Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course combines the major propagation methods related to ornamental plant propagation. Lecture is followed by lab exercises demonstrating both knowledge and skills.

• Specific principles and practices are covered in lecture and demonstrated with student participation in the lab portion. The application of these principles and practices prepares the student for employment or self-employment in the nursery production industry.

The instructor prepares hands-on labs before class (e.g. collecting and staging materials based on seasonal availability, and preparing plant material in advance of the class). Preparation includes the propagation of plant material for the class by seeds and cuttings and the monitoring and care of the plants before the start of the term and during the duration of the term). During the lab period, the instructor demonstrates plant propagation techniques. Students then practice plant propagation techniques with the instructor’s guidance and receive verbal feedback as they work. Students monitor and keep records of propagation techniques and experiments in a lab notebook (written and with photographs). The instructor evaluates the reports outside of class time—providing a score and feedback on technical accuracy, completeness and professionalism.

• Written mid-term and final exams
• Attendance and participation
• Journal

• Propagation of plants by hardwood stem cuttings
• Cutting selection
• Rooting medium and container selection
• Preparation of cuttings prior to placing in rooting medium
• Principles of propagation by grafting
• Principles of propagation by seed
• Propagation by layering
• Propagation by division
• Propagation of roots
• Propagation by leaf cuttings
• Propagation by leaf and bud cuttings