Flowers of Sri Lanka:

Steps to chip budding

Manoj DISSANAYEKE

Chip budding is a budding technique which may be used whenever mature buds are available. The chip budding season is longer than “T” budding because the bark doesn’t have to slip and certain species whose bark doesn’t slip easily without breaking are propagated more easily using this method.

Chip budding is simple to learn, and the aftercare is uncomplicated, which makes it an ideal technique for amateurs. Follow these steps to obtain a successful budded plant.

s Make a deep diagonal downward cut about 1 cm below the selected bud.

s Starting about 2 cm above the bud, cut into the sapwood and draw the knife downward under the bud until it meets the first cut. Remove the chip of wood containing the selected bud.

s Make similar cuts into the stock branch in a spot that is easy to work. Try to match the cut surfaces for width and length.

s Place the bud chip in the stock. Try to match the line between the bark and the sapwood on both parts, the chip and the stock. This thin line is the cambium layer and it must form the union. If you can’t match both sides be sure to match one side.

s Wrap the bud in place with plastic budding strips, one inch wide by 8 to 12 inches long. Be sure to leave the bud tip exposed, but wrap tightly. Finish the wrap by tucking the plastic under itself. If you don’t have the proper budding plastic, cut strips from 6 mil construction plastic.

s After a week to 10 days, start removing the new growth on the branch above the bud. This will direct energy to the bud and force it to grow.

After another week or more, the bud should start to grow. Once the bud has grown out 5-10 cm, you can cut back the branch above your bud graft to within 2-3 cm of the bud. Be sure to brace this new growth as it expands.

The wind can break it off very easily at this stage. Leave the brace on for 1-2 years. If the plastic wrap appears to be interfering with the growth in diameter, you may take it off, otherwise it will eventually break and then can be removed.

(The writer is the Agriculture Instructor of Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya)

Planting and germination

The essentials for good germination when planting indoors:

8 Viable seeds- Good seeds that are not hollow, and are not so old that germination rates are poor. Some seed can remain viable for years if stored properly. Others normally last only a season in storage.

8 Soil- A good, seed starting mixture that is light and sterilized.

8 Water- The soil should be moist, but not soaked.

8 Warmth- Here is where growers can add to their success. The ideal seed starting temperatures vary by type of seed. Most are between 70 to 85 degrees farenheit.

Some seeds, like peas and early season vegetables, will germinate at a lower soil temperatures, even as low as fifties.

Others, like pumpkins and peppers, need temperatures on the higher end to induce them to sprout. Seeds can be germinated outside of their ideal range, but the further away from the ideal range for the particular seed, the lower the germination rate.

Step by step instructions to maximize germination:

8 Select the right containers. If you select a container that is too small, your seedling can outgrow its home before you are ready to transplant. A root bound seedling does not translate into maximum growth.

Large paper mache or peat pots promote more open development of roots, but separating individual plants later, can result in tearing of roots and increased transplant shock. Using the individualized seed pots and trays helps to minimize transplant shock.

8 Fill the containers with the seed starting mix and water thoroughly. Make sure the soil is wet, but not soaking.

8 Plant the seeds. Another seemingly easy step. But new gardeners have a habit of planting seeds too deep. Plant seeds a little less than the recommended depth. You can carefully add soil around the seedlings at a later point if needed.

8 Provide bottom warmth to the seeds. Some people use a heating mat, while others put them on top of a warm oven, by the fireplace, or in a sunny window, skipping the expense of a heating mat or other devices.

8 Creating a seed incubator is also popular. Create a wooden or plastic enclosure large enough to hold the containers you are using. Put a light inside the enclosure. The heat from the light will raise the temperature and create a greenhouse effect.

It is important to measure the temperature to make sure it does not get too warm. Temperature will vary depending upon room temperature, wattage of light bulb and size for the enclosure.

8 Now the wait begins! The time required to germinate may be a few days to a few weeks. Germination time varies widely. It can usually be found on the seed packet. For seeds with a long germination period, we recommend you plant in smaller groups over a couple of weeks.

This way if the first group does not germinate, you won’t be waiting three weeks to find out and before starting a new planting.

Tip

* Test your seed for viability in advance, especially if you have saved seed from last year. Plant a few seeds well before the normal planting time. Count the number you planted and the number that germinate. The resulting percentage is your expected germination rate.

* Coat the seeds with Captan to protect against mold and fungus growth. Or buy pre-treated seeds where available. Fungus problems are common with indoor planting.

Microwave cat case spurs online outrage

A case involving teenagers who allegedly killed a pet cat by microwaving it during a home burglary last month has provoked outrage among the Internet users, leading authorities to block some web sites, police said Monday.

Police shut down local web sites over the weekend that breached a Canadian law banning the identification of young people charged with a crime, or that promoted vigilante justice, Inspector Lee Foreman told AFP.

“I think people like them should be shot,” said one message posted on the social networking website Facebook. “I would say these monsters should be tortured.”

Another message board named the boys and said they should be shot or “get their faces smashed in.” Others demanded tougher laws to curtail animal abuse. Four boys, aged 13 to 15, from Camrose, Alberta, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) southeast of Edmonton, have been charged in the cat’s death and are scheduled to appear in court in February.

According to a neighbor quoted by the Edmonton Journal, the suspects vandalized the home, stole several items and scrawled in felt pen on kitchen cabinets: “Nice cat, look in the microwave.”

The cat’s owners were away on vacation at the time. A friend who was looking after the house in their absence found the feline’s remains, police said.

AFP

Dog myths Chinese Fu Dog

It is in the most sophisticated and earliest of civilization, China, that the black dog plays its greatest role in religion, folklore, and mythology. The “Fu Dog”, a recurring theme in Chinese culture, has the positive attribute of bringing happiness and good fortune.

A great deal of the dog’s early domestication took place in ancient China. It is here, too, that the first pack-hunting dogs were bred.