International Plant Propagation Society

International Plant Propagation Society

Propagators enjoy a breath of fresh air

By Karen Smith

For the 52nd year, propagators from Australia and overseas came together to ‘Seek and Share’ knowledge of propagation in all its forms. I congratulate the organisers of the International Plant Propagators (IPPS) Conference, “A Breath of Fresh Air,’ held in Ballina NSW for presenting an excellent venue and a most informative program.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

A journey through South Africa to Geelong

By Stephanie Hastie

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the International Plant Propagator’s Society (IPPS) and through their exchange program, I had the extraordinary opportunity last year to embark on a horticultural adventure that spanned continents. This scholarship took me on a journey of discovery through South Africa, a land of unparalleled botanical diversity, which beckons horticultural enthusiasts with its vast array of endemic plant species and breathtaking landscapes. Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Propagation at the King’s Park and Botanic Gardens

By Amanda Shade

The Kings Park and Botanic Garden nursery was established in 1962, several years prior to the opening of the Western Australian Botanic Garden (WABG). We grow roughly 50-60,000 plants annually for display in our many differently-themed collections within the WABG and wider parkland areas.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Propagation to save the Wollemi Pine

By Matt Coulter

Wollemia nobilis is listed by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) as a critically endangered tree species. The species is commonly known as Wollemi Pine and is, in fact, not a pine but a member of a 200-million-year-old plant family, the Araucariaceae, predominately a southern hemisphere plant family that includes Araucaria, Agathis, and the monotypic genus Wollemia.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Preformed plugs or a conventional cutting mix?

By Dan Austin

When it comes to plant propagation there are a few key areas to achieve production success. When growing maximum numbers in minimal space, quality, uniformity, and speed all come into play and they are all influenced by one thing – growing media.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Rethinking the humble hedge

By Dan Austin

In Australia, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to the plants available for our gardens. Garden centres offer up a myriad of options for just about any purpose, but the popularity of a handful of favourites still leads to some species being overused and causing a sense of horticultural déjà vu when travelling around the country.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Plants that have rewritten the record books

By Daniel Austin

The kingdom of plants is a big one, each member is a standout and potential record holder if you dig deep enough. Even something as seemingly obvious as the world’s largest plant hasn’t been as straightforward as it might have seemed.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

An insight into plant tissue culture

By Lisa Wightwick

Many members of our industry would have encountered ‘tissue culture’ or ‘TC’ at least once in the course of their careers. I’m usually met with fascination when I tell people I work in plant tissue culture, due, in part, to the mysterious and technical reputation the field seems to have garnered.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Propagation – essential to life

By Karen Smith

The 51st conference of the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS) held recently at the Novotel, Geelong in Victoria was awash with the enthusiasm of up-and-coming horticulturists ready to take advantage of the seek and share attitude that is the society’s main purpose.Continue reading

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International Plant Propagation Society

Phytohormones – an important list that keeps getting longer

By Dan Austin

When talking about plant hormones there are five big players that get exposure, but over the years, it has been discovered that there are many more and the roles they play within plants are nothing short of extraordinary.Continue reading

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