There are many careers in the field of plant science, including botany, which is the study of plants, and horticulture, which is the practice of growing plants. However, there are several fundamental differences with these plant-based scientific studies.
Horticulture
is the applied science of gardening, whereas botanists study plant theory. Let's take a look at each discipline in a little more detail so that you have a full understanding of each of them and what they do.However, there are also differences in both scientific fields. Horticulture involves the management and cultivation of gardens. Botanical science is a broader field. It involves focusing on plants as a whole and traditionally includes the classification of plant species.
Horticulture is a branch or field of botany that deals with edible and ornamental plants. Horticulturists do not research, but rather use or “apply” scientific research carried out by botanists. A horticulturist, although similar to a landscape gardener, has a deeper understanding of the science behind different plants. Experts in growing crops, trees, flowers and fauna of all kinds, horticulturists can work in many environments, such as education, government or private gardens.
You'll learn a lot about plants, and almost every botanist has a private garden, but planting may not be part of their job. Both make plants and gardening their life's work, but they approach it in different ways, which means you need to decide which one suits you best. If you're interested in having hands-on experience studying plants like you did when you were a child, you should consider horticulture. However, if you like growing plants more than just studying them, then you are interested in horticulture.
Botanists also study a more complete range of plants, including many groups that horticulturists don't deal with at all. As a general rule, horticulturists focus on the practical side of plants, while botanists work with plant theory and classification. It also includes plant conservation, landscape restoration (planned process of restoring ecological integrity), soil management, landscape and garden design, and arboriculture (the cultivation and nutrition of trees, shrubs, vines and woody plants). Horticulture is the science and art of the development, sustainable production, marketing and use of intensively cultivated, high-value ornamental and food plants.
So horticulture is more geared towards working in greenhouses, where plant science is more of an understanding of how a plant does what it does. I like the course material for both of us, but I'll probably need to talk to an advisor to get a better idea of which one would be best for me. The couple understands the deeper aspects of planting and can focus on the science of agriculture to make it a more advanced field. Many colleges and universities offer this program, and you can check out the university near your state that offers agricultural science.
However, if you want to become a professional horticulturist, you can get a diploma or degree in agricultural science. Botanists are often at the forefront of helping endangered plants; they are crucial to finding and identifying plants at risk.
