Greenhouse & Nursery Professionals

Course Description:

The Greenhouse & Nursery Professionals course provides a practical introduction to commercial ornamental plant production in greenhouse and nursery settings. The 10 content modules use video presentations to teach a foundational knowledge of plant growth, propagation, environmental management, irrigation, fertility, integrated pest management, and crop production systems for annuals, perennials, woody shrubs, and trees. The course also explores key business concepts, including labor efficiency, production costs, pricing, and cash flow, helping learners understand how production decisions influence both crop quality and profitability in modern ornamental horticulture operations. Interactive knowledge checks in each module provide an ungraded, unlimited opportunity to practice your understanding of the presentation content.

Earn CEUs towards Clemson Cooperative Extension courses: SCCLP Pesticide and CLP.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the basic biological and environmental factors that drive ornamental plant growth.
• Select appropriate propagation and production systems for different crop types.
• Manage fertility, irrigation, and environmental conditions to improve plant quality.
• Apply integrated pest management principles in greenhouse and nursery settings.
• Recognize key differences in production strategies among annual, perennial, and woody crops.
• Understand how production decisions affect costs, pricing, and profitability.

Course Topics:

The module topics are: Introduction to Greenhouse and Nursery Production; Plant Growth and Physiology; Soil, Soil-less Media, and Plant Nutrition; Equipment, Systems, and Environmental Controls; Introduction to Greenhouse and Nursery Integrated Pest Management (IPM); Plant Propagation; Annual Production Basics; Perennial Production Basics; Woody Shrub and Tree Production Basics; Economics of Greenhouse and Nursery Businesses.

Course Requirements:

To successfully complete this course, participants must:

• Review all instructional content in each module.
• Complete all required knowledge checks and learning activities.
• Complete all course modules in their entirety.

Technical Requirements:

To participate fully in this course, you will need:

• An active email address for the individual participating in the course.
• A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently.
• Access to a high-speed internet connection.
• A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.
• Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available).
• Computer skills including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

Need Help?

• If you need help accessing or registering for a course, please contact Clemson Online at onlineplus@clemson.edu.
• Our support email is monitored Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (EST). If you contact us in the evening or on the weekend, we will help you during the next business day.
• Please do not contact CCIT regarding CPE courses. Please reach out to Clemson Online so that we can assist you.
• Using Bulk Purchase? Please inform those you purchase seats for. They will receive an email invitation immediately upon enrollment. For more help, read about bulk enrollments in Catalog.