AY Honors/Flower Culture/Answer Key
1. Define each of the following:
a. Perennials
A perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. Perennial plants are divided into two large groups, those that are woody and those that are herbaceous. All woody plants are perennials since they form woody tissue that persists from one year to the next. Woody perennials develop a woody base or root system from which the foliage and flower stems grow year after year while the plant is alive. In common usage the term perennial generally describes herbaceous perennials.
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?
Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Hotbed 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 nutrient content of the soil. This will allow the gardener to select plants that will grow best in the existing soil conditions or to determine what nutrient supplements are required to amend the soil for the intended plants.
