Teaching
My teaching goal is to train students in horticulture and plant science, using innovative and active learning methods. I assist in coordinating horticulture curriculum and internships.
I teach a sophomore level course in the fall each year called Environmental Horticulture (PBIO 547). Many of my students are not destined to be commercial greenhouse growers so the poinsettia is a model crop to learn about different aspects of horticulture, including:
- Greenhouse management. Students grow their own poinsettia crop with responsibility for monitoring and controlling fertilizer, water, pests, and flowering.
- Environmental issues. There is nothing better than growing a crop to experience the “gray areas” of environmental issues such as natural versus synthetic pest controls. Since 2004 we are growing our poinsettias as close to the organic production standards as possible. We also debate different environmental issues with students being randomly asked to support each side of the issue.
- Horticultural science. Poinsettias are one of the most highly-studied floriculture crops. Growing a crop is an opportunity to learn and apply research on temperature, photoperiod, nutrient, and other physiological responses.
