Transform your indoor space into a thriving, green sanctuary! Whether you are new to growing plants indoors or an established grower, the Houseplant Horticulture online course is designed for you. Brought to you by NC STATE Extension Gardener, this course delivers rigorous, evidence-based horticultural science in an accessible, engaging format. You will be learning the exact, trusted principles used by expert horticulturists to achieve stunning, healthy indoor plants!
Launching September 1, 2026, this comprehensive 6-week online course is built for flexible, asynchronous learning. You can dive deeply into lecture texts, helpful illustrations, and professional slide decks—all on your own schedule.
The 6-Week Curriculum at a Glance
- Week 1 | Introduction & Botany Basics: Go deep into plant anatomy, history, and the science behind why plant names change. You'll even explore the cellular magic behind gorgeous leaf variegation (like chlorophyll absence and specialized pigments)!
- Week 2 | Core Growing Essentials: Master container selection, custom potting mixes, and specialized substrates. Learn exactly how to manage vital indoor elements—light intensity, precise watering, fertilization, and optimizing humidity and air circulation.
- Week 3 | Problems & Propagation: Learn to manage common indoor pests and diseases. Plus, learn professional houseplant propagation techniques to multiply your favorite specimens!
- Week 4 | Foliage Houseplants: Gain foundational expertise in cultivating key foliage favorites, including Ferns, Aroids, Dracaena, Ficus, Marantaceae, Palms, Peperomia, and a bonus guide to Spider plants!
- Week 5 | Flowering Houseplants: Master the art of keeping blooms bright and beautiful. This week covers Orchids, Bromeliads, African Violets, Begonias, Amaryllis, Hoya, Pelargonium, and a bonus feature on Citrus!
- Week 6 | Special Growth Habits: Explore the extraordinary survival mechanics of nature's most unique plants. Learn how succulents, cacti, air plants, and shingle-leaf climbers leverage specialized root structures, dormancy, and unique tissue adaptations to thrive in extreme environments.
Fees
- Regular Tuition: $149 per course
- Discounts:
- Early Bird discount of $10 off the regular price (applied automatically when you register 4 or more weeks before the course start date).
- Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer discount of $30 off the regular price: Contact your volunteer coordinator/agent for the discount code. If they do not have the code, ask them to send a request via email to eg-online-classes@ncsu.edu from their work email account.
- Extension staff discount of $99 off the regular price: Request the discount code via email to eg-online-classes@ncsu.edu from your work email account.
Registration
To register for this class, follow this link to Reporter.
