Students got the chance to give plants a new home by attending the Horticulture department’s welcome week event where free succulents were gifted to both new and returning students this fall semester at PCC(Trade Tech and Community Learning Campus).
Professor Jorge Ochoa was running the event and explained how all of the succulents were actually grown by students who were in the Plant propagation class during the Spring 2024 semester.
“Each student did one flat (seed starting trays) which is a total of 32 plants per student. Once the class ended, the students took whatever they wanted, and the rest were left for the event which will also be happening in the Spring semester,” Ochoa said.
Some plants also came from the LAC(Liberal Arts Campus) in which students from the plant propagation class took pieces of plants, and put them onto flats until the roots were seen underneath, ultimately creating fully grown plants in the future.
Students who are part of the Horticulture department also get the chance to receive a scholarship funded by their own work while working alongside the Seal Beach Woman’s club.
They will provide plants for the club to sell at the pier on Saturday September 7, 2024 and Sunday September 8, 2024 between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The funding will go towards scholarship money provided to LBCC students who are part of the horticulture department, forming a cycle of creating and receiving within a community.
The garden is far bigger than its exterior, and Ochoa emphasized how he wants students to explore the garden in its entirety as it has so much to offer.
One of the most intriguing parts of the garden is the tortoise that was found about two years ago, and is now becoming a big factor of interest for people who decide to visit.
LBCC student assistant, Charlie, was one of the first people to arrive at the event, “I’ve always wanted to get some more plants for my room, and my coworker told me there were free plants, so I immediately rushed over.”
Everyone seemed to have different reasons for attending which brought in individuals with a variety of interests, including LBCC student Alixon.
“It’s actually my first time taking care of a plant, and I thought this would be good to start off. He (Professor Ochoa) said to water it once a week, and I feel like it’ll be easy enough,” Alixon said.
Not only is this a welcoming gesture for students, but it could also expand their interests and hopefully encourage them to join the Horticulture club or take any of the classes offered by the department.
This event also helped to spread awareness on unique opportunities that the school provides, especially the Horticulture department that may not have been previously well known.
There will be another welcoming event for students to receive a free plant hosted by the Horticulture department during the first week of the Spring semester, and you can also support the students by attending the Seal Beach Woman’s Club plant sale this weekend at the pier.