Floriculture

Description: Youth will learn basic information and skills needed to grow healthy plants and flowers as well as floral design techniques.

State Fair Entries: 8 floral exhibits per county, 2 per level, 4 educational exhibits per county, 1 per level

Exhibit Guidelines:

All posters, notebooks, and display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. This reference list should/might include web site links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc. It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as part of the display visible to the public. A judge is not to discredit an exhibit for the way references are listed. Posters are to be 22”x28” and displayed horizontally and placed in a clear plastic sleeve or covered with clear plastic to protect contents. Display boards should be designed to sit on a table using no more than 36” of tabletop space. Space should be left in the lower right hand corner to place an exhibit tag provided by Purdue Extension staff. Floral arrangements can be constructed using fresh flowers and greenery grown yourself or purchased, flowers and greenery dried yourself or purchased, or artificial flowers or greenery. Judges evaluating exhibits should recognize individual differences and creativity, therefore using information in this document as a guide rather than a requirement. Vegetable exhibits entered for state fair competition will not be displayed and instead will be donated to a central Indiana food bank.

 Exhibit Class Guidelines:

Level A (grades 3-4 suggested)

Floral Option - Create a simple bud vase (1-3 stems of main flower plus appropriate filler and/or greenery) or simple round arrangement (small, compact round cluster of flowers plus appropriate filler and/or greenery).

 Educational Display Option – Create a poster, notebook or display about one of the following:

  1. Chronicle your work in your flower garden (planning, planting, care, harvest, arrangement made with your flowers)
  2. Describe how you planned or designed your garden, including how you chose the kinds of flowers.
  3. Explain how you harvested your flowers, cared for them, and used them in an arrangement.
  4. Explore and explain: pollination - what it is, why important, different ways it occurs or transplanting - what, how, things to watch out for; or role of insects with flowers (good, bad or both).
  5. Explore and explain seed germination.
  6. Explore and explain how to care for a 'sick' plant.
  7. Report on interview with a floriculture professional (what do they do, types of jobs, type of training, hours worked, etc.)
  8. Describe an experiment you did and the results.
  9. Describe a community service project you did related to your flowers project.
  10. Another similar activity.

Level B (grades 5-6 suggested)

Floral Option – Create a mixed planter that includes 3 or more kinds of plants, make an item from dried plants, or display a house plant (flowering or non-flowering) you’ve grown.

 Educational Display OptionCreate a poster, notebook or display about one of the following:

  1. Report how you harvested your flowers and/or herbs, cared for them, dried them, and used them.
  2. Explore and explain: insects and your flowers and/or herbs.
  3. Explore and explain: starting seeds indoors -- the process and pros and cons.
  4. Explore and explain: perennials -- what are they, how are they used, benefits or drawbacks.
  5. Investigate and describe a butterfly garden -- what types of plants, benefits to insects and butterflies, etc.
  6. Describe how you planned or designed your garden, including how you chose the kinds of plants, any problems, successes.
  7. Describe your houseplant - how you cared for, transplanted to larger pot, any problems, or successes.
  8. Explore and explain: plant biology -- form and function, growth, photosynthesis, etc.
  9. Explore and explain: how to grow plants indoors -- things to consider, common problems and solutions.
  10. Explore and explain: environmental effects related to plants (such as light, water, soil, or temperature).
  11. Describe an experiment you did and the results.
  12. Explore and explain topics from "Imagine That" -- plants around the world, information about different cultural uses of plants, different ways you used your plants/herbs/flowers.
  13. Another similar activity.

Level C (grades 7-9 suggested)

Floral Option – Create a terrarium, combination or European planter (3 or more kinds of plants), corsage, boutonniere, or specialty arrangement in a container (using dried flowers, roses, or lilies as the primary content).

 Educational Display OptionCreate a poster, notebook or display about one of the following:

  1. Explore and explain: vegetative propagation -- how to, different types, problems and solutions, different uses of.
  2. Explore and explain: plant nutrients -- what are they, why does the plant need them, what happens if the plant has too much or too little, planters or containers vs. garden.
  3. Investigate the design of multiple plant containers -- how to, things to considers, selecting plant materials, uses of.
  4. Describe how you created your corsage or boutonnieres; or dried arrangement. Be sure to include appropriate information on design principles and how they are used to create your arrangement.
  5. Explore and explain: floral tools and materials (how to use, what they are, care of tools, different uses of a tool or material).
  6. Explore and explain: preserving cut flowers -- how, problems, uses of and/or diseases related to cut flowers.
  7. Illustrate, explore and explain how you dry flowers or other plant materials and/or describe different methods and/or how, why use them.
  8. Explore and explain: medicinal uses and toxicity of fresh and dried flowers and plants.
  9. Describe an experiment you did and the results.
  10. Describe a career exploration activity you did, such as job shadow, interview with a professional.
  11. Describe a community service activity you did related to your flowers project -- what you did, why, results, etc.
  12. Another similar activity.

Level D (grades 10-12 suggested)

Floral Option – Create a seasonal arrangement, modern or contemporary arrangement, bridal bouquet, special occasion centerpiece, or plant you have propagated and grown yourself.

 Educational Display OptionCreate a poster, notebook or display about one of the following:

  1. Describe how you created your arrangement, include information on the design principles utilized.
  2. Explore and explain how you utilize different flowers to make a similar style arrangement for different seasons (tulips in spring, mums in fall, etc.) or how to utilize similar flowers to make different styles of arrangements.
  3. Explore and explain: the cost of arrangement and/or a cost comparison with flowers (different types flowers, different time year, etc.).
  4. Explore and explain: forcing flowers (bulbs, branches, etc.).
  5. Explore and explain: marketing in the floral industry (large or small business) and/ or a market survey and results, and how they can benefit the floral industry.
  6. Explore and explain: how to start a business related to the floral industry and may include a business plan.
  7. Explore and explain the origins of flowers and/or the floriculture industry around the world.
  8. Explore and explain: tissue culture, biotechnology, or traditional breeding of new flower types -- what are they, how are they used, pros and cons.
  9. Explore and explain: be a plant detective -- what kinds of problems might you have in growing and caring for flowers, and how to solve.
  10. Describe an experiment you did and the results.
  11. Describe a community service activity you did related to your flowers project: how, why, results.
  12. Another similar activity.

Resources

Floriculture, Level A (4-H-966)
Floriculture, Level B (4-H-967)
Floriculture, Level C (4-H-968)
Floriculture, Level D (4-H-969)