Distance Learning Horticulture Courses » Hydroponics Courses

Advanced Certificate In Hydroponics VHT013

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:16:59 +0000

Understand how to grow plants without soil. This course provides an understanding of modern technology and its application to growing plants, with emphasis on hydroponic production

Course Structure for Advanced Certificate In Hydroponics VHT013

Introduction to Hydroponic Technology
Plant Growth Requirements – Light , artificial light, light balancers
Plant Growth Requirements – Nutrition- nutrient requirements, deficiencies, toxicities, pH, conductivity, salinity, growth regulators
Plant Growth Requirements – Temperature
Hydroponic Growing Systems- basic concepts and designs, site considerations
Growing Media – types, properties, uses
Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions – nutrient formulae, preparing solutions
Hydroponic Equipment – componentry, nutrient delivery, pumping, testing
Growing Structures – Design and Construction – types
Environmental Control A – Heating, Cooling
Environmental Control B – Lighting, Shading
Environmental Control C – Carbon Dioxide Enrichment
Plant Culture In Hydroponics A – trellising, pruning, pollination, transplanting
Plant Culture In Hydroponics B
Aggregate Culture
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Culture
Rockwool Culture
Other Techniques – wick systems, flood & drain, bag culture, aeroponics, etc
Irrigation – Soil Requirements
Irrigation Systems
Plant Propagation – seed & cutting propagation & tissue culture
Market Gardening – Cut Flowers
Market Gardening – Vegetables
Other Plants In Hydroponics – herbs, grasses, indoor plants
Pest and Diseases – dentifying the problem, pests and diseases in hydroponics
Weeds – identification and control
Managing A Commercial Hydroponics Farm – crop scheduling & selection standards
Management – Organisation and Supervision
Marketing – Promotion and Selling
Special Project -Prepare a detailed report of at least 2,000 words, plus photos or diagrams, on a particular aspect of technology which you have studied that significantly assists growing

Aims of Advanced Certificate In Hydroponics VHT013

To provide a sound basis of knowledge in horticultural principles as they apply to the culture, use and management of plants in various production situations
To provide new and existing employees who are unable to undertake on campus training with the opportunity to gain appropriate knowledge in the field of plant culture, use and management
To prepare employees for supervisory and managerial positions in the field of plant culture, use and management
To provide horticultural business owner/operators (or those contemplating ownership) with appropriate training to apply technical skills to the management of the physical, financial and human resources in which they have made, or will make, a substantial investment
To provide an understanding of modern technology and its application to growing plants, with emphasis being placed on hydroponics production of commercially valuable plants

Price: £820
Qualification: Advanced Certificate
Estimated Course Duration: 400 hours
Available Learing Methods: Online, CD (+£5) and Correspondence (+£35)
Enrolment Dates: Our courses are self-paced and you can start at anytime

Home Hydroponics AHT107

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:44:50 +0000

Want to grow healthy food at home by using your own hydopnic system – look no further? This is one of our biggest selling courses, and has been studied by many happy hydroponic food growers.

Course Structure for Home Hydroponics AHT107

Basic Chemistry and Plant Nutrition – atoms, elements, nutrient deficiency symptoms
- Nutrient Solutions – calculating formulae, hydroponic nutrition, preparing nutrient solutions
Types of Systems A – classification of hydroponic systems, ingredients of hydroponic systems, rockwool.
Types of Systems B – what makes up a system, 16 hydroponic ideas, NFT, solution dispensation.
Plant Problems in Hydroponics – pests and diseases, nutritional and environmental problems, water and plant relationships, pH.
How a Plant Grows – growth, nutrient solutions, preparing a solution, mechanisms of nutrient uptake, photosynthesis.
Plant Culture – controlling environmental features, post harvest storage.
Hydroponic Vegetable Production – how to grow vegetables hydroponically.
Hydroponic Cut Flower Production – growing flowers in hydroponics, carnations.
Soil Media vs Nutrient Film – berries, indoor plants, types of media, NFT.
Greenhouse Operation & Management – solar energy applications in horticulture, greenhouse management.
Special Assignment – a report on how to improve your present hydroponic venture, or a report on planning a new hydroponic venture.

Aims of Home Hydroponics AHT107

Describe the nature and scope of hydroponic growing in a hobby situation.
Explain basic plant nutrition chemistry in order to describe the composition and function of hydroponic nutrients.
Differentiate between a variety of fertilisers and hydroponic nutrients, and suggest how these might be used appropriately in the growing of different types of plants in a hydroponic garden.
Compare options for media and systems, in order to choose what is appropriate to a specific home situation.
Design a hydroponic system suited to a particular home situation
Diagnose common ailments in a hydroponic system, make a determine appropriate action.
Describe the course of a hydroponic crop in a home situation from initial planting to harvest, and treatment of the harvested crop.
Differentiate between solid media and nutrient film hydroponic techniques, and the way in which plants may be treated differently in each.
Plan the production of a sequence of vegetable and herb produce for household use from hydroponic production.
Determine appropriate methods for hydroponic cut flower production in a home situation.

Price: £325
Qualification: Certificate
Estimated Course Duration: 100 hours
Available Learing Methods: Online, CD (+£5) and Correspondence (+£35)
Enrolment Dates: Our courses are self-paced and you can start at anytime

Hydroponic Management (Hydroponics II) BHT213. Hyd

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:57:29 +0000

Even more in – depth than Hydroponics I, Hydroponics II takes a closer look at a few plant species in particular. This course will especially suit inclusion in a Design your own Certificate study option.

Course Structure for Hydroponic Management (Hydroponics II) BHT213. Hyd

How the Crop Plant Grows
- Understanding how a plant grows in hydroponics, plant growth factors, manipulating and controlling growth, plant troubleshooting, resources, fruit set management, pollination issues, flower initiation, flower and fruit development etc.
How to Run a Small Evaluation Trial
Harvest and Post Harvest
Tomatoes
Capsicum
Lettuce, Salad Greens and Foliage Herb Crops
Cucurbits (Cucumber and Melons)
Strawberries
Roses
Carnations
Orchids

Aims of Hydroponic Management (Hydroponics II) BHT213. Hyd

Determine and explain factors that influence the growth of a crop.
Design and conduct a trial to evaluate the commercial prospect of growing a chosen hydroponic crop
Determine appropriate harvest and post harvest treatments for different types of hydroponic crops.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial tomato crop in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial capsicum crop in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial Lettuce, Salad Greens and Foliage Herb Crops in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial cucurbit crop in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial strawberry crop in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial cut flower rose crop in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial cut flower carnation crop in any given location.
Determine an appropriate procedure for hydroponic production of a commercial cut flower Orchid crop in any given location.

Hydroponics I BHT224. Hyd

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:09:40 +0000

This course is the next step for those who want to start making a living from Hydroponics. It takes you into production systems and commercial growing, which is perfect for the person who wants to start earning income from this method of horticulture.- Do you want to learn: * how to grow using hydroponics? * how to start a hydroponics business? * how to set up hydroponic systems? * about nutrient use in hydroponic systems?

Course Structure for Hydroponics I BHT224. Hyd

Introduction
- hydroponic systems
- global industry
- comparision to growing in soil
- resources and contacts
How a Plant Grows
- plant structure
- biochemistry
- biochemical cell processess
- mechanisms of nutrient uptake
- photosynthesis; minerals and nutrients
- the role of pH in plant growth
- hydroponic nutrient solutions
- preparing nutrient solutions
Hydroponic Systems
- location
- equipment
- systems
- soilless mixes
- rockwool
- rockwool manufacture
- rockwool properties
- development of propagating blocks
- propagation applications
- recommended practices for propogation
- nutrient film techniques
- alternative layouts for NFT
- methods of solution dispention, closed and open systems; techniques
Nutrition & Nutrition management
- understanding nutrient formulae
- atoms, elements & compounds
- chemical names
- what does a plant need
- calculating formulae
- mixing nutrients
- symptoms of nutrient deficiency
- recommendations
- adjusting the pH
- using electrical conductivity measures
- conductivity
- conductivity and hydroponics
Plant Culture
- flow charting the crop
- controllers
- salinity controllers
- pH controllers
- post harvest storage
- cooling
- drying
- canning/bottling
- controlled atmosphere storage
- relative humidity
- vacuum storage
- freeze drying
- freezing
- pest and diseases in controlled environments
- fungi, common funal problems
- cultural controls
- current legislation
- biological and integrated pest management
- beneficial agents
- economic thresholds
- methods of introduction
- major pests, diseases and disorders of crops identified
- problem solving and identification of illness
- difficult to diagnose problems
- leaf hoppers; thrip; virus; bacteria; caterpillars; harlequin bugs and more.
Hydroponic Vegetable Production
- commerical cultivation of vegetables
- propagation
- temperatures required for seed germination
- optimum monthly temperatures for vegetable growth
- harvesting vegetables
- growing vegetables hydroponically
- vegetable families
- fresh-cut herbs in hydroponic culture
- nutrient solution
- materials and handling
- notes on selected crops
Hydroponic Cut Flower Production
- growing flowers in hydroponics
- carbon dioxide
- automation
- flower varieties
- indoor plants.
Solid Media vs Nutrient Film
- growing media
- NFT system choices
- header tank or direct pumping
- construction materials
- solution delivery
- capillary matting
- channel width and length
- slope
- temperature
- types of media
- vermiculite; sand; perlite; expanded plastics; scoria; expanded clay
- organic media; sawdust; peat moss; coir fibre; composted bark
- indoor plants
- plant directory
- transplanting a pot grown plant into a hydroponic ‘culture pot’
Greenhouse Operation & Management
- growing crops in greenhouses
- solar energy
- greenhouses
- nature of active solar heating systems
- examples of solar greenhouse facilities
- greenhouse management
- what you can grow
- greenhouse and other growing structures
- environmental factors that influence plant growth
- plant needs
- temperature control
- heat loss
- heaters
- light factors
- artificial light
- horticultural management in a greenhouse
- greenhouse benches
- greenhouse cooling
- fog
Special Assignment
plan a hydroponic enterprise

Aims of Hydroponics I BHT224. Hyd

Explain different hydroponic systems
Select appropriate media for specified hydroponic crops
Describe the equipment used in hydroponic systems
Determine the management of nutrition in hydroponic systems
Explain the management of a greenhouse in the production of a hydroponic crop
Plan the establishment of hydroponic facility to satisfy specified criteria, both commercial and cultural
Develop a management plan for a hydroponic facility