97298 - Ornamental Plants Cultivation Techniques

Learning outcomes

At the end of the teaching, the student knows the technical and functional characteristics of several protection structures, air conditioning systems and the best cultivation system of the main ornamental horticultural crops (e.g. cut flower and flowering pot plants), in accordance with the pedoclimatic needs of species and the economic context. The student also has physiological and technical knowledge on the propagation and production of starting material for the main tree, shrub and ornamental herbaceous species. The student can set and manage cultivation plans for programmed production of ornamental plants in a protected environment and in open field, with high quality standards and low environmental impact.

Course contents

The course consists of 2 modules, both of 40 hours, including a total of 20 hours of joint practical activities. Chronologically, the  framework of the ornamental plant sector will be followed by module 2 and finally specific crops will be explained.

 

MODULE 1 (40 hours)

Ornamental plant production and marketing (5 hours)

Update national and international importance of cut flower, pot plant, woody plants and nursery production, estimated area trend, growing systems, types and quality of crops. Planned and seasonal growing cycles. Practical activities: visit to companies and sales centers for ornamental plants.

Control of plant architecture and flowering planning (5 hours)

Control of plant architecture by agronomic and chemical methods. Photoperiod and growth regulators for the control of flowering. Practical activities: use of growth regulators in greenhouse.

ORNAMENTAL SPECIES GROWING (30 hours)

Cultivar identification, soil and climatic requirements, propagation, sustainable growing systems and production planning for cut flower species (model plants: rose, chrysanthemum, orchids, geophytes), flowering pot plants (bedding plants, geranium, poinsettia, anthurium, phalaenopsis), ornamental foliage plants (e.g. Araceae, Moraceae, Maranthaceae), perennials and bedding plants. Management of nursery production. Root pruning techniques and timing. Quality and certification of nursery materials. Plant variety right and protection. Practical activities: visit to companies for growing and marketing of ornamental plants (e.g. gardencenters and nurseries), and direct activity of potted plant growing in greenhouse and comparison between media and phytoregulators.

 

MODULE 2 (40 hours)

Protective structures for floriculture: technical characteristics and management (20 hours)

Climate-microclimate relationships and physiological aspects of forcing. Structures for semiforcing and forcing. Climate control: heating, cooling, humidification, artificial lighting and carbonic fertilization. Energy efficiency and energy conservation. Banking. Systems for nutrition, irrigation and fertigation of potted and ground plants. Exercises: visit to greenhouse facilities with different structural and plant types.

Soilless culture (10 hours)

Hydroponic systems: types, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Selection of basic substrates and mixes according to their chemical and physical characteristics, the needs of the species and the growing system adopted. Exercises: preparation of substrates in the greenhouses of the greenhouse center.

Propagation (10 hours)

Physiological basics and techniques of gamic and agamic propagation (seeding, cutting, budding, grafting, micropropagation) with reference to floricultural species. Exercises: planting and cutting of ornamental species in greenhouses.

Practical activities: visit to companies and marketing centers/ gardencenters andexperimental trials on pot plant growing, use of growing media and growth regulators in greenhouses.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

PPT presentations, used during lectures and supplied by the professor by VIRTUALE-UNIBO.

For the investigation of specific subjects in accordance with the programme (books available in the library):

Florovivaismo. Principi e tecniche, di V. Scariot, S. De Pascale, A. Ferrante (a cura di), Edagricole, 2022.

Bakker J. C., Bot G. P. A., Challa H., Van de Braak N. J., Greenhouse climate control . Wageningen Pers, 1995

Hartmann H. T., Kester D. E., Geneve R.L., Davies F.T., Plant propagation: principles and practices . Prentice Hall 2002. ISBN: 0136792359

Nav J., Perennial manual propagation and production. Ball Pubbl., Batavia USA, 1996.

Specific data sheets on plant growing, published by Clamer informa.

For species identification:

Phillips R., Rix M., Bulbs. Pan Books Ltd. London

Phillips R., Rix M., Conservatory and indoor plants. Vol. 1 e 2. Pan Books Ltd. London.

Pollock M., Griffiths M., Illustrated dictionary of gardening. RHS, London 2005.

Bibliografic information on specific subjects will be supplied on demand.

Teaching methods

Class lectures, practical activity inside the greenhouses in Imola, visits to commercial and experimental greenhouses, nurseries and gardens to discuss about the use and management of ornamental plants. The activity in the greenhouses of Department and nurseries will contribute to species identification.

Assessment methods

The assessment covers both modules at the same time and includes:

for MODULE 1

- oral exam including 2 questions is aimed to verify the student's ability to process 1 and 2 modules together, to choose matherials and growing systems in accordance with plant physiology, growing cycle, market requirements and economic aspects.

The oral exam is about 30 minutes long. The student has to obtain a score from 18 to 30 cum laude.

 

for MODULE 2

The examination will consist of a multiple-choice test for which the use of a personal laptop or tablet will be required.


The test consists of 40 closed-ended questions on the topics covered in the course. 1 point will be awarded for each correct answer, 0.5 points will be subtracted for each incorrect answer, and 0 points will be awarded for each answer not given. The final grade for the module is obtained by the algebraic sum of the individual question grades. In order to pass the module exam (and possibly access the additional points obtained by doing the activities offered during the course), the student must obtain a minimum grade of 18 in the test. Cum laude is awarded if the final total score is 32 or higher.

The duration of the test is a maximum of 45 minutes.

NB: The order of the questions is sequential, and the student must proceed in order; it will not be possible to go back to the previous question.The evaluation takes into account the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of the MODULE 1 and MODULE 2 and his ability to elaborate information and solve practical case.

Practical activities are usefull but not essential for the exam and could be replaced by alternative activities, after agreement with professor.

 

The final vote of CULTIVATION AND PROTECTION OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS (integrated teaching) will result from the mathematical average between the 2 modules of TECHNIQUES OF ORNAMENTAL PLANT GROWING and that of PROTECTION OF PLANTS AGAINST DISEASES IN THE FLORICULTURAL SECTOR.

 

 

Teaching tools

Projector and PC for lectures; glass-greenhouses ( in Imola-Scarabelli) for practical activity on propagation and comparison between substrates and phytoregulators for the cultivation of ornamental plants. 2 guided tours to nurseries, marketing companies, experimental fields are also scheduled. The planned practical activities are useful for the species botanical identification, too.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Eva Giorgioni

See the website of Giuseppina Pennisi