Gardening Glossary
Definitions for gardening terms that start with P
- palmate leaves
Leaves that have multiple sections that fan out and look much like a human hand.
- pantry plant food
Using materials commonly found in your house to make a fertilizer.
- parasitic plant
A plant that gets it nutrients taking them from another plant, normally by attaching itself to the host plant.
- Pea Straw
A mulch that is made up of dried pea vines.It will have a higher nitrogen content than other mulches and is commonly used in organic gardening because of this.
- peat moss
A type of moss that is found in bogs and is harvested when it is partially decomposed. It is added to compost and soil to make it more friable or “crumbly”.
- perennial
A plant that grows for many years. Some perennials grow constantly, while others go through cycles of growth and dormancy.
- perlite
A type of volcanic glass that is lightweight and “fluffy”. It is added to potting soil to help with drainage and softness of the soil.
- pest
An insect or animal that causes a nuisance or damage to your plants or garden in general.
- pesticide
A substance that kills any organism that may harm a plant, such as insects, mold, fungus and other plants.
- pH
The measured acidity of soil. A low pH means the soil is more acid, while a high pH means that the soil is more alkaline.
- phloem
The tissue system in a plant that allows it to transport nutrients to different parts of the plant.
- phosphate
A salt that made up of phosphorus compounds.
- phosphorus deficiency
When a plant is lacking phosphorous. This is normally characterized by yellow or blue and purple leaves, stunted growth and poor growth.
- photosynthesis
The process by which plants convert solar energy into food for the plant.
- phytotoxicity
Any natural or synthetic chemical that is toxic to plants.
- pinching back
The practice of sniping off the ends of stems in order to produce a bushier and more compact plant.
- pistil
The female part of the flower that contains the ovule and, if fertilized, produces the seeds.
- plant respiration
The process in a plant that converts energy stored in the plant into energy that can be used by the plant. The process releases carbon dioxide and water as a byproduct.
- plug
A small division of a plant that can be planted and expected to spread. Most commonly used when talking about grass or ground covers.
- poisonous plants
Plants that are harmful to humans and other animals when consumed. A plant may not be poisonous to one animal but poisonous to another.
- pollination
The act of pollen being deposited on the pistil of a plant. This fertilizes the plant and produces seeds.
- pollinator
an insect that goes from flower to flower on a plant or several plants spreading pollen from one flower to another and, in doing so, fertilizes the flower which causes a fruit or seedpod to form.
- potassium
One of the major nutrients that plays a role in plant growth and development.
- potting compost
Compost that has additives such as peat moss, vermiculite and perlite added in order to make it suitable for using in containers.
- potting soil
Soil that is mixed so that it would be suitable for using in containers. It is formulated to be compact resistant, drain well but still retain moisture.
- pricking out
The act of separating tightly growing seedlings so that they can be transferred to individual containers.
- propagation
Methods of reproducing a plant.
- pruning
Cutting away branches on a plant, normally a tree or shrub, in order to achieve an end goal. This goal can be things like shaping a plant, encouraging new growth or increasing fruit production.
- Pup
A small plantlet that grows from the base of a parent plant. The pup can be seperated from the parent plant to grow a new plant.
