Ornamental Horticulture Objectives

Yearlong: Life Skills and FFA

· Demonstrate good work ethic.

· Develop, maintain and keep records on an agricultural project.

· Create a budget.

· Write a SMART goal.

· Identify and develop qualities of leadership (strengths) you possess.

· Identify and address weaknesses you possess.

· Track income, expense and time.

· Write a business letter, professional email, thank you letter.

· Complete 4 hours of community service per semester.

· Attend 2 FFA Activities per semester.

· Contribute to an FFA committee.

· Complete 20 hours of time in an Agricultural project per nine week

Plants and Society

· Explain how plants support life and society.

· Explain a plant’s role in an ecosystem (autotroph).

· Explain how humans have impacted plant genetics.

· Examine the botanical definition of fruit.

Classification of Plants

· Classify a plant based on angiosperm, gymnosperm, annual, perennial, monocot, dicot.

· Use a dichotomous key to identify a plant.

· Select a tomato based on use, type, determinate, indeterminate, heirloom, hybrid.

· Interpret a plant label: Hardiness, lifecycle, growth requirements.

· ID 100 common cut flowers, annuals/ perennials, houseplants, trees/ shrubs.

· Differentiate major leaf arrangements.

· Distinguish between types of flowers.

· Establish plant suitability for selected sites, based on hardiness zone and heat zone maps.

· Plan and plant a cool season garden

Plant Needs

· ID parts of a root, stem, leaf and flower.

· List functions of roots, leaves stems, flowers.

· Use the knowledge of photosynthesis to maximize plant growth.

· Compare xylem and phloem.

· Examine the effects of light quality on plant growth.

· Examine the effects of water quality on plant growth.

· Examine the effects of temperature on plant growth.

· ID symptoms of cultural problems in plants.

Plant Propagation

· Plant a bulb.

· Propagate a potato from seedstock.

· Clone a plant from stem and leaf cuttings.

· Germinate a seed

Greenhouse Operations and Sales

· Manipulate a greenhouse to optimize plant growth: germination, photosynthesis.

· Select, propagate, raise and market a greenhouse crop.

· Calculate budget and ask for a loan.

· Maintain appropriate records on a greenhouse crop.

· Sell a greenhouse crop.

· Create a bench card and print media advertisement.

· Complete 2 days of customer service at the RLHS plant sale.

· Calculate profit.

· Transplant a plant to nursery standards.

· Deadhead plants to encourage reflowering.

· Perform hard and soft pinches to enhance plant growth.

· Plan a growing schedule for a nursery crop.

· Prepare plants for sale.

· Harden off greenhouse plants.

· ID symptoms of over and under watering.

· Demonstrate proper watering techniques.

Soils and Growing Media

· List the components of soil.

· Texture a soil and make appropriate suggestions for soil improvement.

· Select/ mix a growing media for greenhouse propagation.

· ID different greenhouse growing medias.

· Test pH, nitrates, phosphates and potassium levels of a soil sample.

· Interpret soil test results and make recommendations.

· Explain how plant needs are met in a soilless system.

· Explain the importance of microorganisms in the soil.

Fertilizers

· Identify plant macronutrients.

· Explain the importance of N,P,K.

· Interpret a fertilizer label.

· Select a fertilizer based on need.

· Correlate plant symptoms to the appropriate nutritional deficiencies for N, P, K, I, Ca.

· Explain factors affecting nutrient availability.

· Explain slow release, organic, liquid, granular, and other common buying options.

Pest Control

· ID aphid, powdery mildew, mealybug, codling moth, spider mites.

· Explain Integrated Pest Management strategies.

· Compare types of pesticide applications

· Interpret pesticide labels.

· Utilize safety procedures when applying pesticides.

· ID and properly use personal protective equipment.

· Read, understand and follow label directions and MSDS.

· Complete Worker Protection Handler Verification Training