Floriculture, << FLAWR uh kuhl chuhr, >> is the art, science, and business of growing ornamental plants such as flowers and leafy foliage plants. People use these plants for decoration and give them as gifts.
Raising and marketing cut flowers and decorative plants ranks as a large industry. In mild climates, people grow cut flowers and potted plants outdoors, even in winter. But in cold climates, such plants are grown in greenhouses that can be heated during cold weather.
Floriculturists can control the blooming of flowers by various techniques. These techniques include planting the flowers on certain dates, removing the tips of the plants, and regulating the growing temperature and the periods of darkness. Sometimes, growers artificially lengthen or shorten the period of light the plant receives each day. These methods increase the value of ornamental plants. For example, floriculturists can cause poinsettias to be ready for Christmas. Researchers in floriculture also have developed long-stemmed carnations, thornless roses, and double snapdragons. Floriculturists work in nurseries, florist shops, seed companies, public and private gardens, zoos, and environmental planning companies.
