Horticulture Glossary

noun a method of supplying plants with fertilizers through irrigation water

• Fertigation is a method of applying fertilizers through irrigation systems in precise amounts.
• I learned about fertigation from my neighbor who uses it in his garden.
• Some farmers swear by fertigation for maximum crop yield.
• In business, fertigation can be compared to strategically injecting growth opportunities into a company's operations.

noun a genus of tropical trees or shrubs in the mallow family, native to Southeast Asia and Australia

• The abroma plant is native to tropical regions and is known for its large, heart-shaped leaves.
• I heard that abroma plants are really easy to take care of and make a great addition to any indoor garden.
• Check out that abroma plant over there, it's so cool!
• The abroma plant symbolizes resilience and growth in the face of adversity.

verb to separate or detach by cutting or pruning

adjective having been cut off or removed

• The leaves abscised from the tree in preparation for winter.
• The tree dropped its leaves in the fall.
• The tree shed its leaves like it was nobody's business.
• She abscised herself from toxic relationships to focus on self-care.

noun a layer of cells that forms at the base of a petiole or fruit stalk in plants, which eventually causes the leaf or fruit to fall off

• The abscission layer is a specialized group of cells that forms at the base of a leaf or fruit stalk, eventually causing it to detach from the plant.
• When the abscission layer forms, it's a sign that the leaf or fruit is about to fall off.
• Once the abscission layer kicks in, that leaf is as good as gone.
• The abscission layer can be seen as nature's way of letting go and moving on.

noun a bud that arises in an unusual place, such as on a stem, root, or leaf, rather than in the usual location of a leaf axil

• An adventitious bud is a plant structure that forms in an unusual location, such as on the stem or roots.
• Did you know that an adventitious bud can sprout on a plant's stem if it's damaged?
• If you see a weird bud growing where it shouldn't be, that's probably an adventitious bud.
• Sometimes, new ideas can pop up in our minds like adventitious buds, unexpectedly and out of place.

noun African holly is a type of plant that belongs to the family Icacinaceae. It is native to Africa and is known for its glossy leaves and bright red berries.

• The African holly tree is known for its glossy green leaves and bright red berries.
• I saw a beautiful African holly tree in the park today.
• That African holly tree is lit!
• Her smile was like a sprig of African holly in a winter landscape.

noun the formation of seeds without fertilization, found in some plants

• Agamospermy is a form of asexual reproduction in plants where seeds are produced without fertilization.
• I learned about agamospermy in my biology class - it's pretty interesting!
• Some plants can do agamospermy and basically make seeds without needing pollen or eggs.
• In a way, agamospermy is like a plant cloning itself to reproduce.