Orchid Culture 100 Hours Certificate Course

There are 8 lessons:

1 Introduction

• Introduction to Orchid Species
• Plant Names and the System for Naming Orchids
• Orchid sub families and tribes
• Plant Name Pronunciation
• Orchid Plant structure.
• Resources
• Terminology

2 Culture

• Overview of Growing Orchids
• Guidelines; temperature, light, humidity, ventilation, watering, feeding, potting mixes
• Growing Cattleyas
• Substrates for Geophytes and Epiphytes
• Understanding Soils; texture, pH, nutrient availability, fertility,
• Mycorrhyza and Orchids
• Propagating and Potting Media
• Nutrients and Nutrition
• Plant Health; orchid pests, orchid diseases, other problems
• Pruning Orchids
• Watering Orchids

3 Propagation

• Sexual vs. asexual propagation
• Asexual Propagating sympodial Orchids
• Asexual Propagation of Monopodial Epiphytes
• Aerial Offset Propagation (Keikis)
• Propagating Orchids by Seed
• Hybrid Seed Production
• Harvesting Orchid Seed
• Flasking Method of Seed Sowing
• Tissue (Meristem) Culture of Orchids
• Propagation Equipment; greenhouses, hotbeds, cold frames, mist systems, furo light boxes, etc

4 Cymbidiums And Dendrobiums

• Cymbidium culture
• Dendrobium Types -soft cane, hard cane, black haired
• Dendrobium Culture
• Dendrobium species

5 Cattleyas, Vandas And Other Commonly Grown Orchids

• Cattleya varieties and culture
• Vandas; main species and culture
• Odontoglossum
• Oncidium -types (climbing and spreading), culture
• Paphiopedalum (Slipper Orchids)
• Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids)
• Pleione (Indian Crocus)
• Crucifix Orchids (Epidendrum)

6 Australian Native Orchids

• Endemic, naturalised and indigenous plantsProblem Based Learning Project, with the following Learning Ourtcomes:
• Determine which species of orchids are most commonly sold in your locality.
• Determine orchid varieties which are being grown in your locality
• Determine any orchid genera suited to growing in a warm climate.

7 Growing Orchids: Commercial and general uses

• Cut Flower Production
• Basket Plants
• Epiphytes
• Review of Orchid Genera for Cut Flower Production
• Environmental Requirements for many significant orchid genera
• Vanilla Bean Culture and Production
• Greenhouse Management for Orchids

8 Harvest and Special Project On One Group Of Orchids

• Crop Scheduling; Writing a schedule for production of an Orchid Crop
• Harvest and Post Harvest of Selected Orchid Cut Flowers; bud opening, transport, storing flowers, etc
• Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium

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.