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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Juncus (mertensianus)

Mark E. Majerus
USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center
99 South River Road, Rte. 2, Box 1189
Bridger, Montana 59014-9718
(406) 662-3579
(406) 662-3428 (fax)
mmajerus@mt.nrcs.usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc
Family Scientific Name: Juncaceae
Family Common Name: Rush Family
Scientific Name: Juncus mertensianus Bong.
Common Name: Merten's rush
Species Code: JUNMER
Ecotype: Glacier National Park ecotype from Logan Pass.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 10-cubic-inch conetainers.
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Processing: Hand rub small lots or hammermill large lots. Finish cleaning over fanning mill with light to medium wind.
Pre-Planting Treatments: See Growing Area/Preparation below.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 Sow in a fine-textured peat-lite mix with high water holding capacity. Ten-cubic-inch conetainers are adequate for 1-y plants. Sow several seeds on the surface of the media then cover with a very thin layer of potting mix or fine vermiculite or perlite. Moisten seed and leave overnight in a warm location to imbibe water. In small germination trials (98 seed per treatment) comparing 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks of cold moist chilling, the germination of fresh seed actually decreased from 100% (1-week) to 86% (4-week) with increasing chilling. Little or no cold chilling is required to germinate fresh seed of the ecotype we tested. It is not know if total germination or germination rate of old seed is enhanced by cold moist chilling.
Establishment Phase: Grow this species in a greenhouse at 75 to 80øF days and 60 to 65øF nights on 14- to 16-hour photoperiods. Keep media moist at all times. Fertigate weekly with 9-45-15 at 150 to 250 ppm for the first 4 to 6 weeks then use 20-10-20 at 150 to 200 ppm each week for the remainder of the growing season.
Hardening Phase: Move containerized material (at least 2 months old) started in the greenhouse that winter to an outdoor hoophouse in late spring/early summer (i.e. "finish" the plants in the hoophouse). The hoophouse is ventilated but not cooled, and the containers are usually exposed to full sunlight for 2 to 4 weeks early in the season. The hoophouse is then covered with a 50% shade cloth until temperatures cool in the fall. Another option is to finish container plants and rooted cuttings in the greenhouse and then move them to the shadehouse in late summer, allowing 30 to 60 days of hardening prior to winter. The shade is usually removed in late summer/early fall and replaced with clear plastic. The plants harden-off gradually in the hoophouse prior to winter. Bridger is characterized by a high number of solar days that keeps the environment inside the hoophouse relatively mild until winter. In the case of premature and severely cold weather, a small propane heater is used at keep temperatures above freezing.
Length of Hardening Phase: As a standard practice, we allow a minimum of 30 days of hardening off prior to killing frost, 60 days is preferred.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: An adequately sized plant is produced in 1-y. Since nearly all containerized stock is shipped dormant from Bridger in the spring, we overwinter containers in a hoophouse. The hoophouse is ventilated when temperatures reach 35 to 40øF and heated to maintain a temperature of 5 to 10øF. Containers as small as 10-cubic-inch conetainers overwinter well this way. The containers are placed on 2 inches of pea gravel and arranged in a side-by-side pattern. The stock is watered over the fall and winter as needed. If temperatures in the spring are too warm to assure dormancy, plant material that is designated for dormant spring planting is moved to a walk-in cooler (34 to 37øF, 80+% relative humidity) until shipping. Plants may be shipped with or without containers in heavy waxed boxes by priority ground mail (avoid weekend holdover at post offices).
Length of Storage: Overwintered well for 6 months.
Other Comments: Easy to propagate from seeds.

Citation:

Scianna, Joe. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Juncus mertensianus Bong. plants 10-cubic-inch conetainers.; USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.