Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Floriculture Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

As a Floriculture Specialist, you are the heart of the greenhouse, a hands-on expert dedicated to the art and science of cultivating flowering plants. This critical role involves overseeing the entire plant lifecycle, from propagation to final sale, ensuring the highest standards of quality and health. You will leverage your deep knowledge of horticulture, plant science, and modern greenhouse technology to manage crop schedules, control growing environments, and implement sophisticated pest management programs. If you are a passionate, detail-oriented individual with a green thumb and a scientific mind, this position offers a dynamic opportunity to grow your career while creating beauty.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Greenhouse Technician
Horticulture Intern or Apprentice
Gardener or Nursery Assistant

Advancement To:

Head Grower / Senior Grower
Greenhouse Manager
Horticulture Director or Production Manager

Lateral Moves:

Plant Breeder
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist
Horticulture Extension Agent

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage the complete lifecycle of diverse flowering plant species, from propagation (seeds, cuttings) and transplanting to finished product, ensuring adherence to strict quality and scheduling standards.
Develop, implement, and meticulously monitor comprehensive irrigation and fertilization programs, regularly testing and adjusting nutrient levels, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) for optimal plant health.
Execute a robust Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, involving daily scouting, accurate identification of pests and diseases, and the strategic application of biological, cultural, and chemical controls.
Operate, program, and maintain advanced greenhouse environmental control computer systems (e.g., Argus, Priva) to precisely manage temperature, humidity, ventilation, and supplemental lighting.
Plan and execute detailed crop production schedules to align with seasonal market demands and sales forecasts, ensuring the timely availability of high-quality, market-ready plants.
Perform essential horticultural tasks including pinching, spacing, disbudding, and applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) to control plant habit and timing for peak marketability.
Maintain meticulous and organized records of all growing activities, including pesticide/fertilizer applications, crop timing, and environmental data for performance analysis and regulatory compliance (WPS).
Conduct and document trials on new plant varieties, growing media, fertilizers, and cultivation techniques to drive innovation, improve crop quality, and enhance production efficiency.
Direct, train, and supervise the work of greenhouse technicians and seasonal labor, providing hands-on instruction in best practices for planting, cultivation, and workplace safety.
Monitor plant health and quality on a daily basis, promptly diagnosing and troubleshooting physiological, nutritional, or pathological issues to minimize crop loss.
Coordinate the harvesting, grading, and post-harvest treatment of flowers and plants to maximize quality, vase life, and shelf-life for shipment.
Manage the inventory of growing supplies, such as pots, trays, soil, fertilizers, and chemicals, and coordinate purchasing to prevent production delays.
Implement and enforce rigorous quality control measures at all stages of production to ensure that finished plants consistently meet or exceed customer specifications.
Calibrate and maintain application equipment, including chemical injectors, sprayers, and booms, to ensure accurate and safe delivery of treatments.
Lead the implementation and refinement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all key growing processes to ensure consistency, quality, and effective training.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate with the sales and marketing teams to provide accurate crop availability updates, quality feedback, and technical information for product catalogs.
Assist in budget planning and cost analysis for the growing department, tracking expenses for supplies, materials, and labor.
Contribute to the organization's safety program, ensuring all greenhouse operations adhere to Worker Protection Standards (WPS) and other OSHA regulations.
Evaluate and recommend new technologies, automation, and horticultural techniques to enhance production capabilities and reduce operational costs.
Participate in industry conferences, trade shows, and continuing education opportunities to stay current with trends, new products, and innovative growing practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep expertise in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and pest/disease identification.
Proficiency with Greenhouse Environmental Control Systems (e.g., Priva, Argus, Hoogendoorn).
Advanced knowledge of plant nutrition, fertilization, and water quality management (pH, EC).
Hands-on experience with various propagation methods, including seeding, vegetative cuttings, and grafting.
Strong understanding of crop scheduling, production planning, and the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs).
Valid State Pesticide Applicator License or the ability to obtain one shortly after employment.
Familiarity with the operation and maintenance of greenhouse irrigation systems, booms, and injectors.
Competency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word) for record-keeping and data analysis.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and strong observational abilities.
Superior analytical and data-driven problem-solving skills.
Clear and effective communication skills for training staff and collaborating with management.
Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and as a collaborative team member.
Excellent time-management and organizational skills to juggle multiple crop cycles and deadlines.
Physical stamina and the ability to perform manual labor in varying temperatures and humid conditions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate's degree in a relevant field or equivalent hands-on professional experience (3+ years).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Horticulture
Plant Science
Agronomy
Botany
Greenhouse Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of progressive, hands-on experience in a commercial floriculture or greenhouse production environment.

Preferred:

Proven experience managing large-scale production of key floriculture crops (e.g., poinsettias, mums, bedding plants, perennials). Experience in a highly automated greenhouse facility is a significant plus.