Ready to set off on your journey into the plant world? Plant Studio is an online plant education program that teaches you skills in Pruning Basics, Container Gardening, Orchid Design, Landscape Design History, or Plant Science. With instruction from NYBG plant pros, grow your passion through pre-recorded courses, virtual tours of garden spaces, lively discussions with fellow students, and personal feedback on your projects from our experts.
Courses are easy to take part in using the online learning platform Canvas! Each Wednesday you’ll be given access to a new module in your course—giving you a week to complete the coursework for that module. You can always revisit previous modules to brush up on your knowledge, and the course discussion board is a great place to engage with your fellow students. At the end of your course, you’ll hand in a final project and receive live feedback from your instructor.
Learn to prune like NYBG! In this course, our plant experts guide you through essential pruning techniques for woody plants like small trees and shrubs, provide insight on why and when to prune, as well as give constructive feedback on your own pruning project.
Learn how to design, plant, and care for a container garden that’s both functional and full of four-season beauty, whether it’s on your home patio, terrace, or deck—or in your apartment. This course teaches you the basics of choosing and using materials like potting soil and plants, as well as easy maintenance skills needed to make your container planting a thriving success.
Learn the basics of sustainable floral design through orchids. This course teaches you how 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.
“Travel the globe” during this survey of European, American, Chinese, Japanese, and Islamic garden traditions, while exploring a wide range of iconic examples—from private gardens to public parks. You’ll learn about the theories and principles that have shaped landscape design traditions, and design your own pocket garden.
Do you find yourself daydreaming about the plants around you—wondering how they grow and thrive? Indulge your curiosity as we introduce you to the fascinating world of plant science, and the techniques our scientists use to study, collect, and protect these incredible organisms.
Plant Studio courses have specific start and end dates because they are facilitated by experts; they are not self-paced. Course content is delivered weekly through pre-recorded videos with the Garden’s plant professionals, showcasing both the expertise and the beauty of The New York Botanical Garden. Each course includes weekly lectures, readings, assignments, and a final project on which students receive individualized feedback. Students have the opportunity to connect with course facilitators as well as each other through online discussion boards. Longer courses include at least one Zoom session for live interaction to ask questions and spotlight hot topics in the field.
Students who complete course requirements will receive a digital credential from NYBG that can be shared on social media. Too busy to do the assignments? That’s okay, too. All courses include a 30-day, read-only period after the course concludes to rewatch course videos and review the discussion boards, so that you can learn at your own pace, on your own time, anywhere in the world, in the style that works best for you.
Plant Studio courses are accessed through NYBG’s learning management system, Canvas, which supports online learning. In Canvas, students can view course videos, submit assignments, receive and read announcements, and participate in online discussions anytime, anywhere. For more information about how Canvas works, please see our Canvas FAQ.
Course content is released weekly, on Wednesdays. Courses vary by length, ranging from two to six weeks, depending on the course content. Please review the individual course pages linked above for more details.
One week prior to the course start date, you will receive access to the Welcome Module. Through the Welcome Module, you’ll meet our plant professionals who will be featured in videos throughout the course; be encouraged to introduce yourself to your NYBG community through discussion boards; and receive access to the course guide, a helpful resource that will set you up for success throughout the learning process.
Throughout the course, NYBG’s course facilitators are with you every step of the way. To encourage you and your fellow classmates to explore each week’s topics in full, they’ll pose questions and provide feedback through written online discussion boards. The more you engage with your course facilitator and peers, the more productive and enjoyable your learning experience will be.
Thank you for planting your future with us! We look forward to growing with you.
To learn more, view our Plant Studio FAQs.