Nebraska State FFA Floriculture

Clarification & Update

As noted in the State Floriculture CDE rules, the group activity will be an annually rolling group activity similar to the National CDE competition. The rolling activity has been designed to encourage a broader exploration of the careers within floriculture during the students High School Education and encourage diversity in the team makeup.

This year’s team activity will be to selectively prune a plant into a formed shape (globe or conical) and the designing of 2 complementary floral arrangements to create a table centerpiece.

Note: The arrangements and plant form may be taken with team after completion of the judging of the activity.

Here is what to expect:

Similar to previous years, each team will be assigned a table. There will be a written paragraph of the customer’s request and a price sheet with the MARKED UP pricing of each item. The team must create a table arrangement that includes the pruning of a plant and the design of two floral arrangements to create a final table arrangement. Competitors will be supplied essential elements to complete this project but may bring wire, scissors, pruners and calculator to complete the project. Each team will be required to complete a billing ticket that will remain with their design for judging. They will be given 25 minutes to complete the entire task.

MODIFICATION for this years competition for the first three phases of the competition that include:

Plant ID, Problem Solving and Written Exam:

The teams may check in for the competition from 7:45-8 a.m. As soon as they check in, they will be allowed into the testing room to begin. They will be self pased to complete the individual competition phases (that is the first three phases) and will have until 9:20 a.m. to complete those sections. Upon completion of the written portions, they will leave the room to allow for a room changeover and all teams will return at 9:30 a.m.  to complete the team activity. The intent is to have the competition done by 10 a.m.

Contest Overview

The Nebraska Floriculture CDE is designed to promote the interest and study of the production and marketing of flowers, plants and foliage in the agriculture education programs. This event is designed to evaluate the participant’s knowledge and abilities in select aspects important to the floriculture industry. Activities are those which individuals might experience at the National Floriculture CDE, however, in an abridged version. Our hope is you find the Nebraska Floriculture CDE a significant learning opportunity for the students involved.

Contest Schedule

• Date:  Friday, March 30, 2012
• Check-In Time: 7:30 – 8 a.m.
• Competition: 8 a.m. – approximately 10:10
• Report Location:  East Campus Union
• Contest Location:  East Campus Union
• Approximate Contest Length:  2 hours
• The finals of Parliamentary Procedure and the Nebraska Floriculture CDE are scheduled for the same time.

Please Note: This contest is timed, therefore, students who compete in the Parliamentary Procedure event the day before and make the finals on Friday will not be allowed to compete in the floriculture contest on Friday.  

Eligibility

• Contestants must qualify for the state contest by participating in a district qualifying contest. One-fourth of the programs in a district may qualify.
• A floriculture team consists of four (4) students.

Required Supplies for the Student

• Each participant shall bring a clean and notes free standard sized clipboard.
• Two number two pencils
• Watch
• No cellular phones or other electronic devices are allowed in the event
• Team members are allowed to bring design tools to aid in construction of the floral design and plant pruning activity. Suggested tools include: small pruners, ribbon scissors, wire cutters, design wire, floral tape and calculator. No additional adornments, greenery or ribbon may be used than that which is supplied. 

Recent Changes to the Contest

• Teams may bring design tools and calculator to complete the group activity. See section titiled: “Required Supplies for the Student” for details.
• Teams may take floral designs and pruned plant with them after the judging has been completed.
• Teams may check in beginning at 7:30 am. Entrance will begin at 7:45 a.m.  for the self paced portions of the General Knowledge Exam, Plant ID and Plant Problem Solving.
   

State Rules and Format

A. Event Rules

• The Nebraska Floriculture CDE Director and Agriculture Instructor CDE Floriculture Sub-committee has selected four types of events similar to the National Floriculture CDE to best evaluate the participant’s proficiency in several aspects of floriculture production and plant use.
• Under no circumstances shall any participant touch or handle plant material used for the Plant Identification, Disorder Identification or Problem/Decision Making during the event with the exception of a practicum or team activity.
• Observers will not be permitted in the event area while the event is in progress.
• Any communication between participants from the same team during the event will be sufficient cause to eliminate the team from the event with the exception of the team activity. No cellular phones or other electronic devices are allowed in the event, please leave these outside of the event room.
• No team, participant or coach shall be admitted to the event room prior to the scheduled event time. Any team, participant or coach proven to have done so will cause the elimination of that team from the event.
• Any participant caught cheating during the event will be, along with their team members, expelled from the event.
• All participants shall be prompt to the event and remain within the time guidelines instructed to them during the event. No provisions will be made for a late team or team member once the event has commenced.
• Team members will be separated and randomly grouped to proceed through the individual events. The team members will be rejoined to complete the team challenge.

B. Event Format

Phase 1- Plant and Equipment Identification (200 points)

The plant ID and equipment list is the same list as that used at the National FFA CDE. For your convenience, the complete plant and equipment list is found in the Study Information below. 

• Forty (40) live plant specimens or floral equipment samples from the National CDE Floriculture Plant Identification List and Floral Equipment Identification List will be displayed with an assigned number. The participant will select the appropriate technical and common name from a provided name list. Five (5) points will be given for each correctly identified. Each participant will have 25 minutes to complete this phase of the event.

Phase 2- Identification and Controlling Plant Disorders and/or Problem-Solving/Decision Making Questions (100 points)

• Approximately eight (8) stations will exhibit plants that may present insect, disease or physiological injury. Disorders may be any of the following: Nutritional, Environmental, Insect, Disease Disorders
  • Overwatering damage
    Insufficient water damage
    Inadequate lighting
    Improper temperature
    Iron deficiency
    Salt damage
    Powdery Mildew
    Stem Rot
    Insect Damage
    Spider mite Damage
• Five (5) points will be given for identification of the disorder from a provided name list and five (5) points will be given for selecting the appropriate corrective measure.
   

• Approximately two (2) stations will exhibit a grouping of plants from which the participant must select the appropriate plant or set of plants to answer the situational question asked. Ten points (10) will be given for a correct answer at each station.

• A total of 25 minutes will be given to complete this phase of the event.

Phase 3- General Knowledge Examination (150 points)

• Thirty (30) objective-type multiple choice questions will be written to test the participants knowledge and understanding of basic biological and scientific principles involved in the production and marketing of flowers, plants and foliage. The participant will have 25 minutes to complete the exam with each answer worth five (5) points.

Phase 4- Rotational Team Activity (200 points)

For Phase 4 Rotational Team Activity: For Spring 2012 it will be to selectively prune a plant into a formed shape (globe or conical) and the designing of 2 complementary floral arrangements to create a table centerpiece. The team will have 30 minutes to complete this activity.

• The team activity is an annually rolling challenge in an effort to explore the various events which a participant may encounter at the National Floriculture CDE. The rotational practicums at the national level are as follows:
  
  2012, 2014, 2016
  
  
• Handling a Hazardous Situation
  Make a Dish Garden
  Make a Product Display
  Growing Procedures
  Media Selling

2013, 2015

• Growing Procedures
  Handling Customer Complaints
  Identifying and Controlling Plant Disorders
  Make and Package a Corsage
  Media Selling
   

National Rules

• Nebraska Floriculture CDE will be similar to the National CDE rules, however, modified in less detail or may have adjusted times to fit within our state competition time restrictions. Our goal is to generate a sampling of the type of competition an individual or team may expect at a National Floriculture CDE.

• National Floriculture CDE Rules may be found at: https://www.ffa.org/documents/cde_floriculture.pdf

2011 Floriculture CDE practicums: 2007/2009 practicums

• Asexual propagation of plants
• Handling a customer complaint
• Indentifying and controlling plant disorders
• Make and package a corsage
• Media selling
• Potting plant cuttings

Study Information

• Floricultural Insect Description

http://www.negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/insects-and-mites

• Photos of Plant Nutritional and Cultural Problems

http://www.negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/nutritional-disorders
http://www.negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/cultural-problems

• Plant Disease Identification Photos

http://www.negreenhouseupdate.info/index.php/diseases

• Photo Library of the Identification of Interior Plants

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/

 Resources for Floral Design and Merchandising

• Griner, Charles 2002. Floriculture Designing and Merchandising. Second Edition. Delmar. 516 pages.
• Hunter, Norah T. 2000. The Art of Floral Design. Second Edition. Delmar. 450 pages

Suggested resources for horticulture production information

• Schray, Caroll, L. & Reiley, H.E. 2004. Introductory Horticulture. Delmar. 560 pages. 

 APPENDIX A: National CDE Plant and Equipment List

Number Botanical Name/Common Name

101   Aechmea chantinii cv. / Bromeliad
102   Ageratum mexicanum cv. / Ageratum
103   Aglaonema commutatum cv. / Aglaonema
104  Alstroemeria aurantiaca / Peruvian Lily
105   Antirrhinum majus cv. / Snapdragon
106   Anthurium x andraeanum cv. / Anthurium, Flamingo Lily
107   Aphelandra squarrosa cv. / Aphelandra, Zebra Plant
108   Araucaria heterophylla / Norfolk Island Pine
109   Argyranthemum frutescens / Marguerite Daisy
110   Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ / Sprengeri “Fern”
111   Asparagus setaceus / Asparagus “Fern”
112   Astilbe hybrid cv. / Astilbe
113   Begonia x tuberhybrida cv. / Tuberous Begonia
114   Begonia x semperflorens- cultorum / Wax Begonia
115   Caladium x hortulanum cv. / Fancy-Leaved Caladium
116   Calceolaria crenatiflora cv. / Pocketbook Plant
117   Callistephus chinensis cv. / China Aster
118   Camellia japonica cv. / Common Camellia
119   Canna x generalis cv. / Common Garden Can- na
120   Catharanthus roseus / Madagascar Per- iwinkle
121   Cattleya cv. / Cattleya Orchid Hybrid
122   Celosia argentea cv. / Cockscomb
123   Chamaedorea elegans / Parlor Palm
124   Chamelaucium uncinatum / Waxflower
125   Cholorophytum comosum cv. / Spider Plant
126   Chrysanthemum x morifolium cv. / Florist’s Chrysanthemum
127   Cissus rhombifolia ‘Mandaiana’ / Grape Ivy
128   Clematis Jackmanii Group cv. / Clematis
129   Codiaeum variegatum pictum cv. / Croton
130   Crassula argentea / Jade Plant
131   Cyclamen x persicum cv. / Florist’s Cyclamen
132   Cymbidium cv. / Cymbidium Orchid
133   Dianthus caryophyllus cv. / Carnation
134   Dieffenbachia maculata cv. / Spotted Dumbcane
135   Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ / Corn Plant Dracaena
136   Dracaena cincta / Red Edge Dracaena
137   Echeveria cv. / Hens and Chickens
138   Echinocactus cv. / Barrel Cactus
139   Epipremnum aureum cv. / Golden Pothos, Devil’s Ivy
140   Erica carnea cv. / Spring Heath
141   Eucalyptus polyanthemos / Silver Dollar Gum
142   Euphorbia milii splendens / Crown-of- Thorns
143   Euphorbia pulcherrima cv. / Poinsettia
144   Exacum affine / German (Persian) Violet
145   Ficus benjamina ‘Exotica’ / Benjamin Fig
146   Ficus elastica ‘Decora’ / ‘Decora’ Rubber Plant
147   Ficus pumila / Creeping Rubber Plant
148   Freesia x hybrida / Freesia
149   Fittonia verschaffeltii / Nerve Plant
150   Gardenia jasminoides ‘Fortuniana’ / Gar- denia
151   Gerbera jamesonii / Transvaal Daisy
152   Gladiolus x hortulanus cv. / Garden Gladi- olus
153   Gynura aurantiaca ‘Sarmentosa’ / “Purple Passion”, Velvet Plant
154   Gypsophila elegans cv. / Baby’s Breath
155   Hedera helix cv. / English Ivy
156   Hemerocallis cv. / Daylily
157   Heptapleurum arboricola / Dwarf Schefflera, Dwarf Octopus Tree
158   Hippeastrum hybrid cv. / Amaryllis
159   Hosta undulata / Plantain Lily
160   Hoya carnosa / Wax Plant
161   Hyacinthus orientalis cv. / Hyacinth
162   Hydrangea macrophylla cv. / French (Florist’s) Hydrangea
163   Impatiens hybrid cv. / Impatiens
164   Iris x germanica florentina cv. / Flag (Bearded) Iris
165   Iris x xiphium cv. / Dutch Iris
166   Justicia brandegeana / Shrimp Plant
167   Kalanchoe x blossfeldiana cv. / Kalanchoe
168   Leucanthemum x superbum cv. / Shasta Daisy
169   Liatris spicata / Liatris
170   Lilium longiflorum cv. / Trumpet (Easter) Lily
171   Lilium x hybridum cv. / Hybrid (Garden) Lily
172   Limonium sinuatum / Statice
173   Lobularia maritima / Sweet Alyssum
174   Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoviana / Prayer Plant
175   Matthiola incana cv. / Flowering Stock
176   Monstera deliciosa / Cutleaf “Philodendron”
177   Narcissus pseudonarcissus cv. / Daffodil
178   Neoregelia carolinae ‘Tricolor’ / Bromeliad
179   Nephrolepis exaltata cv. / Boston Fern
180   Opuntia tribe cv. / Cactus
181   Paeonia cv. / Peony
182   Paphiopedilum x hybrid cv. / Ladyslipper Orchid
183   Pelargonium x domesticum cv. / Regal (Lady Washington) Geranium
184   Pelargonium x hortorum cv. / (Zonal) Geranium
185   Pelargonium peltatum cv. / Ivy Geranium
186   Peperomia argyreia / Watermelon Pe- peromia
187   Peperomia caperata / Emerald Ripple Pe- peromia
188   Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Variegata’ / Var- iegated Peperomia
189   Petunia x hybrida cv. / Common Garden Petunia
190   Phalaenopsis cv. / Phalaenopsis (Butterfly) Orchid
191   Philodendron scandens oxycardium / Heartleaf Philodendron
192   Pilea cadierei / Aluminum Plant
193   Pilea involucrata / Friendship Plant
194   Pilea microphylla / Artillery Plant
195   Pilea nummularifolia / Creeping Charley
196   Plectranthus mummularis / Swedish Ivy
197   Polianthes tuberosa / Tuberose
198   Primula x polyanthus cv. / Polyanthus (Primrose)
199   Primula malacoides cv. / Fairy Primrose
200   Rhododendron cv. / Azalea
201   Rosa hybrid, Class Hybrid Tea cv. / Hybrid Tea Rose
202   Rumohra adiantiformis / Leatherleaf Fern
203   Saintpaulia ionantha cv. / African Violet
204   Salvia splendens cv. / Salvia
205   Sansevieria trifasciata cv. / Snake Plant
206   Saxifraga stolonifera / Strawberry Plant
207   Schlumbergera bridgesii / Christmas Cactus
208   Schlumbergera truncata cv. / Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
209   Senecio cineraria ‘Diamond’ / Diamond Dusty Miller
210   Senecio x hybridus cv. / Florist’s Cin- eraria
211   Sinningia speciosa Fyfiana Group cv. / Gloxinia
212   Solanum pseudocapsicum cv. / Jerusalem Cherry
213   Solenostemon scutellarioides / Coleus
214   Spathiphyllum clevelandii / White Anthurium, Peace Lily
215   Stephanotis floribunda / Stephanotis
216   Strelitzia reginae / Bird-of-Paradise
217   Syngonium podophyllum / Nephthytis
218   Tagetes species cv. / Marigold
219   Tolmiea menziesii / Pickaback Plant
220   Tulipa cv. / Tulip
221   Vaccinium ovatum / Florist’s “Huckleberry”
222   Viola x wittrockiana cv. / (Garden) Pansy
223   Zebrina pendula cv. / Wandering Jew
224   Zinnia elegans / Zinnia

Floriculture Equipment Identification List
225   Boutonniere Pin
226   Corsage Pin
227   Corsage Stem
228   Corsage Tape
229   Glue Gun
230   Glue Pan
231   Knife sharpener
232   Paddle Wire
233   Pruner
234   Ribbon Scissor
235   Rose Stripper
236   Steel Pick Machine
237   Styrofoam Cutter
238   Under Water cutter
239   Waterproof Tape
240   Wire cutters
241   Wristlet
 

Contest Superintendent Contact Information

Stacy Adams
(402) 472-2577
sadams1@unl.edu

updated 12/23/11