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INTERIOR PLANTS (Indoor Plants) BHT315

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification To obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested.

Home Study Interior Plants Course - learn to successfully grow indoor plants

  • Learn what to plant and where.
  • Develop an understanding of how to present plants in indoor situations.
  • This is a course equally applicable to the professional interior plantscaper, interior designer. interior decorator, or home owner who aspires to achieve the very best results with their indoor plants.

It's easy to enrol...

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Select a learning method

Please note, choosing offline (USB stick) will attract a 5% surcharge on top of the course fee

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Want to Work in a Nursery, Plant Hire or Interiorscaping Business?

.... or maybe you are just passionate about indoor plants.

  • Learn about the cultural requirements and general characteristics of the family groups.
  • Develop the ability to select the right plant for the right situation.
  • Many types of growing methods are covered (in pots, baskets, hydroponics, terrariums, greenhouses).
  • The course also covers soil mixes, propagation, pest control, feeding and lots more.

Course Content and Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction
    • Plant Naming and pronunciation
    • Review of indoor plant families
    • Resources
  2. Indoor Plant Culture - Part A
    • Understanding interior environments
    • Plants for different light conditions
    • Problems with indoor plants
    • Potting Media
    • Potting up
    • Container selection
    • Managing plant nutrition
    • Pruning indoor plants
    • Propagation and caring for young indoor plants
  3. Indoor Plant Culture - Part B
    • Acclimatizing indoor plants
    • Helping plants survive neglect
    • Managing plant health indoors
  4. Foliage Plants
    • Growing palms inside
    • Review of palm genera
    • Selecing and Growing Ferns inside
    • Review of other foliage plant genera
  5. Flowering Plants
    • Orchids
    • African violets
    • Poinsettia
    • Other genera grown for flowers indoors.
  6. Other Indoor Plants
    • Herbs
    • Vines and Climbers
  7. Making The Best Use Of Indoor Plants
    • Deciding where to place an indoor plant
    • Managing colour
    • Using mirrors
    • Plants in baskets
    • Hydroponics indoors
    • Miniature gardens
  8. The Interior Plantscaping Industry
    • Interior Plantscaping Business
    • Growing in Greenhouses
    • Environmental control

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Course Aims

  • Distinguish between different types of indoor plants
  • Describe the cultural methods used for growing various indoor plants
  • Evaluate a range of plants not commonly grown indoors for their suitability for interior plantscaping.
  • Select appropriate plants for different interior plantscaping situations.
  • Develop innovative ways of presenting plants for indoor situations.
  • Explain the interior plantscaping industry, including its nature and scope.

Working With Interior Plants

European countries such as Germany, Holland, Scandinavia and England have been using interiorscaping in their commercial buildings to create calm and attractive work environments since the 1950s.

The United States followed this trend in the early 1960s. Since the 1980s interiorscaping has grown from an industry primarily started by farmers and backyard plant growers - supplying plants from the back of vans - to the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. Today’s interiorscaping business is more likely to be run by horticulturists who may also have some qualifications in interior design, or visa versa.

Industry Associations

As a consequence of the huge international growth in this industry, the U.S.A., Canada, U.K, Australia, Holland, New Zealand and South Africa all now have Interior Plantscaping Associations. These associations are an invaluable source of information for those working or contemplating work in the interior plantscaping industry:

1. Interior Plantscaper’s Association of South Africa.
2. National Interior Plantscaper’s Association: Australia and New Zealand.
3. Plantscape Industry Association: U.S.A.
4. Associated Landscape Industry of America – includes plantscaping professionals as well.
5. British Association of Landscape Industries U.K. – includes plantscaping under its umbrella.

Indoor Plant Businesses

Businesses range from small one person operations - through to large multi-million dollar businesses. Services offered differ too - from plant watering services through to the design and maintenance of large indoor garden environments (that may even include quite large trees).

The following are just some of the services offered by these businesses:

  1. Plant and indoor garden maintenance using skilled staff.
  2. Rotating plants i.e. bringing in flowering plants in season.
  3. Floral arrangements.
  4. Unusual or unique plants i.e. foliage and flowers.
  5. Seasonal displays – using a creative and innovative approach.
  6. Design and consultation services.

Do you want to develop your business or passion for indoor plants?

  • Develop your knowledge of the application and management of plants in indoor situations.
  • Understand how to select the right plants for the location.
  • Develop your skills in how the plants are presented.

This is a great course for those seeking to work in interior plantscaping -

  • to develop a dedicated plantscaping business,
  • as an extension of an existing flower business,
  • for interior designers or decorators,
  • for home owners who have a passion for growing plants indoors.

Start developing your knowledge - any time, anywhere.

You can enrol on the Interior Plants course at any time - Simply go to “It’s Easy to Enrol” box at the top of the page and you can enrol now. Studying with ACS gives you freedom to choose when and where you study - our eLearning and online study options mean you can study wherever you want and without carrying loads of books around with you. Our tutors are highly knowledgeable, experienced professionals who are onhand to support and guide you in your studies.

If you have questions about the Interior Plants course or want to know more about studying with ACs, then get in touch with our specialist Horticulture tutors today - they will be pleased to help you.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

John Mason (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Nurseryman, Landscaper, Garden Writer, Parks Manager and Consultant. Over 45 years experience; working in Australia and the UK. He is one of the most widely published garden writers in the world; author of more than 100 books and editor for 4 different gardening magazines. John has been recognised by his peers being made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture in the UK, as well as by the Australian Institute of Horticulture.
Diana Cole (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Permaculturist, Landscaper, Environmentalist. Holds a Diploma in Horticulture, degree in geography, permaculture certificate and various other qualifications. Between 1985 and 94, Diana was a task leader with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Since 2001 she has been chairperson of the Friends of Mellor Park (with Stockport MDC). From 2005 she has worked exclusively in horticulture as proprietor of her own garden design and consultancy business in and around Derbyshire; and at the same time as part time manager of a small garden centre. Diana has been an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable tutor with ACS since 2008.
Yvonne Sharpe (Horticulturist)Started gardening in 1966, studied a series of horticulture qualifications throughout the 1980's and 90's, culminating in an RHS Master of Horticulture. Between 89 and 1994, she worked teaching in horticultural therapy. Founded the West Herts Garden Association in 1990 and exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show in 1991. In 1994, Yvonne joined the staff at Oaklands College, and between 1996 and 2000 was coordinator for all Amenity Horticulture courses at that college. Since leaving Oakland she has been active as a horticultural consultant, retail garden centre proprietor and sessional lecturer (across many colleges in southern England). In 2000, she also completed a Diploma in Management.


Check out our eBooks

Landscaping & Gardening in the ShadeLandscaping and Gardening in the Shade will involve many considerations including buildings, plants and care of plants.
Tropical PlantsThis luscious, illustrated ebook covers hundreds of different plant genera, and many more cultivars. You will learn how to grow plants commonly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It contains everything you need to know about growing tropical plants, managing them and working with them (they can be a little temperamental). Many of the plants can also grow in milder climates as indoor plants or in protected places. Previously published in print form by Kangaroo Press (Simon and Schuster).
OrchidsA colourful guide for students, home gardeners and orchid enthusiasts. The first part deals with growing orchids, and the second covers dozens of orchid genera, and hundreds of cultivars. Explore orchids as cut flowers, container plants, indoor plants and outdoor garden plants, in both tropical and temperate climates, across the world.
Indoor PlantscapingLearn about the benefits of growing indoor plants - beyond the simple aesthetics. As well as looking at which plants to choose for indoor planting, this useful eBook will teach you about different ways of growing plants indoors and how to manage your plants and their health (including managing pests and diseases).