College Catalog

Horticulture plant production may arguably be the foundation of the horticulture business. Plant production involves the greenhouse, nursery, and field production of horticulture plants from the initial propagation, by seed or assorted plant parts, to the finished landscape or retail product. Depending on the electives chosen, students will prepare for careers in all phases of the plant production industry, including woody landscape plants and herbaceous plants used in the landscape, greenhouse, floriculture, and vegetable trade. Classroom and laboratory instruction will include plant structure, physiology and growth, plant growing structures and environments, production tools, equipment and materials, and techniques of production. Specifically, students will prepare for commercial production in field nursery, greenhouse, and self-employment opportunities.

Career Opportunities

Depending on the student's academic emphasis, careers in the following segments of the ornamental horticulture industry are available to the graduate: landscape design and installation, floral shop and garden center manager, both in traditional and mass market retailing; horticultural product marketing and merchandising; floral designer; plant propagator, greenhouse and nursery production of trees, shrubs, tropical, annual and perennial plants; arborist/tree care specialist; interiorscaper; landscape foreman/supervisor; landscape management; estate gardener; horticulture product buyer; horticulturist with an institutional or government agency; transfer student into advanced degree colleges or universities.

Recommended High School Subjects

Four years of English, two years of algebra, and two years of science.

Remediation Strategies

All students must remediate by the end of the first year. The order of remediation will be math, reading, and English.

Transfer Procedures

This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.

Program Goals

A graduate of this major should be able to:

• demonstrate the safe and effective use of hand tools, small power equipment, and other equipment common to the ornamental horticulture industry.
• summarize and apply knowledge in the use of plant growth media, soil amendments, and fertilizers.
• demonstrate a responsible and professional attitude in relationships with employers, colleagues, and clients through various courses, labs, and on-the-job work experience.
• summarize and apply a basic knowledge of various careers within the ornamental horticulture industry.
• apply basic knowledge of botany to ornamental horticulture products and services.
• identify various trees, shrubs, tropicals, and herbaceous plants and summarize their functional horticultural use and maintenance.
• identify and evaluate horticultural problems caused by insects, diseases, and physiopaths; plan for proper control of these problems by developing a plant health care/integrated pest management plan.
• apply skills in pruning, fertilizing, and spraying for managing landscapes and ornamental plants in commercial production.
• develop production schedules and outline production of commercial plants in nursery and/or greenhouse operations.
• use computers and the Internet as business/project management tools and information resources.

Specifically, graduates of the Plant Production Emphasis should be able to:

• practice approved safety procedures and operations according to industry standards.
• summarize the various types of horticultural growing structures, materials, and equipment common to the horticulture plant production industry.
• describe the proper operation of growing structure environmental systems and evaluate their advantages and disadvantages in the production of horticultural crops.
• use a computer to manage the growing environment and as a record keeping and business management tool.
• use and evaluate various asexual and sexual techniques for propagating plants.
• develop production schedules and outline the production of commercial containerized plant material in the ornamental horticulture industry.
• outline the management requirements of a containerized plant production operation, including record keeping and employee-employer relations.
• demonstrate the skills required in growing, merchandising, and marketing a containerized ornamental crop.
• identify tropical trees, shrubs, ground covers, and herbaceous plants; summarize their cultural requirements and uses in landscapes, garden centers/floral shops, greenhouses, and interiorscapes.

Curriculum

Accreditation

The educational program in Ornamental Horticulture leading to an Associate of Applied Science in Ornamental Horticulture is recognized by Professional Landcare Network.