adjective
vegetative
VEJ-ih-tay-tiv/ˈvedʒɪteɪtɪv/
Relating to plant growth through stems, roots, or leaves.
Warm weather encourages vegetative growth in the tomato plants.
Etymology
The ‘grow’ root originally pointed to the power of physical growth. Vegetative then described life-sustaining functions shared by plants and animals, such as reproduction and nutrition, distinguished from conscious sensation or choice.
In context
high nitrogen fertilizer you're actually telling the plants to not put so much energy into the flower and fruiting cycle and to grow more vegetative growth
More examples
- During the vegetative stage, the plant produces leaves rather than flowers.
- Gardeners use vegetative propagation to grow new plants from cuttings.
- Too much nitrogen promotes vegetative growth at the expense of fruit.
Forms
vegetative
vegetatively adverb — By growth or propagation from plant parts.
Similar words
- nonreproductive
- Excludes all reproduction, including new plants grown from cuttings.
- asexual
- Describes reproduction without fertilization, not ordinary stem or leaf growth.