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RHS Certificate II (VHT040)

 

 

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RHS Certificate 2 Plant Growth, Propagation & Development

Study Serious Horticulture with the Royal Horticultural Society

This course covers everything the budding botanist or propagator needs to know to satisfy their immediate hunger for knowledge. It begins by explaining the binomial naming system of plants and help s students with methods of plant identification before going on to deal with all aspects of plant growth.

Learn about cell structures and processes in different plant parts from roots to shoots and flowers. Find out how plants reproduce and how to create your own plants through sexual or asexual methods. Discover how plants feed, the significance of different chemical nutrients and how things can go wrong for plants. Completion of this course stands students in good stead to complete the RHS examination.

 

What this Course Covers

Ten 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
        Anatomical 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 Stamens, 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
        Chloroplasts 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 subsurface 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, Mycorrhizae, 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 Techniques
        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 Hygiene
        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

 

Workload

Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 130 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.


Extra Reading

The following books, available through this web site may be relevant supplementary reading for this course:

  • Plant Language    
  • Animal Health

 

Assessment

Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.

Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification with vegetable growing, will impress others, and will be more efficient when self employed.

A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.

Recognition and Ethics

This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.

A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.

Refund Policy

A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.



WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?

We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.

This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.

 

How This Course Could Help You

This course is valuable to those who want to expand their horticultural knowledge whether fro their own personal development or for employment purposes. The RHS qualifications have long been recognised around the world as amongst the best in horticulture.

Successful completion of this course is a good foundation for other higher level RHS certificates and diplomas.



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RHS Certificate II (VHT040) RHS Certificate II (VHT040)
$790.00 In stock