A professional who propagates plants, such as orchids and rhododendrons, applying knowledge of environmental controls and plant culture. Respnsibilities include:

• Confers with management personnel to ascertain type and number of species to propagate and to develop and revise nutrient formulas and environmental-control specifications.
• Selects materials according to kind of plant; mixes growth media; and prepares containers, such as jars, pots, and trays.
• Initiates new plant growth, using methods such as following. Respnsibilities include:
• (1) Cuts leaves, stems, or rhizomes from parent plant and places cuttings in growth media.
• (2) Bends, covers, or buries branches of parent plant in soil, securing branches with pegs or rocks.
• (3) Wounds stems of parent plant, using sharp knife, inserts pebble into wound, and binds wound with moss, burlap, or raffia.
• (4) Plants meristem and seeds in growth media.
• (5) Breaks off or cuts apart and plants roots, crowns, and tubers from parent plant.
• Inspects growing area to ascertain temperature and humidity conditions, and regulates systems of heaters, fans, and sprayers to ensure conformance with specifications.
• Gives transplanting and cultivation instructions to coworkers, and monitors activities to assure adherence to established plant-culture procedures.
• May graft or divide developing plants to promote altered growth characteristics.
• May log activities, maintain propagation records, and compile periodic reports.