LABORATORY EXERCISE 7

NAME: COURSE/YEAR & SECTION:

SUBJECT: Plant Growth and Development TOPIC: Media
TITLE: Evaluation of Media on Rooting
OBJECTIVES:
1. To design a plant media suitable for rapid rooting in new cuttings.
2. To recognize the factors in the soil necessary for quick root initiation
MATERIALS:
1. Five media and media mixes sufficient to fill five pots with the following:
a. garden soil 0
b. sand
c. saw dust
d. Mix of 35% sand and 65% garden soil
e. Mix of 70% saw dust and 30% garden soil
f. Twenty five terminal cuttings of Coleus varieties
g. Twenty five uniformed small pots
PROCEDURES:
1. Fill each pot with different media or media mixes as follows:
5 pots garden soil
5 pots sand
5 pots saw dust
5 pots mix of 35% sand and 65% garden soil
5 pots mix of 70% saw dust and 30% garden soil
2. Thoroughly water each pot 24 hours prior to the time the cuttings are to be stuck.
3. Prepare the cuttings, and stick cuttings into each media or media mix. The cuttings should be
stuck immediately after being severed from the parent plant.
4. Label the pots. Include date, name of cutting, and rooting media.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Check for rate and percent of rooting at the end of the first 10 days by carefully removing one or
two plants from each media mix. Calloused tissue and a small number of primary roots should
have formed.
2. Compare and rank the rate and percent of rooting in each media or media mix, and record your
observation in the tables below. Carefully replace the cuttings after observation.

A. Rate of Rooting

Fastest Rooting Media or Media Mix

10 days 14 days
 1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

B. Rooting percentage

Highest Percentage Media or Media Mix

10 days 14 days
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

3. Check again for rate and percent of rooting in each media or media mix at the end of 14 days.
Rank and record your observations in the above table.
4. At the end of 14 days or at the time all cutting have completely rooted, submit your potted
cuttings and your laboratory report for recording.
DISCUSSION:
1. In which media or media mix did the cutting root fastest? Slowest?
2. In which media or media mix was root formation most highly developed? Least developed?
3. What media or media mix is best for rooting terminal cuttings?
4. Why is soil not generally used for rooting cuttings?
5. Under what conditions will the ratio of the mixture, or the materials in the mixture, be altered?