Plant Production

7/7/14

Yesterday was my first time in Kirstenbosch where I actually got my hands dirty! With the exception of Friday’s specimen stand and kiosk plant collection, today was the first time I did anything requiring horticultural skills. My fellow new student interns, Jermaine and Megan, and I had the opportunity to begin plant production with the experienced nurseryman Therlo. Today’s task: Pelargonium citronellum propagation.

For those of you unfamiliar with what a pelargonium is, it is commonly known as a geranium. That plant you may have with the round or star-like foliage, fuzzy/rubbery/gritty, and almost always has an unfavorable scent. Yeah well those are from South Africa and they have HUNDREDS of wild species. The genus is significant enough to have an entire garden dedicated to native Pelargoniums. They can range from a bushy shrub to an ivy to a spreading ground cover and usually have something unique about them. If you couldn’t guess from its name, this specimen had a profound citrus aroma to the touch. Great for some room fragrance, a sensory garden, or a simple deodorant substitute if you pass some by while on a run.

Citronellum is found in a shrub-like form and we went around taking 12 inch cuttings of the succulent stems. Before placing them in a bark/styrofoam/peet moss media, we: trimmed the apical bud, reduced the stem to 6 inches, removed all but 3-4 leaves, reduced the leaf surface area, and stick the base into rooting hormone. When operating on the cuttings, we sterilized our hand pruners with a chemical called terminator (fungicide).

Working with Therlo was an absolute joy as he, and the students, informed me of the do’s and don’ts of South Africa. I will not be going to any clubs during my stay. He also gave us a tip when working with chemicals which I had never heard. If you are subject to a chemical spill on your skin, if you are able to wash it off with water, do so with cold water. Warm or hot water opens up the pores and allows the chemical to infiltrate your body. Cold water causes your pores to clench shut, preventing any further exposure.