CPH Certified Professional Horticulturist Practice Test
Build your confidence for CPH Certified Professional Horticulturist. Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.
Try a sample questionExam overview and details
Horticulture certification for professionals covering plant science, crop production, landscape horticulture, pest management, and horticultural business management. Administered by American Society for Horticultural Science. Key domains include composting, fertilizers, insect, weed and disease control and interior and bedding plants.
Sample Questions
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A container nursery uses a pine bark substrate. Leachate EC readings from the pour-through method jump from 1.2 to 3.8 mS/cm after a week of cloudy weather and reduced irrigation. Plants show marginal burn on older leaves. What is the best production response?
A landscape bed has repeated herbicide injury complaints. Records show the crew applied a growth-regulator broadleaf herbicide to turf at 88 deg F with wind gusts toward tomatoes and roses. Which factor most likely caused the off-target symptoms?
A lab report shows a field soil pH of 7.9, high calcium carbonate, and low available iron for pin oak. The client wants to lower the whole site to pH 5.5 immediately. What is the best advice?
A crew is installing sod on compacted subsoil after construction. The builder wants topsoil spread one inch deep over debris to save time. What should the horticulturist require for durable turf?
A greenhouse crop has high soluble salts after repeated light irrigations with no leaching. Lower leaves show marginal necrosis. What correction is most appropriate?
Exam insights and study advice
In the real world, horticultural decisions have direct consequences on environmental health, economic viability, and community well-being. A CPH's validated knowledge ensures they can correctly diagnose plant disorders, prescribe environmentally sound management strategies, optimize resource use, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of landscapes and production systems. This translates to reduced pesticide and fertilizer misuse, increased plant survival and vitality, improved project outcomes, and enhanced professional credibility, ultimately protecting client investments and natural resources.