Hydroponics Supply and Consultancy Course Online
| Full Fee | $595.00 incl GST - Best Value! |
| Payment Plan | $800.00 incl GST |
Exam Optional
Qualification Certificate
Tutor Support Yes unlimited by email
Develop a foundation of skills and knowledge, enabling you to confidently advise customers buying hydroponic supplies; and provide support through developing guidelines for the successful culture of plants.
This is an ideal course for those involved with the supply of equipment and services:
- Hydroponic Shop Managers and Staff.
- Hydroponic Equipment and Materials Manufacturers and Suppliers.
- Others working with hydroponic growers who need a better knowledge of hydroponics; such as irrigation suppliers, greenhouse suppliers, environmental equipment suppliers.
You will learn:
- Understand the nature and scope of hydroponics and hydroponic systems.
- Compare a range of hydroponics systems.
- Understand plant nutrition requirements and interpret nutrient solution labels.
- Compare different types of growing media for use in different systems.
- Describe the components needed for different types of systems.
- Explain the basic management of nutrient solutions in a hydroponic system.
- Become familiar with methods of climate control and equipment required.
- Develop awareness of common pest and disease problems in hydroponics and products to control them.
- Describe means of controlling plant deficiencies, toxicities and system pH levels.
- Review methods for controlling problems to maintain system and plant health.
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Detailed Course Outline
This course is made up of a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online. Click below to read about each of the lessons and what you will learn.
There are 10 lessons in this course:
Hydroponics – Nature and Scope
- What is hydroponics?
- Providing for support, water, air and nutrients
- Advantages over other horticultural techniques
- System components & Other Equipments
- System types – Wick, Water Culture, Ebb and Flow (or flood and drain system), Drip (with either a recovery or non-recovery process), NFT (Nutrient Film Technique), Aeroponics
- Resources
Types of Hydroponic Systems
- System location.
- Containers or beds.
- Watering/nutrient application equipment.
- Trellising.
- Root media.
- Two simple systems.
- Types of systems – solution culture, aggregate culture.
- NFT – alternative layouts.
- Pond, raft, float, raceway systems.
- Aeroponics.
- Aggregate coir system.
- Rockwool culture.
- Gericke method.
- Bengal system.
- Sand culture.
- Bucket and gravity feed.
- Hanging baskets.
- Solution dispensation methods.
- Sub irrigation.
- Ebb and flow systems.
- Techniques -drip, slop, misting, wick, injector, etc.
- Soil-less organic mixes.
Introduction to Plant Nutrition and Understanding Nutrient Labels
- Plant growth factors.
- How plants grow.
- Plant structure -roots, stems, leaves, reproductive parts.
- Mechanisms for taking up nutrients.
- Plant nutrients for growth.
- Macronutrients.
- Micronutrients.
- Role of pH – acidity and alkalinity.
- Extreme pH effects on plants.
- Understanding nutrient formulae.
- Writing chemical names correctly.
- Nutrient solutions.
- Mixing nutrients.
- Nutrient deficiency symptoms.
- Summary of fertilizers used in hydroponic nutrient mixes
Introduction to Growing Media
- NFT system choices.
- Capillary matting.
- Types of media.
- Water-holding capacity.
- Air holding capacity.
- Drainage (this is different to air holding capacity).
- Nutrient holding capacity.
- Vermiculite.
- Sand and gravel.
- Perlite.
- Pumice and scoria.
- Expanded plastics.
- Expanded clay.
- Rockwool.
- Sawdust.
- Peat moss.
- Coir.
- Composted bark
Basic Hydroponic Systems and Components
- Choosing an appropriate sized system.
- Materials for NFT systems.
- NFT channel size and solution volume.
- NFT channel slope.
- NFT delivery and drainage.
- Size of tanks and nutrient reservoirs.
- Materials for substrate systems – concrete, metal, timber, plastic.
- Irrigation design.
- Pumps and pipes.
- Aggregate materials – sand, gravel.
- Materials to use with rockwool.
- Materials to use with sawdust.
- Aeroponics.
Nutrition Management
- Fertiliser salts for formulations.
- Nutrient formulations.
- Nutrient formulation stock solutions.
- Formulas for different systems.
- Growth versus bloom formulas.
- Making up stock solutions from nutrient salts.
- Adjusting solutions using electrical conductivity measurements.
- EC on hydroponics.
- pH adjustment
Climate Management Equipment
- Learn about hydroponic suppliesGreenhouses.
- Growing plants in a greenhouse.
- Other growing structures.
- Environmental control equipment.
- Environmental factors that influence plant growth.
- Plant needs – optimum, tolerated, not tolerated.
- Temperature control methods.
- Understanding heat loss.
- Types of localized heaters.
- Centralized heating systems.
- Temperature control principles.
- Light factors.
- Short day length plants.
- Long day length plants.
- Day length neutral plants.
- Artificial light.
- Horticultural management in a greenhouse.
- Pollination.
- Ventilation.
- Carbon dioxide enrichment.
- Greenhouse Cooling.
- Fans.
- Fog
Common Pests and Diseases
- Hygiene.
- IPM.
- Common Pests in hydroponics.
- Common diseases in hydroponics.
- Bacterial diseases in hydroponics.
- Viruses in hydroponics.
- Nematodes in hydroponics
Deficiencies, Toxicity and pH Control
- Nutrient mobility and deficiencies.
- Other modes of detection.
- Nutrient toxicities.
- Salinity controllers.
- Nutrients and pH.
- pH controllers
Troubleshooting Systems
- EC (CF) and nutrient solution levels.
- EC and TDS meters.
- Maintaining nutrient levels.
- Nutrient solution management.
- Nutrient temperatures.
- Organic hydroponic nutrient solution problems.
- Water reticulating systems.
- Water in run to waste systems.
- Water treatments
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It's okay if you don't want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
Course Tutor(s)
Barbara Tremain BSc. (Hons) Horticulture, RHS Adv. Cert,. RHS General, City & Guilds Garden Design, Permaculture Level 3 (UK)
Barbara brings to Careerline a wide range of horticultural experience and knowledge Barbara has a keen interest in herbalism, edible wild plants and has lead into studies of many plant based complementary medicinal systems, qualification as a Bach Flower remedy practitioner and studying Ethnobotany. Barbara has practiced and studied horticulture as well as combining it with her love of travel in many countries including the UK, US and Australia and has also studied Permaculture and runs her own horticulture business. Within the past two years she have also worked for Groundwork SW with 18-24 year old unemployed people, this work and the mentoring scheme has allowed me to teach informally. It has been a delight to nurture the interests of keen learners in horticulture and garden design. Meanwhile the business has covered a variety of Garden Design projects, from wildflower gardens to seaside situations, and has included some work with Chelsea Gold multi-winner John Moreland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! We offer great payment plans, however full payment up front is the cheapest. You can choose the best payment plan for you from the course page, or call us on 07 55368782 to talk to one of our course consultants for a custom plan.
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
We have many international students. Careerline's range of courses are suitable for any one, anywhere in the world.
Do I get a discount if I enroll in a second course?
Yes. You may claim a 5% fee discount when you enroll in a second course, and a further 10% off a three-course package.
Do I have to sit an Exam?
No. If you are enrolled in a Certificate course (100hrs), the exam is optional. You will be issued with a certificate which proves that you are competent in all units, if you choose not to sit the exam.
Do you have set start dates?
There are no set start dates, you may start at any time. Our courses are all self-paced. As our home page says, ‘Courses for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. ‘Anytime’ includes the start time of your choice. However, we do encourage our students to submit assignments on a regular basis. Wherever possible, we suggest developing a study routine.