Study at Home Hydroponics Course
"A detailed introduction to hydroponics"" Having completed the Advanced Hydroponics Course, I have since gone on to open my own successful hydroponics retail shop, now in it's third year of trading"
- Ted
" I have never found the staff at any other learning institution as supportive as the staff at ACS. This gives one a lot of peace of mind and confidence to go on - at every squeak from my side, you guys have always been there, immediately to sort me out. The feedback on my lessons has always been really good and meaningful and an important source of my learning. Thanks!..."
- Student with ACS
Duration 100 hours
Do you want to learn:
- how to grow using hydroponics?
- how to set up hydroponic systems?
- about nutrient use in hydroponic systems?
This is the starting point for anyone serious hydroponic grower who is relatively new to the discipline. This course provides an opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the most experienced hydroponic experts available. Our principal John Mason, is author of Commercial Hydroponics (now in its 8th printing) and tutors include Dr Lyn Morgan, author and commercial hydroponic consultant.
Hydroponic Production is in many respects far more environmentally friendly, and sustainable than many other ways of growing horticultural crops. It usually involves using closed systems (so waste products cannot escape, uncontrolled, into the environment); and even though it can be relatively costly to set up, it can produce a lot more per square metre than growing in soil (hence it doesn't have such a large footprint on the environment).
- Hydroponic production can adapt to climate change if need be
- Hydroponic production is less likely to contribute to climate change than some other forms of horticulture
If you are serious about hydroponics; whether as a business, or a step toward self sufficiency; this course can be an excellent starting point.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are ten lessons as follows:
1. Introduction
Including: hydroponic systems; global industry; comparision to growing in soil; resources and contacts.
2. How a Plant Grows
Including: 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.
3. Hydroponic Systems
Including: location; equipment; systems; soilless mixes; rockwool; rockwool manufacture; rockwool properties; development of propagating blocks; propagation applications; recommended practices for propagation; nutrient film techniques; alternative layouts for NFT; methods of solution dispention, closed and open systems; techniques.
4. Nutrition & Nutrition management
Including: 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.
5. Plant Culture
Including: 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 fungal 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.
6. Hydroponic Vegetable Production
Including: commercial 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.
7. Hydroponic Cut Flower Production
Including: growing flowers in hydroponics; carbon dioxide; automation; flower varieties; indoor plants.
8. Solid Media vs Nutrient Film
Including: 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'.
9. Greenhouse Operation & Management
Including: 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.
10. Special Assignment
Including: plan a hydroponic enterprise.
COURSE AIMS
On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:
* 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.
WHAT IS HYDROPONICS
Hydroponics is the art of growing plants without soil. It is the perfect way to avoid heavy, back breaking work, such as digging. Pests, diseases and weeds are generally much easier to control. Over the past few decades hydroponics has proven an ideal method for both keen amateur gardeners and commercial growers looking for an alternative way of producing plants.
MORE INFORMATION
The school has some great resources to support you as you study this and other hydroponic courses.
- Substantial resources including an electronic version of our principles book "Commercial Hydroponics" is available for our students to access online through our online library.
- A range of hydroponic and other horticultural videos are available for students to borrow through our video loan library
- Our hydroponic tutorial staff are outstanding, including world renowned experts in this industry. John Mason, the principal has taught hydroponics since the early 1970's, and is author of one of the worlds best selling hydroponic books. Dr Lyn Morgan is a world renowned hydroponic consultant, based in New Zealand, who has worked on commercial farms from the middle east to the Americas.
WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE
Here are just some of the things you may be doing:
Compare differences between open and closed hydroponic systems.
Differentiate between different types of hydroponic systems, including: *NFT *Aeroponics *Aggregate culture *Rockwool *Manual systems *Automatic systems.
Compare the different characteristics, including: *Establishment costs *Operational costs *Cultural practices *Appropriate plant varieties for the system, of three different hydroponic systems inspected by you.
Compile a resource file of forty sources of information regarding hydroponics, including: *Publications *Suppliers of seed and/or planting stock *Industry associations *Hydroponic equipment *Hydroponic nutrients.
Collect samples of different types of hydroponic media available in a specified locality.
Compare the characteristics, including: *Physical properties *Chemical properties *Unit cost, of different hydroponic media.
Select appropriate media to suit the cultural requirements of six specified types of plants.
Develop guidelines for growing a specified crop in three different types of media.
List equipment commonly used in hydroponic crop production.
Compare alternative equipment used in hydroponic systems, including: *Two types of pH meters *Two types of EC meters *Three types of NFT channel *Two types of nutrient tanks *Two types of pumps *Two types of controllers.
Develop a procedure for the operation of equipment used to control the characteristics of hydroponic nutrient solutions.
Develop a procedure for the operation of equipment used to control the supply of hydroponic nutrient solutions.
Develop a routine maintenance program for hydroponic equipment, in a specified system.
Compare the differences between plant nutrient requirements in hydroponics with that of soil culture.
Compare the formulations of three commercially available hydroponic nutrient mixes.
Explain the reasons for keeping some components of concentrated nutrient solutions separated until ready for dispensing in a diluted form.
Determine the unique aspects of nutrient requirements, for six different specified plants.
Determine appropriate nutrient solutions to use, at different growth stages, for four different plants.
Describe factors that can cause different responses to the same nutrient, in the same plant.
Explain the significance of plant tissue analysis in determining a nutrient program.
Develop guidelines for the management of a nutrient solution in a specified hydroponic system.
Compare different greenhouses with respect to: *Temperature control *Set up cost *Ongoing costs *Humidity control *Light transmission *Suitability for different crops
Explain the operation of different environmental control equipment in a greenhouse, including: *Heating *Cooling *Ventilation *Light control.
Develop criteria for selecting greenhouse crops for a specified hydroponic system in your locality.
Evaluate the viability of growing six specified crops hydroponically in a greenhouse, including: *A vegetable *A fruit *A cut flower *A herb.
Determine criteria for selecting an appropriate hydroponic system for a specified crop and site.
Determine the components required to build two different specified hydroponic systems.
Design a hydroponic system for a specified situation.
Estimate the cost of constructing a specified hydroponic system.
Develop a work schedule for the installation of a specified hydroponic system.
Develop guidelines for starting up a new, specified hydroponic system.
Determine crops which have commercial potential in hydroponics for three different specified localities.
Prepare hydroponic production flow charts for different crops/
Produce a log book extract recording the growing of three different types of crops, in an hydroponic system
Analyse the unit cost of production for the crops grown.
Determine factors affecting the profitability of different crops grown in hydroponic systems
Develop marketing strategies for specified hydroponic crops.
Written and taught by leading international experts including John Mason, author of Commercial Hydroponics (now in it's 8th printing) and Dr Lyn Morgan, author and commercial hydroponic consultant.
New to ebooks and re-released in its 3rd edition, John Mason's Commercial Hydroponics will teach you more about hydroponics than any other book.
Read more here.
http://www.acsebook.com/products/2232-commercial-hydroponics-third-edition.aspx
