Glossary- Gardening Terms

cactus

A succulent plant that typically has spines and need little water to survive.

calcium

A mineral used to amend soil so as to provided a needed nutrient to the plants growing there.

cambium

The thin membrane located between the bark and stem of a plant.

carotene

A pigment in plants that causes them to look yellow.

catkin

Slender, cylindrical flower clusters.

chlorophyll

A pigment in plants that causes them to look green. When present, it usually masks all other pigments.

clay soil

Soil that has a high clay content.

cocoa bean hulls

A type of mulch made up of the coverings of Cocoa Beans.

coffee grounds

An organic soil amendment that is used to raise the pH of the soil.

cold frame

An unheated, usually small enclosure that is covered with glass or plastic, used to overwinter semi-hardy plants or to harden off young plants.

commercial gardening

Growing plants for money making purposes.

companion planting

Planting two different kinds of plants close to each other with the idea that each plant will benefit the other.

complete fertilizer

A fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

complete flowers

A flower that has sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.

compost

A soil amendment created from the decomposed organic matter.

composting

Taking organic matter and letting it decompose in order to make a soil amendment.

conifer

A cone bearing tree with needle shaped leaves.

container gardening

Using containers such as flower pots, buckets and tubs to grow plants rather than planting the plants directly into the ground.

copper

A trace metal found in the soil that can be beneficial in small amounts, but toxic in large amounts. It can also be used to keep snails away from plants.

corm

A thickened stem like structure which grows underground and produces roots, leaves and flowers during the growing season.

cotyledon leaves

The first set of leaves that a seedling produces. They contain stored energy that feeds the plant until it develops a full root system and true leaves.

cover crop

A crop, usually grass based, which is planted in fallow ground to control weeds, prevent erosion and add humus to the soil later.

crown

The point just above or below the soil where a plant’s roots and top join.

culms

The stem portion of a grass plant or a grass like plant.

cultivar

A variation of a particular species of plant.

cutting

A piece of a plant’s leaf, stem or root which can be used to propagate the plant.

cutting back

Removing part of a plant in order to correct the size of the plant or to encourage new growth and blooming.