What Is Floriculture? Meaning, Types & Importance

Floriculture is the cultivation and trade of flowers. It encompasses flower production, processing, marketing, and distribution. The first recorded evidence of Floriculture dates back to the early 1500s when flowers were grown in greenhouses in Holland. Today, Floriculture is a multibillion-dollar industry with a global reach. In the United States, Floriculture is a nearly $20 billion industry, with California being the top producer of flowers. The Netherlands is the world's largest exporter of flowers, followed by Germany and Italy.

Floriculture is a division of ornamental horticulture that deals with growing, selling, and arranging flower and ornamental plants. Floriculture is largely thought of as a greenhouse industry because flowers and potted plants are largely grown in plant-growing systems in temperate climates, though certain flowers are cultivated outdoors in nurseries or crop fields. Floriculture meaning includes both the cultivation of bedding plants and the production of cuttings for growing in greenhouses or for use as houseplants indoors.

Horticulture Meaning

Horticulture is a category of plant agriculture that focuses on garden crops such as fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The term comes from the Latin word hortus, which means "garden," and colere, which means "to plant." It is a broad word that refers to all types of garden management, but it is most often used to refer to intensive commercial cultivation. Horticulture falls between household gardening and field farming in terms of size, though all modes of cultivation are naturally linked.

Types of Flowers Grown for Floriculture

The types of flowers grown for Floriculture are largely dictated by the climate and the market demand. However, roses and orchids (which also happen to be the highest value flowers in the floriculture industry) are grown throughout the world. Certain varieties of these high-value crops have been developed for specific climates as well. In Korea, which boasts a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters, 'Kimigayo' (a type of orchid) is grown.

Background of Floriculture

The first recorded evidence of Floriculture dates back to the early 1500s when flowers were grown in greenhouses in Holland. Today, Floriculture is a multibillion-dollar industry with a global reach. In the United States, Floriculture is a nearly $20 billion industry, with California being the top producer of flowers. The Netherlands is the world's largest exporter of flowers, followed by Germany and Italy.

The types of flowers grown for Floriculture are largely dictated by the climate and the market demand. However, roses and orchids (which also happen to be the highest value flowers in the floriculture industry) are grown throughout the world. Certain varieties of these high-value crops have been developed for specific climates as well. In Korea, which boasts a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters, 'Kimigayo' (a type of orchid) is grown.

Types of Floriculture

Below mentioned are the types of Floriculture:-

1. Bedding Plants:

These are annual plants that have been grown for use in flower beds outside. It begins with the sowing of seeds indoors during the off-season and the transplanting of the plants later in the growing season.

2. Hanging Plants:

These are hanging basket plants, either annual or perennial, flowering or foliage rose in decorative pots and suspended by elegant ropes from the ceiling in the patio, in the doorway section, or from decorative plant poles.

3. Potted Plants:

These plants are suitable for indoor use as well as home and small gardens. They are mainly foliage plants grown in pots, though some flowering plants are often used as potted plants.

4. Dried Plants:

These are flowers that are used after being dried for various occasions. These flowers are dried using various preservatives.

5. Cut Flowers:

Cut flowers are blossoming flowers or flower buds that have been cut together with roots, branches, and leaves for use in bouquets or decorations. There are two types of cut flowers: I "new cut flowers" and (ii) "non-fresh cut flowers," such as preserved flowers. Roses, carnations, orchids, chrysanthemums, lilies, gerbera, and other fresh cut flowers are popular.

Floriculture Business

There is a high scope in both floriculture and horticulture wherein Floriculture businesses produce fresh and dried flowers and foliage for a mixture of markets such as wholesale flower markets, florists and retail outlets, and in some cases for export. Industrial Floriculture has a lot of promise. Soil, environment, manpower, transportation, and demand are all significant factors in deciding the scope of Commercial Floriculture. 

People now realise the value of open space, parks, and gardens for leisure, peace of mind, leisure, and unpolluted air as almost all major cities expand rapidly to meet this rapidly increasing population, cement concrete, the jungle is also evolving at the same time, and thus people now realise the importance of open space, parks, and gardens for relaxation, peace of mind, recreation, and unpolluted air. Thus, bio-aesthetic planning, which goes hand and hand with town planning, is required to resolve both of these concerns. In today's world, a floriculture garden in a country yard is an important feature of everyday life.

G.G.N. Certified Floriculture

The G.G.N. label is a globally recognised symbol of good farming practices. It stands for accredited, responsible farming and accountability, and it's intended to help customers make educated choices about their grocery shopping. The G.G.N. label can be applied to flowers and ornamental items produced on farms and nurseries with GLOBALG.A.P. accredited production processes – or certification from a GLOBAL G.A.P. equivalent analysed scheme.

Floriculture Nursery

Nurseries are responsible for multiplying and distributing plants and planting material, as well as providing general advice on ornamental gardening and garden maintenance. A lucrative retail or wholesale company for the supply of different types of plants and planting material, such as nursery seedlings or prepared plants of trees, shrubs, climbers, seedlings of annuals and perennials, foliage plants, bulbous plants, cacti and succulents, palms, indoor plants, grasses, nuts, bulbs, and so on, an ornamental plant nursery is a lucrative retail or wholesale business for the supply of various types of plants and planting material, such as nursery seedlings or prepared plants.

Floriculture Plants

1. Gerbera

2. Mucuna

3. Centella Asiatica

4. Ashwagandha

5. Rose

6. Marigold

7. Gladiolus

8. Crossandra

9. Tuberose

10. China aster

11. Chrysanthemum

Importance of Floriculture

1. Flowers have long been recognised as a sign of beauty and sophistication, as well as a visual feast. They're worn at all holy festivals.

2. Flowers are also offered as birthday presents, wedding gifts, or while treating sick patients, as well as at funerals.

3. Devotees usually sell flowers at temples, gurudwaras, churches, and mosques.

4. Flowers may also be used as a decorative element. Also, dried flowers are used in floral arrangements, such as garlands and bouquets, which are packaged and presented to greet dignitaries. When cut flowers are used to decorate a vase, it becomes a stunning piece of indoor decor.

Scope of Floriculture

Industrial Floriculture has a lot of promise. Soil, environment, manpower, transportation, and demand are all significant factors in deciding the scope of Commercial Floriculture. People now realise the value of open space, parks, and gardens for leisure, peace of mind, leisure, and unpolluted air as almost all major cities expand rapidly to meet this rapidly increasing population, cement concrete, the jungle is also evolving at the same time, and thus people now realise the importance of open space, parks, and gardens for relaxation, peace of mind, recreation, and unpolluted air. 

Thus, bio-aesthetic planning, which goes hand and hand with town planning, is required to resolve both of these concerns. In today's setting, a floriculture garden in the country yard is an important aspect of everyday life, and it serves as an ornamental.

Features and Importance of Horticulture

Horticulture crops play an important role in the Indian economy by creating jobs, supplying raw materials to different food processing industries, and increasing farm profitability through increased productivity and foreign exchange earnings.

1. Horticulture crops contribute to the variety of farm produce and diets.

2. They contain carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, taste, fragrance, dietary fibres, and other nutrients.

3. They contain chemicals and medications that are helpful to one's health.

4. These crops are desirable and helpful to the climate.

5. Horticultural crops have a higher comparable yield per unit area than field crops.