Re: CULT: "Shaving" roots

From: Bill Shear <BILLS@hsc.edu>

I performed a brief experiment this fall with a group of very dry rhizomes,
on which most of the foliage had whithered.  On ten of them, I removed all
the roots before planting, and on another ten I left the old roots on.

After a week, the plants were give a "tug test" to feel for anchorage in
the soil. The "shaved" rhizomes easily pulled out.  The ones with the old
roots could still be pulled, but were obviously more firmly anchored, and
the old roots had produced new white branches.

The "shaved" plants showed no signs of being well-anchored for another week
and a half.  The new roots they developed grew to 3-4" before branching and
providing anchorage and water to the plant.  By this time, new green
foliage was showing at the center fan of the "unshaved" plants.

The "unshaved" plants anchored faster, developed new foliage earlier, and
are at this writing about 50% larger in foliage fan size than the "shaved"
plants.

Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>

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