Growing Plants - Education and Training
Take advantage of plants education and training to land jobs or start a business
From professional horticulturists to amateurs wishing to start nurseries, having a broad knowledge of plants will lead you to more rewarding careers. Whether you're interested in common garden plants or rare exotic species, you should have a good base of knowledge about the plants you want to work with.Universities and research facilities will often look for a candidate with at least a four-year degree. If you're starting your own business, you can have any level of training that will allow you to produce quality plants. Think carefully about your career goals and consider the following:
1. Get basic plants education and training prior to starting a job or a business. You will need to know at least the basics before you either accept a professional position or start your own business.
2. Look for classes in your local area. These are taught by enthusiasts and professionals and can broaden your knowledge of plants.
3. Read up on plant specifics. Before you buy plants for your business, it's best to know exactly how to care for them so your investment doesn't die.
Earn a degree in horticulture or other plant-related field
If you really want a serious career in horticulture, agriculture or botany, attaining a degree is the best way to go. Those with degrees in these fields may choose to do plant research, plan land use or maintain gardens or arboreta. Having an education in plant biology will help you land more professional types of jobs. For those wishing to start nurseries or flower shops, having this knowledge will give you the foundation you need to provide your customers with quality delivered plants.
Try: Use Peterson's to find a college offering agriculture degree programs. Search Universities.com to find horticulture science programs in your area.
Take courses through extension offices and garden plant societies
Attending events, lectures, seminars and classes can provide you with a lot of great information about plants. You should look for gardening societies in your area as well as agriculture extension offices, which are run by local government agencies. Sometimes, large universities have resources available to those in the industry also. These are great options for professionals as well as amateurs.
Try: Use the American Horticultural Society to find gardening groups in your area; the society also provides its own information for those in the plant industry. Find an extension office in your county using the map feature at the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.
Use online guides to learn more about plants of all kinds
The Internet has brought a vast sea of resources to our fingertips. You can find a number of online guides from reputable sources that detail everything from tropical plants to house plants. Learning about the different aspects of plants will ensure that you know your trade inside and out.
Try: Learn about invasive plant types at the National Invasive Species Information Center. Take advantage of the free botany resources available at the National Biological Information Infrastructure. Check out the encyclopedia of house plants at PlantCare.com to educate yourself about any particular plant.
- If you offer plants for delivery as part of your business, make sure you know how to properly transport them. Standard practices will vary between industries; for example, delivering a flower arrangement is much different than transporting 15-gallon fruit trees.
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