Wetland and Watershed Seminar at Wolf Road Prairie
Presenters/Opening Comments
Q and A
Plant Propagation and Transplanting Demonstration
Wolf Road Prairie and Buffer Restoration Field Trip
Wrap Up Session
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Planting Demonstration Summary - Prairie House Nature Center Garden Dr. Darrel Murray 
Dr. Murray provided participants with a sample of seeds for stratifying and seedlings for transplanting. He passed out containers with seedlings germinated from cold-treated seeds refrigerated since January. He demonstrated the method for transplanting nodding wild onion seedlings from four unit cell packs to 2 1/2 inch plastic pots. Using his index finger, Dr. Murray punched a small hole in the center of the 2 1/2 inch transfer pot, transplanted the bare rooted seedling and gently tapped down the surface potting mixture around the plant. The procedure took less than 1/2 minute per plant to complete. Dr. Murray uses a potting mix, such as Sunshine Mix, for the transplanted seedlings. He recommends not using soil because it converts to silt after watering which does not allow water to move well to reach seeding roots. 
Dr. Murray maintains the transplants in 2 1/2 inch pots in trays with 32 pots per tray at the UIC Greenhouse or winters them over outside at UIC buried in sand until the plants are about 1 year old and ready to go into the ground. He recommends keeping water in the bottom of the plant trays during the growing process rather than watering the plants from the top down. This prevents washing out the potting mixture and leaving the plant roots exposed. Seedlings need constant moisture to prevent dessication and death. Dr. Murray demonstrated how he stratifies seed in resealable plastic bags which he stores in the refrigerator for at least 10 weeks. He told the group that growing prairie plants is learning a whole new way to garden. The young prairie plants are not large, even though they may be over a year old, compared to the growth rates of commercial annuals and perennials. Most early prairie plant growth occurs in the development of root systems, not foliage. However, the plants can adapt easily and evolve to their current situations. 
Dr. Murray hopes to begin concentrating on propagating rare plants known to Wolf Road Prairie which have less than 100 individuals surviving at the preserve. He has experimented with prairie lily which produces a very fragile and delicate seedling. After one year of growth, prairie lily plants were only as tall as his little fingernail. Dr. Murray recommends getting seedlings into the ground quicker if keeping and watering the plants indoors is not an option. He recommends planting in April when the weather is cool and watering the plants for at least two weeks. 
This fall, he will experiment with introductions of approximately 2,500 plants of approximately 40 species to propagation beds on buffer to Wolf Road Prairie in collaboration with a grant funded, in part, by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The grant provides funding for the restoration of the Wolf Road Prairie wetland, buffer stream corridor and uplands and the establishment of propagation beds of native plants. The purpose of the restoration is to improve water quality, prevent erosion and filter sediments and contaminants from the watershed. Return to main page, Save the Prairie Society |