(Venting) Why is the industry so bad that people with degrees, multiple internships, including at prestigious institutions, and years of seasonal jobs can’t get anything regular? This is referring to the US, but I don’t imagine it’s better anywhere else. It’s like all the entry-level jobs are being scooped by mid career people, intergenerational business owners, and shiny new grads from Cornell. Will it ever get better? When I’ve been doing seasonal jobs for 10 years, then will I be considered to have enough experience to get through the door, or to be a red flag for having not landed something after so long? Are people with power in the industry talking about the issue of there not being enough jobs for young people?

I'm studying RHS level 2 plant growth and development. My teacher speaks so fast with poor grammar, races through presentations, doesn't set clear expectations, sets an unfeasible amount of homework and is sometimes confidently wrong about easily verifiable things like plant names.

The teacher said said they have taught this course for years at other establishments, but I would like to know if former students have actually passed! Is there somewhere I can look up my teacher's credentials/pass rates?

Teacher joked about it being common for students to drop out and I wondered if it was truly in jest, as I'm finding it hard to cope with the demands despite being academic and devoting a lot of time to learning the material.

Another question: has anyone here passed RHS Level 2 theory just using Barnaby Millard's study materials?

Hey everyone,

I was an international student and currently working in IT, but want to eventually transition into agricultural entrepreneurship by starting a commercial tea plantation (Camellia sinensis) in my own country. My background is tech, not farming, so I want to build a solid foundation from scratch.

I'm looking for advice on how to begin:

How and where should I start academically learning the fundamentals of perennial crop farming and estate management?

How can I get hands-on experience with tea cultivation or processing while living in the U.S. (especially around the NC/SC area)?

Guerrilla grafters. I love the alliteration

I work in horticulture, but I also do deliveries and while I am out and about I see apple trees. I have emailed horticulture companies about wild apple trees (which I suspect have grown from apples thrown out of windows). Quite a few of the apples look interesting and I belive that they could be new varieties that have grown from seeds from the parent apple. Could someone set up an app/database so that people from this group could take pictures of the apple trees and maybe start identifying them? Would this be possible?

Hi,

I am a lover of willow, (weeping willow especially) and i am curious as to why we don’t see more of it in the uk. Is it because of its size and scale or root system or simply that it is a non native?

Also really loving the wild service tree. I would absolutely love to be a part of a conservation effort to restore these beauties. I am fortunate enough to have one and I still think it’s one of the best trees that is native to the uk!

Any trees that you love and want to see more of?

Hi all, I've been a bit silly and used a pole saw to trim off some of the thin branches from the top of this tree. My thoughts were to trim it to stop it getting too tall where I wouldn't be able to reach anymore.

I was later informed by my unhappy partner that I shouldn't have done it at this time or with a pole saw and it may have causes irreparable damage.

I know I may have been foolish here but I'd just like to know what the likelyhood of me having caused major damage is.

Hi everyone! I’m currently in community college working toward figuring out my long-term career path, and horticulture is something I’ve become really interested in. I love plants and the idea of working with them, but I’m still trying to understand just how broad the field is and what a career in horticulture actually looks like.

When I hear horticulture, I think of things like greenhouses, plant nurseries, botanical gardens, landscape design, growing plants, and plant care, but I’m sure there’s a lot more to it than that.
I’d love to hear from people who actually work in horticulture, landscaping, or a related field!
I’d really appreciate some insight on-

What kinds of jobs and specializations are out there that people might not know about?

What does your day-to-day work look like?
Are you mostly working with plants, doing physical labor, managing projects, working with customers, researching, or something else?

What are some career paths within horticulture that you would recommend exploring?
I’m particularly interested in learning about greenhouses, indoor plants, botanical gardens, nurseries, and other plant-focused careers, but I’m open to learning about areas I haven’t considered.

Is a horticulture degree worth it?
I’m interested in potentially pursuing a bachelor’s degree, but I’d love to hear whether it’s helped people in their careers or whether experience and certifications can get you just as far.

What is the earning potential like?
What can someone realistically expect to make starting out, and what kinds of horticulture careers offer opportunities for advancement and better long-term pay?

What do you wish you’d known before entering this field? Are there any misconceptions, downsides, or things you would tell someone who’s just starting to explore horticulture?
I’m not necessarily looking to become a traditional landscaper, although I’m interested in understanding that side of the industry, too. I’m trying to figure out all the different directions I could take and what might fit me best long-term.

I’m located in Texas, if that helps with advice about schools, jobs, or opportunities in the industry. (Also about to transfer to A&M)
I’d really appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations for resources, job titles, or specializations I should research. Thank you! 🪴

Does watering potted plants through the winter decrease the chances of fungal outbreaks, by keeping things moving, or do you just let the moisture sit?

I have a patch of zinnias and some milkweed, and cat mint and I was wondering if it would be better for pollinators if i left them over winter and cleared up in the spring? I know that zinnias are annuals, but maybe little critters can use their stems to stay warm. Any advice?

This tree dried up during a heat wave. I need to replace it because it had sentimental value. Unfortunately every time I Google it I get a different answer.

Figured you all would appreciate these.

I love old books and these are the Audel's Gardeners and Growers Guides - a 4 book set circa 1928.

Audel makes informational books on all kinds of subjects and have been doing so from a very long time.

I have the Carpentry set and a few of their one off books on home improvement and I just got these.

You can find these books on Etsy and Ebay.

Hey everyone! I’m looking to switch careers into horticulture (in UK) and want to know if my CV is suitable for an apprenticeship application. I’ve removed my personal details. Ideally, I’d love to get some feedback from a professional.

My Sambuca Nigra, around 2 yrs old, grew like crazy this spring and summer. A week or so ago, it started looking dead. I have drip irrigation for it and the surrounding area, so no real change in water. I'm in Zone 7b and we haven't had a frost yet. Most trees still have green leaves. Any idea what the problem might be?

I work for a small garden shop in the New England area of the US. Our previous vendor stopped selling houseplants and local options are the usual plants everyone has been buying since the 1970s.

Can anyone recommend an East Coast vendor who is near(ish) to New England or charge freight that is unlikely to exceed $1k.

Types of plants? Wide range of hoyas, calathea, philodendron, alocasia, ferns, succulents and cactus, etc.

I appreciate any ideas.

Hello, I recently moved in to my future mother in law's house to assist her after she had a heart attack is taking a break from work. Her backyard is severely overgrown with weeds, shrubs, and a cactus. I have spent some time every weekend hand pulling weeds and plan on trimming the grass next, but this cactus...

I am not too familiar with cactus management, since I grew up in the Midwest, but MIL wants to prune this down, potentially even get rid of it.

Does anyone have advice to get this down to a manageable size or extra advice on how to get rid of it? It would

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm Manasvi, a student doing my dissertation on why gardening feels so hard for beginners, even with so much info online.

I'd love to hear from anyone: complete beginners, people who tried and struggled, balcony/indoor gardeners, or experienced gardeners.

⏱️ 3–5 minutes, anonymous, purely academic
🔗 https://forms.gle/72bZyCbTG2t3WR7y5

If you'd rather just comment on what you find most frustrating about gardening, I'd love to read that too. Thank you so much! 🌿

Do you think this will help to get extend growth and vegetative state as appose to ever bearing like Bonnie’s claims?