Use of polyhouses for
Propagation and
production of quality
planting
material
PLANT PROPAGATING STRUCTURES
• For successful propagation of plants, quite a few plant
propagation structures are often used, as certain plants have
special requirement for light, temperature and humidity for
germination of seeds or rooted cuttings.
• Another objective of using these structures is the outdoor
condition may not be suitable for the growth of young seedlings.
• Many kinds of green houses are used for propagation but the
most suitable type is the one that admits the maximum amount
of light.
• This is important, particularly where most of the propagation is
done in late winter and early spring.
• Good light conditions are essential for the steady growth of the
seedlings.
• There are several kinds of plant propagating structures
which are mentioned below;
1. Hot Beds
2. Cold Frame
3. Polytunnels
4. Lath House/Shade House
5. Net House
6. Mist Propagating Unit
7. Propagation Frames
8. Bottom Heat Box
9. Growing Rooms
• Different structures are used for different purposes
viz. cold frames, net house, and hotbeds are used
for providing a controlled environment for
germination of seed, rooting in cuttings or growing
of plants, whereas polytunnels and lath house are
mostly used for hardening off of young plants
before they are transported to the main field for
transplantation.
1. HOT BEDS
• A hotbed is a bed of soil enclosed in a glass or plastic frame.
It is heated by manure, electricity, steam, or hot-water pipe.
• Hotbeds are used for forcing plants or for raising early
seedlings.
• Hot beds are used in western countries for raising plants in
the early seasons. It mostly provides a hot rooting
environment for the crop.
• It consists of three parts;
• A) Frame
• B) Cover and
• C) Heating system
• In general, the frame is made up of wood, steel, aluminum
or concrete.
• The cover is made up of glass or plastic.
• Heat is provided artificially below the propagating medium
by hot air/ steam/ hot water/ soil heating electrical cable.
• In India, the use of hot beds is quite less due to the high cost
of construction, which is beyond the reach of common
growers.
2. COLD FRAME
• Cold frame is an enclosed ground bed, some time sunken bed, with a
removable cover. Heat is provided through trapping of solar energy. The
cold frame should be located in a sunny place and protected from cold
winds.
• Temperature is maintained during the day by removing the cover or
cladding material.
• It is being inexpensive can be used in certain places of India where
winter is severe. It can be used for raising early seedlings, rooted
cuttings before they are transplanted in the field.
3. Poly tunnels
• The most basic type of tunnel is a single piece of plastic stretched
over curved support stand anchored into the ground.
• The more common structure consists of galvanized steel tubes for
the framework support.
• Hardening and rooting of cuttings can be done in this structure.
4. SHADE HOUSE/ LATH HOUSE
• It is very useful for protecting the young seedlings
or rooted cuttings from the external high
temperature and light intensity.
• Lath house is mostly used for hardening the
seedlings before transplanting in the main field.
5. NET HOUSE/ SHADE NET HOUSE
• The roof may be covered with glass or glass substitute like
plastic films and the sides are covered with a wire net. This
provides sufficient ventilation and keep the internal
temperature sufficiently warm during winter and cool
during summer months.
• The major advantage with this method is, control of disease
and pest attack more efficiently as the small sucking insects
can’t enter the cropping area.
6. MIST PROPAGATING UNIT/ MIST HOUSE
• It is useful for rooting of cuttings, especially for those which are difficult
to root like mango, guava and soft wood cuttings.
• A fine mist is sprayed over the cuttings intermittently during the day. At
the time of night, it is not required.
• The mist is controlled by a time clock, operating a magnetic valve that is
set to turn the mist on for 3-5 seconds to wet the leaves and turned off.
When the leaves begin to dry, the mist is again turn on.
7. Propagation Frames :
• Sometimes in a greenhouse, the humidity is not enough
to allow satisfactory rooting in the leaf cuttings. In such
cases, enclosed frames covered with glass or plastic
material may be used for rooting of cutting.
• These frames are useful only on grafted plants as these
retain high humidity during the process of healing.
• Large inverted glass can also be kept over a container
having cuttings.
• Though, high humidity is required in such frames but
ventilation and shading is necessary after the rooting
process has started in the cutting.
8. Bottom Heat Box :
• It is a simple box for promoting rooting of cutting is difficult-
to-root fruit plants like mango and guava.
• The most ideal temperature to be maintained in the box is
30 ± 2°C, because at this temperature, cuttings of mango,
walnut, olive and guava root easily and profusely.
• The initiation of rooting in cutting varies from species-to-
species but in general, it takes 1-2 months for proper
development of the roots.
9. Growing Rooms :
• A growing room is an insulated building from which natural light is
usually excluded.
• In it, illumination is provided by artificial means.
• Growing rooms are now widely used commercially for the
production of seedlings of bedding plants, tomatoes and
cucumbers in most advanced countries.
• The seedlings are usually grown in trays or pots kept on benches.
