AY Honors/Flower Culture/Answer Key
1. Define each of the following:
a. Perennials
The plants grow all year around without dying back. Some may enter periods of foliage dormancy but their root systems will remain viable and they will normally remain green although not showing new growth.
b. Annuals
Annuals die each year. Depending on your climate annuals may be for summer planting (in snow regions) or winter planting (in low deserts). These plants produce many flowers and seeds in their life cycle to help perpetuate them. As a result many annuals seem to grow back each year when it is more likely a new plant from a seed has grown in its place.
c. Biennials
Biennials are plants that live for two years. They generally take on different forms in each of these years, producing seeds only in the second year.
2. Give general instructions for making a hotbed. What is the difference between a hotbed and a cold frame?
3. What is drainage? Of what importance is it?
4. Name three plant pests and tell how to control them.
5. Give instructions for making a window box and tell its use.
6. Prepare the soil, fertilize, plant, and grow to maturity three different kinds of annuals.
7. Care for two or more perennial flowers growing outdoors for one season by fertilizing, watering, weeding, and treating for pests as needed. Maintain a written record with weekly entries, listing work done.
8. Which three plant nutrients are most important to flowering plants?
9. Identify three flowering plants adapted to each of the following conditions:
a. Shade
b. Dry soil
c. Full sun
d. Moist soil
10. What is the purpose of a soil test?
To determine the nutriant content of the soil. This will allow the gardner to select plants that will grow best in the existing soil conditions or to determine what nutriant suppliments are required to ammend the soil for the intended plants.
