Fanshawe College Greenhouse Blog March 6th - 8th 2015

Sharri and Taylor’s Weekend Duty

     Our Friday began bright and early with greenhouse protocols and a rundown of what we needed to do this weekend. After the formalities, Taylor and I started our duties with what one should always do first - walk the crop. Walking the crop is vital as it allows you to be up close and personal with the plants so as to monitor for pests, watering needs and any necessary removal of dead material for sanitary purposes. Our current crop of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt’s Supreme’ requires checks for water three times per day and the seed trays (also known as 288’s) require checks every two hours. Of course one only waters when needed so as to not invite algal growth and those nasty fungus gnats! After the walk through of the crop it was time to sow some seeds via the new seeding machine and troubleshoot how to set it up for certain seed sizes. With Taylor filling the seed trays with plug mix - this is a soilless media made specifically for seeds that is very fine in texture to help them establish quickly - it was up to Jeff and myself to set the seeding machine for Coleus Wizard Mix. We figured out the settings and then let the machine do its work, very quickly I might add! We then sowed more Coleus and moved on to some Petunia Wave Purple, Wave Red and Wave White. Our final seed for the seeding machine was Salvia ‘Red Hot Sally’…some heat right about now would be nice wouldn't it? The completed seed trays had a label printed out and stapled to the front. Once properly labelled with botanical name, common name and date of sowing the trays were placed on the heated bench in the greenhouse and watered (misted).

     All seeds, cuttings and plugs must have propagation sheets filled out in order to track their beginnings - a birth certificate so to speak. All other seeding had to be done by hand, so this was my task and Taylor started potting-up the plugs of Sweet Potato Vine into 4 inch pots. As day one neared its end it was time to do a final check on the plants in the greenhouse, clean-up and go home.

     Saturday began with a walk of the crop. The Hydrangeas looked fabulous but the seed trays needed a drink. With this done, I filled up the Aquamate (large tank of water on wheels) and started the interiorscape. Interiorscape refers to the care of the plants that live within building environments - these plants often need more care due to lack of sunlight, humidity, water and general tender loving care. Whilst I was gone watering, Taylor continued potting-up plugs of Euphorbia (Spurge) and more Sweet Potato Vine into 4 inch pots. Plugs are simply cuttings of plants that have rooted and been placed into tiny paper wrapped cells (plugs) filled with a soilless media. After lunch we switched jobs, with Taylor continuing interiorscapes and me potting-up some plugs of Osteospermum. Upon completing the plugs I placed them in the greenhouse, watered them in and then continued with planting seeds of Gazania Kiss Rose, Coleus Kong Red, Coleus Watermelon and Coleus Chocolate Covered Cherry…yummy! My final task of the day was to take some more cuttings for the propagation chamber. Propagation chambers work by misting (humidity) the leaf surfaces of the cuttings to keep them cool and reduce water loss. This process keeps stress off of the cutting allowing it to focus its attention on producing roots. Cuttings of Begonia and Spearmint were acquired, treated with a rooting hormone, placed in wetted media and then put in the chamber. Near days’ end Taylor returned from interiorscapes so we checked on the crop, cleaned-up and retired.

     Our final day in the greenhouse began with noticing that the shade curtains were still drawn due to daylight savings time. Once this abated our walk of the crop began; checking for pests and watering or sanitary needs. Taylor left to do some more interiorscapes and I did more cuttings, this time of Winter Savory. With that done and after checking on the crops again, I potted-up the many lovely Dynamo Red Geraniums into one gallon pots and placed them in the greenhouse. Upon Taylor’s return from interiorscapes we took a late lunch. Afterwards we checked the crop (especially the seed trays) to see if water was needed. I then returned to potting, this time of Colocasia (Elephant’s Ear) into one gallon pots. Meanwhile, an inventory of the Begonias was needed and Taylor was up to the task. After helping Taylor with a plastic skirt around the base of Bench #1 to help retain more bottom heat for the seed trays and seedlings- bottom heat is very helpful for seed germination and keeps the root zone warm for proper growth - it was time to start our final clean-up…but not before checking on the crop one last time. With all the floors washed, tables sanitized, pots cleaned, drains emptied, hoses coiled (well you get the picture!) it was time to call it a day and end our weekend duty at the Fanshawe College Greenhouse.