Münster Botanical Garden: Insights into the mysterious world of plants!

Münster Botanical Garden: Insights into the mysterious world of plants!

In the greenhouse at the University of Münster, Dirk Schmidt ensures that a large number of plants thrive optimally. On an area measuring around 40 by 20 meters, he looks after eleven different workstations and is responsible for seed production and plant care. Schmidt, an experienced gardener with over 20 years of professional experience, completed an apprenticeship as a gardener in the 1980s and previously gained extensive experience in the USA and during his community service.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Münster, where Schmidt works, is home to over 7,000 different plants. He has the challenge of accurately labeling all the plants in order to document their type, origin and age. This careful documentation is important not only for the preservation of plant diversity, but also for the regular exchange of seeds, which is part of a global exchange ring with 550 botanical gardens. Gardeners collect seeds throughout the year, which are packaged and shipped in an annual digital seed catalog to support the conservation of rare plant species.

Plant care and seasonal challenges

Schmidt operates a control cabinet to monitor temperatures, ventilation and shading in the plant chambers, which have different requirements for light, fertilizer and care. His tasks also include cutting top cuttings, for example from potato plants. This precision is crucial to avoid cross-fertilization between plants.

Rare plants are currently blooming in the botanical garden, such as devil's tongue, which only blooms every four years and attracts its pollinator, the carrion flies, with its strong smell. This purple flower measures approximately 20 cm and only lasts a few days. In addition to the devil's tongue, the swamp orchid and the inedible ancient banana, which has many seeds, can also be found in the garden. Markus Eichel, a colleague of Schmidt, emphasizes that the plants are currently acquiring a certain beauty despite their bare trees, and expects cyclamen and rhododendrons to bloom soon.

Training and qualification in the botanical field

The work in the botanical garden goes beyond just caring for plants. The Association of Botanical Gardens is heavily involved in the training and qualification of horticultural staff. This training includes not only traditional gardening skills, but also specific knowledge of cultivation and care measures for specialty crops.

In addition, the association's Training Working Group promotes exchange among employees and contacts with chambers and authorities. A qualification course for gardeners in botanical species protection is currently being offered. These initiatives are important for professional support and further development in the area of ​​botanical gardens.

For anyone interested in plants and their care, there are numerous opportunities for further education and exchange within this lively community of gardeners. The Botanical Garden is not only a place of research and conservation, but also an educational institution for future gardeners.