Hydroponic Supply & Consultancy - An Introduction 100 Hours Certificate Course

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1 Hydroponics – Nature and Scope

• Introduction to Hydroponics: What's Needed in Hydroponics?, Advantages of Hydroponics, Basic System Components, Other Equipment, Types of Hydroponics System
• Hydroponics - A Global Industry in the 21st Century
• Hydroponics - Is it as Good as Growing Plants in Soil?
• Directory of Supliers
• International Societies
• Suggested Further Reading

2 Types of Hydroponic Systems

• Introduction
• What Makes up a System?: The Location, The Container or Grow Bed, Watering/Nutrient Application Equipment, Trellising, Root Media
• Two Simple Systems
• Types of Hydroponic Systems: Solution Culture, NFT Systems, Alternative Layouts for NFT, Aggregate or Media Culture, Rockwool Culture
• Historic, Hobby and Lesser Used Systems: Gericke Method, Bengal Method, Wick Method, Sand culture, Bucket and Gravity Feed, Hanging Basket Method
• Methods of Solution Dispensation: Closed System, Open System, Drip Irrigaton Systems, Sub Irrigation and Ebb and Flow Systems
• Techniques: Drip, Slop, Wick, Misting, Dry Fertilisation, Capillary, Injector or Proportioner System, Organic Soil-less Mixes

3 Introduction to Plant Nutrition and Understanding Nutrient Labels

• Inroduction
• Plants: Plant Growth Factors
• How Plants Grow: The Structure of a Plant, Roots, Stems, Leaves, Reproductive Parts
• Mechanisms of Nutrient Uptake
• Plant Nutrients for Growth: Macronutrients (major elements), Micronutrients (minor elements)
• The Role of pH in Plant Growth: What is pH?
• Understanding Hydroponic Nutrient Formulae: Elements, Writing Chemical Names, Nutrient Solutions, What Does a Plant Need?
• Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiency

4 Introduction to Growing Media

• Growing Media
• NFT System Choices: Capillary Matting
• Types of Media (For Aggregate Culture): Vermiculite, Sand, Gravel, Perlite, Pumice and Scoria, Expanded Plastics, Scoria, Expanded Clay, Rockwool
• Organic Media: Sawdust, Peat Moss, Coir Fibre (coconut fibre), Composted Bark, Other Substrates

5 Basic Hydroponic Systems and Components

• Introduction: Choosing the Right Sized System
• Materials for NFT Systems
• NFT Cannel Size and Solution Volume
• NFT Channel Slope
• NFT Delivery and Drainage
• Sizing Tanks and Nutrient Reservoirs
• Materials for Substrate Systems: Concrete, Metal, Timber, Plastic
• Irrigation Design: Pumps and Pipes
• Specific Materials for Use with Aggregate Systems: Sand, Gravel Aggregates
• Materials for Use with Rockwall
• Materials for Use with Sawdust
• Aeroponics

6 Nutrition Management

• Introduction
• Fertiliser Salts for Formulations
• Nutrient Formulations
• Nutrient Formulation Stock Solutions
• Nutrient Formulation: Formulas for different systems, Stage of growth - growth vs. bloom formulas
• Making up Hydroponic Stock Solutions from Fertiliser Salts
• Adjusting Nutrient Solutions Using Electrical Conductivity Measurments: Conductivity, Conductivity and Hydroponics, Adjusting the pH

7 Climate Management Equipment

• Introduction: Greenhouses, Growing Plants in a Greenhouse, Other Growing Structures
• Equipment for Environment Control: Environmental Control, Environmental Factors That Influence Plant Growth
• Plant Needs
• Temperature Control: Heat Loss, Heaters, Principles of Temperature Control
• Light Factors: Photosynthesis
• Artificial Light
• Horticultural Maangement in a Greenhouse: Plants and Water
• Culture and Management of Some Greenhouse Crops: Pollination, Fruit Cracking, Ventilation, Types of Fans, Optimum Growth Requirements for Certain Plants, Greenhouse Benches, Greenhouse Cooling, Fog, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Plants that respond to CO2, Automation

8 Common Pests and Diseases

• Introduction
• Pest & Disease Control Measures: Good Hygiene, Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Common Pest & Diseases
• Pests: Aphids, Thrips, Whitefly, Caterpillars, Leaf Miners, Mites, Mealy Bugs, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, Slugs and Snails, Flies, Other Pests
• Common Diseases: Botrytis – Grey Mould, Mildew Diseases, Rusts, Rots, Bacterial Diseases, Viruses, Nematodes

9 Deficiencies, Toxicity and pH Control

• Nutrient Deficiencies & Toxicities: Nutrient Mobility and Deficiencies, Other Modes of Detection, Nutrient Toxicities
• Controllers: Salinity Controllers
• Nutrients & pH: pH Controllers

10 Troubleshooting Systems

• Introduction
• EF (CF) & Nutrient Solution Levels: EC and TDS meters
• Maintaining Nutrient Levels
• Nutrient Solution Management
• Nutrient Temperatures
• Organic Hydroponic Nutrient Solution Problems
• Water in Recirculating Systems
• Water in Run-to-Waste Systems
• Water Treatments

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.

The quality of this course is second to none, from the in-depth learning you will get to the expert individual mentoring you will receive throughout your studies. The mentors for this course are:

Susan Stephenson

BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983.

City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984)

Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

In 2010, Susan authored a complete module for a Foundation degree (FDSC) in Arboriculture.

Susan holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

Steven Whitaker

Diploma in Garden Design (Distinction) – The Blackford Centre, Gold Certificate of Achievement in Horticulture, Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture, Level 1 NOCN Introduction to Gardening, – Joseph Priestly College, BTEC Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Operations (Merit), Trainer Skills 1, & 2, Group trainer, Interview and Selection Skills – Kirby College of Further Education

Steven has a wealth of Horticultural knowledge, having ran his own Design and Build service, Landscaping company, and been a Head Gardener. His awards include five Gold awards at Leeds in Bloom, two Gold awards at Yorkshire in Bloom and The Yorkshire Rose Award for Permanent Landscaping. Steven has worked with TV’s Phil Spencer as his garden advisor on the Channel 4 TV Programme, “Secret Agent”.

He is qualified to Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture and has a Diploma in Garden Design which he passed with Distinction. Steven’s Tutor and Mentor was the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Award-winning Garden Designer, Tracy Foster. He also works for a major Horticultural Commercial Grower in the field of Propagation and Craft Gardening. Steven lives in Leeds where he is a Freelance Garden Designer and Garden Advice Consultant.