Students in Clemson University’s HORT 1010, Introduction to Horticulture class, are learning from various professors and staff how they can apply their horticulture knowledge in the real world.
Recently, the students learned the fundamentals of container gardening from horticulture professor Jim Faust.
Faust, a longtime faculty member in Clemson’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, shared practical insights into what makes container gardening successful. He emphasized several key aspects, including the importance of having a hole in the bottom of the container for drainage, choosing the right container size and using a proper growing medium.
“Container gardening is a versatile way to grow plants, especially for those with limited space,” Faust said. “You can grow edibles like herbs and vegetables or create beautiful arrangements by combining plants of different heights and colors for aesthetic appeal.”
Faust discussed how to determine when and how much to water, as well as the importance of reading labels to understand fertilizer needs. He encouraged the students to experiment with soil-less mediums and to think creatively when designing their containers.
Among the students attending was Quinlan Hill, a freshman horticulture major from Summerville, South Carolina. Hill said he enrolled in the class after discovering a passion for horticulture in high school.
“I really enjoyed learning about using soil-less mediums and how to combine different plants to make arrangements that are aesthetically pleasing,” said Hill after Faust’s presentation. “I also learned about the importance of the timeliness of when to perform certain tasks, like watering plants. This was very informative.”
The HORT 1010 class, taught each fall semester by principal lecturer Ellen Vincent, offers students a unique opportunity to engage directly with multiple professors throughout the term. Vincent described the course as an “experiential learning opportunity” designed to introduce students to the breadth of horticulture topics and faculty expertise at Clemson University.
“This format allows students to get a taste of what other professors teach in their classes,” Vincent said. “It’s a great way to help them find their interests and connect with faculty early in their academic journey.”
In addition to Faust, other opportunities afforded students in the 2025 class included meeting with professor Jeff Adelberg for a discussion of growing plants in a greenhouse setting, a meeting with members of the Clemson Arboriculture team for a demonstration of tree planting techniques and hearing from advanced horticulture students about their internship experiences, giving newcomers a glimpse into real-world applications of their studies.
Clemson professor of floriculture Jim Faust explains the fundamentals of container gardening to students in Ellen Vincent’s HORT 1010 class. Each fall, students in the Introduction to Horticulture class learn from various professors and staff how they can apply their horticulture knowledge in the real world.
