Chapter 1 Careers in Floriculture 5
plants and cut fl owers sold by fl orists. Wholesalers sell and distribute fl oral
materials and related supplies to retail fl ower shops. Retail fl ower shops and
other fl ower vendors combine fl oral materials into artful designs for sale to
individual consumers. All of these facets of the fl oriculture industry require
employees with various skills and specialties.
Commercial Growers
Although they do not deal directly with fl oral design, commercial
growers are an important part of the fl oriculture industry. They produce
the plants, cut fl owers, and foliage that are used in fl ower shops. Whether
they grow the plants in a greenhouse or in a fi eld, they are responsible for
providing healthy, pest-free plants to their customers, Figure 1-2. Growers
need to know when (at what time of year) to plant them and how to care for
them. They use the proper soil mixtures and fertilizers for each type of plant.
For those plants that will provide cut fl owers and foliage, growers also need
to know when to harvest the crops.
All growers need employees with a background in plant science who
know how to care for the plants. Growing plants may involve outdoor fi eld
work as well as indoor and greenhouse plant care. Some commercial growers
have their own propagation (growing new plants) and hybridization
(breeding) programs. These programs help renew existing stock and develop
new plants that have different characteristics. For example, a plant may be
bred to have larger blooms or stronger fragrance. If you are interested in
working directly with plants, you may want to look into being a propagator
or a hybridizer.
Did You Know?
The United States
now has organic
equivalence trade
agreements with Japan,
the European Union,
and Canada that allow
the global exchange of
organic products.
Thinking Green
LED Greenhouse Fixtures
Many greenhouses
have installed specially
designed LED (light
emitting diode) lights.
The new LEDs provide
the exact mixture of
light needed for rapid
flowering, and consume
only one-fourth of the
energy consumed
by older greenhouse
fixtures.
Ruud MorijinlShutterstock.com
Figure 1-2. This greenhouse, full of Gerbera daisies, is in the Netherlands. Harvested fl owers
may be shipped all over the world.