To become a greenhouse manager, you must complete four steps: obtain post-secondary education, gain relevant work experience, learn management skills, and secure a position as a greenhouse manager. A greenhouse manager’s primary responsibilities include plant cultivation and proper environmental maintenance. A greenhouse’s roof and walls are made of plastic or glass, and they are designed to absorb solar radiation from the sun. Regardless of the weather outside, the heat is trapped inside the building, creating an ideal environment for plants.
A greenhouse manager must be capable of growing and maintaining a wide range of plants. He or she is known as having a “green thumb” because he or she understands the basic needs of various types of plants and has a knack for keeping them alive and well. Greenhouses are common in North America and Europe, where the colder climate prevents plants from growing naturally. A greenhouse can range in size from a small backyard shed for personal use to a large production facility for growing produce or plants for sale.
To become a greenhouse manager, you must first complete a horticulture training program at a recognized college or university. These programs are only offered at a few schools, and they are typically found in rural areas, where job opportunities are more plentiful. Botany or general science degrees are examples of related education.
Horticulture is a hands-on skill with a significant theoretical component. Look for a program that allows you to participate in a cooperative or job placement program. Anyone interested in becoming a greenhouse manager should gain relevant work experience. Before deciding on a program, take the time to learn about the various options. Some colleges and universities offer greenhouse management courses that address some of the industry’s unique challenges.
Managing a greenhouse is a mid-level position that typically requires at least five years of experience as a greenhouse worker. Anyone interested in working as a greenhouse manager should look for work in a large greenhouse operation. To learn how to manage greenhouses, a significant amount of on-the-job training is required. The pesticides, fertilizers, and insects used in each greenhouse, for example, are selected based on the plants being grown and the overall environment.
Horticultural and managerial work experience are the two types of related work experience. Working on a produce farm, tree farm, or greenhouse is all excellent ways to gain relevant experience. Working in a botanical garden or a plant store are two other options. Zoos, amusement parks, park management companies, and landscaping companies can all provide horticultural work experience.
Temporary assignments as a floor supervisor or team lead can provide managerial experience. If these positions become available, take the initiative and volunteer for them so you can gain valuable work experience. Volunteering to build a community garden, teaching plant management courses, and working as a supervisor for a landscape garden company are all options for gaining managerial experience.
Completing a business management program is the best way to learn good management techniques. Short courses, seminars, and degree programs devoted to business management are available. Choose the option that best meets your immediate needs and then put what you’ve learned into practice.