VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF NATIVE ORNAMENTALS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH IN INDIA

Himachal Pradesh is a rich source of native ornamental flowers, especially trees like Rhododendron arboreum, Prunus cerasoides, Litsea lanuginosa, Benthamidia capitata; shrubs like Barleria cristata, Reinwardtia indica, Hypericum oblongifolium, Inula cuspidata and Desmodium tiliaefolium; climbers like Clematis montana, C. buchananiana, Rosa brunonii, Jasminum dispermum and Vitis himalayana; herbaceous plants like; Kalanchoe integra, Gerbera gossypina and Salvia coccinea etc. Several native plants of Himachal Pradesh have not been commercialized so far. First of all, potential ornamental native plants of Himachal Pradesh were identified through field explorations and their propagules were brought to the experimental farm. The propagules (soft wood, semi-hardwood, semi-hardwood with apical portion and root cuttings) were rooted in four different seasons; summer, spring, autumn and winter. These were rooted in cocopeat, perlite+vermiculite, sand and sand+soil+FYM using different IBA and NAA concentrations. Results of about 45 native ornamentals in the best responsive growth regulator concentration and rooting medium in four seasons have been discussed.