Reasons Why Floriculture is Loved

Floriculture can be defined as the cultivation of flowering plants.In another words, floriculture includes the growing, using, caring and marketing some flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. Ornamental plants are those beautiful trees or flowering plants that can be used to decorate our environment. This ornamental plants be shrubs, flowers, or trees. 

Know that, the person that grows or sells flowers is called a florist.

Importance /Uses of Ornamental Plants

Ornamental Plants are very important and useful in the following ways.

1. For interior decorations: Beautiful flowers are used to decorate the interior  of residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

2. For road decorations: Many roads sides are decorated with beautiful flowers.They add beauty to the roads.

3. For scientific research: Many flowers are used by florist, scientist for some scientific studies.

4. For ceremonial use: Beautiful flowers are used in certain ceremonies e.g wedding,burials.

5. For exterior decoration: Flowers are also used to decorate exterior of some residential , commercial and industrial buildings, and the flowers add beauty to the environment.

6. Provision of shades: Some flowering plants have large and broad leaves which are capable of providing shade in residential environments.

7. Sources of income to florists: Ornamental plants can be sold and which provides income to the horticulturist or florist.

8. Provision of employment: Growing of Flowers provides employment for people e.g florist,gardner etc

9. Provision of Foreign Exchange: Some flowering plants can be sold out of the country and which provides Income for the government.

10. Decoration of Avenues and Resort Centres: Flowers can be used to decorate route junctions,resort centres, and city centres.

Some Species of Ornamental trees , shrubs and flowers

Ornamental Trees includes

1. Frangi Pani

2. Neem cassia

3. Royal Palm

4. Balsam

5. Delonix

6. Casuarina

7. Indian Almond

8. Flame of the forest

Ornamental Shrubs

1. Allamanda 

2. Zinnia

3. Ixora

4. Dutchman's pipe

5. Wild rose

6. Hibiscus

7. Acalypha

8. Bougainville

9. Cauliflower

10. Crotons

Ornamental Flowers

1. Water Lettuce

2. Justicia

3. Clitoria

4. Marigold

5. Sun flower

6. Passion Flower

7. Morning glory

8. Canalily

9. Lantana

10. Crotalaria

11. Gloriosa

12. Commelina

Cultivation of Ornamental Trees and Flowers

To start the cultivation of ornamental trees. the following factors should be considered to enhacese good production and high quality flowers.The cultivation of ornamental flowers includes;

(i) Choose a suitable site: The site should be well drained and should be accessible to the florist and customers. The site should near river or water should be available always for watering the flowers.

(ii) Planting Materials: Planting materials like seeds,stems,roots,leaves should be available. 

(iii) Method of Cultivation: Every florist should choose his own format of cultivating.The method of cultivation includes:

(1) Use of Prepared Beds: This serves as nursery beds where the seeds are planted before transplanting to permanent site.

(2) Direct Planting to soil : Seeds or stems cutting can be planted directly into the soil where they are sprout to become flowers.

(3) Use of Nylon Bags:- This is planting of the flower seedlings im the nylon bags and they grow before transplanting them.

(4) Use of Pots : Seeds are planted directly into clay pots, containing loamy soil where they are planted before transplanting.

(iv) Provision of Shades: Shades should be provided where the seedlings are planted to protect them against excessive rainfall and heat.

(v) Use of Loamy Soil/Organic Manuring: The soil where the flower seedlings or stem should be fertile.And some organic may be used to improve the growth amd productivity of planted flowers

(vi)  Regular Watering: Flowers should be watered when there is no or low rainfall. It should be watered regular of at least twice daily - morning and night.

(vii) Weeding: The florist should ensure that unplanted plants,weed are removed from the where the flowers are planted for it not to compete with the planted flowers.Forbeffective growth of ornamental trees and flowers no weed should be grown there.

Sources of Planting Material Of Ornamental Trees and Flowers.

Some of the planting materials like seeds, cut stem, leaves, stolons or rhizomes etc can be gotten from ;

(i) established private horticultural gardens

(ii) higher institution of botanical gardens in agricultural universities

(iii) government owned horticulture centrese.

(iv) resorts or recreational centres

(v) private owned houses or offices

(vi) importation of flowers and trees from other country.

How to Maintain Horticultural Garden

(I) Provision of Shade:- Shade should be provided for the seedlings to protect from environmental adverse conditions like excessive rainfall and heat from the sun.

(ii) Fencing :- Ornamental plants  should be protected from being eaten up by animals like sheep,goat, cattle.

(iii)  Regular Prunning:- Old leaves should be pruned with either shears or secateurs.

(iv) Regular Watering:- Horticultural plants and flowers should be watered at least twice a day- very early in the morning and late in the night.

(v) Application of Fertilizers:- Fertilizers and manure can be applied to improve the soil fertility for the growth of ornamental trees,shrubs, flowers etc.

(vi) Regular Weeding: The florist should ensure that unwanted plants are removed from the surrounding for adequate growth,space, light. This is because weeds compete with ornamental crops in terms of space, light,soil nutrients.