Floriculture And Ornamental Plants SS2 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

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

1. Sources of employment e.g. florists.
2. Serves as a source of income.
3. For expression of love and as gifts on special occasions.
4. For decoration.
5. For fencing.
6. For medicinal preparation.
7. Sources of food.
8. Purification of the air.
9. For teaching and learning purposes.
10. Provision of shades.
11. Serves as windbreaks.
12. Beautification of the environment.
13. Sources of livestock feed.
14. Serves as tourist centres.
15. Source of revenue to the government.
16. For preparation of dyes.

COMMON SPECIES OF ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS

1. Ornamental Trees. E.g:

i. Frangipani

ii. Neem cassia

iii. Royal palm

iv. Balsam

v. Flame of Forest

vi. India almond

vii. Casuarinas

viii. Delonix

2. Ornamental Shrubs. E.g:

i. Allamanda

ii. Crotons

iii. Ixora

iv. Cauliflower

v. Acalypha

vi. Hibiscus

vii. Wild rose

viii. Bougainvillea

ix. Zinnia

x. Dutchmans pipe

3. Ornamental Flowers. E.g:

i. Justicia

ii. Canna lily

iii. Morning glory

iv. Crotalaria

v. Water lettuce

vi. Lantana

vii. Sunflower

viii. Marigold

ix. Commelina

x. Clitoria

CULTIVATION OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

The cultivation of ornamental flowers includes:

1. Selection of sites that are well-drained and easily accessible.
2. Choice of planting materials which can be seeds or vegetative parts such as stems, roots, leaves (e.g podophyllum) and stolons

METHODS OF CULTIVATION

1. Use of prepared bed
2. Direct sowing to the soil
3. Use of nylon bag
4. Use of pots
5. Provision of shades
6. Organic manuring
7. Regular weeding
8. Regular watering

SOURCES OF PLANTING MATERIALS

The planting materials such as seeds, cut stems, leaves, stolons or rhizomes can be obtained from;

1. Established private horticultural gardens.
2. Higher institution botanical garden.
3. Government-owned horticultural centres.
4. Private houses and offices.
5. Imported ornamental trees and flowers.
6. Resort or recreational centers.

MAINTENANCE OF HORTICULTURAL PLANTS/FLOWERS

1. Provision of shades
2. Regular watering
3. Regular weeding
4. Fertilizer application
5. Fencing
6. Regular pruning