Course: Plant Science
Unit: Plant Breeding/Propagation
Problem Area: Herbaceous Cuttings
Date: Spring 2014
Five 45-minute class periods, Three and a half 90 minute block class periods
Created By: Katie Frenzen
Materials Needed
References
-Smart Board
Mrs. Stephanie Mann Materials
-Herbaceous Cuttings Power Point
-Power Point notes outline, Herbaceous cuttings
UNL HORT 221 Lab Materials
-Herbaceous Cuttings Terms Worksheet
-Hormone Concentration Worksheet
-1 flat of small Begonias (or more depending on size
of the class). A different plant than Begonias can be
used if those are unavailable.
-At least one Leaf Cutting of a Begonia that has been
done at least two weeks prior with Auxin
-Dip ‘N’ Grow (synthetic Auxin NAA)
- 1:3 Bark Mix : Perlite
*** See Herbaceous cuttings Power Point for rest of
materials needed
Frame
Content
Remember, what is Plant Propagation? (asexually reproducing a
plant)
Materials
Linkage
What are the main methods of Plant Propagation?
Cuttings, grafting, micropropagation, Seed Germination, Chip
Budding, Specialized Stems and Structures, Herbaceous Grafting.
En Interest Approach
roll
Have a leaf cutting that was done a few weeks ago ready at the
start of class.
Show students the amount of roots growing from the small leaf.
Ask, Where do you think that these roots came from? How can so
many roots grow from a small piece of the Begonia?
A part of plant propagation is using a special substance (actually
auxins  ) that help the plant develop more roots.
Begonia leaf
cutting with
plenty of
adventitious
roots to show
the students.
Problem Statement:
E
xpe What parts of a plant can be used to propagate that plant?
rie
nce (stems, roots, leaves, seed, buds)
La
bel
De
mo
nst
rat
e
Objectives:
1) Students will be able to name the four types of cuttings.
2) Students will comprehend the importance and uses of
herbaceous cuttings.
3) Students will be able to explain the purpose of auxins and other
hormones in plant propagation.
4) Students will know how to propagate a plant through herbaceous
cuttings.
Day 1: Ask the students which of the two plants on slide 2 of the
Power Point that they would rather propagate using the leaves of
the plant. Reveal each of the two images one at a time using the
Spotlight feature on the Smart Board.
Can place on
Smart Board if
preferred.
Power Point
slide 2 and
Spotlight feature
of Smart Board.
Could also take a short poll before discussing.
The herbaceous plant, the one on the right. Herbaceous plants are
easier to cut and have more ways to cut across the veins for more
root development later.
Homework: Herbaceous Cuttings Terms worksheet
Day 1 into day 2 (for 45 minute class periods) Work through
the Power Point as a class.
When you reach the part of the lesson on figuring the
concentration of the auxins and other hormones, figure the
concentrations on the Smart Board on the side margins of the
Power Point. The Power Point will allow you to figure the
concentrations as a class on the Smart Board.
Complete the first problem of the Hormone Concentrations
worksheet as a class
Day 2 (block scheduling); Day 3 and 4 (45 minute class
periods): Conduct the Herbaceous cuttings lab. Use the
flyswatter Smart Board Template to go through the directions
for the Herbaceous Cutting Lab. When students click on a new
fly, they will be directed to the next content area. Make sure
that they go in the right order! Directions are numbered next to
each fly.
Herbaceous
Cuttings Terms
Worksheet
Smart Board
Power Point on
Herbaceous
Cuttings
Hormone
concentration
worksheet
Smart Board
Flyswatter
template, with
the Herbaceous
cuttings lab
directions
already written
in.
Re
vie
w/
Ref
lect
Cel
ebr
ate
Review content for a quiz over the types of cuttings, methods for
cuttings, and hormones by completing the ‘class dual’ game on the
Smart Board.
Conclusion:
Herbaceous cuttings can be a cheaper way for you to have plenty
of the plants you enjoy in your garden come spring time. Anyone
can get very good at completing cuttings with practice. Cuttings
have been used for quite some time, but are still a valuable aspect
of plant propagation. Now that you’re on your way to being
experts at this, don’t be afraid to try some leaf or other herbaceous
cuttings on some of your plants at home!
Homework
Propagation Terms Homework assignment
Hormone calculations worksheet
Herbaceous cuttings Quiz!
Class Dual
Smart Board
Game