r/Horticulture May 23 '21

So you want to switch to Horticulture?

728 Upvotes

Okay. So, I see a lot of people, every day, asking in this sub how they can switch from their current career to a horticulture career.

They usually have a degree already and they don’t want to go back to school to get another degree in horticulture.

They’re always willing to do an online course.

They never want to get into landscaping.

This is what these people need to understand: Horticulture is a branch of science; biology. It encompasses the physiology of plants, the binomial nomenclature, cultural techniques used to care for a plant, the anatomy of a plant, growth habits of a plant, pests of a plant, diseases of a plant, alkaloids of a plant, how to plant a plant, where to plant a plant, soil physics, greenhouses, shade houses, irrigation systems, nutrient calculations, chemistry, microbiology, entomology, plant pathology, hydroponics, turf grass, trees, shrubs, herbaceous ornamentals, floriculture, olericulture, grafting, breeding, transporting, manipulating, storing, soluble solid tests, soil tests, tissue analysis, nematodes, C4 pathways, CAM pathways, fungus, row cropping, fruit growing, fruit storing, fruit harvesting, vegetable harvesting, landscaping, vegetable storing, grass mowing, shrub trimming, etc... (Random list with repetition but that’s what horticulture is)

Horticulture isn’t just growing plants, it is a field of science that requires just as much qualification as any other field of science. If you want to make GOOD money, you need to either own your own business or you need to get a bachelors degree or masters degree. An online certificate is a load of garbage, unless you’re in Canada or Australia. You’re better off starting from the bottom without a certificate.

Getting an online certificate qualifies a person for a growers position and as a general laborer at a landscape company.

“Heck yeah, that’s what I want to be! A grower!”.

No you don’t. A position as a grower, entails nothing more than $15 an hour and HARD labor. You don’t need any knowledge to move plants from one area to the next.

Same with landscaping, unless you own it, have a horticulture degree, or have supervisory experience; pick up a blower, hop on a mower, and finish this job so we can go the next.

Is that what you want to switch your career to? You seriously think that you can jump into a field, uneducated, untrained, and just be able to make it happen?

Unless you can live on $15 an hour, keep your current job. Please don’t think that you can get into horticulture and support yourself. (Unless you know someone or can start your own business, good luck)

90% of all horticultural positions are filled with H2A workers that get paid much less than $15 an hour and can do it way faster than your pansy ass can. A certificate only qualifies you for these same positions and you probably won’t even get hired because you wouldn’t be able to survive on the wages and these big operations know that.

Sure, you could teach yourself the fundamentals of horticulture minus some intricacies. I’m not saying it’s too difficult for the layman to understand. I’m saying, that without proper accreditation, that knowledge won’t help you. Often times, accreditation won’t even help you. You see, horticulture is less like growing plants and more like a giant supply chain operation. The people who know about moving products around in a supply chain are the ones who are valuable in horticulture, not the schmucks that can rattle off scientific names and water an azalea.

The only people that get paid in horticulture are supervisors, managers, and anybody that DOESN’T actually go into the field/nursery/greenhouse. These people normally have degrees except under rare circumstances where they just moved up in a company due to their tenacity and charisma.

Side note: I’m sure there’s plenty of small nursery/greenhouse operations or maybe even some small farm operations that would pay around $15 and hire someone with a certificate so I’m not saying that it’s impossible to get into the industry. I’m just saying that it’s not an industry where you can be successful enough to retire on without a formal education or extensive experience. Period.

Horticulture is going to robots and supply chain managers.

That being said, the number one job for all horticultural applications is MANUAL LABOR or LANDSCAPE LABOR. The robots are still too expensive!

Okay, I’m done. I just had to put this out there. I’m really tired of seeing the career switching posts. I’m not trying to be negative, I’m trying to enlighten people that genuinely don’t have a clue. I’m sure I’m going to get hate from those people with certificates in Canada and Australia. Things are different over there.


r/Horticulture 9h ago

Career Help Is this really just not the route to go?

36 Upvotes

Browsing through this sub has honestly just really put me in the dumps and I am not sure if I should just reconsider everything. I am not looking to get rich, ideally I just want to make $20 an hour eventually. I live in the Carolina’s so there does seem to be an industry in my area for it, I don’t know exactly where I’d niche myself. I really wanted to get into public gardens but they pay like ass here so I don’t know however there’s other areas I could find myself being interested in.

At 29 after spending my entire 20s flopping around in dead end jobs and having no idea what I wanted I went back to school and I’m currently in school for horticulture. I took it randomly as I got offered a free semester and I absolutely love it, it’s the first time in a long time I feel a passion for something, I wake up everyday excited I actually want to learn. I used to HATE school. I love my classes and I want to be in this industry. I love my professors and my classmates. However I come on here and I see mostly people warning to get out of this industry and it’s mostly doom and gloom here. So what gives? Is this a dying industry like pretty much anything else that’s remotely attractive?


r/Horticulture 8h ago

Question Adding a wholesale division to my retail business. Should it go by a different name?

3 Upvotes

Experienced nurseryman here. I run a retail operation and next year will begin wholesaling. Wondering if I should open it as a separate LLC with a different name.

Thinking that if I branded/labeled wholesale plants that I sell to other retailers, they might shy away because a competitor’s name (i.e. my nursery) is on their plants.

I could also just label the plants without my company name, which at this point I’m inclined to do.

Does anyone on this sub have experience or insights on adding a wholesale division to a retail business?


r/Horticulture 4h ago

Good resources for sourcing and mixing various types of potting media

1 Upvotes

I am growing a large variety of natives with different drainage and fertility requirements. Some of my plants thrive, and some I continue to have challenges with.

Does anyone have a good reference book or online resource for creating different blends of potting media? I am growing plants out in 50-cell trays, pint pots, and 1 and 2 gallon pots.

My goal is to have potting media on hand that handles the drainage requirements for each one of my plants that is compatible with their container size.

Thanks!


r/Horticulture 8h ago

Question Apple tree and fire blight

2 Upvotes

I had an apple tree that had fire blight and had it for years before I realized it. My understanding was there was no cure, so I cut it down. Well, the tree decided it wasn't dead yet and is growing back. It has multiple shoots about a foot and a half tall coming out of the trunk. I see no sign of infection at this time. Is there anything I need to do to keep fire blight away, or should I just go ahead and take it out completely and remove the stump? I would like to keep it and let it produce.


r/Horticulture 9h ago

Wanting to transplant volunteers saplings to boyfriend house an hour away… best time of year to do that?

1 Upvotes

Hardiness zone 6a.

I’m slowly moving to my boyfriend’s house and we want to start homesteading. At my parents house now I have peaches, apples & figs. The peaches & apples I have an abundance of from the seeds spouting underneath.

They are all growing underneath their parent tree, so I was thinking of digging them up now and potting them IF not the best time to transplant to new spot since winter is soon.

OR maybe is it best to wait until just before spring to dig up and transplant that same day?

Tl:dr—Apple and peach saplings 1yr volunteers, is it best to transplant them NOW in the fall before winter or SPRING before buds?


r/Horticulture 1d ago

Younger Generation - Careers in Horticulture

75 Upvotes

Other than working in garden centres or botanical gardens, are the younger generation aware of the opportunities within agriculture, if so please share some examples.


r/Horticulture 20h ago

Im a Horticulture major. Parents when youre home from college be like: Can you save my plant

2 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 1d ago

Question Japanese Blueberry Plant

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 1d ago

Help Needed Help! Who are these?

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1 Upvotes

And what do i do? They are destroying my apple. Central Alabama.


r/Horticulture 1d ago

ID Request Trying to identify climbing rose

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1 Upvotes

I can’t remember how long we’ve had this rose bush it’s been at least 8 years by this point. They took to long to decide where to put it and it rooted through the pot. One of the pictures shows some new growth because I noticed it has a reddish color vs the green of the older growth. I live near Everett in Washington. Dead blooms are from this summer and it’s blooming again.


r/Horticulture 2d ago

Halp! How would you recommend I tackle separating this?

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3 Upvotes

My sister in law had this little multi cacti display pot she had let shrivel over the years so I brought it home and gave it a little happier environment to chill in and it’s coming back nicely. I’d like to give it a new pot and new layout and I was thinking I’d put it in a window planter I had laying around to give it some room to stretch out. Problem is I can’t even get close to the thing to be delicate with it so aside from throwing on some bulky work gloves I don’t really know how to remove these guys and replant them without being snapping or breaking something… how would you recommend I approach this?


r/Horticulture 2d ago

Wanting to plant some type of magnolia tree but not sure which type. Would appreciate any advice!

2 Upvotes

In zone 7b on about 2 acres
Most spots would have full sun
Thinking about putting it in a large pot because I’m worried about roots growing into septic lines.


r/Horticulture 2d ago

SPIDER MITES ON MY STRAWBERRIES

1 Upvotes

I don't know how they got there but my strawberries are infested with spider mites how do I get rid of them? I know to keep them away from my other plants, but I also really wonder how they got there they just suddenly appeared one day


r/Horticulture 2d ago

Help

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 3d ago

Just caught him !!!!!!

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0 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 5d ago

Question Where to build skills?

17 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’ve recently come into a position in my life where I have the freedom to move to somewhere I’ve never been. I’d like to try to build my skill set further, I have my undergrad degree in horticulture but there is a lot of competition for entry level/early jobs where I am in the Pacific Northwest. I’m looking into working on organic farms, jobs at wholesale growers, etc but was wondering if anyone had tips or leads on anything else interesting. I’m also looking into international programs, but I assume those are expensive generally.
I’ve worked my ass off at a grass seed farm and know I can put in the time and effort for someone.
Thank you for reading!


r/Horticulture 5d ago

Hello everyone! I just want to ask if I planted my plants in my village and left for nearly a week, does anyone have an idea how can I keep watering them while I am away in a simple inexpensive way?

4 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 6d ago

Insect problem advice?

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3 Upvotes

Hi, sorry if this isn't the right place to ask. Ive been struggling with some bug problems in the potted plants in my office ever since a colleague brought in some infested plants about a year ago.

The bugs (photographed) are very small and white, and they have been causing leaf damage, especially on new leaves.

I've tried washing all the plants with an alcohol/water/soap mix, ive tried Safers insectidal soap, and ive tried Bug B Gon indoor spray.

I even went so far as to cut all of the leaves off my spider plants and spray down the soil and remaining stumps for weeks after.

I thought I had gotten rid of them, but now it's been about 6 months and they are back.

Any advice on approach or products would be greatly appreciated.


r/Horticulture 5d ago

Introducing plants

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 6d ago

Question Is my mountain ash going to be ok?

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0 Upvotes

We planted the mountain ash in 2021 and it sustained some damage due to deer in 2022. This is what it looks like currently. Wondering if we should leave it be or replant. This is the only tree on our property so we’re fairly invested in it.


r/Horticulture 7d ago

Help Needed Oak Sapling Not Doing Too Hot

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7 Upvotes

Heya folks! First time posting here as I can’t find a situation that really matches mine :,)

I dug up a sprouting oak tree from an area near the train station, the leaves on it looked good (besides a little brown) and the stem had clearly been bitten up before by a mower, i knew it’d just keep being mowed down so I dug it up by hand (using a metal credit card thing i had in my wallet lol)

I went down as far as I possibly could as I didn’t know how long the taproot would be! I kept going for as long as I could but accidentally snapped it near the end (it was under 2mm thick at the end where it snapped) we were in a hurry by that point so I couldn’t dig up anymore of it.

Mid way through our journey back I was able to put some spring water into the bottle I kept it in (the bottle was a brand new compressible rubber one)

Placed the tree in a pot with all purpose compost when I got home and kept it indoors to keep an eye on it (we’re having some crazy heatwaves and fires round here)

It’s day…2? 3? And I’ve noticed the leaves are starting to curl/wilt, I’m not sure what can really be done but thought I’d ask here anyway.

I did not snip the end of the root when planting as I honestly wanted to get it in soil as soon as i could.

Read to keep the soil most so got a drip tray that, to my estimate, the water level does not reach the bottom of the taproot. (Used tap water for this)

I was wondering whether something like BabyBio/another plant food could help with? /any home remedies that could be done tonight to help with soil acidity.

Any help would be appreciated! And I’ll do my best to answer questions/clarify anything else!

Thanks in advance!


r/Horticulture 7d ago

I'm totally stumped on this narrow leaf willow with prominent red bark

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 7d ago

TLDR HS student wanting to get into growing plants

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 8d ago

Question Book recommendation

7 Upvotes

Hey all, ive been wondering something.

So I've been self-studying horticulture for around a year, im yet to take a course but based on the past papers ive done I can easily pass the examination. see here's my thing, I have a real interest in the plants. having autism it's taken my whole mind over and I look for the deepest possible understanding I can, was curious what books I ought read to get this deep understanding?​