GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT FINAL EXAM | COMPREHENSIVE HORTICULTURE
STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Be able to discuss how figure 1-3 in the text book relates to choosing an appropriate greenhouse
production area. - correct answer ✔✔Crop production areas often can be
evaluated on the basis of three factors: production cost, quality, and transportation cost. If all three
factors are ideal, then the area is safe from competition. If conditions are less than ideal, as is usually the
case, weakness of any one factor must be offset by strengthening one or both of the others in order for
the production area to meet outside competition.
Understand what the major floriculture crop groups are, and their relative importance in the US
greenhouse industry (i.e. Cut-flowers, green plants, flowering pot plants, and bedding plants) - correct
answer ✔✔Cut-Flowers - flowers or flower buds (often with some stem and leaf) that have been cut
from the plant bearing it. It is usually removed from the plant for decorative use. Typical uses are in vase
displays, wreaths, and garlands. Many gardeners harvest their own cut flowers from domestic gardens,
but there is a significant floral industry for cut flowers in most countries.
Green Plants -
Flowering Pot Plants -
Bedding Plants - Short plants that bloom for a long time and are packed with flowers. It makes up 49% of
the industry.
What is plug technology, and what are its benefits? - correct answer ✔✔Revolutionizing the bedding
plant industry
Lower overhead (seedlings can be held at
high densities for long periods of time)
-
Ideal cultural conditions during germ and early
growth
-
Less transplanting shock
-
Faster finished plant production
-
Reduction in sowing and transplanting labor
-
Savings passed on to consumers
•
Producers must adopt this technology to
remain competitive
Where did the greenhouse industry originate? - correct answer ✔✔The greenhouse industry in the
western
world appears to have originated in Holland
,during its "Golden Age," the 1600s.
-
The stage was set during the first half of the 17
th
century when The Netherlands became the
world's foremost sea power.
-
Its merchant fleet tripled during this period to the
point where The Netherlands provided half the
world's shipping, and Amsterdam became the
world's leading commercial city
What is a crop schedule? - correct answer ✔✔Production Schedules
•
Serve the market when consumer demand is
the greatest
•
Minimize losses due to over- or under-
production
•
Plant, care, and harvest is scheduled
•
Schedules are logical and not difficult to follow
•
Number of weeks from start to finish
-
Crop specific
Why are crop schedules important? - correct answer ✔✔Importance of Scheduling
•
Nobody buys a poinsettia on Dec. 26
th
•
Nobody buys Easter lilies the Monday after
Easter
•
Crops have key selling dates
-
Mums in Autumn
-
Bedding plants in spring
•
Greenhouse products are perishable
•
Improper scheduling = loss of investment
What are some factors to consider when scheduling a crops production? - correct answer ✔✔How to
Schedule?
, Specific crops have a specific number of weeks
Dependant on:
Temperature
Cultural methods
Pot size
Desired growth stage at the finish (retail vs wholesale
Define 'response time'. - correct answer ✔✔Response Time
the time, usually in weeks, required for the plant to develop to a mature, salable flowering plant from
the date of flower initiation.
How is the response time of a particular crop used in scheduling? - correct answer ✔✔How to Schedule?
Specific crops have specific number of weeks
Dependant on:
Temperature
Cultural methods
Pot size
Desired growth stage at finish (retail vs wholesale)
Scheduling info can come from seed or cutting
suppliers
Can be modified from growers past record
What might happen if you fail to space your plants correctly? - correct answer ✔✔Unintentional
Crossing breeding. Roots tangle and compete for the same resources of water and nutrients in the soil.
Planting too close together limits the growth potential and often threatens plant health. A woodland
filled with tightly spaced birches results in lots of competition.
Define Pinching - correct answer ✔✔a form of pruning that encourages branching on the plant. This
means that when you pinch a plant, you are removing the main stem, forcing the plant to grow two new
stems from the leaf nodes below the pinch or cut.
What purpose do these practices serve? - correct answer ✔✔Non pinched = single stem, larger bracts
Most poinsettias are pinched
Pinch ~2 weeks after rooted cutting is planted
4-5 weeks after direct sticking
Number of shoots = number of remaining
nodes
Floral may increase the number of branches
Define Disbudding - correct answer ✔✔optional process of gradually removing the flower buds that
grow on the plant's stem in order to enhance the lifespan and development of the remaining buds
Why is spacing important in greenhouse crops? - correct answer ✔✔Leaving the right amount of space
between vegetable plants is quite important as each plant needs a certain amount of room for their
roots and leaves to maximize growth. This is based on the idea that the raised beds have a better quality
of soil and so the plants will grow better in a smaller space.
STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Be able to discuss how figure 1-3 in the text book relates to choosing an appropriate greenhouse
production area. - correct answer ✔✔Crop production areas often can be
evaluated on the basis of three factors: production cost, quality, and transportation cost. If all three
factors are ideal, then the area is safe from competition. If conditions are less than ideal, as is usually the
case, weakness of any one factor must be offset by strengthening one or both of the others in order for
the production area to meet outside competition.
Understand what the major floriculture crop groups are, and their relative importance in the US
greenhouse industry (i.e. Cut-flowers, green plants, flowering pot plants, and bedding plants) - correct
answer ✔✔Cut-Flowers - flowers or flower buds (often with some stem and leaf) that have been cut
from the plant bearing it. It is usually removed from the plant for decorative use. Typical uses are in vase
displays, wreaths, and garlands. Many gardeners harvest their own cut flowers from domestic gardens,
but there is a significant floral industry for cut flowers in most countries.
Green Plants -
Flowering Pot Plants -
Bedding Plants - Short plants that bloom for a long time and are packed with flowers. It makes up 49% of
the industry.
What is plug technology, and what are its benefits? - correct answer ✔✔Revolutionizing the bedding
plant industry
Lower overhead (seedlings can be held at
high densities for long periods of time)
-
Ideal cultural conditions during germ and early
growth
-
Less transplanting shock
-
Faster finished plant production
-
Reduction in sowing and transplanting labor
-
Savings passed on to consumers
•
Producers must adopt this technology to
remain competitive
Where did the greenhouse industry originate? - correct answer ✔✔The greenhouse industry in the
western
world appears to have originated in Holland
,during its "Golden Age," the 1600s.
-
The stage was set during the first half of the 17
th
century when The Netherlands became the
world's foremost sea power.
-
Its merchant fleet tripled during this period to the
point where The Netherlands provided half the
world's shipping, and Amsterdam became the
world's leading commercial city
What is a crop schedule? - correct answer ✔✔Production Schedules
•
Serve the market when consumer demand is
the greatest
•
Minimize losses due to over- or under-
production
•
Plant, care, and harvest is scheduled
•
Schedules are logical and not difficult to follow
•
Number of weeks from start to finish
-
Crop specific
Why are crop schedules important? - correct answer ✔✔Importance of Scheduling
•
Nobody buys a poinsettia on Dec. 26
th
•
Nobody buys Easter lilies the Monday after
Easter
•
Crops have key selling dates
-
Mums in Autumn
-
Bedding plants in spring
•
Greenhouse products are perishable
•
Improper scheduling = loss of investment
What are some factors to consider when scheduling a crops production? - correct answer ✔✔How to
Schedule?
, Specific crops have a specific number of weeks
Dependant on:
Temperature
Cultural methods
Pot size
Desired growth stage at the finish (retail vs wholesale
Define 'response time'. - correct answer ✔✔Response Time
the time, usually in weeks, required for the plant to develop to a mature, salable flowering plant from
the date of flower initiation.
How is the response time of a particular crop used in scheduling? - correct answer ✔✔How to Schedule?
Specific crops have specific number of weeks
Dependant on:
Temperature
Cultural methods
Pot size
Desired growth stage at finish (retail vs wholesale)
Scheduling info can come from seed or cutting
suppliers
Can be modified from growers past record
What might happen if you fail to space your plants correctly? - correct answer ✔✔Unintentional
Crossing breeding. Roots tangle and compete for the same resources of water and nutrients in the soil.
Planting too close together limits the growth potential and often threatens plant health. A woodland
filled with tightly spaced birches results in lots of competition.
Define Pinching - correct answer ✔✔a form of pruning that encourages branching on the plant. This
means that when you pinch a plant, you are removing the main stem, forcing the plant to grow two new
stems from the leaf nodes below the pinch or cut.
What purpose do these practices serve? - correct answer ✔✔Non pinched = single stem, larger bracts
Most poinsettias are pinched
Pinch ~2 weeks after rooted cutting is planted
4-5 weeks after direct sticking
Number of shoots = number of remaining
nodes
Floral may increase the number of branches
Define Disbudding - correct answer ✔✔optional process of gradually removing the flower buds that
grow on the plant's stem in order to enhance the lifespan and development of the remaining buds
Why is spacing important in greenhouse crops? - correct answer ✔✔Leaving the right amount of space
between vegetable plants is quite important as each plant needs a certain amount of room for their
roots and leaves to maximize growth. This is based on the idea that the raised beds have a better quality
of soil and so the plants will grow better in a smaller space.
