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A broad and superficial overview of culturing potted plants has been presented. However, it should not be taken as the complete picture in the production of healthy plants. One area not covered, but of critical importance, is pest management. Any successful plant growing program must incorporate strategies for pest management. These should include;
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hygiene management,
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isolation of infested plants,
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use of biological controls when available, and
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the judicious use of pesticides.
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Spacing between the pots of host test plant species (top left)
and target plant species (others)
reduces competition for light, minimises etiolation and promotes strong, natural
growth. It allows
for better air circulation around plants, providing conditions less conducive
for pathogen growth.
Spacing also improves coverage of insecticidal sprays (when applied) and
penetration of water
and foliar fertiliser from overhead sprinklers. The tasks of weed removal and
the application of
fertilisers to the potting media surface are also made easier.
It is strongly recommended that further reading dealing with the topics above be pursued. The book by Handreck and Black
(1984) is an excellent starting
point and general reference.
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Gio. W. Fichera
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