Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) Practice Exam

What are annuals?

1. Light feeders

2. Light drinkers

3. Heavy feeders

4. Heavy drinkers

The correct answer is: Heavy feeders

Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season, germinating from seed, growing, flowering, producing seeds, and dying within a single year. For successful growth, they typically require a significant amount of nutrients to support their rapid development and prolific flowering within that short time frame. As a result, they are classified as heavy feeders because they thrive best in nutrient-rich soil and often benefit from regular fertilization throughout the growing season. This increased nutrient demand is necessary for their vigorous growth and blooming, which characterizes annual plants. The other options do not accurately describe annuals. “Light feeders” would suggest they require fewer nutrients than they actually do. Being termed “light drinkers” would imply that they have low water needs, which is not always true, as many annuals benefit from consistent moisture. Similarly, “heavy drinkers” could be misleading because while some annuals may need ample water, it varies by species and growing conditions, making this description less universally applicable. Thus, recognizing annuals as heavy feeders highlights their nutrient requirements essential for thriving in a single season.