About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 2 Year Diploma
  • Campus: Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Code: 0777 P0777
  • Delivery Length: 2 Years
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Overview

Do you have a passion for science and technology combined with a love for growing plants?

As a Greenhouse Technician, you will gain a strong understanding of plant nutrition, growing environment, pest management and effective use of common industry related equipment and software. Your skills will equip you to successfully manage commercial scale greenhouse or nursery production.

Highlights
  • The 125-acre Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake is located in the heart of Canada’s expanding greenhouse industry and serves as a living lab for students including Ontario’s largest training greenhouse, container and field nursery operations, and on-site greenhouse equipment.

  • Gain practical greenhouse experience working with an integrated pest management system.

  • Connect with greenhouse leaders via extensive field trips to local ornamental and vegetable greenhouses and industry trade shows.

  • Graduates can earn a diploma in horticulture or landscaping fields with an additional year of study. Visit the Pathways tab for details.

Career Opportunities
  • Garden centre operation
  • Greenhouse crop production
  • Greenhouse management
  • Horticultural journalism
  • Horticultural research
  • Nursery management
  • IPM (Integrated Pest Management) specialist
  • Technical sales
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Courses

Term one (2025 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
COMM1101 Language and Communications 3
HORT1006 Nursery Management 2
HORT1007 Plant Science I 3
HORT1008 Evergreen Ornamentals 3
MATH1100 Mathematics for Horticulture 3
HORT1018 Landscape Graphics and Design 3
HORT1009 Horticulture Entomology 3
Term two (2025 Spring)
Code Course Name Credits
HORT1003 Deciduous Trees and Shrubs 3
HORT1015 Plant Science II 3
HORT1004 Horticulture Practices and Operations 3
HORT1021 Landscape Design Build 3
HORT1248 Greenhouse Production Science 3
COMM1250 Advanced Communications for Horticulture 2
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term three (2025 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
HORT1230 Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials 3
HORT1245 Applied Plant Pathology 3
HORT1300 Greenhouse Plant Environment 2
HORT1326 Greenhouse Root-Zone Techniques 3
HORT1306 Greenhouse IPM 3
HORT1481 Greenhouse Crops I 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term four (2026 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
HORT1422 Horticulture Business and Sales 3
HORT1283 Sustainable Food Production 3
HORT1304 Greenhouse Equipment and Computer Controls 3
HORT1430 Greenhouse Vegetable Production 3
HORT1581 Greenhouse Crops II 3
HORT1317 Architectural Green Spaces 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Program Outcomes Term: 1251
  1. Apply the principles of plant* and soil sciences to complete work in horticulture.

  2. Apply practical horticulture skills to the production of plant materials, including herbaceous plants, woody plants, and turf.

  3. Apply the principles of design to horticulture.

  4. Apply basic installation and construction principles and practical skills to horticulture.

  5. Implement maintenance procedures for plants, property, and equipment.

  6. Utilize knowledge of plant identification, usage, and maintenance criteria.

  7. Recognize the potential environmental effects of projects and the need to avoid environmental damage and promote healthier ecosystems.

  8. Apply the principles and practical skills of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to indoor and outdoor plants.

  9. Contribute to the effective planning, implementation, and conclusion of projects.

  10. Use safe working practices.

  11. Use business practices appropriate to the horticulture industry.

  12. Act in a professional manner, maintain professional relationships, and communicate effectively with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others.

  13. Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance and career opportunities and to keep pace with industry changes.

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Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
Recommended Courses and/or Skills:

These courses and skills may help you succeed academically in this program, but they are not required for admission.

  • Biology – Grade 11 (C) or (U) or Grade 12 (U)
  • Chemistry – Grade 11 (U) or Grade 12 (C) or (U)
  • Mathematics – any Grade 12 (C) or (U)
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Program Requirements
Physical Fitness
  • Students applying to Environment and Horticulture programs are often required to tolerate physical activity such as walking over uneven terrain, standing, bending, lifting, and carrying equipment.
  • These expectations are reflected in our coursework, and applicants of this program should be highly motivated and have an appropriate level of fitness when entering this program.
Transportation
  • Students are responsible for their own transportation in order to complete program requirements which may not be readily accessible by public transportation.
  • Program requirements could include co-ops, placements, volunteer requirements, practical labs, field projects, assignments, clinicals, or any other off-campus visits required as part of the program’s curriculum.
Computer/Technology Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows 10 based desktop or laptop system that meets or exceeds the following general personal computer technology requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop system running on an updated Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory.
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities (a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps) is recommended.

Niagara College will not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications. Any provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses (supported under the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system) will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: There is no support for Chromebooks or Apple products for this program. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.

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Availability

Domestic Applicants Apply
International Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

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Pathways

Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Greenhouse Technician program below.

  • NC Pathway
    Advanced Standing in:
    Niagara College Horticultural Technician
  • NC Pathway
    Advanced Standing in:
    Niagara College Landscape Technician
  • NC Pathway
    This program grants Advanced Standing to qualified graduates of:
    Niagara College Horticultural Technician
  • NC Pathway
    This program grants Advanced Standing to qualified graduates of:
    Niagara College Landscape Technician
  • NC Pathway
    This program grants Advanced Standing to qualified graduates of:
    Niagara College Landscape Horticulture Techniques
  • From NC to
    Royal Roads University Bachelor of Science in Environmental Practice Canada
  • From NC to
    Royal Roads University Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Canada
Did you know?

Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.

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Tuition

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I think very highly of the Niagara College Horticulture and Greenhouse programs, based on the quality of work NC grads have been doing for our research team. Niagara College students have been a great fit with our group so far.

Michael Pavone, Senior Research Technician, Vegetable Breeding, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
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