Hydroponics I

This is the starting point for anyone serious hydroponic grower who is relatively new to the discipline. This course provides an opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the most experienced hydroponic experts available. Our principal John Mason, is author of Commercial Hydroponics (now in it's 8th printing) and tutors include Dr Lyn Morgan, author and commercial hydroponic consultant.

Hydroponic Production is in many respects far more environmentally friendly, and sustainable than many other ways of growing horticultural crops. It usually involves using closed systems (so waste products cannot escape, uncontrolled, into the environment); and even though it can be relatively costly to set up, it can produce a lot more per square metre than growing in soil (hence it doesn't have such a large footprint on the environment).

• Hydroponic production can adapt to climate change if need be
• Hydroponic production is less likely to contribute to climate change than some other forms of horticulture

 If you are serious about hydroponics; whether as a business, or a step toward self sufficiency; this course can be an excellent starting point.

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • hydroponic systems
   • global industry
   • comparision to growing in soil
   • resources and contacts.
2. How a Plant Grows
   • plant structure
   • biochemistry
   • biochemical cell processess
   • mechanisms of nutrient uptake
   • photosynthesis; minerals and nutrients
   • the role of pH in plant growth
   • hydroponic nutrient solutions
   • preparing nutrient solutions.
3. Hydroponic Systems
   • location
   • equipment
   • systems
   • soilless mixes
   • rockwool
   • rockwool manufacture
   • rockwool properties
   • development of propagating blocks
   • propagation applications
   • recommended practices for propogation
   • nutrient film techniques
   • alternative layouts for NFT
   • methods of solution dispention, closed and open systems; techniques.
4. Nutrition & Nutrition management
   • understanding nutrient formulae
   • atoms, elements & compounds
   • chemical names
   • what does a plant need
   • calculating formulae
   • mixing nutrients
   • symptoms of nutrient deficiency
   • recommendations
   • adjusting the pH
   • using electrical conductivity measures
   • conductivity
   • conductivity and hydroponics.
5. Plant Culture
   • flow charting the crop
   • controllers
   • salinity controllers
   • pH controllers
   • post harvest storage
   • cooling
   • drying
   • canning/bottling
   • controlled atmosphere storage
   • relative humidity
   • vacuum storage
   • freeze drying
   • freezing
   • pest and diseases in controlled environments
   • fungi, common funal problems
   • cultural controls
   • current legislation
   • biological and integrated pest management
   • beneficial agents
   • economic thresholds
   • methods of introduction
   • major pests, diseases and disorders of crops identified
   • problem solving and identification of illness
   • difficult to diagnose problems
   • leaf hoppers; thrip; virus; bacteria; caterpillars; harlequin bugs and more.
6. Hydroponic Vegetable Production
   • commerical cultivation of vegetables
   • propagation
   • temperatures required for seed germination
   • optimum monthly temperatures for vegetable growth
   • harvesting vegetables
   • growing vegetables hydroponically
   • vegetable families
   • fresh-cut herbs in hydroponic culture
   • nutrient solution
   • materials and handling
   • notes on selected crops.
7. Hydroponic Cut Flower Production
   • growing flowers in hydroponics
   • carbon dioxide
   • automation
   • flower varieties
   • indoor plants.
8. Solid Media vs Nutrient Film
   • growing media
   • NFT system choices
   • header tank or direct pumping
   • construction materials
   • solution delivery
   • capillary matting
   • channel width and length
   • slope
   • temperature
   • types of media
   • vermiculite; sand; perlite; expanded plastics; scoria; expanded clay
   • organic media; sawdust; peat moss; coir fibre; composted bark
   • indoor plants
   • plant directory
   • transplanting a pot grown plant into a hydroponic 'culture pot'.
9. Greenhouse Operation & Management
   • growing crops in greenhouses
   • solar energy
   • greenhouses
   • nature of active solar heating systems
   • examples of solar greenhouse facilities
   • greenhouse management
   • what you can grow
   • greenhouse and other growing structures
   • environmental factors that influence plant growth
   • plant needs
   • temperature control
   • heat loss
   • heaters
   • light factors
   • artificial light
   • horticultural management in a greenhouse
   • greenhouse benches
   • greenhouse cooling
   • fog.
10. Special Assignment
    • plan a hydroponic enterprise.

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.

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