The main difference between floriculture and horticulture is that floriculture involves flowering and foliage plants, while horticulture involves different types of garden crops.
Horticulture is the growing of fruits and vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. We can categorize horticulture into several categories. Floriculture is one such special category. Floriculture mainly deals with ornamental plants.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Floriculture
– Definition, Features
2. What is Horticulture
– Definition, Features, Elements
3. Difference Between Floriculture and Horticulture
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Floriculture, Flowers, Horticulture, Plants, Ornamental Plants
What is Floriculture
Floriculture is a special branch of horticulture that focuses on producing flowering and foliage plants for decorative use. We can also easily describe it as flower farming. This includes flowers and plants we use for cosmetic, perfume, and pharmaceutical industry as well as for flowers and plants used for decorative and aesthetic purposes; for example, bouquets and floral arrangements.
These flowers and decorative plants are usually grown in greenhouses or just mass gardens that grow a large number of plants for mass production. Floriculture involves various types of crops, including bedding plants, potted plants, herbaceous ornamental perennial plants, foliage plants, and cut flowers. Bedding plants are plants produced for seasonal display in flower beds and outdoor containers like pots and hanging baskets. Potted plants, on the other hand, are mature flowering plants sold in pots and containers. These two types of plants are the largest segments of floriculture. Herbaceous ornamental perennial plants are non-woody plants that persist from year to year as parts of the original plants such as bulbs, rhizomes, and tubers. Foliage plants, on the other hand, are plants we grow for their interesting or colourful leaves.
What is Horticulture
Horticulture is simply the art and practice of garden cultivation and management. This term covers all forms of garden management. Moreover, if we look at its scale, horticulture falls somewhere between domestic gardening and field agriculture. It generally involves garden crops, usually fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. There are different types of horticultural crops, including both annual and perennial species. Moreover, these crops help sustain and enrich lives by providing nutritious food, enhancing the beauty of the environment and reducing our carbon footprint.
Furthermore, we can divide horticulture into several subcategories as pomology, olericulture, floriculture and landscape horticulture. Pomology involves fruit and nut crops, while olericulture involves herbaceous plants for the kitchen, including edible roots, edible stems, edible leaves, edible flower buds, edible fruits, and edible seeds. As described above, floriculture involves the production of flowers and ornamental plants. Landscape horticulture, on the other hand, is a broad category that involves plants for the landscape.
Difference Between Floriculture and Horticulture
Definition
Floriculture is a special branch of horticulture that focuses on producing flowering and foliage plants for decorative use, while horticulture is the art and practice of garden cultivation and management.
Focus
Moreover, floriculture involves flowering and foliage plants while horticulture involves different types of garden crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
Uses
Floriculture involves flowers and plants we use for the cosmetic, perfume, and pharmaceutical industry as well as for flowers and plants used for decorative and aesthetic purposes. In addition to these uses, plants involved in horticulture also provide us with nutritious food.
Conclusion
In conclusion, floriculture is a special branch of horticulture. The main difference between floriculture and horticulture is that floriculture involves flowering and foliage plants, while horticulture involves different types of garden crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
Reference:
1. Taylor, Sara Elizabeth. “What Is Floriculture? Everything You Need To Know.” Indoor Garden Nook, 14 Sept. 2020, Available here.
2. “Horticulture.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “5528381” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “2096497” (CC0) via Pixabay
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