Special Offer - Study hydroponics with the experts! A solid foundation course available now at a specially reduced price!
WE ARE THE EXPERTS!
We have been teaching and collecting information on hydroponics since the early 1970's.
Our principal John Mason, is author of one of the world's best selling hydroponic books (Commercial Hydroponics has sold over 50,000 copies and is in it's 3rd edition since 1990).
Our tutor, Dr Lyn Morgan, is an internationally renowned expert on hydroponics, and a consultant who has worked across the world on commercial installations.
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.
With our Hydroponics I course, you will learn:
- How to grow using hydroponics.
- How to set up hydroponic systems.
- 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 AND CONTENT
Course Duration: 100 hours
Start Date: Start studying Hydroponics I at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.
Lessons: The course comprises 10 lessons as detailed, below.
1. Introduction
Including
- Hydroponic systems.
- The global industry.
- Comparison to growing in soil.
- Resources and contacts.
2. How a Plant Grows
Including
- Plant structure.
- Biochemistry.
- Biochemical cell processes.
- 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 dispersion.
- 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 for nutrient deficiency.
- Adjusting the pH.
- Using electrical conductivity measures.
- 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 and other growing structures.
- Nature of active solar heating systems; examples of solar greenhouse facilities.
- Greenhouse management.
- What you can grow.
- 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
- 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 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 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 metres; Two types of EC metres; 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.
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
You can start the course at any time.
It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies. Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.
Each lesson includes set tasks, and is completed with an assignment which the student submits to their course tutor. The tutor will mark the assignment and return this to the student with comments and suggestions for further reading.
SPECIAL OFFER COURSES FROM WITH ACS
Same quality courses - Same expert tuition - Same unlimited support.
Your 'learning package' includes:
- You can interact one on one with a professional tutor with decades of experience - just email, phone or log on to chat to connect with them.
Enrolling is easy - just go to the enrolment box at the top right-hand side of this page.
Any questions?
Our tutors are more than happy to help and advise you with any questions regarding the course. Please contact us if you have any questions at all.
Learn about hydroponics - learn how to set up and use hydroponic systems and much more. Study by distance learning - fit your studies around your work. Enrol now and save on the regular course price. Why delay? Get started today.
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