The document discusses various media that can be used for propagating horticultural crops. It describes the characteristics a good medium should have such as being firm, porous, and free of pathogens. Common media mentioned include soil, sand, peat, sphagnum moss, vermiculite, and soil mixtures. Soil mixtures are often preferred as they can be customized for different plant groups by adjusting the proportions of components like red earth, manure, sand, and leaf mould. Recommended soil mixtures are provided for different plant types.

1. by
N. VENKATRAJ
M.Sc., (Horticulture) in Fruit Science

2.  Medium:
Several materials and their combinations are
available as media for germinating seeds and
rooting of cuttings.
 Characteristics of Medium:
a) It must be firm and dense to hold the cuttings
or seeds in place during rooting or
germination.
b) It possess sufficient moisture retaining
capacity.
c) It must be sufficiently porous to permit excess
water to drain away and to proper aeration.
d) It must be free from weed seeds, nematodes
and pathogens

3. VARIOUS MEDIA FOR PROPAGATION OF
HORTICULTURAL CROPS:
Soil:
It is composed of materials in the solid, liquid
and gaseous state.
the materials must exist in the proper
proportions for satisfactory growth.
soils rich in humus are often used as media for
forestry tree species in South Indian hills.

5. Sand:
it is the most satisfactory medium for rooting
of cuttings.
it contains no mineral nutrients
hence mixed with organic materials for raising
seeds.

7. Peat:
it consist remains of aquatic marsh, bog or
swamp vegetation which has been preserved
under water in partially decomposed state.
it is derived from sphagnum, hypnum or
other mosses.
it is used in mixture after breaking them and
moistened.

9. Sphagnum moss:
it is dehydrated young residue or living
portion of acid-bog plants in the genus
Sphagnum such as S. papillosum, S. capillacem
and S. paluste.
it is generally collected from the tree trunks
of the forest species in south indian hills
above 1500 m MSL during rainy period.
it is relatively sterile, light in weight and has
a high water holding capacity.
it is the commonly used in air layering.

11. Vermiculite:
This is a micaceous mineral which expands
markedly when heated.
Chemically it is a dehydrated magnesium
aluminium – iron silicate.
It is very light weight and able to absorb large
quantities of water.
This can be used as a rooting medium for air
layering and also in pots for raising certain
plants.

13. Soil mixture:
It is the mostly commonly employed medium
for pot plants.
it consist red earth, horse or well decomposed
cattle manure, leaf mould, river sand and also
charcoal in some cases.
in other countries, pot mixtures of better
textures are made by mixing sand, soil and
organic matter such as peat moss or saw dust
or shredded bark.

14. SOIL MIXTURE FOR CERTAIN GROUP OF
PLANTS
1. Fruit plants -> red earth, sand and FYM (4:2:1)
2. For potting rooted cuttings and young
seedlings -> sand, loam soil and leaf mould
(2:1:1)
3. Annuals -> horse manure, red earth and sand
(3:1:1.5)
4. Bulbous plants -> red earth + sand + leaf
mould + manure, loam soil and charcoal
(2:1:0.25)

15. 5. Palms -> leaf mould, red earth, sand, loam and
horse manure (4:3:3:2:2)
6. Ferns -> leaf mould, sand, loam, horse
manure, brick pieces and lime rubbish
(4:3:2:2:1:1)
Thank you...