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Enrich your curriculum with the following downloadable lesson. Check here often to find the latest new and
exciting environmentally themed lesson.

Lesson # 1: Propagating Plants in a Plastic Bag Greenhouse

Objective:

Students will understand what is necessary for a plant to survive and how to properly pot and care for a plant.Students will learn to
collect data and will communicate their findings through drawings, discussions, graphs, and writings.

NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards:

Language Arts: Science:

    3.2 (1)A1,4,5;D1,2; (2)A1,2,4,5,8;D1,2;

    (3)D9; (4)D8; (5-6)D7; (7-8)D9 5.1 (4)A1,2;B1;C1,2; (8)B1;C1,2

    3.3 (1)A1,2,3;B1,2;C1,2; 5.3 (4)B2

    (2)A1,2,4;B1,2,3,4;C1; 5.5 (2)A1;B1,2; (4)B2; (8)B3


    (3)A1,2,3;B1,2;C1,3; 5.8 (2)B1,2; (4)B2,5; (6)B2


    (4)A1,2,3;B3,4,5;C3; 5.10 (2)A1;B1; (4)B1; (6)A1;B1


    (5-6)A1,2;B1,2;C1;


    (7-8)A1,2;B1,2,3;C1,2 Math:

    3.4 (1)A1;B1,2; (2)A1,3;B1; 4.2 (2) A4;D3;E2; (3)A5;B2;D2;E1,2


    (3)A1,2;B1; (4)A1,3;B3,6; (4)A5;B2;D2;E1,2; (5)B2;C1;D1,2;


    (5-6)B1,3; (7-8)A3,5;B1,3 (6)B2;C1;D1,2,3; (8)C1


Materials:

  • Plants: Pothos, Philodendron, Wandering Jew or Spider plant (has plantlets no nodes)
  • Zip lock plastic bags
  • Potting soil
  • Sharp, clean knives, scissors or pruners
  • Masking Tape
  • Permanent markers
  • Spray bottle with water


Discussion:

There are a number of ways to propagate a plant other than using seeds. Taking cuttings and putting
them in water to root is not a very good idea because the roots that grow are brittle and often break off when put in soil.

Three main ways to propagate plants are cuttings, plantlets, and layering.

  1. Cuttings are severed from the parent plant and put in soil. They should be taken from healthy plants and each cutting should have at least 2-3 leaves. The cut should be made about ¼" below a leaf node and at an angle with a sharp, thin-blade pocket knife or sharp pruning shears. Leaves that are below the soil level should be removed. The cutting should be made on newer growth and should not include flower buds. If there are any buds or flowers they should be removed so that the cutting's energy goes into producing roots.

  2. Layering can happen naturally when part of a branch gets covered in soil and the covered section grows roots. It can be forced by bending a lower branch and putting part of it in a hole near the base of the plant. Then the hole and branch should be covered over with soil with the end of the branch sticking out of the hole. To aid in the root growth a small wound can be made on the part of the branch which will be underground. This can be done in the fall or the spring. If the branch does not stay in the soil it can be anchored with 'U' shaped spikes.

  3. Plantlets are small plants that sprout off of the parent plant. For instance, spider plants often have runners with 'baby spiders'. A runner is a slender stem that starts from a leaf axil and grows along the ground or downward from a hanging basket, producing a new plant at the tip. Plantlets at the tips of runners may be rooted while attached to the parent.

    Lesson:

  1. Ask the students to name some plants and characteristics of a plant.

  2. Discuss tool safety thoroughly because the students will be making their own cuttings. When handing someone a sharp tool the recipient should acknowledge that they have firmly grasped the implement by saying "Thank you". This practice prevents accidentally dropping, tools, which could injure someone's leg or foot.
    Each student receives:

  1. permanent marker, 1 zip lock plastic bag, 1 piece of masking tape.

  2. On a piece of masking tape, have students write the plant name, their name and the date. Place tape on outside of bag.

  3. Have students fill zip lock bags 1/3 full with potting soil.

  4. The students can then make their own cuttings, learning where the node of the plant is and how to make a proper cutting on an angle. Be sure to demonstrate the proper cutting technique and location of the plant node.

  5. Place plant cutting into plastic bag greenhouse.

  6. Have students water the plants once with the spray bottles and then seal the bag.. If the interior of the bag gets moldy, open it a little to dry out.

  7. Ask: What do plants need to grow? ( Sunlight and Water ).

  8. Discuss the water cycle, greenhouses and terrariums.

  9. After cuttings grow roots, transplant them to small flower pots. Place the rooted cuttings in bright locations and water when needed.

    Extensions:
    • Compare the growth rates of different student's plants. Make graphs and note whether there are any differences.
    • If there are differences, ask the students to discuss why some plants would grow more than others.

    Resources :
    • www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6.html
    • www.treeplants.com/layering.htm
    • www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mg/manual/prop2.htm
    • www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8702.html
    • ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/propagation/asexual.html