Propogating tree cuttings

The coordinator, A..., had me split and up-pot some tree cuttings I had taken on March 23, 2022. There were about 10 different varieties of tree cuttings, about half of them had successfully rooted. The others were completely dead. Pots where multiple cuttings were successful were split into several pots, each pot with one successfully growing cutting. A had me use a mixture of soil: one part of the vermiculite mix and one part of the bark mix.

These are the cuttings that rooted:

Rhamnus alaternus (Mediterranean buckthorn)

Balsamocitris daweii (Uganda;deciduous citrus tree)

Macadamia integrifolia(Australian; macadamia nut tree)

Pterocarya hupehensis(China, wingnut tree)

Hibiscus splendens(Australia, pink hollyhock tree)

Grewia biloba(Africa; flowering shrub)

These cuttings did not root:

Schinus molle (Peru)

Grevillea robusta (Australia)

Combretum kraussii (Africa)

Juglans neotropica (Andes, walnut-like)

Sapindus marginatus (North America; Soapberry)

Coordinator A... had me re-pot into a tray cuttings of the common thistle plant that she had harvested from her garden. The new plants are to be used in a butterfly demonstration in an ecology class (painted lady butterfly, I think…). The cuttings were originally in potting soil, in separate pots. She asked me to transfer the cuttings to a tray containing the mixture of vermiculite and bark mix, for better drainage. I noted several of the rhizomes had new sprouting rootlets.

A asked me to remember to remove a handful of aquatic plants from the aquarium, everytime I came to the greenhouse (i.e. weekly). This will keep down the population of plants from overgrowth. The aquarium contains three distinctly different types of small plants: a small water fern called Salvinia minima, a carnivorous plant called bladder wort or Utricularia, and a small duckweed plant (Lemnaceae, in the aroid family).

A asked me to trim the fronds of one of the cycads: Zamia furfuracea. It had been overwatered when repotted, the lower branches had yellowed. I trimmed several large fronds from the lower part of the stem. The fronds on the upper part of the stem were growing well, they looked healthy and green.

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I celebrate learning this about cycad plants

I didn't know that the cardboard palm - Zamia furfuracea - is a cycad. It isn't a palm tree (don't judge me, I'm not a botanist). But it also doesn't look like the other more familiar types of cycads with their fluted upright palm-like fronds. I didn't know it is said to be the second most commonly cultivated cycad, after Cycas revoluta . I didn't know this plant is unrelated to the common ZZ plant - Zamioculcas zamifolia - although they have a similar appearance. Before today I didn't know any of these things, but now I am happy to have learned them. From the parking lot I walked to the U of M Conservatory greenhouse in near-zero F weather. Stepping into the tropical spaces was a joy of its own. But being able to learn new information and experience new procedures was a compounding factor. Joy squared. During my 3-hour volunteer shift, my initial task was to clean the parasite critters (mealybugs and scale) from the stems and leaves of the cycad, Zami...

Mobile indoor green wall

Finally, after three years... my plant vines have grown and spread to be green wall that I had hoped for. I'm not sure it would have taken as long if the plants were in a more humid, sunny climate, et cetera. But given our indoor Minnesota location - even with a southwest exposure - the vines have needed that amount of time to climb the six feet from the base to the top rungs of the metal grid supporting them. The result has been worth the effort. And to be honest, I didn't have to wait three years to begin enjoying the green wall. The vines were already attractive when only half way up the trellis. A metal grid is filled with mix of Epipremnum aureum cultivar "Marble Queen", Epipremnum aureum aka golden pothos, and Philodendron Brasil . Architecture of the green wall The initial intent of the project was to grow a green wall, in an apartment, that could be moved around to be able to clean underneath, and also to provide a mobile room divider for our open-plan loft....

The eponymous palm of Palm Springs

Tens of thousands of native California fan palms ( Washingtonia filifera) rise over the gardens and streets of Palm Springs. The fan-like leaves flutter and wave as the trees gently sway in the desert breeze. If a plant could be described as elegant, this plant would certainly be one. Delicate fibers peel away from the leaf blade as they age, giving the palm part of its name, filifera . The advantage of the fibers to the plant is uncertain; however, the fibers were used by the indigenous Cuhuilla tribes for tools and fabrics. It is no accident the city is named for the palm. For centuries the native Cuhuilla residents were vastly outnumbered by fan palms. For the Cuhuilla, the plant became an important resource for their tools and shelters. Even today, I wouldn't be surprised if the number of palms outnumber the residents of the current modern city. Bird's eye view over old Palm Springs neighborhood; fan palms are everywhere. In their native environment, the palms grow best al...

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