Familiarize yourself with the basics of sustainable floral design through orchids. This course teaches you to create stunning arrangements, step by step, with simple design principles and easy-to-find materials. You’ll gain confidence in your skills by creating three orchid arrangements as part of a learning community, while exploring the fascinating history of these enigmatic flowers.
Course requires floral tools and materials that students will need to purchase separately; prices may vary depending on your location. Information will be provided via Canvas one week prior to the course start date.
Over the course of 4 weeks, you’ll be given access to a new online module each Wednesday that teaches you the basic principles of floral design through the medium of orchids. You will have one week to complete the assigned coursework and participate in the discussion board for each module, and you’ll get live feedback from your instructor when you turn in your final project at the end of the course.
Week 1: Explore the history of collecting and cultivating orchids. Prepare to create your own arrangements by learning how to shop and care for orchids.
Week 2: Uncover the basic principles of floral design as you learn how to create an alluring arrangement using orchids and additional floral materials.
Week 3: Review orchid conservation efforts and receive an introduction to sustainable design tools. Put learning into practice by creating a structural orchid arrangement.
Week 4: Gain confidence in your skills by starting to develop your own style as you craft a centerpiece using potted orchids.
Course length is 4 weeks with content released every Wednesday. When you sign up for a course, you select one of the following sessions to enroll in:
You’ll have access to the course’s Welcome Module one week prior to the start date. Upon completion of the course, you’ll have a reading period which extends 30 days past the course end date.
Ace Berry is the owner and lead design of Fulshear Floral Design in Houston, Texas, as well as owner of Ace in Full Bloom. Ace In Full Bloom provides educational floral design workshops and training at conferences and other events nationwide. Ace is passionate about sharing his expertise and knowledge of the floral industry with other floral professionals to help grow the floral industry. He has also appeared on HBO’s TV show Full Bloom, where he was a finalist.
Marc Hachadourian is the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture & Senior Curator of Orchids at NYBG. He is a published author with over 20 years of experience in horticulture, specializing in orchids, tropical and aquatic plants, bulbs, and alpines. Each year, he oversees the plants chosen and displayed in our annual Orchid Show, now over 20 years running.
Sarah Khan is a floral design professional based in Maryland. She is the owner of Sarah Khan Event Styling, a bespoke floral design business with a global reach. In addition to appearing in HBO’s Full Bloom, Sarah has provided floral designs for former President Barack Obama. Her work has appeared in National Geographic and Harper’s Bazaar Bride. In addition to teaching for NYBG, she offers private floral design masterclasses.
TJ McGrath is the owner of TJ McGrath Design, which he launched in 2020 to provide a platform to share his love of flowers. He educates other florists and flower enthusiasts through workshops that focus on foam-free design techniques and feature primarily locally grown flowers. His designs and work keep sustainable and ethical practices with florals at the core.
Whether you’d like guidance on choosing the Plant Studio course that’s right for you, or you have questions about this new program—let us know! Fill out this form and we’ll be happy to contact you as soon as possible.