An immature small bulb formed at the base of a mature bulb; e.g Hyacinth.
If you spot an error or know of a term that isn't here, add a comment and we'll sort it out.
Other Glossary Entries : A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- B AND B
- Balled and burlap, a method in which plants are sold where the roots of a plant have been lifted and wrapped in burlap to keep it together until transplanted.
- BACKFILL
- Replacing dirt from the original hole after planting.
- BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS
- BT. (Bacillus thuringiensis) A bacterium that causes disease in a variety of pest larvae, but is safe to humans, birds and pets, and plants; marketed under such tradenames as Biotrolñ, Dipelñ, and Thuricideñ.
- BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT
- A backyard or limited area situation where native plants and materials are providing food and shelter for protection and reproduction for birds, insects, and mammals in ones own backyard.
- BARE ROOT
- Plants offered for sale that have had the soil removed from their roots when dormant. The soil is shaken free, washed and they are stored until shipment. Small fruit trees and roses come this way, as well as smaller shrubs and bushes, sold in their dormancy. Mail order companies usually ship their plants “bare root”.
- Basal cutting
- A strong shoot that is cut in spring just above ground level from border plants such as delphiniums, phlox and Michaelmas daisies. See also cutting, hardwood_cuttings, root_cutting, semi-ripe_cutting and softwood_cutting.
- BASAL ROSETTE
- An arrangement of leaves radiating from a short stem at the ground surface. Most biennials have a rosette form during their first growing season.
- BEARDED
- A petal bearing a tuft or row of long hairs.
- BEDDING PLANT
- Plants, usually annuals, greenhouse grown and suitable for growing in beds or your garden. Quick, colorful flowers. Sometimes calles carpet bedding.
- BICOLOUR
- A flower with petals which bear two distinctly different colors.
- Biennial
- A plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle. It produces leafy growth in its first year and then flowers and sets seed during the following season before dying.
- BIGENERIC
- A hybrid produced by crossing two different genera.
- BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
- Using living organisms such as beneficial insects or parasites to destroy garden pests.
- BLACK SPOT
- A disease on the foliage of roses. It is caused by moisture. To avoid, plant disease - resistant roses. Clean up after pruning.
- BLADE
- The expanded part of a leaf or petal.
- Blanching
- Covering and excluding light from crops such as endives, chicory, celery, rhubarb and leeks, which makes their leaves pale, tender and less bitter.
- Blanketweed
- Fibrous algae that look like long strands or filaments. Thick floating mats of the algae can form and need to be removed either by hand or with a rough stick.
- BLEEDING
- The loss of sap from plant tissues which have been cut. Pruning when the plant is not dormant.
- BLIND
- The loss of the growing point, resulting in stoppage of growth. Also, failure to produce flowers or fruit.
- BLOOM
- A natural mealy or waxy coating covering the leaves of some house plants.
- Bog garden
- An area that is often linked to a pond, where marsh and other moisture-loving bog plants can be grown. A punctured buried liner will keep the soil permanently damp, but it will also prevent it from becoming too waterlogged.
- Bog plant
- A pondside plant, such as the giant rhubarb, Gunnera manicata, or cotton grass, Eriophorum angustifolium, that needs very moist but not waterlogged soil. Many grow naturally in marshes. A collection of bog plants is typically called a bog garden.
- Bolting
- The premature flowering of a vegetable or leafy herb, often as a result of drought, starvation, late planting or high temperatures.
- BONSAI
- The art form of dwarfing trees by careful root and stem pruning coupled with root restriction.
- BOSS
- A ring of prominent and decorative stamens.
- BOTANICAL NAME
- The Latin or ‘scientific’ name of a plant, usually composed of two words, the genus and the species.
- BOTTLE GARDEN
- A form of terrarium in which a large and heavy glass container such as a carboy is used.
- Bottom heat
- Warmth applied from underneath to stimulate early growth(provided in the soil by electric cables or hot water pipes), and to help seeds to germinate or cuttings to root.
- BRACT
- A modified leaf, often highly colored and sometimes mistaken for a petal. Often confused with the flower itself. Examples of house plants with showy bracts are Poinsettia, Aphelandra and Bougainvillea.
- BREAK
- Production of a side shoot after removal of the growing point.
- Broadcasting seeds
- To scatter by hand, seeds such as annual_flowers, salad crops and lawn_seed evenly over the soil surface. These are then lightly raked in or covered with a shallow layer of sieved soil.
- BROWN ROT
- A fungus that is very common disease on fruit. Buy disease resistant varieties. Remove all infected parts of the plant.
- BT
- (Bacillus thuringiensis) A bacterium that causes disease in a variety of pest larvae, but is safe to humans, birds and pets, and plants; marketed under such tradenames as Biotrolñ, Dipelñ, and Thuricideñ.
- BUD
- Early stages of development of a flower or plant growth.
- Budding
- A form of grafting that joins a bud, rather than a cutting, to a rootstock. It is often used for roses and fruit trees.
- BUILDERS SAND
- A substitute for horticultural sand. Available at hardware stores and garden centres, it is used to aerate and increase drainage when mixed with potting compost.
- Bulb
- An underground storage organ, usually perennial and resembling a large bud enclosed in overlapping scales(for example, daffodils and tulips). The term bulb often embraces corms, tubers and other related storage organs. Bulbs are normally planted while dormant, and then produce a flowering plant at the appropriate season.
- BULBIL
- An immature small bulb formed on the stem of a plant; e.g Lily.
- BULBLET
- BUSH
- A many branched small shrub with no distinct main stems.
Other Glossary Entries : A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses, so come on… let us know what you think.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.