Chapter 1 Careers in Floriculture 5 or foliage 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 Grower 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, growers are responsible for providing healthy, pest-free plants to their customers, Figure 1-2. Growers need to know the growing preferences of their plants. Growers must use the proper soil mixtures, watering methods, and fertilizers for each type of crop. For those plants that will provide cut fl owers and foliage, growers also need to know when (at what time of year) to plant them and at what stage of development to harvest them. 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 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 cultivating plants, you may want to look into being a propagator or a hybridizer. Did You Know? The United States has organic equivalency trade arrangements 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 LEDs provide the exact mixture of light needed for rapid flowering, and consume one-fourth of the energy consumed by older greenhouse fixtures. DutchScenery/Shutterstock.com Figure 1-2. This greenhouse, full of amaryllis, is in the Netherlands. Harvested fl owers may be shipped all over the world. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.