2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Students in the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences (TPSS) lack opportunities for hands-on experience growing potted ornamental plants. Multiple plant sales are held by the undergraduate members of the Horticulture Society throughout the year for holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas. In recent years, students purchased plants from local wholesale nurseries or retail stores to sell, instead of growing their own crops and gaining valuable hands-on experience. Lack of student participation in the sales activities is another concern. During the Fall 2016 semester, one undergraduate member of the Horticulture Society and two members of the TPSS Graduate Student Organization led the joint production of 100 Princettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima ´ Euphorbia cornastra) cuttings of four cultivars (‘Dark Pink’, ‘Hot Pink’, ‘Pink’, and ‘Max White’) and rooted cuttings of traditional poinsettias (E. pulcherrima) for the annual poinsettia sale. Princettia cuttings were treated with rooting hormone before inserting into Oasis wedges for rooting under intermittent mist. Princettia and poinsettia rooted cuttings in 10 cm or 15 cm pots with Sunshine #1 or Pro-Mix potting mix were grown and finished in a shadehouse using standard commercial practices. The lead graduate students organized work sessions for both organizations to participate in during the growing season to grow the plants together and split the profits. Students organized two separate sale dates and created marketing materials to advertise the sales. The plants sold within one hour at both sales. Customers were impressed with the quality of the plants. Both student organizations earned a significant profit which will be used to fund participation in educational events in the future. The collaboration between the two student organizations will be expanded for future poinsettia sales, and additional growing projects and sales will be conducted during other parts of the year. Students involved in the project gained valuable skills in growing plants, marketing, leadership, and mentoring, in addition to instilling a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. Interaction among students has also increased, and has enhanced students’ networking, team-building, and leadership skills.