What Is Floriculture Of Floral Design

The literal definition of floriculture is the "culture of flowers." Floriculture is based on flowering and foliage (leafy) plants. It is an international. Multibillion dollar industry. Floriculture businesses include the production of the floral crops, the distribution of the crops from the grower to the consumer, and the processing of crops before sale. Some common floriculture businesses are florist shops, floral supply companies, and production greenhouses. Floriculture is a major part of a larger industry called ornamental horticulture. Ornamental horticulture is the practice of growing and using plants for decorative purposes. Another major part of the ornamental horticulture includes the nursery/landscape industry.

FLORAL PRODUCTION

Floral production involves the growing of flowering or foliage crops to sale size or maturity. The value of floriculture crop production in the United States has shown steady growth. The total wholesale value of floriculture crops in the United States is nearly $4 billion. The states of California and Florida lead the way in floriculture production. Amazingly, 54 percent of all floriculture production in 1997 involved just five states—California, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Ohio. Bedding plant production represented 47 percent of the wholesale value of all floriculture crops in 1997.

Floriculture production involves people with an understanding of plants and plant growth. The person in charge of the crop production is called a grower. Large greenhouse operations will employ a number of growers, each of whom may focus on one or more specific crops. Other job titles associated with floriculture production include production supervisor, marketing manager, and greenhouse worker.

Production begins with some form of plant reproduction, whether by seed or by a portion of a plant. Plant reproduction is commonly known as plant propagation. The new or young plants are grown to a size or an age at which they may be sold for further production purposes. Some might be sold directly to the consumers.

Most floriculture crops are produced in some type of greenhouse structure. A greenhouse is a structure enclosed by glass or plastic that allows light transmission for plant growth. Greenhouses give growers the ability to control environmental conditions affecting a crop. Greenhouses allow a high level of light to reach the plants. They can be heated or cooled depending on the needs of the plants. Watering and fertilizer applications are also carefully controlled by the grower. In addition to providing control of specific growing conditions, greenhouses allow plants to be grown throughout the year.

Greenhouse growers often specialize in growing certain crops. The decision to grow certain crops is based on a number of factors. The most important factor determining which crops are produced is profit. Can the crop be sold for a profit? The climate is another very important factor. The greatest concern with climate is the amount of sunlight and the average temperature. One reason the major producers of cut carnations and roses are located in Columbia, South America is because the climate is perfect for growing these crops. Greenhouses are not needed to produce these crops in Columbia.

Nearness to the market influences decisions as to what crops are grown. Cut flowers can be grown far from the marketplace. They are relatively light weight. As a result, the cost of shipping cut flowers by air, even across oceans, is affordable. Potted plants are most often grown locally because of the cost of shipping. Laws also restrict the movement of soil across borders.

Cut flowers—Some floral production operations focus on supplying cut flowers to wholesale florists. That is, they grow flowers, cut them when they reach a certain maturity, and sell them to a wholesaler. Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, and orchids are a few common cut flowers. Cut foliage or leaves grown for floral design work are also grown and harvested. Leather leaf,

lemonleaf, and huckleberry are common foliage materials used in floral work. Those in the industry often refer to cut foliage as "greens."

Potted flowering plants—A large segment of the floriculture industry is the production of flowering plants in pots. The plants may be propagated by seed or through asexual means, such as

cuttings of plants. The young plants are grown to the flowering stage in a greenhouse structure. The entire plant and the pot are then shipped to market. Some popular potted flowering plants are poinsettias, chrysanthemums, Easter lilies and African violets.

Foliage plants—Some growers produce potted plants to be sold as foliage plants. Foliage plants are grown for their leaves rather than for their flowers. They are also called houseplants. Florida is a large producer of foliage plants, which are shipped throughout the United States. Philodendrons, dieffenbachias,figs, scheffleras, and dracaenas are common foliage plants produced for use in homes and offices.

Bedding plants—Many greenhouse growers produce bedding plants in the spring for outdoor planting. Bedding plants are herbaceous, annual flowers and vegetables. They lack the ability to survive freezing temperatures and therefore, must be planted outdoors after the risk of spring frost. They are usually started by seed and grown in a greenhouse during the late winter and spring. Gardeners transplant the fairly mature plants in the landscape. By producing the plants well before a safe planting date, gardeners are given a longer period during which they can enjoy the plants. Bedding plants include impatiens, petunias, marigolds, tomatoes, and many other plants.

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