Floriculture: Definition, Importance, Scope and Present
Status
Floriculture
Definition:
Floriculture may be defined as the branch of Horticulture which deals
with the culture and management of flowers and ornamental plants.
– It has been derived from two words ‘flor’ means flower and
‘cultura’ means cultivation.
– But now in addition to flower other ornamental plants are
also included in floriculture.
Importance
of Floriculture
– As Floriculture deals with the
culture of flowers and ornamental plants, it has great importance in our daily
life as well as national economy.
-General
importance of flower
- Flowers help getting out of illness through psychological enchantment.
- Flower gardens increase beauty of the house or an institution.
- Scent and perfumes are extracted from the fragrance of flowers e.g., Rose water, Atar.
- It is the source of incentive to the poets and writers.
- Flower is a national symbol. Water lily (white) Nymphaea nouchali is the national flower of Bangladesh.
- Flower increases the aesthetic sense of human being and satisfies demand of heart feelings.
- Its beauty and fragrance give happiness to all irrespective of age and wealth.
- It is the principal component of public functions and anniversaries and also extensively used for decoration.
- Flower gardening is a good medium of passing leisure time and help keeping good health.
-Economic
importance of flower production
- Perfume industries can be established in the country which can help improving national economy.
- Flowers can be a source of earning huge foreign currency by exporting them.
- Flowers can be considered as a commercial commodity. Commercial flower production may be helpful in increased earning of the grower.
- Establishment of flower production farms and perfume industries can help solving unemployment problem to a large extent.
- It provides scope to bring more unused land under flower cultivation
- SCOPE OF FLOWER CULTIVATION
Potted foliage and flowerng plants are less perishable
and has advantage over cut flowers. As most of the important foliage and
flowering plants are native to the tropical region, they can successfully
be grown in Bangladesh as well as for export from Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh has a very good potentiality to become an important supplier of flower and ornamental plants to different countries of Asia, Middle East and Europe.
- The agro climatic condition is well suited for growing many flowers and foliage plants in Bangladesh.
- Since Floriculture is a new industry in Bangladesh it has a tremendous scope to develop.
- Bonsai culture is a recent development in the field of floriculture in Bangladesh. In bonsai culture a large tree is transformed into a miniature form giving a lucrative look. Such plants have heavy demand in the society though they are expensive. To meet up local demand and for export many bonsai making farms can be established.
- v) Cactus is a high valued ornamental crop sold in plant nurseries and shops. Some progressive nurserymen and amateurs are trying to make special types of plants like grafted cactus and bonsai in small scale. This gives a hope for trade in Floriculture.
- vi) Tissue culture technology can be exploited for developing quality seedling in many flower spp. in order to get local as well as international market.
- There is a high demand of fresh flower and pot plants in Europe, America, Japan, Holland and Middle East. Very recently Bangladesh Govt. has included flowers in the export policy. As such those flowers suitable for export such as rose, gladiolus, gerbera, tuberose, marigold, orchid etc. can easily be produced for this purpose.
Annual,
Perennial, Biennial?
Annuals - Plants that perform their entire life cycle from seed to
flower
to seed within a single growing
season. All roots, stems and leaves of the plant die annually. Only the
dormant seed bridges the gap between one generation and the next.
Perennials - Plants that persist for many growing seasons. Generally
the top portion of the plant dies back each winter and regrows the following
spring
from the same root system (e.g.
Purple Coneflower). Many perennial plants do keep their leaves year round and
offer attractive borders and groundcover (e.g. Tickseed, Shasta and Ox-Eyed
Daisy). NOTE: WHEN STARTING PERENNIAL PLANTS FROM SEED, BLOOMS WILL BE
OBSERVED IN EITHER THE SPRING OR SUMMER OF THE SECOND YEAR AND EACH YEAR
THEREAFTER (e.g. Ox-Eyed Daisy planted in the spring of 1996 will not bloom
until the spring of 1997).
Biennials - Plants which require two years to complete their life
cycle.
First season growth results in a
small rosette of leaves near the soil surface. During the second season's
growth stem elongation, flowering and seed formation occur followed by the
entire plant's death.
Annual/Perennial - A plant can behave as an annual or a perennial depending
on local climatic and geographic growing conditions. In the southern portion
of the United States, these plants tend to grow much quicker than in the
north due to the warmer weather and extended growing season. For example: a
Black-Eyed Susan would behave as an annual if grown in Louisiana; whereas, if
grown in Ohio, a Black-Eyed Susan would behave as a perennial.
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6. INDOOR PLANTS |
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The House Plants, or Indoor
Plants, have become a necessity in the homes of the affluent West, but even
in some affluent Indian homes these types of plant are also now finding a
prominent place. Indoor plants are used to beautify the areas inside the
house. It is less costly to decorate the interior of a room with live plants
compared to flowers, which are becoming costlier day by day and besides they
are to be replaced frequently. On the other hand, with little care, a
well-chosen house plant will continue to decorate a room for a period of
time. The initial investment may be comparatively high but it proves
economical in the long run.
Though the fashion of growing
house plants became universally popular during the past three or four
decades, definitely it is not a new art. In the ancient civilizations of
Egypt, India, and Rome it was not unusual to bring pot-grown or tub-grown
plants inside a room for the purpose of decoration. In Europe, particularly
in Britain, during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries it
was a common practice for the well-to-do people to grow exotic house plants
for interior decoration.
The indoor plants can be placed in
the following areas.
1. Open zone: This is available in roof terraces. This zone is very warm especially during summer in inland plains. Plants like Agave and cacti, which can tolerate reflected heat, can be selected for the above purpose. 2. Shade of a tree in front of a house: Such places near the eastern side of the building may be considered for growing certain house plants which can easily come up under shade. Most of the foliage plants like Crotons, Eranthemum, Dracaena, Asparagus are preferred as potted plants in the area. 3. Varandah of a house: This area normally gets only diffused light and the air environment is also good. The plants best suited for growing in verandahs are palms such as Livistonia, Areca lutescens, ferns and Begonias etc. 4. Living room, drawing room etc: In these places, we can keep the plants either near the window or away from it. Near a window plants with brighter foliage and occasionally herbaceous flowering plants are preferred, while plants with drooping foliage like Zebrina, Sedum, Mesembranthemum are preferred in the former cases.
Selection of House Plants
The plants which are generally grown in the houses are of two kinds. In the first category are included what we commonly call "the flowering plants" such as African violets, azaleas, geraniums, etc., which are spectacular in appearance by virtue of their colourful flowers. But once the flowering is over, these plants have very little use inside a room and hence their usefulness as house plants is only for a limited period. To the other category belong plants which provide permanent display with their graceful foliage and sometimes with their architectural or unusual form (e.g. bonsai).
One point has to be taken into
account while choosing the house plants. Even though a room may appear to be
well1it to our eyes, the available light may not be enough for proper growth
and development of the plant. Hence, the majority of the house plants should
have the capacity to tolerate shade of varying intensity. One more quality
import to any house plant is that it should remain evergreen to retain its
permanent decorative character, with possible exceptions of bonsai which
are quite attractive even without foliage because of the attractive outline
of the tree. Though green leaves can also be attractive, especially if the
shape is unusual or interesting (e.g., Monstera deliciosa), leaves
with some colour other than green are considered to be more attractive. In
some plants the leaves are naturally-coloured as in Gynura aurantiaca,
Caladiums etc., while in others coloured forms of the natural green
leaved types are available as in Peperomia magnoliaefolia variegata, Ficus
radicans variegata and others. Another quality a house plant is expected
to have is compactness of its growth habit as space becomes a limiting factor
in any house in a congested city.
Now it is possible to describe in a nutshell the qualities expected of an ideal house plant. A house plant should be compact in growth habit, evergreen in nature and should have some amount of shade around its growing environments. In addition, the leaves should be attractive by virtue of their shape or colour. Though the emphasis should be permanence of attraction, handsome flowers produced by house plants should be regarded as a valuable trait. But the combination of good foliage and flowers is unfortunately very rare.
Before procuring a house plant one
has to consider many points. The first consideration is that under what
condition a plant has to grow, i.e., whether there is sufficient light or the
humidity is adequate or the temperature is favourable. Secondly, due thought
to be given as for what purpose the plant is needed. For example, if it is
for decoration of a small table, the plant should be compact and bushy in
nature. Another important point is the experience of the grower in handling
a house plants gain, a busy man who cannot spend much time in the care of the
plants. A house plant grown in the humid and warm atmosphere of a green house
should be hardened off before selling to a customer. It goes without saying
that a grower should select a plant with firm and healthy looking foliage and
which is also free ill disease and insect pests. Besides the ornamental
foliage and flowering plants, cacti and succulents, palms, ferns and some
bulbous plants can also be grown inside a house. A miniature Water, Nymphaea
x pygmaea helvola can also be grown indoors in a bowl of at least
30 cm.
Putting the plants in
various-shaped plant stands also improves the look of display. Plant stands
may be made to accommodate only one plant or it may be branching to hold
several pots together. These are generally made of mild steel rods or plates
with a heavy base and having a ring to hold the pot. The branching types
generally have several protruding hands from the main support at the end of
which there wi1l be rings to hold the pots. Plants kept in plant stands
should be watered just enough so that there is no drip, or the pots are
watered outside and the excess of water is allowed to drain off after which
the pots are put back in the stand. Even after these precautions it is most
likely that the pots may drip.
There are some other methods of
displaying house plants. A live screen can be created in a window by growing
light indoor creepers such as different Hedera helix, Scindapsus aureus, the
"golden pothos" (money plant) and others. The dining space in a
drawing or living-room can be separated by growing a screen of creepers in
between or placing a vertical garden. Plants grown in bowls or metal hanging
baskets can be fixed on the walls by using brackets which will bring a relief
to an otherwise empty expanse of a wall. However, one should be cautioned not
to overdo the practice of decorating with house plants.
Some House Plants
For the sake of convenience, the house plants are classified into severa1 groups. The different groups are mentioned below and some important house plants belonging to each group are listed below.
Climbing and Trailing Foliage
Plant
The climbing and trailing plants wi1l need support for growing. For light creepers or trailers split-bamboo cane support driven deep into the compost will be enough. The creeper or trailer should be tied to the cane taking care that the knot round the stem is loose enough for the future growth of the plant. A trellis can be made by driving into the soil three or more canes at slightly inclined angle across the centre of the pot. Then crossbars made of split bamboo cane are tied across these canes with thin wires at intervals of 10 cm. For making a screen, thin chicken wire-mesh may be used supported on wooden frame. Moss sticks, also called totem poles, are made by tying sphagnum moss all round and along the wire length of a thick cane and supporting against it generally creepers such as Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron scandens, money plant, and also Hedera helix having aerial roots. Philodendron
The following are examples of few
house plants belonging to this group.
(a) Climber: Ficus pumila, Ficus radicans variegata is a beautiful variegated creeper suitable for hanging baskets. The creamy-white variegation starts from the margins, Asparagus plumosus, A. sprengeri, Hedera helix, Philodendron elegans, P. laciniatum, P. melanochrysum, Scindapsus aureus ('Pothos"), S. aureus 'Marble Queen", and S. aureus "Tricolour", and Syngonium podophyllum
(b) Trailers: The important plants in this group are: Chlorophytum
comosum variegatum, Fittonia verschaffeltii, Tradescantia jluminensis, T.
jluminensis variegate and Zebrina pendula
Bushy and Upright Foliage plants
This group of plants possesses beautiful foliage and is suitable for display in arrangements. Some important plants belonging to this group are mentioned below. Aglaonema commutatum, Aralia elegantissima (Syn. Dizygotheca elegantissima), Araucaria excelsa, Begonia 'Rex', Brassaia actinophylla, Caladium in different colours, Cordyline terminalis, Cryptanthus zonatus, Cyperus alternifolius, C. alternifolius variegata, Dracaena godseffiana, D. sanderiana, Fatsia japonica, Fittonia verschaffeltii, Maranta leuconeura, Monstera deliciosa, , Peperomia caperata Philodendron bipinnatifidum, P. 'Burgundy'.
Flowering house plants
These plants have attractive foliage which remains on the plant on the plant and they bear attractive flowers. Begonia glaucophylla, B. glabra, Passiiflora caerulea, Aphelandra squarrosa, Begonia maculata, B. manicata
Bulbs
(a) Annual bulbs:Most of the annual bulbs recommended for indoor culture are suitable only for temperate regions. In the plains, where the weather is cool enough, one may try some of these but the success will not be satisfactory. The bulbs recommended are Daffodils (Narcissus), Crocus, Hyacinths, and Tulips.
(b) Permanent bulbs: Only Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) grows well indoors
year after year. These can be grown in the tropics also.
Ferns and Palms
(a) Suitable Ferns: Adiantum, Asplenium nidus, Nephrolepsis exaltata, and Pteris cretica, Selaginella in different species, (though not ferns) can aIso be grown. (b) Suitable Palms: Chamaerops humilis, Cycas revoluta (not palm but similar looking).
Care of indoor plants
1. Repotting: The house plants soon fill the pots with its roots and often need a larger pot for satisfactory continuing its growth. It is then shifted to a pot a little larger on size with its root and soil intact. This process is known as “repotting”. Plant should never be repotted when the soil is in dry state. In this condition, they should be watered some time before potting is commenced, so that the surplus water will have to drain away. Soil used for potting should be sufficiently moist to hold together when pressed in the hand, but not wet. 2. Watering: Pot plants require to be watered much more carefully than those growing in the ground. Applying too little or too much of water is undesirable. When the leaves droop it is a sign that the plant is either in need of water or suffering from water stagnation at the root. Always use soft water for watering the potted plants. 3. Syringing: It refers to the operation of spraying the plant surfaces through a fine stringe nose. It is essential to the health of plants growing under cover where the natural rain does not reach them. Syringing creates a moist atmosphere, cleans the leaves and thus assist in promoting their functions. 4. All plants growing in a verandah should be frequently turned round in their position so as to equalize the effect of the light otherwise their growth will be top sided. 5. Too much light is just as detrimental as too little and the majority of indoor plants should not be placed in full sun. Sun scorch or leaf burn will soon make them very unattractive. Requirement of light vary with the individual plants. Most flowering plants require considerable light to bloom, while most foliage plants need diffused light. The only exception to this rule is plants that have variegated leaves. When a variegated plant os placed in a dark corner, the few green cells present in the leaves cannot manufacture enough food to maintain a healthy growing condition. Flowering plants require more sunlight for profuse flowering and hence they can be better located near the windows. 6. The humidity of air in the house or room is very low. Many house plants require a higher humidity than is normally present. It is often difficult to provide the necessary humidity in the room. The humidity around the plants can be increased by the following ways. a. Use trays of pebbles in which water is poured to just below the tops of the pebbles. Place the pots on the pebbles, being certain that the bottoms are not sitting in the water. b. Another method is that the single plant may be top-dressed with sphagnum moss and the moss kept nicely damp.
Ornamental palms
Palms are a special group of plants used extensively in landscape gardening, due to their beautiful trunk, leaf colour, shapes, plant structure and growth habits. Palms include about 200 genera and three thousand species. Their roots, trunks (stems), fronds (leaves), flowers and fruits are different and distinct in appearance and structure from others of the plant kingdom. Based on the trunk and its different manifestation, palms can be divided in to four groups viz., 1. Solitary palms- single erect trunk (eg. Cocos, Phoenix, Elaseis) 2. Clumping plams- multiple trunks arising from at or just below the ground level (eg. Areca lustescens, Raphis) 3. Branching plams- branching can occur above ground (eg. Hyphaene indica) or below ground (eg. Nipa fruticans) 4. Trunkless palm- have very much reduced trunk called acaulescent (eg. Phoenix acaulis)
The leaves of the palms called
‘fronds’ vary in form. They may be grouped into ‘fan leaved type’ and
‘pinnate leaved type’ palms.
Use of palms in landscape garden
1. Palms are well suited as single specimens in lawn (eg. Areca triandra) 2. Palms are excellent specimens for avenue planting in the gardens (eg. Roystonea regia) 3. They are also suitable for decoration of conservatories, verandahs, stair-cases, for indoor decorations as potted plants.
Hints to grow palms
1. Palms can be propagated from seeds or division of clumps (eg. Raphis) 2. Palm seeds are to be harvested at fully ripe stage and are to be immediately sown in raised beds having more proportion of sand. 3. Depending upon the species, the seeds start geminating from 3 months even continue upto 2 years in certain cases. 4. The seedlings may be lifted at first pair of leaf stage and potted off simply in small pots. 5. Palms generally refer pot bound condition and thrive even in undersized pots. 6. Repotting to the next large sized pots may be done at the stage when the roots increase and fill the pots fully, almost forcing the pots to open or crack. 7. Liquid manuring with oil cakes and Ammonium sulphate may be given to the palms once in fifteen days. 8. Regular watering especially on alternate days is essential for the palms grown in the pots. 9. Potted palms intended for keeping indoors should be acclimatized sufficiently before keeping them indoors, so that they retain their fresh appearance and lusture.
Some attractive palms for the
garden
1. Areca triandra: an elegant single trunked palm 2. Caryota urens: Toddy palm, produces a long drooping flower spike 3. Hyphaene indica: Indian doum palm – unique- branching habit. 4. Livistona decipiens: Solitary, fan shaped leaves with stout thorns on their leaves. 5. Pritchardia pacifica: It has ornamental large broad flabellate plaited leaves, often 10m, broad 6. Raphis excelsa: Dwarf-rattan like palms, slender stem and fan shaped leaves, produce large number of suckers.
Bulbous plants
The term, ‘bulbous plants’ refers to all seasonal plants with underground modified stems containing stored food for the development of the seasonal aerial shoots of stems, leaves and flowers. the modified stems include bulbs, tubers, corms, rhizomes etc. Bulbous plants are grown for their flowers or foliage or both. There are a number of them, varying in habit of growth, form, colour etc. Bulbous plants are characterized by three stages in their growth viz., the growing, the blooming and the resting periods. Generally, the bulbous plants after bloom enter into rest period. At this time, the bulbs are taken out and placed them in moist sand. After 3-4 months, the dormant buds swell and push out the shoots. When sufficient growth is made, the bulbs may be planted. All bulbous plants generally thrive at higher elevations, there are some kinds which do not thrive and bloom at medium elevations and many do not perform well at low elevations.
DESCRIPTION
OF BULBOUS PLANTS
N.VIJAYALAKSHMI
HEAD DEPT OF INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECOR
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