r/Horticulture May 23 '21

So you want to switch to Horticulture?

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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 11h ago

Would getting a bachelor's level education be worth it for landscape architecture?

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I know this is a personal question, but I'm looking for a little guidance. I've got no formal college-level education, but I do have a permaculture design certification and about 5 years of hort experience (nursery growing/sales). I am working on starting a "garden coaching" side hustle.

I'm really trying to think about my long term career prospects and what my best moves would be to make right now. Do you, in your personal opinion, think it would be better to lean into working for myself and get into garden design? Or just start chugging along the education route and work towards landscape architecture? I like working outdoors but I also love office work. The idea of working at a desk behind a computer is not something that would turn me off of landscape architecture, and I actually like the idea of having the option for office work instead of backing myself into a corner one way or the other. I do, however, really really REALLY hate the idea of taking on student debt for a bachelor's degree if I don't absolutely have to.

~OR~ do you think it's better to get out of hort all together and go a different route lmao I could always just garden in my free time too


r/Horticulture 5h ago

Discussion Cécité botanique

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r/Horticulture 19h ago

Career Help Is the degree i’m working on a mistake?

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Hello everyone! This is my first post here so i may not know all the rules but here’s my situation. Last spring i graduated with my associates in horticultural science and then wished to pursue my bachelor’s. The school i planned on going to ended up getting rid of their horticulture majors before i applied which threw me off a little. After this i applied for a bs in plant biology which i was pretty set on. I got accepted for this major and committed to the college and days before my orientation i was informed they were also getting rid of plant bio which was their last plant major. Then later at my orientation i swapped to a ba in biology which im currently working on now. the reason i went with this was because my advisor heard this same story im telling now and recommended it because i wouldnt be as restricted in what classes i could take which would leave me with very little plant related education. Which i worry would just leave me with a degree and experience i wouldn’t use. My question is that would my hort sci associates and my (likely to be) ba in bio be useful to me in getting a job post school or am i just wasting my time and money? I’m not interested in lab or research work and would likely lean towards greenhouse or forestry to be more specific.


r/Horticulture 14h ago

Just Sharing Empty hoop houses in Connecticut

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A former Monrovia property in Granby, CT. A solar farm is expected to be built on the site.


r/Horticulture 19h ago

IS SHE OK

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I was undoing my curtains and I accidentally knocked over my pitcher plant (pictured here) and all her liquid dumped out (it smelled horrible but all she had and there was a roach) and I'm just wondering if she's going to be ok with all of her liquid out and should I refill it water? because I don't really know what to do this is my first time having a carnivore to care for


r/Horticulture 1d ago

Where Your Morning Cup Begins: Pure Coffee Magic! Ready for Harvest 🍒☕🌿

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From lush green hills straight to your morning brew! Take a close-up look at these ripe, vibrant coffee cherries ripening on the branches in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka—the birthplace of Indian coffee. 🍃✨

There’s nothing quite like the sight and aroma of fresh coffee plantations in full bloom and harvest. Tag a coffee lover who needs to see this! 👇


r/Horticulture 20h ago

Growing Hydrangeas in Gleysol?

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r/Horticulture 2d ago

Greenhouse Work shoe recommendations

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Background: I am a recent graduate now working as an annual grower full time. Up until now, I have been happy with my EMT work boots through both my internships but they are just worn down after 8 years of use. I have been rotating through my backup work/hiking/muck boots but all of the are well worn (as in holes in soles and/or losing pieces) and once water is inside, they never dry out, even in the 90 degree heat.

I am looking for recommendations that could meet the parameters I've listed below. I am willing invest a decent amount because I want them to last. Near in mind I'm clocking between 10,000 and 16,000 steps a day. It's not a question of if my feet will get wet it when 😂.

- waterproof

- high top/combat style: I appreciate the extra support around my ankles

- anti-slip:

- can withstand walking on concrete and gravel.

*if you seasonal preferences, I'd love to hear them. I have a brother in the marines and he recommended getting 2 pairs: one for warmer weather, one for cooler weather.


r/Horticulture 2d ago

Question Celosia

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Hello!

I’m drying a celosia head out so i can get the seeds but im not sure how to go about planting/caring for them. I’m not exactly experienced in gardening and such so im struggling to pick up all the info im reading online.

If anyone has a simple outline or recommends celosia might be too difficult for a starter please let me know!


r/Horticulture 3d ago

Advice on studying at Kew?

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I want to go and study at Kew Gardens, hopefully in 2027. My end goal is to study the 3-year diploma in horticulture, but I'm aware this is highly competitive and for more advanced students.

I don't have much working experience in horticulture apart from having worked in a garden centre for a bit. I do have 3 a-levels, one of which is biology, and a level 3 BTEC in Countryside Management and Wildlife Conservation which included studying plant & soil science.

However, I've found an apprenticeship in botanical horticulture that Kew offer which is labelled as "entry-level" on the website. Has anybody ever done this apprenticeship? Do you know if it's competitive to get into for someone in their early 20s with little horticultural experience? Does anyone have advice on how to contact Kew about this?

I am very enthusiastic about horticulture and botany and really want to get into the industry, so any help would be awesome! :)


r/Horticulture 3d ago

Ponchatoula Louisiana

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r/Horticulture 3d ago

Oh, finally. A dream job in the field!

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At least they offer pet insurance


r/Horticulture 2d ago

partnership

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say someone has mastered a certain ornamental crop that is high in demand, and can produce thousands of it with a very low cost, what are the chances to find a business partner that has the land and the growing requirments, while the one with the experience takes care of the growing process?


r/Horticulture 3d ago

Discussion Are we OK with AI?

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A fellow gardener I was chatting with started extolling the merits of using AI for garden planning/design. This is someone who holds a garden design qualification!

I had to hold my tongue because I disagree with using AI on the grounds that it's not environmentally friendly! I see myself as a steward of the planet and want to tread as lightly upon the earth as possible.

I've been lightly mocked by other horticulturists in the past for expressing this view. But I don't think I'm in the wrong. We know AI data centres - aside from their carbon footprint - use huge amounts of water. I thought there would be more "eco warriors" in the gardening community...


r/Horticulture 2d ago

I built Verdant to help growers understand their grow—not just log it

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r/Horticulture 3d ago

Career Help Paleobotany

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Hello everyone. I'm in the UK and next week I start a course doing RHS level 2 practical horticulture, I would have done a level 3 but have no local availability; I have a keen interest in all things prehistoric including plants and animals and was wondering if I could continue on to do paleobotany eventually, starting with this course. Any help/advice would be helpful. Thank you


r/Horticulture 3d ago

Suggestions on where to research plants

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Hello, I wanted to start doing more research on the plants I have. But I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of websites there are. I don't know which ones are trustworthy and which ones are not. Where do you guys go for your plant care information?


r/Horticulture 3d ago

Question Hanging basket removal

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I work in a garden center that sells many hanging baskets in the spring and summer. Basket stock from the greenhouse is brought to the storefront, which involves going up and down stepladders all day.

Has anyone used a hanging basket removal like the ones being sold at these sites?

https://talericos.com/product/basket-buddy-with-9-extension-pole/

https://www.imperialbuilders.com/product/Hanging-Basket-Remover-36-or-60/

If so, what are your thought?


r/Horticulture 3d ago

Dumb question? Maybe?

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So I'm not sure where this thought came from but I know where to ask the question lmao....can you grow moss on your body while still being alive?


r/Horticulture 4d ago

Taylor juniper

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Variegated or non variegated photo of Taylor junipers on moons tree farm


r/Horticulture 6d ago

En 1960, David Latimer plantó un jardín dentro de una botella y la selló. La abrió y le echó agua a la planta en 1972, y la selló para siempre. Ha sido un ecosistema autosustentable durante 64 años

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r/Horticulture 7d ago

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

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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 7d ago

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

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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 6d ago

Good resources for sourcing and mixing various types of potting media

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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!