GARDENING WITH TROPICAL PLANTS AHT109

Duration (approx) 100 hours

Qualification

Statement of Attainment

Learn About Gardening with Tropical Plants

Learn how to garden using tropical plants - in greenhouses, protected garden spaces, indoors or in warmer climates. An entry level course suitable for anyone new to horticultural study.

Some people would think a tropical plant is a plant that comes from the tropics. Others might consider tropical plants to also include plants from sub-tropical places. Gardeners in some parts of the world would also consider any plant that has a tropical appearance, to be a tropical plant.

This course is concentrating on plants which originate from tropical or sub-tropical climates; but there may be some plants covered which fit a looser definition of ‘tropical’. It aims to provide a sound introduction to gardening with tropical plants, in greenhouses, protected garden spaces, indoors or in warmer climates. It provides a good first step for anyone new to horticultural study, whether amateur gardeners, volunteers or aspiring professionals.

NOTE - This course is based on our CPD "Tropical Plants" course - adapted to be more suitable for entry level students.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

Horticulturists, gardeners, landscapers, passionate amateurs or anyone else wanting to learn more about this subject.
Anyone working with tropical plants, or with tropical or sub tropical environments (including greenhouses or other artificial environments).
Anyone wanting to create a tropical styled garden, even in marginal (not quite tropic) environments.

It's easy to enrol...

Select a learning location: *

Within UK

Outside UK

Select a payment plan: *

Plan A: 1 payment of £490.00

Plan B: 2 payments of £264.00

Select a learning method *

Online

Offline (supplied on USB Stick)

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introducing Tropical Plants

What does the term "Tropical Plant" mean
What tropical plants can you grow
Plant naming - levels of division, genus, species, hybrid, variety, cultivar
Monocotyledon versus dicotyledon
Plan families
Growing tropicals - climatic zones
Tropical and Sub tropical
Temperate
Arid
Climatic variations - seasonal or constant, mountain, savannahs, rainforest, coastal
What causes an area to be warm
Good an bad news about tropical gardens
Common hot garden area
Heat traps
Warming the garden
Greenhouse growing

2. Plant Cultural Practices

Common garden problems
Understanding soils - texture, pH, nutrient availability, improving soi, fetility
Water and plant growth
Water deficiency and excess
Water loss from soil
Improving water retention
Planting
Plant establishment methods
Trickle irrigation
Light requirements
Mulches
Tree guards
Common problems
Plant nutrition - nutrient elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.
Deficiencies and toxicities
Propagation
Cuttings & Seeds - techniques, propagating mixes, equipment
Potting mixes
How to pot up a plant
Taking care of young plants
Pruning
3. Tropical Annuals, Perennials, Bulbous Plants, Bamboos and Lawns
Some Bamboos and Grass like plants
Arundinaria, Bambusa, Pennisetum, Phyllostachys, Saccharum, Cortaderia
Carex, Dianella, Imperata, Liriope, Ophiopogon
Bamboos and selected bamboo species
Bulbs and Herbaceous Perennials
Achimenes,Agapanthus, Clivia, Crinum, Crocosmia, Cyrtanthus, Dichorisandra, Dierama
Amorphophallus, Aristea, Babiana, Boophone, Brunsvigia, Calostemma,Eucharis, Eucomis, Gladiolus, Gloriosa, Haemanthus, Hippeastrum, Hymenocallis,
Hypoxis,Iris, Kniphofia, Lilium, Lycaris, Moraea, Ornithogalum, Sparaxis Phaedranassa, Sprekelia, Tacca, Zephyranthes, Alstroemeria, Amaryllis
Alocasia, Caladium, Calathea, Colocasia, Heliconia, Maranta

4. Ornamental Gingers and Heliconias (and Related Plants Including Alpinia, Hedychium, Zingiber, Musa and Costus)

Zingiberales
Musaceae - bananas
Strelitziaceae - bird of paradise
Lowiaceae
Heliconiaceae -heliconias
Zingiberaceae - gingers
Costaceae - costus
Cannaceae - cannas
Marantaceae - prayer plants
Ginger genera
Heliconias
Parrots beak heliconia
Heliconia species
Cannas
Costus
Strelitzias

5. Palms and Palm Like Plants

Self cleaning or not
Solitary versus clumping
Pinnate or fan leaves
Palm propagation
Review of significant palm genera
Cycads
Yucca
Cordylines

6. Shrubs, Trees and Climbers

Abelia, Abutilon, Acalypha, Adenium, Aphelandra, Ardisia, Barleria, Breynia, Browallia, Brunfelsia, Bouvardia, Calliandra, Callistemon, Camellia, and many others
Albizzia, Allocasuarina, Bauhinia, Bixa, Brachychiton, Caesalpinia, Callicarpa, Cannanga and many others
Conifers - covering 9 genera
Climbers - covering over 30 genera

7. Orchids, Ferns and Bromeliads

Guidelines for orchid culture
Temperature
Light
Ventilation
Watering
Feeding
Potting media
Epiphytes
Cattleya
Epidendrum - crucifix orchid
Cymbidium
Dendrobium
Odontoglossum
Oncidium
Paphiopedilum -slipper orchid
Phalaenopsis
Pleione
Vanda
Orchid pests, diseases, viruses
Bromeliads - culture
Ferns - culture, genera, ferns as indoor plants
Tree ferns
Rock ferns
Terrestrial Filmy ferns
Other ferns
Epiphytic ferns
Fern families
Sun tolerant ferns
Dry soil ferns
Aroids

8. Tropical Herbs, Vegetables and Fruit

Growing methods
Organic
No Dig, Sheet mulching, raised bed
Hydroponics
Permaculture
Container growing
Greenhouse growing
Plant needs - light, temperature
Choosing a good site
Selected vegetables for warm conditions
Cucumber, melon, watermelon, zucchini, sweet potato, Taro, Yam,
Tropical herbs
Galangal
Ginger, Lemon grass
Coffee
Vietnamese mint
Tea
Tropical Fruit Trees
Avocado
Banana
Carambola
Custard Apple
Guava
Fig
Paw Paw
Pepino
Macadamia
Mango
Pineapple
Passionfruit
Peanut
Pecan
Rosella
Other fruits

9. Growing Tropical Plants Outside of the Tropics

Comparing indoor and outdoor growing
Indoor plants that adapt to varied light and temperature
Review of important indoor plant families
Problems with indoor plants
Potting mixes for indoor plants

10. Landscaping with Tropical Plants

Landscape principles - unity, balance, proportion, harmony, contrast, rhythm
Qualities of landscape components - line, form, mass, space, texture, colour, tone
Creating landscape effects
Garden styles - formal, informal, natural
Pre planning information
What do you want from a garden
Cooling effects
Design procedure
Producing drawings to scale

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

Explain the nature and scope of tropical plants.
Discuss cultural characteristics that are often peculiar to tropical plants.
Describe the taxonomy and culture of a range of soft wooded tropical plants including annuals, perennials and bulbs.
Describe the taxonomy and culture of Heliconias and gingers.
Describe the taxonomy and culture of palms and palm-like tropical plants.
Describe the taxonomy and culture of climber, tree and shrub tropical plants.
Describe the taxonomy and culture of orchids, ferns and bromeliads.
Describe the taxonomy and culture of herbs, vegetables and fruits in tropical conditions.
Determine ways to grow tropical plants outside of the tropics.
Explain the use of tropical plants in landscaping.

WHAT SETS ACS APART?

At ACS we provide you with more than just a set of course notes.

Your 'learning package' includes:

Course notes.
Self-assessment quizzes.
Assignment feedback.
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.
Depending upon your course, your studies may involve independent research, interviews, practical exercises, assessments, Problem Based Learning projects, and more.

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