Succulents continue to be popular among budding plant owners, but the University of Idaho Plant Soil and Science Club does much more than just grow and sell them on campus.
Bob Tripepi, club adviser for more than 23 years, said the club is for students interested in growing different types of plants.
Students also propagate — an asexual plant reproduction process used to create new plants from already existing ones. They then sell these and other plants for various purposes, he said.
“Students use the proceeds to supplement a scholarship endowment and also donate to as many as two or three charities a year,” Tripepi said. “This year they donated to Christmas for Kids.”
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The money also goes toward partially covering the cost of field trips for students, he said. Last year they went to Canada, and this year they will go to Portland, Oregon.
“Typically students go to visit places that have something to do with plants, like garden centers, nurseries and parks,” Tripepi said. “For example, they went to the Butchart Gardens in Canada last year and also visited a butterfly garden there.”
Anyone can be a part of the club, from history and art majors to agriculture education and plant soil and science students, he said. A variety of students from all across campus have participated, he said.
In the fall, Tripepi said students grow poinsettias, as well as succulents and house plants year round. In the spring, they specialize in bedded plants such as geraniums and impatiens. The Sixth Street Greenhouse is the central location for all plants, with two to five benches used, depending on the time of the year, he said.
Tripepi said there are more events and activities today than in the past, including a recent weekend trip to Garden Creek Nature Conservancy at the north end of Hells Canyon.
He said he went with students to complete a service learning project, taking a jet boat in to prune apple trees and enjoy evenings playing cards and relaxing.
The club also visited a greenhouse in Spokane, Washington, for a poinsettia tour, he said. One of the most popular events every year is the Green Thumb 101 and 201 sessions for Moms’ Weekend, where participants can plant hanging baskets or planters to take home.
Zach Asher, club president, said anyone from any major can join throughout the year — no prior knowledge about plants is necessary, just an interest. He said a majority of members are not plant science majors, and new members have joined as late as Moms’ Weekend in the past.
Asher said the club tries to incorporate soil and entomology — the study of insects — but the club is primarily horticulture based.
Membership requirements include attending at least two meetings per month and one plant sale per semester. Meetings are held each Monday in the Sixth Street Greenhouse from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with free pizza nearly every week as an incentive, he said.
The club has a system where members are able to get points by participating in sales, attending club meetings, watering plants, covering and uncovering poinsettias in season, and helping table at events like UIdaho Bound.
Asher said the points are taken into account when the club has merchandise for sale and upcoming trips. Members with more points are able to get a percentage off of merchandise, swag and trip costs.
Plant and Soil Science Club reporter Rachel Gross (left) and CALSAC representative Hannah Gross (right) assist during a houseplant and succulent plant sale at the Sixth Street Greenhouse Monday.
“Some members might not have to pay anything, while others might have to pay more,” Asher said. “Those who put a lot in usually get free stuff, sometimes even free plants.”
The most well-known sales are poinsettias around Christmas time and bedding plants for Moms’ Weekend, along with Valentine’s Day and Halloween sales, he said. The club is always trying to do new things and is open to all ideas.
In the last few years, the group has put on a variety of new events and activities, Asher said. For example, it has partnered with other campus clubs, Wild at Art in downtown Moscow and several sororities. They also put on workshops for residence halls.
“I like working with plants and spending time in the greenhouse — time spent getting my hands dirty and doing something I am passionate about,” Asher said. “I also like the people who are in the club. I think they provide a good, inviting environment.”
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@AllisonSpain1