Introduction for floriculture
Ornamental plants and flowers are associated with our
civilisation since time immemorial. The first evidence of pipal as an
ornamental plant comes from the seal of Mohen- jo-daro. Another example during the
same period, depicting the use of an ornamental plant resembling weeping
willow, comes from the seals of Harappa. There has been a mention of flowers
and gardens in our ancient classic literature too.
Floriculture is a branch of horticulture that deals with the
cultivation, processing and marketing of ornamental plants vis-à-vis
landscaping of small or large areas, and maintenance of gardens so that the
surroundings may appear aesthetically pleasant.
Importance and uses of floriculture
Floriculture is one of the most potential components of the
Horticulture Industry, being important from aesthetic, social and economic
points of view. It has the potential for generating employment opportunities round-the-year
and earning foreign exchange. In many countries, different floricultural
value-added products are the main export items from the agriculture sector. Let
us now look at the importance and uses of commercial floriculture.
Cut flowers
These flowers are harvested with
stalk, especially for arrangement in vases, and are lasting. These constitute a
major share of the total world trade in floricultural products. Important cut
flower crops are rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, orchid, gerbera, lilium, anthurium,
gladiolus, narcissus, bird of paradise, heliconia, anemone, ranunculus, tulip,
calla lily, etc. Cut
flowers are used in the preparation of bouquets and notes floral baskets as
corsages, flower arrangements and for decoration purposes.
Loose flowers
Loose flowers are plucked from plants
without stalk just below the calyx. These are in great demand, especially in
Asian countries, and used for making veni, rangoli, bracelets, hair adornments
for women and garlands, for garden displays, religious offerings and decorative
purposes. Loose flowers comprise rose, chrysanthemum, marigold, jasmine,
tuberose, gaillardia, crossandra, barleria, chandni, kaner, hibiscus, spider
lily and eranthemum.
Cut greens
Cut greens or cut foliages (leaves
and stems), which are attractive in form, colour and freshness, are lasting and
in great demand. These are used as fillers along with cut flowers in flower
arrangements and elsewhere for increasing aesthetic value. These floral produce
have various other uses in making attractive fresh floral designs and floral
arrangements, such as bouquets, wreaths, decoration of house interiors, etc.
Some of the cut foliages in demand are asparagus, ferns, thuja, cupressus,
eucalyptus, etc.
Potted plants
Potted plants are of considerable
commercial importance for instant gardening and for indoor, as well as, outdoor
decoration. These can be easily carried to places, which need to be landscaped
immediately. The potted plant industry is growing enormously. Potted plants may
be either ornamental foliage or flowering. They are used for indoor decoration
at homes, offices, commercial complexes, corporate offices, hotels, malls and
other sites for various functions and events.
Flower seed and planting
material
There is a high demand for quality
flower seeds, especially annual ornamentals and ornamental planting material.
Different types of soil and climatic conditions in India enable seed production
of practically all type of flowers. Flower seeds of annuals are produced in huge
quantities for sale. A large number of bulbous plants, such as gladiolus,
tuberose, amaryllis, dahlia, lilies, freesia, tulip, calla lily, etc., are
multiplied and marketed.
Nursery
Nurseries are meant for multiplying
and supplying plants and planting material, and by and large, providing
guidance in the growing of ornamentals and maintenance of gardens. An
ornamental plant nursery is a lucrative retail or wholesale business for the
supply of various type 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, seeds, bulbs, etc.
Lawn
It is a green carpet for landscape.
Lawn is a well-mown turf made in the field in front of a house or in garden. It
is an integral part of the garden, providing a beautiful environment to
onlookers and emitting oxygen to the environment as lungs do for the body. Lawn
has aesthetic and recreational value too. It also provides a suitable
background for flower beds, shrubbery border and specimen tree. It improves the
monetary value of a property. In landscape designing and in the establishment
of lawns or in sports like cricket, golf, hockey, tennis, etc., different type
of grasses are used. The Turf Industry has recently got a boost due to
government policies for encouraging various kind of sports.
Perfumes
The demand for natural floral
extracts like perfumes from flowers is increasing by the day. Some flowers, such
as rose, jasmine, screwpine (kewra) and tuberose are used for the extraction of
essential oils for the preparation of perfumes or attar.
Colour pigments
Flowers are used to extract natural
pigments. Carotenoids extracted from flowers are used commercially in the
pharmaceutical industry, and as food supplements, animal feed additives and
food colourants. Marigold petals are used as an important feed additive for
poultry birds to add to the yellow colour of egg yolk as the petals are rich in
carotenoid pigment.
Dried flowers
Plants of many species have flowers
and foliages for a short period, and their availability is restricted to a
particular time span. In the dry flower technique, flowers can be easily dried,
preserved and processed to retain their beauty and everlasting character. Some flowers
that are air dried and used as dry flowers include dahlia, larkspur, paper
flower, annual chrysanthemum, marigold, straw flower, lotus pods, etc.
Combat pollution
Open spaces like parks and plants
help check air pollution. Parks are considered as the lungs of cities. The
greater use of plants improves our health and also beautifies the environment.
Planting different type of plants helps in checking air, water and noise
pollution, and prevents soil erosion. Trees provide shade and organic matter,
which help improve the microclimate of an area.
Aesthetic value
According to the Oxford Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary, ‘aesthetic’ is the perception of beauty and the study of
its appreciation. ‘Aesthetic value’ may be described as the theory of the level
of beauty of certain natural resources. It is the value or pleasure that
anything of beauty gives to humans. Flowers have aesthetic importance in human
life and are a symbol of purity, love and peace. Some common aesthetic values
of flowers are as follows.
Psychological
Landscaping
Indoor gardening
Flower arrangement
Thank you!
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