Lesson Structure: L4 Certificate for Plant Growth in Horticulture:

There are 10 lessons:

1. Classification of Plants and the Plant Naming System
   • Botanical and Horticultural Nomenclature: common names, scientific names
   • The Binomial System
   • Botanical Classification levels
   • Horticultural Groups
   • Plant Families and their distinguishing characteristics
   • Species, Hybrids, Varieties, Cultivars
   • Review of significant Dicotyledon and Monocotyledon families
   • Plant Lifecycles
   • Stages in Plant Development
   • Plant Collection Reviews
      
2. The Internal Structure of Higher Plants
   • Plant Cell Structure
   • Cell Components
   • Cell Division; mitosis and meiosis
   • Types of Plant Cells; Parenchyma, Collechyma,Sclerenchyma, Xylem, Phloem, Epidermal
   • Internal Structure of Dicotyledon Stems: Epidermis, endodermis, cortex,
   • vascular bundles, etc
   • Structure of Monocotyledon Stems
   • External Differences between Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
   • Anatomica features of leaves and stems in cross section
   • Plant Tissues
   • Primary and Secondary Growth
   • Terminology
   • Botanical Keys and their use
      
3. The External Structure of Higher Plants, Roots, Leaves, Stems and Buds                                                                                                                                                                                                              
   • Stems; the framework, functions of the stem
   • Stem modifications
   • Leaves
   • Functions of leaves
   • Respiration, transpiration and photosynthesis
   • Leaf shapes
   • Compound leaves
   • Leaf modifications
   • Buds: adventitious, apical, flower, vegetative
   • Root Structure
   • Types of Root Systems
   • Root Modifications
   • Morphological Changes due to Maturation
      
4. Identification and Function of the Reproductive Parts of the Plant 
   • Parts of a flower: Sepals, Petals Staemens, Carpel
   • The Inflorescence
   • Flower Structure
   • Types of Fruits
   • Fruit and Seed Terminology
   • Modification of Fruits -dry fruits, succulent fruits, composite fruits, false fruits
   • Key to Main Fruit Types
      
5. Pollination and Fertilisation in Higher Plants
   • Pollination Processes
   • Self Pollination, Cross pollination
   • Pollination Mechanisms
   • Compatibility
   • Fertilisation, Embryo and Seed Formation
   • Post Fertilisation
   • F1 Hybrids
   • Genotype versus Phenotype
   • Male Sterility
   • Parthenocarpy
   • Hybrid Seed Production
   • Terminology
   • Seed and Fruit Development
   • Seed Structure
   • Seed Germination
   • Fruit Set, Growth and Development
      
6. The Fundamental Physiological Processes in Plants, Plant Growth and Developmental Relationships
   • Importance of Photosynthesis
   • The Light Reactions
   • The Dark Reactions
   • Chloplasts in Photosynthesis
   • C3, C4 and CAM Plants
   • Rate of Photosynthesis
   • Chemistry of Respiration
   • Rate of Respiration
   • Stages of Respiration
   • Aerobic versus Anaerobic Respiration
   • Transpiration and Translocation of Water
   • Osmosis
   • Diffusion
   • Mechanisms of Nutrient Uptake
   • How Water, ions and metabolites move through a plant
   • Tropisms; Phototropism, Geotropism, Thigmotropism, etc
   • Chemical Growth Modification; Auxins, Gibberellins, AA, Ethylene, Cytokinin, etc
   • Effects of Chemical hormones
   • Light factors in plant growth
   • Artificial Light
      
7. Soils and the Root Environment
   • Soil Profile
   • Importance of Soil
   • Soil Composition
   • Texture
   • Structure and soil types
   • Soil Horizons (A, B, C and R)
   • Naming the Soil
   • Improving Soil Structure
   • Soil Sampling
   • Improving Fertility
   • Organic Matter
   • Benefits of adding Organic Matter
   • Soil Water and it's Value to Plants
   • Water Loss from Soils
   • Improving Water Retention
   • Hygroscopic Water, Gravitational Water, Field Capacity and other terminology   
   • Saturation
   • Rate of Watering
   • Plant Health and Drainage
   • Symptoms of Poor Drainage Improving surface and sub surface Drainage
   • Tensiometer
   • Soil pH
   • Nutrient Availability and pH
   • Calcifuges and Calcicoles
   • Adding Lime
   • Adding Acidic Materials to Lower pH
   • Conservation Issues: Peat
   • Terminology
      
8. Plant Nutrition
   • Soil Life: Earthworms, Mycorrhyzae, Nitrogen Fixing
   • Nitrogen Cycle; Ammonification,Nitrification, Detritrification, Nitrogen Loss
   • Forms of Nitrogen
   • The Nitrogen Cycle
   • The Carbon Cycle
   • The Nutrient Elements
   • The Major Elements
   • The Minor Elements (Trace Elements)
   • Total Salts
   • Diagnosis of Nutrient Problems
   • Fertilisers
   • Types of Fertilisers
   • Applying Fertilisers
   • Natural Fertilisers
   • Manures, Rock Dusts, Seaweed
   • Composting Methods: sheet composting, Indore method, 14 day method, compost bins, trench composting, etc
   • Green Manures
   • Mulch and Mulching
   • Cultivation Techniues
   • Cultivation Tools and Equipment
   • Improving Water Infiltration into Soil
   • Non Dig Growing Method
   • Soil Problems
   • Soil Rehabilitation
   • Properties of Growing Media
   • Potting Media: Components and mixes
   • Choosing Growing Media
   • Air Filled Porosity
   • Hydroponics defined
      
9. Plant Health Problems
   • Factors Affecting Plant Health and Growth
   • Types of Problems
   • Conducting an Inspection
   • Determining and Recommending Treatments
   • Responding to Difficult to Diagnose Problems
   • Plant Pests -major groups
   • Pest Treatments - Sanitation, Physical control methods, Resistant varieties, Biological controls, Chemical controls, Soil drenches
   • Insect Biology; structure, lifecycles, etc
   • Review of Major Pests and their Treatments
   • Review of Major Diseases and their Treatments
   • Review of Environmental Problems and their Control
   • Types of Weeds
   • Identifying Weeds
   • Weed Control Methods; suffocation, burning, cultivation, grazing, mowing, solarisation, chemicals, etc
     
      
10. Plant Propagation Principles and Practice
    • Sexual Propagation
    • When to Sow Seed
    • Why Some Seeds Don't Germinate
    • Dormancy Factors in Seed -Hard Seed Coat, Chemical Inhibitors, Undeveloped Embryos etc
    • Difficult to Germinate Seeds
    • Treatments to Break Seed Dormancy
    • Seed Sources
    • Seed Saving; Seed Storage
    • Sowing Seed Indoors
    • Seed Sowing: Germination, Temperature Control Hygeine
    • Seed Propagating Media
    • Sowing Seed Outside
    • Handling and caring for Seedlings
    • Potting Up
    • Propagation after care
    • Propagation from Cuttings
    • Succeeding with Cuttings
    • Types of Cuttings
    • Softwood, Semi Hardwood and Hard wood Cuttings
    • Variations on Cuttings: nodal, heel, tip, etc
    • Leaf Cuttings, Leaf bud cuttings, Root Cuttings, Bulb Cuttings, etc
    • Stock Plants for Cuttings
    • Layering
    • Propagation from Specialised Stems and Roots; Offsets, Division, etc
    • Propagating Tools: Secateurs, How to Cut, Knives
    • Grafting
    • Propagating Plants in a Greenhouse
    • Cold Frames
    • Heated Propagators

Learning Goals:  L4 Certificate for Plant Growth in Horticulture:

• Describe the classification of higher plants
• Describe the internal structure of higher plants
• Describe the structure and functions of roots, leaves, stems and buds.
• Describe the functions of the reproductive parts of the plant
• Describe the process of pollination and fertilisation in higher plants.
• Describe the processes photosynthesis, respiration, the movement of water in plants and plant growth and development.
• Develop an understanding of the constituents, properties and management of soils and growing media.
• Describe the nutrient elements and plant nutrition in relation to soil and growing media.
• Describe the uses of organic matter and the importance of living organisms in the soil
• Develop an understanding of pest, diseases and weeds that affect horticultural plants, and the cultural, biological, chemical and integrated systems used to control those problems.Develop an understanding of the principles and main practices of plant propagation in horticulture

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Due to our years of experience and wide range of online courses, here are a list of our FAQs and Answers asked by Students.

General

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, you are not required to purchase expensive text books for any of our courses, since each module has been written by highly qualified tutors and writers, and our courses are updated on a regular basis, adding new information, methods and knowledge. You are supplied with all “essential” references. Extra books are always useful though, especially for special projects. Tutors will advise you what to buy if you decide you would like to have extra reading material, but it is not essential. Check out our eBookstore if you’re looking for a starting point.

Q. What sets the Academy apart from other institutions?
A.  A unique feature of our courses is that we combine knowledge of the subject matter with practical tasks (set tasks, found at the end of each lesson).  So you get to do practical components in each lesson. The benefits of this approach are immense: – your skills and knowledge are developed to a much higher level not normally found at other distance learning institutions.

Q. How do the practical exercises (set tasks) work?
A. The practical component of each lesson can be in the form of : Field Research, Networking and Analysis, Conducting Surveys, Growing, Collecting, Photographing and Processes.

Q. If I do a shorter course first, can I get credits towards a certificate or diploma later?
A. Yes. We will assess previous studies to give you appropriate credits.

Q. Can I pay by instalments?
A. Yes, you can view all available payment options here.

Q. Do I get a discount if two of us enrol together?
A. Yes. You may claim a 5% discount on fees if you both enrol in courses at the same time.

Q. Do I get a discount if I enrol in a second course?
A. Yes. You will be offered a 10% discount on subsequent courses you enrol for.

Q. Can I use more than one discount code when enrolling for my course?
A. No. You can only use one discount code chosen by yourself per course, when more than one is available.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby)
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 there any hidden costs?
A. There are no hidden extras – the tuition fee covers all course material, unlimited tutor support, assignment marking/feedback and any text books where specified and exams. The only extras are for the public examinations fees for the ICB Bookkeeping course and the RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) exams.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are continually updated. The course content is rapidly updated and improved without the red tape and bureaucracy experienced at other educational institutions.

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

Q. What Recognition do you have?
A. The Academy for Distance Learning has various forms of recognition:
These include TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) – an Ofqual Awarding Organisation – ADL is an approved TQUK Centre.
IARC – International Approval Registration Centre, approved member.  Accredited Training Provider for ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) and Approved Distance Learning Provider for the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) and many more. Our graduates come from many parts of the world and have used our qualifications for successful employment and progression onto higher education. To view our full list  of recognition and memberships 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.

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at the Academy our students are our priority – we treat every student as a unique individual. This philosophy allows us to nurture those who are “slow and steady” learners rather than letting them fall through the cracks, while catering for those who are in a hurry to complete.

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. You’re under no pressure to finish by a certain deadline.

Q. Completing the course- how long will it take?
A. Completion of  modules varies from student to student.  Many factors come into play  such as work commitments and family life- there are always distractions.  Some students work quicker than others.  For a 100 hour module many students will take up to 3- 6 months,  others take less time and some are even longer. It’s all up to you.  There is no pressure to complete or deadline to finish. Naturally, longer courses will take more time.

Q. What learning formats are there?
A.  Your enrollment comes with the Online Classroom study option by default. For a small additional cost you also have the options of USB or Correspondence.
USB: Your course is sent to you on a USB stick, so that you can carry it in your pocket. Ideal for those with unreliable internet connections. This option is an additional £5/module

Correspondence:  You download the course content and then print your own copy to your requirements. You can then bind the lessons to suit your needs.

Assessments

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, or you can visit us in Canterbury, England to sit the exam if want to.  Exam fees are included in the tuition fee you paid. You can read more about the examination process here. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment. You submit it to the academy who then submits it to the tutor for marking, comments and feedback. Our policy is to have a grade for you within 5 to 7 days.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes – If you’re not happy with your work submitted you may re-submit the assignment again.

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. The number of lessons per module varies from module to module. See the course content from our website for further details.

Q. When do I have to hand in my first assignment?
A. There is no deadline for handing in the first assignment. Submit when you are ready. There are some students who hand in assignments within the first couple of weeks of enrolment – while there are others who submit their work 6 months later. It’s all at your own convenience to suit you. Everyone has different work and home commitments and we cater to these needs.

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; however, there may be an additional expense. We can appoint an appropriately qualified person anywhere to work through curriculum documentation supplied by us, to satisfy the requirements set down in a course.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would receive a Certificate (providing you complete all assignments and the exam). If you just want to complete the assignments only, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications awarded please click here.

Q. Is there a next level to progress to?
A. Yes – you can progress from one module to a combination of many modules and to higher qualifications i.e. Advanced Certificates, Diplomas and Higher Advanced Diplomas. Read more about course levels 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. It’s a very popular option and widely used by many students. You quite simply choose the appropriate number of related modules needed to complete the qualification and submit them to us for approval as a custom diploma.

Q.  What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of a 100-hour Certificate course and providing all assignments and exam have been completed, you will receive a Certificate and Transcript.  The Transcript will list your GPA.  Each 100-hour module is worth 3 credit hours.

Exams

Q. Do I have to sit for an exam?
A. Exams are optional but need to be undertaken in order to receive the Certificate or higher qualification.  Exams are one and a half hours long. You appoint an adjudicator (subject to our approval) to supervise the exam. You sit for the exam in your own location. Its that simple.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. If you feel you don’t cope well with exams you may elect to undertake a Project (set by the tutor) instead of sitting the exam.  Many students prefer this option as they find researching the material for the project sharpens their research skills.

Q. If I don’t sit for the Exam do I still get a qualification?
A. If you don’t sit for the exam but complete the project alternative, you will still receive your endorsed qualification. If you don’t sit for an exam or complete a final project, providing you have completed all the assignments you will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement.

Q. Do I have to sit for the exam at the Academy? 
A. No – whilst you are more than welcome to come to our location in Canterbury, U.K. and sit the exam in our classroom; the more popular option is to sit for the exam in your own location. You appoint an adjudicator to supervise the exam. Click here for more information on that process.

Q. Are there any exam fees?
A. There are no exam fees.  However, for some public examinations such as the ICB (Bookkeeping) and RHS courses exam fees do apply.  See course content for details.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A.  We only employ tutors who have are currently active in their industry with at least 5 years of real-world experience.  Not only are they highly qualified but also experienced, knowledgeable, and professional- experts in their chosen fields from all parts of the world.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes- you have unlimited access to tutors. We strongly encourage students to develop a dialogue with their Tutor. This is why we encourage students to submit their first assignment fairly quickly at the beginning of the course.
Every Academy student is assigned a tutor who supports you throughout your course and beyond. Your tutor is there to guide and facilitate your learning and provides as much or as little individual contact as you would like. When you submit your coursework the tutor will give you feedback that helps you develop your ideas and provides motivation. For those who do like to have interaction with other students, the ADL discussion forum connects you to students from all over the world.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. You have direct contact with your tutor by email through the Online Classroom. Alternatively, you can write, fax, email, or phone the academy. Leave a message if your tutor isn’t available and they will phone, write or fax back; whatever suits you.

Q. If I don’t agree with / like my tutor can I request a change?
A. Yes – we try to accommodate and meet student’s needs and a change of tutor may be arranged.

Q. If I don’t understand a question or a lesson may I contact the tutor?
A. You may contact a tutor as often as you like. There is no additional charge or restriction on this service.  Contact can be made via the Student Zone, email, or by phone.

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.

How Can This Course Help You Begin Your Horticulture Career and Where Can It Take You?

Many thousands of budding horticulturists and keen gardening enthusiasts  have studied this course and have gainful employment in the horticultural industry.  Many have also started their own businesses specialising in landscaping, garden designing, nursery business.  Some look after golf courses, work for park departments and provide various garden supply services and much more.  Many have become successful in horticulture media while others have used the course to go onto higher qualifications in horticulture.

Learn From Experts in the Field!

These courses  have trained many thousands of students to become horticulturists.   Our horticultural tutors all have university degrees, are experts in their respective fields and  are active within the industry. They also have many years experience in teaching horticulture through distance learning and understand the needs of students when studying online.

If you only have the time to study one qualification then this would be the one to choose.

The opportunities that this course can add to your career include:

• Employment in a Garden Centre and nursery.
• Work as a qualified gardener - many gardeners lack formal training. With this qualification your expertise will show.
• Turn  your passion for gardening as a hobby into a professional career.
• Use this course as entry to the first rung of the horticultural ladder and then proceed onto further study.