Bacillus thuringiensis.
Biological insecticide that kills caterpillars but is harmless to the environment and higher warm blooded animals.
Backfill
To fill in a planting hole around the newly planted roots with soil.
Bapto
Greek word used in plant naming - meaning dyed or dipped
Bare Root Transplant
A soil-less young plant lifted from a seedbed for transplanting, as opposed to a module or potted plant.
Basal
In plants that form rosettes, the basal leaves are those that arise directly from the crown of the plant, and which often differ from leaves arising from the stem.
Beneficial insects
Insects that help rather than hinder gardening efforts. They may do this by pollinating flowers, by eating harmful insects or parasitising them, or by breaking down plant material in the soil, thereby releasing its nutrients. Some insects could be considered both harmful and beneficial, e.g.: butterflies, which are lovely in their adult form but destructive when in their caterpillar form.
Bi-colour
Latin word used in plant names meaning two coloured
Biennial
A plant grown from seed that under normal conditions takes two years to complete its life cycle, developing a leafy tuft or rosette the first season then flowers, seeds and dies the second year.
Bifurcated
Forked or having two parts
Bipinnate
Where the primary leaflets are divided into two - or secondary leaflets
Bisexual Flower
A flower that has both stamens and pistils.
Bisquimata
Latin word used in plant naming meaning two-scaled
Blanch
To exclude light from plants or parts of plants to render them white or tender. Often this practice is utilised for cauliflower, endive, celery, leeks and rhubarb.
Blossom End Rot
It's caused by a deficiency in calcium, a water-soluble element. Tomato plants that suffer from water stress or extreme fluctuations in moisture are prime candidates for blossom-end rot. Other conditions that make tomatoes susceptible are cool, humid weather, compacted soil, and high levels of ammonia or potassium in the soil. Prevent by keeping soil evenly moist and well mulched. Add lime if you have an acidic pH and low calcium; add gypsum if your soil is alkaline and calcium-deficient.--
Bolting
Running to seed, flowering prematurely, usually due to heat. Leaf products are discouraged from bolting by removal of flower heads
Bonsai
The art of growing miniature plants by trimming the roots
Botanical Insecticide
Insecticide , such as rotenone and pyrethrum, derived from a plant. Most botanicals biodegrade quickly and have low toxicity to mammals.kk
Botanical Name
The international, scientific name of a plant, agreed upon by botanists to apply uniquely to a particular species, and denoting its relationship to other, similar plants. The Latin name consists of two parts: the first, called the generic name, as it states the genus to which the plant belongs; and the second, called the specific name as it describes the species to which the plant belongs. If there is a variety or cultivar name as well, it follows the specific name. In written form, the generic name is capitalized, while neither the specific nor the varietal name is not; all are italicized. A cultivar name, if used, should be non-italic and enclosed within single quotation marks.
Botrytis
Also known as grey mold or the Noble Rot (viniculture). A fungal disease that is promoted by cool, moist weather. Symptoms appear as water soaked, blighted areas on flowers, stems or leaves with a moldy gray growth, hence the common name. Control by removing all infected plant parts and making sure the plants have sufficient room so that good air circulation is maintained around them.
Bract
A leaf that seems part of the flower cluster of a plant, or in the case of plants with insignificant flowers, may substitute for it in appearance by its bright coloring. Bougainvilleas are an example of wonderfully colorful bracts.
Branchlet
A side branch arising from an axillary bud
Brevifolia
A latin word used in plant naming meaning - short or small leaved
Bromeliad
Epiphytic herbaceous plants of the Bromeliaceae family that are found mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.
Bud
A dormant, immature shoot from which leaves or flowers may develop.
Bud Eye
A dormant bud in the axil of a leaf that is used for propagation in bud-grafting.
Bud Union
In grafting this is the usually swollen junction between the understock and the top variety that has been grafted to it.
Bulb
An underground storage organ consisting of a thin, flattened stem section surrounded by layers of fleshy and dried leaf bases and with roots attached to its bottom.
Bulbil
Small bulb-like organ which sometimes forms in place of flowers.
Bulblet
An underground bulbil.