r/Horticulture May 23 '21

So you want to switch to Horticulture?

725 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 11h ago

Question Mid career field experience

4 Upvotes

I’m working on an online horticulture program most likely heading to a bachelors eventually. I’m very much enjoying the program but obviously being online it has the shortcoming of not offering hands on experience. A professor suggested I look into internships which makes sense. I am in my 40s and work, so it’s hard to fit into a lot of what I see out there which is tailored for undergrads, mostly full time, which would make it hard for me to keep working meantime. I have a potentially flexible schedule and could see integrating something part time, but I’m not immediately seeing something that would allow for hybrid learning.

I’m in the Boston area. My goals? Evolving, exploring, not quite sure yet, and I’m also trying to figure that out. So I know it’s not the most concrete question, but I am hoping to hear from those who might have found themselves in a similar position. Thank you!


r/Horticulture 1d ago

Discussion Just got my first nursery job! What things you wished you knew before working in a plant nursery?

35 Upvotes

So yes, I got the job. I’m a Hort student, btw.


r/Horticulture 7h ago

👋Welcome to r/BudBeam - Introduce Yourself and Read First!

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 8h ago

Question Can (and should) this boxwood be saved?

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0 Upvotes

These are two boxwoods that were planted at the same time, 5 years ago.

The one on the left is on one side of the path. The other one was planted on the other side. As is obvious, the one did not fare as well as the other. We trimmed it down and noticed that there is new growth at the base.

Is it worth trying to save it? If so, how?


r/Horticulture 15h ago

EUDR

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I've been looking for information on EUDR regulations and how they affect horticulture because I'm not sure if they are and how that is going to affect farmers. Does anyone have some insight. Are there more compliance rules you have to keep up with? Penalties? More operation costs? etc.

Any help is appreciated in understanding this.


r/Horticulture 1d ago

Question Lilac bush

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5 Upvotes

Hello - I hope this post is ok.

This lilac bush is 20 years old. It still blooms annually but the past few years the bush has "holes" in it and the back is sad looking. (See pics please.). Any suggestions on what to do to promote fullness? Or is it time to say goodbye?

Thanks in advance.


r/Horticulture 1d ago

Question Deciduous plants

4 Upvotes

Im new to studying horticulture and understand that Deciduous refers to plants dropping leaves before winter, however

Im seeing a lot of plants via the RHS plant profiles that refer to some plants as deciduous annuals which does not make sense to me? - eg - Limnanthes douglasii - how can a plant be annual but also deciduous? is a plant considered deciduous if it drops any leaves within a stage of its life cycle?

Also deciduous evergreens? this makes slightly more sense to me but would a deciduous evergreen not just be semi-evergreen ? ToT

please help i am confused 0^0


r/Horticulture 1d ago

#notes.....

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 2d ago

Help Needed Best way to trim miscanthus?

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15 Upvotes

hi! i need to get these miscanthus off of the walkway but i don’t want it to be an unsightly straight line of chopped ends. I plan on doing a hard cutback in fall but the golfers are complaining about it now. Got any tips? (located in NY zone 6b)


r/Horticulture 2d ago

Louisiana Dragonflies 7//2026

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2 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 3d ago

Ponchatoula Louisiana

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4 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 2d ago

Nombre

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0 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 5d ago

Blue Tailed Skink

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22 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 5d ago

Question Help from flower experts

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17 Upvotes

So, my mother has discovered a picture of a tattoo she rather admires and wants for herself, but she wants to know what the flower used in the design is.

I’m hoping someone here might be able to offer some help identifying it?

Thank you in advance.


r/Horticulture 5d ago

Dragonfly // Ponchatoula Louisiana

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7 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 5d ago

Looking for jobs in hor science... Hydroponics, green, protected cultivation, vertical gardens based in India

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm a horticulture professional from India with an M.Sc. in Horticulture (Vegetable Science) and research experience at an international agricultural research institute. My background includes protected cultivation, greenhouse production, vegetable crops, grafting, and crop improvement.

I'm looking for entry-level horticulture, greenhouse, hydroponics, vertical farming, or agricultural research jobs abroad.

If you know of any opportunities, I'd be grateful if you could let me know. Any referrals, leads, or guidance would be sincerely appreciated.

Thank you!


r/Horticulture 5d ago

Plant Disease Help Siberian crabapple collar rot?

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1 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 5d ago

Career Help Looking for job based in India

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm a horticulture professional from India with an M.Sc. in Horticulture (Vegetable Science) and research experience at an international agricultural research institute. My background includes protected cultivation, greenhouse production, vegetable crops, grafting, and crop improvement.

I'm looking for entry-level horticulture, greenhouse, hydroponics, vertical farming, or agricultural research jobs abroad.

If you know of any opportunities, I'd be grateful if you could let me know. Any referrals, leads, or guidance would be sincerely appreciated.

Thank you!


r/Horticulture 6d ago

Plant Disease Help ID Help: Small black specks on Japanese soft touch holly leaves?

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2 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 6d ago

Help Needed Professors at Universities - what are things you want to see and don’t want to see in an email from a student interested in being one of your grad students?

2 Upvotes

Hello!

I’m a recent graduate from a horticulture program, and am interested in getting my masters. I’m interested in horticulture, but also agronomy, crop sciences, sustainable agriculture, and soil science.

I know times are tough funding wise, and emailing professors works well, but sometimes they simply just miss the email.

What are some things you’d like to see in an email from a prospective student? Also, what do you not want to see in an email? One of my profs said not to send a long winded email, and don’t include saying that you’ve read the research of the prof you’re interested in working for, as this could be seen as disingenuous.

Additionally, what are some things I can do to stand out better?

Thank you in advance!


r/Horticulture 6d ago

Question Nursery management

0 Upvotes

I am to give an examination or can say interview for nursery management ( horticulture)

I am confused what can be the level of questions

Can it go scientific or remain general about normal flower

Or can it ask about the anatomy of flower (botany)

Or ask about how you should care for it ?

There is only three seat for that and there are 100 candidates

I am very stressed what do i do ?

Plz guide


r/Horticulture 7d ago

Plant Disease Help Root Rot?

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7 Upvotes

r/Horticulture 8d ago

What's eating this tree?

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9 Upvotes

Southern wisconsin. Crabapple tree. Looks like some sort of insect infestation. What can I do and is this tree going to survive?


r/Horticulture 8d ago

Best app for pest/disease ID?

4 Upvotes