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Home Hydroponics

Home Hydroponics 100 Hours Certificate Course

Course Code:

AHT107 CLD

Level:

Start:

Anytime

Finish:

Anytime

Study From:

Anywhere

Tutor Support:

Unlimited Access

Learn About Home Hydroponics

Home Hydroponics course online. Want to grow healthy food at home by using your own hydroponic system – look no further?

If you have little or no experience in hydroponics this course is an excellent introduction into getting started in this innovative horticulture sector.

Understand the principles of soilless growing. These include how the temperature, water, oxygen, nutrients, etc. affect the root zone.

This course provides a solid foundation for anyone wanting to use a hydroponic method for HOME growing.

Please note: this course is NOT intended for commercial growing.

Learning the theory behind hydroponic culture and combining it with practical experience will enable you to be on your way to establishing your own basic home hydroponic system successfully.

Ideal course for the home gardener who is passionate about this technology and who may have a small space.
Understand how to apply the theory of hydroponics where gardening space is limited.
You’ll be able to grow a wide variety of plants, vegetables, and berries to cut flowers and herbs.
You work at your own pace with unlimited access to your tutor.

Lessons

Lesson Structure: Home Hydroponics AHT107

There are 10 lessons:

Introduction to Hydroponics & Plant Growth
- Scope and Nature of Hydroponics and terminology (Water Culture, Sand and Gravel Culture, Rockwool, Vermiculaponics, Hydroculture, etc)
- How it Works
- A Simple Manual System to Create
- History of Hydroponics
- Understanding How Plants Grow
- Understanding the Water Requirements and Management
- Photosynthesis
Basic Chemistry, Nutrition & Nutrient Solutions
- Significance of understanding chemistry for hydroponics
- Understanding Basic Chemistry
- Atoms and Compounds
- The important Plant Nutrients
- Writing Chemical Names
- What concentrations of different nutrients does a plant need?
- Nutrient solutions
- Preparing Nutrient Solutions
- Mechanisms of Nutrient Uptake
More on Nutrient Solutions
- Understanding differences between Soil Culture and Soil less Culture
- The nitrogen Cycle
- Mycorrhyzae
- Summary of fertilizers used in Hydroponic Nutrients
- Calculating Chemical Formulae
- Hydroponic Nutrition
Media and Types of Systems
- Classification of Hydroponic Systems
- What Makes up a System; system variables; Solution Dispensation, Closed or open, Drip, slop, capillary feed, wicks, misting, dry fertilizing etc, Automatic or Manual Operation, Type of Medium, Construction Materials, Rate & Frequency of Irrigation & Feeding, Air Injection (In water culture), Plant Support, Environment controls.
- Choosing a System
- Types of Media
- Rockwool
- Vermiculite
- Sand
- Leca, (Expanded Clay)
- The Bentley System
Designing a System
- Nutrient Film Technique
- Alternative NFT Layouts
- Solution Dispensation Options (closed or open system, drip, slop, flood, capillary, dry, mist, etc)
- 16 Other System Options
Problems in Hydroponics
- Pest and Disease
- Nutrition
- Environmental
- Diagnosis of Nutritional Problems
- Controlling Acidity
Plant Culture
- Flow Charting a Crop
- Greenhouse Management
- Controllers (Salinity, pH)
- Adjusting Solutions using an Electro Conductivity Meter
Solid Media vs Water Culture
- Indoor Plants
- Berries
- Gravel Culture compared with NFT
Growing Vegetables in Hydroponics
- Fresh Cut Herbs in Hydroponics
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Review of all other common vegetables that are suited to hydroponics
Growing Cut Flowers in Hydroponics
- Overview
- Roses
- Chrysanthemums
- Carnations
- Review of many other common flowers that are suited to hydroponics

Learning Goals

Learning Goals: Home Hydroponics AHT107

Describe the nature and scope of hydroponic growing in a hobby situation.
Explain basic plant nutrition chemistry in order to describe the composition and function of hydroponic nutrients.
Differentiate between a variety of fertilisers and hydroponic nutrients, and suggest how these might be used appropriately in the growing of different types of plants in a hydroponic garden.
Compare options for media and systems, in order to choose what is appropriate to a specific home situation.
Design a hydroponic system suited to a particular home situation
Diagnose common ailments in a hydroponic system, make a determine appropriate action.
Describe the course of a hydroponic crop in a home situation from initial planting to harvest, and treatment of the harvested crop.
Differentiate between solid media and nutrient film hydroponic techniques, and the way in which plants may be treated differently in each.
Plan the production of a sequence of vegetable and herb produce for household use from hydroponic production.
Determine appropriate methods for hydroponic cut flower production in a home situation.

Practical (Set Tasks)

Examinations

Program Summary

More Information

Your tutor for this course is:

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.

Assessment

Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.

If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.

In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.

Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.

How our courses work

Choose Your Learning Method
You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline.
Tutor Allocation
Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited.
Feedback and Assignments
Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.

Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit.
Set Tasks and Self-Tests
Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests.
Exams
Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead.
Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this.
Design Your Own Qualification
ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.

Career Options

What's Included

What your tuition fees include

All Course Material via Online, USB or Correspondence
Assignments Marked
Professional Tutor Feedback
Set Tasks - Practical Exercises to help you develop skills
Self-Tests – multiple choice questions at the end of lessons in most modules
Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
All ADL Exam or Project fees (exception RHS exams)
Qualification Certificate
Official Transcript with assignment grades
Student Manual

Plus FREE

There are no hidden extras

Career Opportunities

FAQ - RHS Theory Qualifications

GENERAL

If you require further details about any of the RHS industry recognised qualifications please, call one of our friendly RHS Course Advisors on +44 (0)1227 789 649 or email: [email protected]

Q: When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL?
A: Anytime, Anywhere. There are no enrolment deadlines.

Q: I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas?
A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.

Q: Is There a Time Limit for Completing an RHS Qualification?
A: At present there are no time limits. However, RHS is contemplating in the future, the introduction of course time-lines.

Q: Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)?
A: The RHS Theory courses do not require prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. You just need passion for all things horticulture.

Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications.
A: We highly recommend that you start with Level 2 – Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance.

Q: What Does ADL Course Material Include?
A: Includes Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course lessons.

RHS EXAMS

Q: When Do Exams Take Place?
A: Exams are held on fixed dates in February and June of each year. You should register as a candidate at least 3 months before these dates, so please do not leave exam registration to the last minute

Q: Where Do I Take My Exams?
A: UK: You take the exams at the RHS Wisley Centre, located between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey or at other authorised RHS centres around the UK.
Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.

Q: Exam Pass Marks?
A: Module – pass 50%. Commendation 70%.

Qualification: 50% pass for all modules.
Commendation awarded for all modules.
Each question carries a value of 10 marks.

Q: I’m Not Happy With My Exam Results?
A: You have the opportunity to re-sit your exam at the next opportunity.

There are no restrictions on the number of re-sits you can take. The highest mark you achieve will remain.,

DESIGN YOUR OWN COURSE

Click Here

Call us: +44 (0)1227 789 649 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Home Hydroponics