AIMS
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Discuss the range and scope of hydroponics
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Explain the role of light in plant growth and ways to provide it
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Identify the nutritional requirements of plants and how these can be met hydroponically
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Discuss the effects of temperature and plan growing strategies for different temperature conditions
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Design and conduct a trial to evaluate the commercial prospect of growing a chosen hydroponic crop
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Identify different hydroponics systems and evaluate their qualities
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Investigate the varieties and properties of different growing media
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Identify nutrient requirements for different situations and describe solutions that will provide them
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Describe and explain the used of the equipment used in main hydroponics systems
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Compare and select growing structures for different growing situations
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Explain the role of heat and light control and methods of achieving them
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Determine different hydroponics practices, including careful planning of crop production
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Explain benefits and manipulation of carbon dioxide to promote plant growth
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Describe methods of aggregate culture
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Describe the uses and applications of NFT
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Understand the uses of rockwool in hydroponics
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Explain the properties of soil and their behaviour when irrigated
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Describe other techniques of hydroponic growing, including aeroponics
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Explain various methods of propagating plants
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Identify and describe the components and design of various irrigation systems.
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Describe the range of commercial plants produced hydroponically
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Identify potential pests and diseases, and describe method to control them
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Describe methods of hydroponically producing cut flowers for the cut flower market
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Describe methods of hydroponically producing vegetables for the market
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Discuss a range of cultural practices for hydroponics
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Outline key strategies for managing a business and effective supervision
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Identify marketing and market research strategies relevant to your business
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Use your knowledge of hydroponics and business to carry out
Course structure
This subject has 30 lessons, each requiring about 12‑15 hours of study:
1. Introduction to Hydroponic Technology
2. Plant Growth Requirements – Light , artificial light, light balancers
3. Plant Growth Requirements ‑ Nutrition‑ nutrient requirements, deficiencies, toxicities, pH, conductivity, salinity, growth regulators
4. Plant Growth Requirements ‑ Temperature
5. Hydroponic Growing Systems ‑ basic concepts and designs, site considerations.
6. Growing Media ‑ types, properties, uses.
7. Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions ‑ nutrient formulae, preparing solutions.
8. Hydroponic Equipment ‑ componentry, nutrient delivery, pumping, testing
9. Growing Structures ‑ Design and Construction ‑ types
10. Environmental Control A ‑ Heating, Cooling
11. Environmental Control B ‑ Lighting, Shading.
12. Environmental Control C ‑ Carbon Dioxide Enrichment
13. Plant Culture In Hydroponics A ‑ trellising, pruning, pollination, transplanting.
14. Plant Culture In Hydroponics B
15. Aggregate Culture
16. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Culture
17. Rockwool Culture
18. Other Techniques ‑ wick systems, flood & drain, bag culture, aeroponics, etc.
19. Irrigation ‑ Soil Requirements
20. Irrigation Systems
21. Plant Propagation ‑ seed & cutting propagation & tissue culture
22. Market Gardening ‑ Cut Flowers
23. Market Gardening ‑ Vegetables
24. Other Plants In Hydroponics ‑ herbs, grasses, indoor plants
25. Pest and Diseases - dentifying the problem, pests and diseases in hydroponics
26. Weeds ‑ identification and control
27. Managing A Commercial Hydroponics Farm ‑ crop scheduling & selection standards
28. Management ‑ Organisation and Supervision
29. Marketing ‑ Promotion and Selling
30. 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.
Fee Payment Options
You can pay either
- Full Fees
- As a two part payment plan
- As a four part payment plan
If you pay in full on enrolment, the fees are discounted.
If you pay in 2 parts, the first half of the course is supplied initially; and the second part payment is not made until you have completed the first half (at which time the second half of the course is supplied).
If you pay in 4 parts, the first half is still supplied; you are then billed a second payment (due 2 months later). The third payment becomes due when you commence the second half of the certificate.The fourth part is due 2 months after that.
Duration: 600 hours
