Floriculture is a discipline of horticulture that is concerned with the production and management of ornamental plants. Ornamental plants are beautiful trees or shrubs which can be used to decorate our environments.
IMPORTANCE OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
- Sources of employment, e.g. florists.
- Serves as a source of income.
- For expression of love and as a gift on special occasions.
- For decoration.
- For fencing.
- For medicinal preparation.
- Sources of food.
- Purification of the air.
- For teaching and learning purposes.
- Provision of shades.
- Serves as a wind break.
- Beautification of the environment.
- Sources of livestock feed.
- Serves as a tourist centre.
- A source of revenue to the government.
- For the preparation of dyes.
COMMON SPECIES OF ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS
ORNAMENTAL TREES
- Frangi pani
- Neem cassia
- Royal palm
- Balsam
- Flame of the forest
- India almond
- Casuarinas
- Delonix
ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS
- Allamanda
- Crotons
- Ixora
- Cauliflower
- Acalypha
- Hibiscus
- Wild rose
- Bougainvillea
- Zinnia
- Dutchman’s pipe
ORNAMENTAL FLOWERS
- Justicia
- Cana lily
- Morning glory
- Crotalaria
- Water lettuce
- Lantana
- Sun flower
- Marigold
- Commelina
- Clitoria
CULTIVATION OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
The cultivation of ornamental flowers includes:
- Selection of a site that is well drained and easily accessible.
- Choice of planting materials, which can be seeds or vegetative parts such as stems, roots, leaves (e.g bryophylum) and stolons
- Methods of cultivation
- Use of a prepared bed
- Direct sowing into the soil
- Use of a nylon bag
- Use of pots
- Provision of shades
- Organic manuring
- Regular weeding
- Regular watering
SOURCES OF PLANTING MATERIALS
The planting materials, such as seeds, cut stems, leaves, stolons or rhizomes, can be obtained from;
- Established private horticultural gardens
- Higher institution botanical garden
- Government-owned horticultural centres
- Private houses and offices
- Imported ornamental trees and flowers
- Resort or recreational centres
MAINTENANCE OF HORTICULTURAL PLANTS/FLOWERS
- Provision of shades
- Regular watering
- Regular weeding
- Fertilizer application
- Fencing
- Regular pruning
GENERAL EVALUATION
- What are ornamental plants?
- List five examples of ornamental flowers
- List five examples of ornamental shrubs
- List five uses of ornamental plants
- Explain five maintenance practices in the planting of ornamental crops.
See also
MEANING OF PASTURES AND FORAGE CROPS | FULL EXPLANATION
LIVESTOCK PARASITES AND THEIR LIFE CYCLES
ANIMAL PROTOZOAN DISEASES | SYMPTOMS, TRANSMISSION, EFFECTS, PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE CONTROL
ANIMAL FUNGAL DISEASES | SYMPTOMS, TRANSMISSION, EFFECTS, PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE CONTROL