milky juice, the grey green stem bears waxy, pale green, ovate
leaves which are variegated white and tinged carmine red.
PELLIONIA
The spreading, leaf, bushy plants are very well suited as basket plants.
P.daveauana
The succulent, pinkish stems bear lanceolate, long, light green leaves, covered with blackish
or brownish veins.
P. pulchra
The pinkish, creeping stems bear close-set foliage. The leaves are oval, light green to grey,
wholly covered with a network of brownish or blakishs veins
PEPEROMIA
These hardy and attractive plants perform well in diffused light. Good ornamental house
plants, a few are suitable as basket plants and are easy to cultivate and maintain.

O,angulata
The plants of creeping habit with thread-like reddish vines, bear pairs of small, oval deep
green leaves, having yellowish parallel veins.
P.bicolor
The plant with a red brown stem covered with white hairs, has broadly oval, velvety leaves
which are olive to grey metal green with a broad silver band at the centre and parallel stripes.
P.caperata
It is a dwarf plant giving out many branches. The leaves are deeply corrugated and waxy
forest green. The valleys are tinted chocolate, the ridges being often greyish.
P.clusiaefolia
The thick, fleshy, narrow, obovate leaves are metallic olive green with a broad, red purple
margin. P. cubensis
The reddish stems, bearing soft, waxy green, ovate leaves make this an attractive small plant.
P.cubensis 'Variegata'
A graceful plant with a pinkish stem and dense, round milky green leaves which are margined
and variegated creamy white
P.glabella'Variegata'
A freely branching plant with rosy red stems with elliptical small leaves which are light green
and bordered or variegated creamy white.
P.griseo-argentea
A very attractive bushy peperomia. It has long, pink petioles bearing shield like thin leaves,
painted glossy silver.
P.griseo-argentea 'Nigra'
Glossy black, olive cupped leaves grow into compact rosette, pale grey reverse
P.hoffmanii
It is a succulent with a creeping habit. The leaves are waxy, obovate and dull olive green.
Good for hanging baskets.
P.obtusifolia
A succulent stem, striped maroon brown with waxy green, fleshy leaves. Good for indoor
hanging baskets.
P. obtusifolia 'Gold Tip'
Has attractive deep green leaves variegated and marbled creamy yellow near the tip.
P.obtusifolia 'Variegata'
The stems are blotched bright red; the rounded or elliptical waxy leaves are variegated with
broad areas of creamy white radiating from the edges towards the centre. A very attractive
plant.
P. orba
The dwarf plant has numerous waxy light green, ovate leaves on short and stout petioles. It is
free branching.
P. orba 'Green Gold'
The dwarf plant has pale green leaves and irregular cream variegation
P. pereskifolia
The branching plant with creeping red stems, bears small waxy olive green leaves in whorls
P.polybotrya
The shiny, waxy, shield-like green leaves with purple edges, grey beneath are borne on stiff,
reddish petioles
P.sandersii
The attractive, deep red petioles bear shinning, deep green to bluish leaves with bands of
silver radiating from the centre. The leaves are arranged in rosettes.
P.scandens

A creeper with a fleshy reddish stem and green, waxy small, heart-shaped leaves, it is suitable
for hanging baskets.
P.scandens 'Variegata'
With reddish stems, reddish petholed, graceful, small cordate leaves are light green with
irregular creamy white border. Ideally suited for hanging baskets.
P. 'Tricolour'
A beautiful plant with obovate leaves variegated reddish cream.
P. verschaffeltii
Rossette of fleshy; oval, heart shaped leaves on short stems. Petioles are red with bluish green
leaves having broad silver bands.
PHILODENDRON
These are ever green, attractive house plants. Many are climbers. Growing well in good light
but away from direct sunlight, these must be kept well weatered throughout. The different
leaf shapes are very attractive.
P.bipinnatifidum
A very vigorous growing vine with waxy green, stiff, bipinnate leaves having 10 to 12
segments on each side of the midrib,
P.'Ceylon'
Leaves are conspicuously cream in colour and the leaf size is small. It is an attractive plant on
a moss-stick.
P.deflexum
A creeper with robust, thin, leathery, trilobed waxy dark green leaves and purplish blotches
on the lower side.
P.domesticum 'Variegatum'
A vine with broad, arrow-shaped dark green leaves, variegated with creamish yellow
blotches.
P.'Emerald Duke'
A very decorative hybrid with large, broad, cordate, rich green leaves. Internodes are very
short.
P.'Emerald King'
A robust vine with huge, spade shaped, pointed, medium green leaves;' emerging leaf petioles
are dotted with reddish spots.
P.Erubescens
Rotting at every joint, arrow shaped, waxy leaves bronzy-green edged red, wine-red beneath,
petioles green with red.
P Florida
A slender stem of slightly hairy nature with soft, leathery, deep green leaves, cut into five
pointed main lobes with a pale midrib. Underside is brown red.
P.'Golden Erubescens'
Leaf shape is same as P.erubescens but the emerging leaves are golden yellow
P.'Green Empire'
It is a slow growing climber with ovate leaves which are dark green with 2 or 3 holes in the
lamina like Monstera deliciosa. The plant is very attractive and compact.
P. hastatum
A fast growing vine with broad arrow shaped, glossy green leaves and rounded lobes
P.'King of Spades'
Very similar to 'Red Princess' but with large leaf and more triangular spade-shaped.
P. laciniatum
The oddly shaped leathery leaves have five lobes with elevated pale green centre marking.
P. 'Majesty'

A very compact plant with spear shaped leaves of coppery green, underside wine red and
petiolesd red. The plant looks almost black.
P. microstictum
A slow climber with broad, heart, shaped, thick, glossy, apple green leaves.
P. 'Painted Lady'
A vine with attractively decorated yellow spots on the leaves; petioles red
P. panduraeforme
A plant with unusual fiddle shaped, olive green leaves with basal lobes, extended and central
lobes narrowed.
P.'Pink Princess'
A new philodendron with cordate leaves of metallic colour with pink variegation.
P.'Red Dutchess'
A vine with dark glossy green, heart-shaped leaves; bronze when young.
P. 'Red Emerald'
A vine with long, ruby red petioles and long, cordate dark glossy green leaves; midrib on the
underside red.
P.'Red Princess'
A slow growing vine with reddish tinged, spade-shaped angular leaves, stem and petioles red.
P.'Royal King'
A robust climber with broad, thick leathery pale leaves with emerging leaves golden; it is
very attractive
P.scandens oxycardium
It is a climber with broad, heart shaped, glossy green leaves
P. scandens oxycardium 'Variegatum'
The leaves are slightly variegated with cream colour
P.selloum
The slow-growing habit makes it a rosette; leaves are lobed, dark green, ideal for indoors.
P. squamiferum
A vine with lateral lobes pointed and basal lobesd short, petioles are covered with reddish
bristles
P.'Venus Pluto'
A rossette type of philodendron with ovate linear leaves of dull green colour. The margin is
deeply toothed
IPILEA
The tender, evergreen, perennial plants are excellent house and basket plants. These grow
well in sun and partial shade.
P.cadierei (Aluminiumplant)
A very fast-growing plant. The fleshy, quilted leaves have bright silver aluminium patches
over a vivid green background. A very attractive house or basket plant.
P. involucrata
A free-growing, dense plant with slightly fleshy, quilted leaves, deep green in shade turning
to coppery brown when exposed. The leaves are wine red beneath and covered with hairs.
P. 'Moon Valley'
It is a small, fleshy plant with a square stem. The leaves are deeply quilted and apple green;
the centre and vein areas are brown and covered with white bristles
P. nummularifolia
Low creeping herb, thin reddish branches, rooting at nodes, small, circular, quilted crenate
leaves, corrugated and hairy, light green, paler beneath, flowers in small clusters.
P.'Silver Tree'
A branching plant with white hairy stalk, the leaves are bronze green with silver dots on the

sides. PLEOMELE
P.angustifolia honoriae
A beautiful plant with scandent stems, which are densely clothed with clasping, flexible, long
leathery leaves bordered ivory yellow
P. reflexa
A rosette of densely clustering, short and narrow leathery leaves; slow-growing, strikingly
beautiful. P. reflexa 'Mediopicta'
The plant and leaf shape is similar to P. reflexa, but the centre of the leaves are marked with
faint, pale variegation.
P. reflexa 'Variegata' (Song of India)
Very similar to P.reflexa but beautifully margined by two wide bands of golden yellow or
cream
POLYSCIAS
Attractive, bushy foliage plants
P. balfouriana ' Blackie'
The compact bush of crooked appearance has pinnate leaves with coarsely puckered, glossy
blackish green leaflets. The margins have soft serration. Also known as 'Crisp a' or '
Amazonica'
P. balfouriana ' Marginata'
A bushy shrub with 3 orbicular, coarsely toothed leaflets with an irregular white border,
P. balfouriana ' Pennockii'
The leathery, cordate leaves are variegated and tinted creamy white to pale green, irregularly
dark green towards the edges
P. filicifolia
An evergreen shrub with leathery, fernlike dark green leaves cut into narrow lobes. Midrib
purple.
P. guilfoylei ' Victoriae'
The small shrubs have greyish green, lacy, bipinnate leaves; the pendant segments are
toothed and bordered white.
P. paniculata 'Variegata'
A willowy shrub with pinnate leaves, the leaflets are deep green, splashed with cream and
greenish white. Glossy on both sides.
RAVENALA
R.madagascariensis
Traveller's tree. The palm-like trunk is topped by leathery, banana-like leaves in a fan shaped
arrangement.
RHOEO
R.spathacea ' Vittata'
The thick flexible stems are densely clothed with stiff leavesd, spreading and trailing. The
leaves are metallic dark green with red tinted, pale yellow longitudinal stripes. The
undersurface is glossy purple.
RUELLIA
R.devosiana
Small shrub, 45cm. With purple stem, oval-lanceolate leaves distantly toothed, deep green
and with prominent whitish mid-rib and lateral veins above, purple beneath; tubularexpanded flower white marked with lilac
SAINTPAULIA
S.1onantha (African Violets)
These are the most commonly grown house plants with very attractive clusters of single or
double flowers of various colours. Suitable for indoor cultivation. Grow them in indirect

sunlight and warm temperature with high humidity or cooler temperature with low humidity.
SANSEVIERIA
These very hardy plants, with clumps of erect, strap-shaped leaves striped in .different
colours in different species are drought resistant and can grow in any environment.
S.guineensis ' Marginata'
A striking plant with broad leaves, having contrasting wide yellow bands along the margin.
S.1iberica
The sturdy plants have long, narrow, stiff leaves, bearing broad bands of pure white or
greenish white.
S. trifasciata 'Golden Hahni'
A rosette of firm, broad, elliptical short leaves greyish green with length wise stripes of broad
cream of golden yellow bands, makes it a very attractive plant.
S. trifasciata 'Hahnii'
Forms a low, vase-like rosette of broad, elliptical leaves, spirally arranged. The leaves are
dark green with pale green cross bands; free suckering.
S. trifasciata ' Laurentii compacta'
It is a compact plant with short leaves and yellow margin; free suckering
S.trifasciata ' Silver'
The long, narrow leaves are silver green.
S. trifasciata ' Silver Hahnii'
Same as 'Hahnii' but the leaves are a little narrower, the colour being metallic pale silver
green
SCHEFFLERA
These are popular foliage home plants. Indoors these should be grown in well-lit areas and
not in direct sunlight.
S.arboricola
A dwarf plant of freely branching habit; the wiry stems are flexible, becoming scandent with
age; the palmate leaves are glossy green and arranged in a circle of 7 to 9 leaflets. Excellent
as an indoor plant.
S.arboricola 'Crenata'
A dwarf compact plant with dark green leaflets crenate at the apex.
S.arboricola 'Crenata Variegata'
Similar to S.arboricola Crenata. Here the leaf margins are slightly variegated.
S.arboricola 'Diana'
A dwarf Schefflera with more creamy white variegation on the leaflets. The stem is also
partially cream white in colour.
A.arboricola 'Green Gold'
The leaflets are variegated with golden yellow.
A.arboricola 'Henriette'
The margins of some of the leaflets are marked with pale yellow variegation.
S.arboricola 'Jacquiline'
A compact plant with marginally variegated leaves.
S.arboricola 'Trinette'
A robust growing Schefflera with very bold variegation on leaflets.
S.'Gold Capella'
The centre of the leaves are variegated.
S.'Hawaii Elf'
Leaflets are oblanceolate with most of the leaflets creamy white in colour. The margins of the
leaves are wavy and plants are very attractive.
S. minutifolia

The leaflets are narrow lanceolate and very distinct from other Scheffleras.
S. 'Philippine'
The leaflets are broad ovate and pointed apex. The leaflets are variegated in mosaic pattern
SCILLA
A small bulbous plant with swollen base and strap like olive green, the fleshy leaves having
silver blotching and branding. Glossy, wine red underneath.
SCINDAPSUS
These are popular house plants resemble philodendrons. Easy and fast to grow; has to be
trained.
S.aureus 'Marble Queen'
The fleshy, vine bearing, waxy, dark green leaves are richly variegated and streaked with
pure white. Requires good light.
S.aureus 'Money Plant'
Usually called 'Pothos', the fleshy climbing vine bears waxy, dark green leaves with yellow
variegation.
S.pictus
A climber with thick, leathery, waxy leaves, obliquely ovate, dark green overlaid with
greenish silver blotching,-,
SPATHYPHYLLUM
Spathyphyllum sp. 'Mauna Loa'
The flowers looking like anthurium has leaves which are dark glossy green, oblong
lanceolate. It bears pure white large spathes which are long lasting. Useful as an indoor plant
where there is enough light.
S.'Petite'
Leaves are smaller. Plants have tendency to put forth lot of suckers. Spathe is smaller.
SYNGONIUM
Related to philodendrons, these have heart-shaped, sometimes lobed leaves with silver white
or green centres. Staking and training necessary; thrive well as home plants.
S.'Macro'
A fast growing Syngonium. The leaves are heart shaped, slightly elongated, thick, dark green
in colour. Very useful plant for mounting on a moss stick.
S.podophyllum Albo-virens'
Leaves are shaded ivory to greenish white while the leaf margin is green.
S.podophyllum 'Butterfly'
A slow growing compact plant with butterfly like broad, silver white leaves.
S.podophyllum 'Emerald Gem Variegated'
This slow growing creeper has dark green, arrow-shaped leaves with pure white, irregular
variegations.
TRADESCANTIA
T.albiflora 'Quick Silver'
The fast growing, fleshy stems have white striped leaves. Easy to root, it is an attractive plant
for hanging baskets.
T.fluminiensis'Variegata'
It is a beautiful creeper with variegated leaves; suitable for hanging baskets.
VINCA
Y.major 'Variegata'
A spreading shrub with lvate, glossy, dark green leaves, variegated yellow. An attractive
basket home plant. Bearing blue flowers, it is hardy.
VRIESEA
V.splendens 'Favourite'

A vigorously growing rosette of shiny rich green leaves.

V.splendens 'Major'
Leathery rosettes of broad, bluish green leaves with bold purple bands. Underneath grey, with
purple bands being very prominent.
CACTI AND SUCCULENTS
Adromischus cristatus
Succulent rosette, thick stem covered with red hair-like aerial roots, wedge-shaped, fleshy
leaves with crested apex, light green slightly pubescent with white hairs, tubular reddishwhite flowers.
AGAVE
A.americana'Marginata'
This is a large rosette plant with broad, recurved, glaucous, grey leaves; the broad yellow
margins are very conspicuous.
A.filfera
It is a rosette plants with many stiff leaves. White lines along the edge, split into loose
filaments, make the plant very decorative. White lines are also present on the lamina.
Aloe humilis
Small succulent, rosette, blue green, narrow, concave leaves with white marginal teeth and
tubercies on back, hairy-looking appearance, flowers red, tipped green in long racemes.
Astrophytum myriostigma Small globe, usually 5-ribbed, spined absent, covered with small
white spots, flowers yellow
Bilbergia zebrina
An attractive plant with long, fluted, spiny, purplish bronze leaves with silver white cross
bands; the inflorescence has rosy red bracts and violet flowers.
Cephalocereus senilis (Old man cactus)
The slender column is closely ribbed and covered with long, whitish grey hair.
COTYLEDON
Cgrandiflora
A succulent with metallic coloured leaves in whorls. Very pretty to look at.
C orbiculata
Large succulent, thick obovate leaves, covered with waxy silver white bloom with red
margin.
CRASSULA
C.arborescens
Succulent, heavy-branching, fleshy, obovate, opposite leaves, united at the base, silver grey
with reddish dotting with contrasting margin.
c.argentea 'Variegata'
A variegated jade plant, leaves variegated with cream to orange yellow and edged in orangered rounded apex.
C.'Flame'
A succulent with concave, ovate leaves, light olive-green young leaves, bright coppery rose
mature leaves.
C.1ycopodioides
It spreads with string-like, brittle branches, covered tightly with scale-like pointed leaves.
C.x imperialis
It is similar to C.1ycopodioides, but the stems are more robust and thicker, the leaves being
much larger and rich green.
ECHEVERlA
E.gibbiflora
It is a smooth rosette plant with large, spoon-shaped, bronzy metallic purplish leaves.

E.glauca
A rosette plant with broad spatulate, almost round, glaucous blue green leaves.
E.x scaphophylla
Perfectly modeled rosette of fleshy, incurved leaves, pale green, glaucous silver with sharp
reddish cusp at tip; flowers pale green yellowish orange.
E.zahnii' Hoveyi'
A rosette plant with long spatulate leaves variegated in delicate lended stripes of soft pale
bluish green, mauve, pink and green.
Echinocactus grusonii (Golden barrel)
The plant grows into a giant globe closely ribbed with golden spines.
Faucaria tigrina
It is a small succulent with opposite, thick, boat-shaped, grey green leaves, marked with
white dots. The margins have stout, recurved spines.
Gasteria echiniata hort.
It is a bold rosette; the triangular, deeply concave and fleshy leaves gradually taper to a point.
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii friedrichii 'Rubra' (Red Cap)
It is a small, strikingly red-coloured globe. For better growth and survival, these are grafted
on Hylocereus rootstock
KALANCHOE
K.blossfeldiana
A compact branching plant with small obovate, glossy-green leaves produces bright scarlet
red flowers during the short day season of the year.
K.orgyalis
A stocky, branching succulent with oblong spatulate green to brown leaves, entirely covered
with metallic bronze felt matting.
K.'Roseleaf'
An attractive, robust plant; the leaves are triangular, thick, spatulate-pointed, toothed and
symmetrically arranged with brown felt above and silver felt beneath.
K. tomentosa
A succulent with an errect branching stem having thick, spoon shaped leaves, clothed in
dense white felt; apex dentate and the teeth are marked brown.
K. uniflora
Commonly known as 'Angel Lamp'. It is a succulent with small thick leaves, margin
distinctly toothed, aerial roots seen on almost each node. It is a last growing succulent, ideally
suited for hanging baskets.
MAMMIALLARIA
M.candida
Small, globe, somewhat flat on top, bluish-green, closely tubercled, covered with several pure
white radial spines, very woolly, flowers, clustering, rose coloured.
M. pennispinosa
Small, globe, white spines with one long reddish hook spine; flowers
white with rosy middle band.
M.potosina
Elongate, globe, with closely-set knobs, dark green covered with white hair-like ladials and
prominent long reddish yellow needle spines, flowers yellowish white.
NOTOCACTUS
N .haselbergii
Small, globe, occasionally sprouting from base, low ribs covered with soft glossy, silver white spines pale yellow at the top, flowers orange red to crimson.
N .leninghausii

Small clustering, cylindrical column, close-rib ed, soft golden hairs, flowers yellow borne at
top.
PORTULACARIA
P.afra 'Variegata'
A succulent with small, ovate, nearly round, waxy leaves conspicuously variegated with
cream, the edges being marked with rose; ideal for hanging basket. SEDUM
S.lineare 'Variegata'
It is a slow growing succulent with small narrow variegated leaves, ideal for baskets.
S.makinoe 'Variegata'
It is a succulent with roundish variegated leaves, ideally suited for hanging baskets.
S.morganianum
It is a succulent hanging plant; the slender stem is covered with tassels of short, spindleshaped leaves which are yellowish green and covered with a silver bloom
S.morganianum 'Giant Burrow Tail'
Very similar to S.morganianum but spindle-shaped, leaves are much bigger. The plant is very
robust.
SENECIO
Having many attractive herbaceous perennials and succulents; these make very good basket
and house plants.
S.cineraria
A beautiful, white, woody perennial. The pinnately cut, thick, ash-coloured leaves are very
attractive. A good border plant.
S.fulgens
A succulent plant with a thick, fleshy stem, covered with glaucous bloom; fleshy obovate
leaves are toothed at the apex; bears orange red flowers.
S.herrelanus
A creeping succulent with fresh, green, berry-like leaves, pointed and thinly striped.
S.macroglossus 'Variegatum'
A densely branching creeper with thick, ivy-like leaves and white variegation.
S.mikanioides
The German ivy is fast growing with fresh green, ivy like leaves, suitable for hanging
baskets.
S.pendulus (Kleinia)
A succulent plant with cylindrical, snake like stems; bears brick red flowers.
S. petraeus
A succulent creeper with obovate, fleshy, sessile, glossy green leaves; makes a good hanging
basket. S.radicans 'Fish Hook'
A flexible creeper with smooth, short, dark green leaves, tapering at both ends; leaf tips bend
upwards; suitable for hanging baskets.
S.radicans 'Giant Fish Hook'
A creeper with round pale green leaves, tapering at both ends; leaf tip bends upwards;
suitable for hanging baskets.
(C) SHRUBS (OUTDOOR) ACALYPHYA
These attractive shrubs have variously coloured, broad, shiny leaves. The twisted leaves with
bright, contrasting colours, have waxy or serrated margins. Good for borders, hedges and as
individual pot plants.
A. wilkesiana
A robust branching shrub. Dense, red, ovate leaves are marbled crimson and bronze, giving a
coppery sheen.
A.wilkesdiana 'Ceylon'

A beautiful bush with curiously twisted, roundish, coppery maroon leaves. The margins are
pretty, bordered with white to bright pink.
A. wilkesiana' Java White'
Leaves are broad ovate with cream variegation and many times the entire leaf lamina
becomes creamy white.
A.wilkesiana'Dwarf'
The plant is very dwarf and compact, having twisted, bronze red leaves
A.wilkesiana'Tahiti'
The twisted, broad leaves are moss green with yellow and cream
A.wilkesiana 'Tricolour' (Batik)
This has beautiful colour variegation in the foliage, shaded green with cream, pink, orange
and red.
BARLERIA
B.cristata
A shrub with oblong leaves, covered with stiff hairs, funnel shaped, five lobed tubular, peach
yellow flowers appear on the terminal spikes.
BRUNFELSIA
B.americana
An evergreen shrub with white flowers fading to pale lemon yellow with age; fragrant during
the night.
B.pauciflora 'Ploribunda'
An evergreen shrub with violet to lavender flowers fading to white.
CALLIANDRA
C.inaequilatera 'Red Powerpuff'
A medium shrub; foliage pinnate; globose dark red powder puff like flowers.
C. portoricensis
A tall growing shrub with globose white flowers.
c.surinamensis
A low spreading shrub, resembling an inverted umbrella with pink flowers.
CASSIA
C.alata
A shrub with pinnate foliage and erect candle like spikes of golden yellow flowers.
C.biflora
This hardy shrub bears golden yellow flowers, atleast thrice a year
C.laevigata
A hardy shrub, bearing lemon yellow flowers.
CESTRUM
C.diurnum
An evergreen shrub with leathery, oblong leaves; white flowers in clusters open during the
day.
C.elegans
A rambling, ever green shrub with wine red flowers.
C.nocturnum
An evergreen shrub with thin, leathery leaves; flowers creamy white, highly fragrant during
the night.
Clerodendrum inerme
A hardy shrub with ovate dark green leaves; used mainly for hedgesd
Dodonaea viscosa
A fast growing, hardy shrub with erect branches and small whitish flowers in clusters; good
for hedging.

Dombeya elegans
This slender-branched shrub has broad, cordate, serrated leaves. The flowers in dense clusters
are soft pink
Duranta repens 'Variegata'
This shrub with spreading branches has thin, leathery, glossy green leaves, attractively
bordered with creamy white variegation.
EUPHORBIA
E.continifolia
A hardy ornamental shrub with coppery red leaves.
E.pulcherrima (Poinsettia)
This shrub gives its colourful bracts under short day conditions, bract colour being red,
creamish white or pink.
Furcrea gigantea 'Striata'
A spectacularly showy, variegated, open rosette of broad, sword shaped fleshy leaves.
Galphimia gracillis
A medium shrub with small, yellow flowers
Gardenia jasminoides
A robus-growing shrub with dark green, waxy leaves. The flowers are large, white and
fragrant.
Gazania rigens
A small, spreading, rosette plant with liner, thick leaves; the flowers are in various colours;
ideal for outdoor beds.
GRAPTOPHYLLUM
G. pictum
An evergreen shrub with leathery, elliptical leaves, deep green, variegated creamy white at
the centre.
G.pictum 'Tricolour'
A shrub having oval, pointed, leathery leaves which are purplish green, variegated with
yellow and pink, the central vein and stem being red.
HIBISCUS
H. 'Hawaiian Hybrids'
A hardy shrub with broad, thick and glossy green leaves. The flowers are large, making it an
ideal plant for the home garden, with a wide range of colours.
H.rose-sinensis
This is a very hardy shrub and free flowering. It is ideal for the home garden and also for
landscaping a vast area. Bears single and double flowers which are coloured red, white pink
yellow or orange.
H. rose-sinensis -'Cooperi'
An ornamental shrub, mainly grown for its white variegated foliage.
H.rose-sinensis 'Pink Tips'
Very similar to 'Cooperi', but the variegation is mingled with a dark pink tinge all over.
Holmskioldia sanguinea
A straggly shrub with hat-like coloured calyx and tubular flower. Calyx colour may be red or
yellow Ixora singaporensis
This hardy shrub grows into dome shape; the leaves are large and elliptical. The flowers
orange; free flowering.
Jacquinia armillaris arborea
It is a very attractive shrub or tree with thick leathery greyish green obovate leaves; the
internodes are very short, hence make the plant very dense; white flowers are borne
terminally in clusters and they are inconspicuous, fruits are small bright orange red in colour.

JASMINUM
J .auriculatum
A crepping jasmine with small, white fragrant flowers.
J.grandiflora
A scan dent shrub with pointed, fragrant flowers
J.sambac
A shrub with broad leaves and double bracted round flower buds, highly fragrant
JATROPHA
J .muItifida
An evergreen shrub; the leaves are nearly round, but deeply parted, the narrow segments
being pinnately lobed; the flowers are scarlet.
J .pandurifolia
A hardy shrub with ovate to obovate leaves, having an occasional tooth here and there; the
flowers are small and scarlet.
J.podagrica
A succulent shrub with a short trunk swollen at the base; the leaves are dark green leathery,
fleshy inflorescence of small scarlet flowers.
Jacobinia aurea
It is a bushy shrub with greyish green lanceolate leaves and terminal cluster of yellow
flowers.
Largerstroemia indica
A hardy shrub, bearing beautiful pink, mauve or white flowers.
LANTANA
L. camara
A hardy shrub; ideal for hedges and shrubberies; flowers are yellow, white or red.
L.depressa
A scandent shrub used as ground cover, the flowers being golden yellow with an orange
tinge.
L.sellowiana
A creeper with thin wiry stem; the leaves are small and the flower lilac; used for beds and
also as ground cover.
Lawsonia inermis 'Alba'
A hardy shrub with elliptical leaves; flowers are white in panicles and fragrant
Malvaviscus arboreus
An evergreen shrub, with 3-lobed crenate leaves; the red or light pink flowers are pendulous
and do not open.
Meyenia erecta (Thunbergia erecta) An erect, evergreen shrub with thin branches, glossy
ovate leaves and trumpet shaped violet flowers.
Murraya exotica
An evergreen shrub which bears creamish white fragrant flowers.
MUSSAENDA
M.erythrophylla 'Rosea'
A bushy shrub with bunches of large rose-coloured bracts
M.philippica 'Aurorae'
An outstanding bushy shrub with bunches of large, white bracts
NERIUM
N.oleander
An evergreen shrub with a whorl of linear-lanceolate leathery leaves; flowers are pink, red or
white. N.oleander'Variegatum'
An ornamental shrub with green leaves attractively bordered with cream; the large double

flowers are carmine pink.

Nyctanthus arbortristis
It is a large shrub or a small tree, bearing star like, white, fragrant flowers, pedicel and centre
of the flower being orange.
Pachystachys lutea
A small shrub with lanceolate leaves; erect inflorescence hop-like orange yellow bracts with
creamy white flowers.
Plumbago capensis
A small shrub with lilac blue flowers; being used for edging or shrubberies.
P.pulcherrima (Caesalpinia)
A prickly shrub with bipinnate mimosa like leaves; the orange red flowers have long, red
stamens.
P.pulcherrima 'Plava' (Caesalpinia)
This bears yellow flowers.
PSEUDERANTHEMUM
P.atropurpureum 'Tonga'
A hardy shrub with leathery oval leaves, shaded blackish purple, varying to a deep metallic
green P.atropurpureum 'Variegatum'
A hardy shrub with erect branches; leaves are elliptical and variegated coppery purple with
rose, grey green yellow or white.
P.'Goldiana'
Leaves green and gold variegated
P.reticula tum
An attractive shrub with erect branches; the leaves are broad, thick and green with
reticulation of golden yellow veins.
Punic a granatum Florepleno
A hardy shrub with large, double showy, crimson red flowers.
RUSSELIA
R. equisetiformis
A shrubby plant with whip and rush like, 4-angled stems; leaves reduced to small scally
bracts on the branches; flowers are tubular with a scarlet red corolla.
R.sarmentosa
It is a dwarf shrub with slender, four angled stems with whorls of 2 to 4 wedge shaped
brownish crenate margins. The velvety scarlet red tubular flowers are borne at the leaf axils.
TABERNAEMONTANA
T.coronaria
A shrub with glossy green, elliptical leaves and white, undulating, fragrant flowers.
T.coronaria 'Plena'
An elegant shrub with waxy lanceolate leaves; flowers are fully double and fragrant
Tecomaria capensis (radicans)
A rambling evergrene shrub, bearing bunches of funnel-shaped, orange scarlet flowers.
Tecoma stans (stenolobium)
A tall, hardy shrub with unequally pinnate leaves; flowers are bright yellow.
Thevetia peruviana
An evergreen shrub with linear, narrow dark green leaves, the bell shaped flowers are yellow.
D) TREES
Albizia lebbeck
A hardy tree with bipinnate leaves and yellowish white flowers.
Alstonia scholaris
A tall hardy tree with waxy, deep green foliage

Azardirachta indica
Another tall, hardy tree with long spreading branches and small pinnate leaves; flowers are
white and sweet scented.
Bauhinia purpurea
A tree with thin, leathery leaves; flowers are reddish purple and fragrant
Callistemon lanceolatus (Bottlebrush)
A small tree with long, linear leaves; the flowers in cylindrical spikes have red stamens.
C.1anceolatus
'King Park Special'
The graceful bottle brush tree bears deep rose flowers. It is an introduction from Australia.
Cassia spectabilis
A showy spreading tree with long pinnate leaves; flowers are yellow raceme, erect above the
foliage. Casuarina equisetifolia
A very hardy tree with pendulous branches and leaves reduced to scales
Delonix regia (Gulmohar)
A hardy, spreading tree with a very showy mass of red flowers.
Dolichandrone platycalyx
Medium sized tree, bearing yellow flowers in clusters.
Gliricidia sepium
A small tree with light pink flowers in clusters.
Grevillea robusta
A tall growing, hardy tree with fern-like leaves and orange yellow flowers.
Ipomoea arborescens
A small tree of dense habit with glossy green, heart-shaped leaves, flowers are white with a
red centre.
Jacaranda mimosaefolia
An evergreen tree with lacy, bright green bipinnate leaves. Tubular flowers grow in bunches
and are lavender blue.
Lagerstroemia speciosa
A beautiful flowering free, bearing rose or mauve-coloured flowers.
Peltophorum pterocarpum (ferrugineum)
A tall spreading tree with bright yellow flowers in large panicles
Plumeria acuminata
A medium-sized tree with acuminate leaves and rosy red flowers.
Plumeria obtusa
A medium sized tree with oblanceolate dark green leaves; flowers are white.
Polyalthia longifolia pendula
A tall ever green with graceful column of symmetrical pyramidal growth, pendulous branches
and long, narrow, lanceolate leaves
Putrajiva roxburghii
A medium sized tree with graceful foliage
Samanea Saman
A huge spreading tree with graceful foliage
Saraca indica
A medium sized pyramidal-shaped tree, bearing rich orange flower heads with long, crimson
stamens Spathodea campanulata
A showy ever green tree, bearing orange red tulip-shaped flowers.
Swietenia macrophylla
A tall growing evergreen tree; flowers are not conspicuous; the fruit is woody
Tabebuia avellanedae

A trumpet shaped tree with palmate leaves and profuse clusters of lavender rose flowers
Tabebula pallida
An evergreen tree with glossy green leaves and soft pink flowers
Tabebuia rosea
A tall growing, spreading tree with bunches of rose coloured flowers
Tecoma argentea
A showy, medium sized tree with a corky bark; the leaves are palmately divided into narrow
leaflets, rich yellow flowers grow in clusters.
Terminalia catappa
A large tree with spreading branches arranged in tiers, having large obovate leathery leaves.
Thespesia populnea
A medium sized tree with obovate dark green leaves; the bell shaped flowers are yellow with
purple centre.
(E) CREEPERS
Adenocalymna calycina
A woody climber with thick, leathery, leaves, light rose-pink flowers grow in cluster.
Allamanda cathartica
A hardy shrubby climber with whorled, long, leathery, green leaves; the funnel-shaped
flowers are golden yellow.
Antigonon leptopus
A showy climber with arrow-shaped, pale green leaves and rose pink flowers in racemes.
Bignonia ignea (Pyrostegia venusta)
A woody climber with leaves of 2 to 3 ovate leaflets; red-orange, tubular flowers grow in
heavy clusters.
Bougainvillea sp.
A very hardy, heat-tolerant, shrubby climber; flower bracts in various colours, such as red,
orange, pink, rose, purple, mauve, yellow and white; bracts may be in a single whorl or
double.
Clerodendrum splendens
A graceful shrubby climber with large, oblong or elliptical, corrugated, dark green leaves;
scarlet flowers grow in clusters.
Clerodendrum thomsonae
A climber with thin, ovate leaves; flowers grow in clusters, the calyx is white, changing to
pink; the corollais deep crimson
Ipomoea horsfalliae
A graceful creeper with palmately lobed, glossy green leaves; the bell shaped flowers are
deep carmine red. Jacquemintia violacea
It is a climber with thin wiry stem, leaves small with bright blue flowers.
Lonicera japonica
A hardy creeper with fragrant, dreamy-white flowers.
Pandorea jasminoides
The flowering climber with compound leaves and 5-9 glossy green elliptic leaflets. The
trumpet flowers are pinkish white streaked with pink or red in throat.
Petrea volubillis
A woody creeper with rough leaves and light blue flowers in racemes
Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper) A woody climber with drooping flowers which are red
in the bud stage and white while opening which again changes into pink and red.
Senecio confusus
Commonly known as 'Mexican Flaw vine'. This succulent with creeping habit gives scarlet
coloured flowers which are very attractive. The leaves are fleshy, green and ovate with

coarsely toothed margins. Very useful for hanging baskets and also a creeper.
Tecoma rose
An introduction from Australia. The leaves are almost like T.capensis. The bell shaped
flowers are rose in colour. Can be used as a creeper.
Thunbergia grandifoloa
A woody climber with large white flowers in a raceme.
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Rhynchospermum)
Commonly known as 'Star Jasmine'. It is an ever green climber with woody, wiry stem and
milky sap, leathery leaves with white star like flowers with wavy lobes.
Vernonia colorata
A vigorously growing creeper with grey green leaves wit small white flower heads.
(F) PALMS
Palms, a distinctly varied group of plants mostly originated in the tropics. Palms can be used
both as indoors and outdoors for landscaping.
Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cocos plumosa)
A handsome palm with a straight, smooth trunk, bearing a graceful crown of arching plumy
frons. The shiny leaf segments are dark green
Caryota urens (Fish-tall palm)
A Graceful palm with arching leaves.
Chamadorea elegans
A graceful 'Parlor palm' with a thin stem; slow growing compared to other palms. The
pinnate leaves bear thin, leathery segments; re deep green. Does well in shady corners, also
very elegant

Chrysalidocarpus (Areca lutescens)

A graceful palm with slender, yellowish stem forming an attractive clump. The
pinnate foliage is narrow, papery, glossy yellow-green. The hardy plans can grow
up to 3.5m. Suitable for outdoors as well as indoors.
Dictyosperma aureum
Commonly known as 'Yellow Princess Palm' or 'Hurricane Palm'. Trunk is slender
with swollen base; ring scars and vertical cracks prominent; long green crown shaft
opens to a graceful crown of 3 m long pinnate fronds, the rachis twists 90 degree so
that the leaflets are parallel to the trunk. The frond is characterised by the
persistence of reins along with margin till they are fully nature.
Licual grandis
An attractive small fern palm. It has slender, thorny petioles, bearing lobed, toothed,
round, bright green leaves.
Livistona rotundifolia
An attractive table palm. It has a crown of palmate leaves. The thorny red stalks
bear glossy green leaves, notched deeply at the edge.
Pritchardia pacifica
A very graceful fern palm. The leaves form a rosette at the top of the stem, glittering
olive green, leathery and deeply folded like a fan.
Ptychosperma elegans
A handsome palm with slender trunk, topped by 6-8 short pinnate fronds 1 to 2 m
long, grows to a height of 6m. About 20 pairs of bright green pinnate leaves, cut off
and jagged at apex give a chewed appearance.
Roystonea regia
The royal palm is tall with grey trunk slightly swollen above the middle and
terminal crown of arching, feathery fronds.
R.venezuelana
The growth habit is the same as R.regia but the colour of the petiole is purplish
when young.
Thrinax parviflora
The slender, solitary stem has fan like leaves. Petioles are reddish at the base with
hairy fibre. The palmate leaves are 90 to 120 ems wide, almost round and cut
halfway, the ribs are yellow; a good indoor plant.
Washingtonia filifera
A very hardy, heat-tolerant robust palm; the leaves are palmate and divided, petioile
thorny; young leaves are clothed with white threads.

Crop
Rose
China Aster
Chrysanthemum

Source
Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore
IIHR, Floriculture Centre Ganeshkhind, Pune
IIHR, IARI, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow,
Regional Plant Resource Center, Bhubaneshwar, Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, Punjab Agricultural University

115

Gladiolus
Marigold
Tuberose

Ludhiana
IIHR, IARI, Horticultural Experiment and Training Center,
Chaubattia (UP), Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana
IIHR, IARI
IIHR, NBRI