To propagate means to multiply or to breed naturally. Seed propagation is not a technique whose primary goal is to produce more seeds, although this will happen if efforts are successful. The aim of seed propagation is usually to produce more plants. There are other methods of plant breeding such as the use of plant cuttings or root cuttings, but the use of seeds tends to be the most common.
Seed propagation can be used to produce flowers, vegetables, and grasses. The first step in this process is obtaining the seeds. There are two common ways this is done. Many people buy seeds in the same manner that they buy other gardening supplies. However, some people collect the seeds they want to propagate from existing plants.
The condition of the seeds is very important because unhealthy seeds can produce unhealthy plants or they may not grow at all. For this reason it is necessary to make sure the seeds obtained are not diseased or outdated. There are other factors that can have a negative effect on such efforts. One example is foreign origin of the seeds. Some seeds from one country may not be able to be grown in certain other countries.
Another factor that plays a major role in seed propagation is the soil conditions. In order to be successful, the seeds generally need to be placed in soil that is well aerated. They need to be placed at a depth that is conducive to their growth. Furthermore, the soil usually needs a certain amount of moisture.
Propagation can take place either indoors or outdoors. One of the factors that determines the best option is, of course, the type of plant being grown, but both options have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, indoor growing may require the purchase of special lighting or the regular maneuver of plant containers to sunny areas. Outdoor seed propagation offers the benefit of free natural light, but a disadvantage is that weather can determine what is grown at a given time.
Despite all of the conditions, it is rare for seed propagation to have a 100 percent success rate. This means that every seed will not become a plant. Seed propagation is a technique used all over the world. There are some plants that can only be reproduced this way. On the contrary, there are some plants that cannot be reproduced by this method.