Join the dynamic cut flower industry or improve your career prospects in the ever-expanding horticultural sector. Whether you’d like to learn to grow flowers commercially or work in flower farming, this course is ideal for you.
The Certificate of Cut Flower Production is a professional development course that will provide you with the fundamentals of growing cut flowers as a commercial enterprise.
In this flower farming course, you will learn which flowers are the best varieties to grow in your region, determine soil and nutritional requirements, cultural requirements, and harvest and post-harvest management practices.
You’ll also discover how to develop a production plan for a cut flower crop, determine export market opportunities, and prepare a management plan, including equipment lists, tasks, production costs, marketing strategies and contingency plans.
On completion of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the cut flower process for commercial production.
Course Structure
Unit - Cut Flower Production
Unit 1 – Introduction to Cut Flower Production
- Scope and Nature of the Flower Industry
- International Flower Market
- Succeeding in the Trade
- Flower Structure
- Development of a Flower
- Introduction to Hydroponic Culture
- Understanding plant growth, roots, stems, flowers, leaves
- Types of flowers, perennials, bulbs.
- Review of Flower Crops, Alstroemeria, Antirrhinum, Amaryllis, Anigozanthus, Aster Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Freesia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Iris, Narcissus, Orchids, Rose, Stock and others.
Unit 2 – Soils and Nutrition
- Soil composition
- Soil texture
- Soil structure
- Colloids
- Peds
- Characteristics of clay, sand and loam soils
- Naming the Soil
- Improving Soil Structure
- Improving fertility
- Benefits of adding organic matter to soils
- Soil life, earthworms, mycorrhyzae, nitrogen fixing, etc.
- Soil Water
- Understanding dynamics of water loss
- Improving soil water retention
- Types of soil water (Hygroscopic, Gravitational)
- Soil analysis
- Plant tissue analysis for soil management
- Measuring pH
- Other soil testing (testing salinity, colorimetry, etc)
- Measuring Water availability to plants
- Soil Degradation and rehabilitation (Erosion, Salinity, Acidification, etc)
- Soil Chemical Characteristics
- Nutrient availability and pH
- The nutrient elemernts, major, minor, total salts
- Diagnosing nutritional problems
- Fertilisers (types, application, etc)
- Natural Fertilisers
- Fertiliser Selection
- Composting methods
- Soil mixes and potting media
Unit 3 – Cultural Practices
- Site selection
- Production
- Cultivation techniques
- Using cover crops
- Green manure cover crops
- Nitrogen Fixation in legumes
- Crop rotation
- Planting procedure
- Staking
- Bare rooted plants
- Time of planting
- Mulching
- Frost protection
- Managing sun
- Managing animal pests, birds, etc.
- Pruning
- Water management and Irrigation
- When to irrigate
- Period of watering, cyclic watering, pulse watering, etc
- Sprinkler irrigation
- Trickle irrigation
- Sprinkler systems, portable, permenant, semi permenant, travelling
- Types of sprinler heads
- Sprinkler spacings
- Selecting surface irrigation methods
- Weed control
- Preventative weed management
- Hand weeding
- Mechanical weeding
- Chemical weed control
- Classification of weedicides
- Natural Weed Control Methods
- Review of common weeds
Unit 4 – Flower Initiation and Development
- How flowers Age
- Managing flower longevity
- Effects of Carbon Dioxide
- Getting plants to flower out of season
- Types of flower response to temperature
- Ways to cause controlled flowering
- Narcissus flower management
- Managing Azalea flowering
- Seed sources
- Hydroponics for controlled growth
Unit 5 – Pest and Disease Control
- Integrated Pest Management
- Chemical Methods of Pest Control
- Chemical labels
- Non Chemical methods of pest control
- Pest and Disease Identification and Management on flower crops
- Anthracnose
- Blight
- Canker
- Damping off
- Galls
- Leaf Spot
- Mildew
- Rots
- Rust
- Smut
- Sooty Mould
- Virus
- Wilt
- Caterpillars
- Leafhoppers
- Mealy Bugs
- Millipedes
- Mites
- Nematodes
- Scale
- Slugs or Snails
- Thrip
- Whitefly
- Viruses,
- Others
- Environmental Problems
Unit 6 – Australian Natives and Related Plants
- Proteaceae Plants (Aulax, Banksia, Dryandra, Grevillea, Hakea, Isopogon, Leucadendron, Leucospermum, Macadamia, Mimetes, Persoonia Protea, Serruria and Telopea.)
- Culture of Proteaceae cut flowers
- Proteaceae propagation
- Anigozanthus
- Other Australian Cut Flowers
Unit 7 – Greenhouse Culture
- The greenhouse business
- Greenhouse system
- Components of a greenhouse
- What can be grown in a greenhouse
- Siting greenhouses
- Types of greenhouses
- Shadehouses
- Cold frames
- Heated propagators
- Framing and cover materials
- Thermal screens
- Wind breaks
- Benches and beds
- Environmental control; Temperature, moisture, irrigation, shading -both natural and with blinds/curtains, light-including supplemented light if needed, ventilation, levels of CO2, mist/fogging
- Photosynthesis
- Plants that respond to Carbon dioxide
- Day length manipulation
- Lighting and heating equipment
- Horticultural management within the greenhouse
Unit 8 – Harvest and Post Harvest
- Harvesting
- Flower deterioration
- Post harvest
- Shelf life
- Major factors that affect shelf life
- Post harvest treatments
- Other treatments
- Grading standards
- Conditioning flowers for market
- Harvesting and grading carnations
- Harvest and post harvest of selected orchids; Bud opening, transport, storing flowers
- Cost Efficiency Standards
- Quality Standards
- Quantity Standards
- Judging flowers
Unit 9 – Developing a Production Plan
- Managing a cut flower farm
- Deciding what to grow
- Production plans
- Decisions that need to be made
- Farm layout
- Design of a store
Unit 10 – Export Marketing
- International flower marketing system
- Aspects of export
- Flower Exporting case study
- Understanding marketing your produce
- Consider your markets
- Market research
- What to research
- How to sell successfully
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Very satisfied with the resources provided.
Rebecca | Gawler East, SA | Certificate of Cut Flower Production
The course was exactly what I was looking for, it supplied me with the information that will enable me to expand our cut flower business. Overall, very happy with the AOC experience.
Rodney | Clarence Town NSW | Certificate of Cut Flower Production
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Commercial Flower Growers
- Home Gardeners
- Landscapers
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