Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

How should cuttings in the rooting bench be maintained?

1. Kept dry during the day and moist at night

2. Kept constantly moist

3. Fertilized regularly

4. Scarified before watering

The correct answer is: Kept constantly moist

Maintaining cuttings in the rooting bench requires keeping them constantly moist. This is essential because moisture is critical for the process of root development. When cuttings are placed in a rooting medium, they need water to facilitate physiological processes such as cellular growth and the uptake of nutrients. Since cuttings do not yet have an established root system, ensuring a consistently moist environment reduces the risk of desiccation, which can easily occur if cuttings dry out. While it's important to employ practices that ensure a conducive environment for rooting, allowing the cuttings to dry out even temporarily can hinder their ability to form new roots and ultimately thrive. Maintaining constant moisture is particularly crucial in the initial stages of rooting, as this is when cuttings are most vulnerable. The other options suggest different levels of moisture management or practices that may not directly support healthy rooting. For example, keeping cuttings dry during the day and moist at night does not provide the continuous moisture needed, and fertilizing regularly can lead to salt buildup, which may harm the delicate cuttings. Scarifying before watering refers to a technique that may not be applicable or beneficial for all types of cuttings in this context.