Discover how to propagate plants, whether for work in horticulture or pleasure, with this plant propagation course. You’ll gain the skills and knowledge required to start a business, find a job or build a brand-new career!
Certificate of Propagation is a professional development course that provides the knowledge and skills to propagate plants for pleasure or profit.
In this plant propagation course, you will learn propagation techniques for various plants, how to overcome obstacles, utilise the equipment and materials required for propagation and growing in a greenhouse. You will also learn about seed propagation, potting media, vegetative propagation and risk and nursery management.
On completion of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of general plant propagation for personal or professional development.
Course Structure
Unit - Propagation I
Unit 1 – Introduction to Propagation
- Sexual propagation (seed propagation)
- Asexual propagation (vegetative propagation)
- Vegetative propagation techniques
- Aseptic micro propagation
- Runners and suckers
- Mound layering
- Simple layering
- Trench layering
- Genotype versus phenotype
- Life cycles in plants
- Phases of the sexual cycle
- Phases of the asexual cycle
- Types of life cycles
- Terminology
- Nursery production systems
- Operational flow chart for seed propagation
- Propagation stage
- Transplanting stage
- Growing on stage
- Marketing stage
Unit 2 – Seed Propagation
- Four main sources of seed
- Seed collected from the wild
- Seed exchanges
- Commercial seed suppliers
- Collecting seed yourself locally
- Factors that should be taken into account when sourcing seed:
- Quality
- Gene pool
- Maintaining genetic identity in seed
- Hybrid seed production
- Storing seed
- Factors affecting storage of seed
- Types of seed storage
- Open storage with no controls
- Cold storage with or without humidity control
- Cold moist storage
- Difficult seeds
- Dormancy factors affecting germination
- Germination treatments
- Soaking in boiling water
- Stratification (moist chilling)
- Terminology
- Seed raising – hygiene
- How to sow seeds in containers
- Germination
Unit 3 – Non-Stem Cuttings
- Leaf cuttings
- Leaf bud cuttings
- Root cuttings
- five distinct types of root cutting propagation
- Stock plants for root cuttings
- Selection of plants commonly propagated by root cuttings
- Bulb cuttings
- Scaling
- Twin scaling
- Sectioning
- Basal cuttage
- Where to cut bulb cuttings
Unit 4 – Vegetative Propagation I – Cuttings
- Cuttings
- Avoidance of juvenility in the newly propagated plants
- Maintaining juvenility
- Types of cuttings
- Softwood and hardwood cuttings
- Semi-hardwood cuttings
- Herbaceous and stem cuttings
- Tip and heel cuttings
- Nodal and basal cutting
- Leaf bud cuttings
- Leaf and cane cuttings
- Root and bulb cuttings
- Hormone treatment of cuttings
- The principles
- The alternative hormones
- Three major groups often referred to are auxins, cytokinin’s and gibberellins
- Hormone forms
- Other chemical treatments
- Mycorrhiza
- Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza
- Producing VAM inoculum
- Some plants are not mycorrhizal
- Using artificial light in plant propagation
- Efficiencies in cutting production
- Terminology
Unit 5 – Vegetative Propagation II: Layering, Division, Stock Plants
- Layering
- Mound layering
- Simple layering
- Trench layering
- Plant division
- Stock plants
- Selecting stock plants
- Planting out stock plants
- Terminology
- Soil and water
- When to irrigate
- Symptoms of water deficiency
- Symptoms of water excess
- Maintaining appropriate water levels
- Estimating water required
- Type of plant
- Rate of growth
- Climate
- Soil conditions
Unit 6 – Vegetative Propagation III: Budding, Grafting and Tissue Culture
- Budding and grafting
- Introduction to grafting
- Reasons for budding and grafting
- How a graft forms
- Factors which influence healing of a graft
- Grafting hints (general)
- Carpentry of grafting
- What can be grafted onto what
- Examples of compatible rootstocks and scions
- Types of grafts
- Grafting tapes and bench grafting
- Some suggestions of what can be grafted
- Root and lilac grafting
- Some species that may be root grafted
- Soft tissue grafting
- Grafting fruit trees
- Grafting techniques used on fruit trees
- Establishing rootstocks
- Double working
- Tissue culture
- Uses of tissue culture
- Problems
- Different environments
- Nutrient medium
- Cleanliness and growing conditions
- Tissue culture procedures
- Explants
- Sterilisation
- Nutrient media
- Methods of shoot induction and proliferation
- Laboratory requirements
- Glossary of terms
- Biotechnology in horticulture
- Overcoming pollination incompatibility
- The use of pollination biology in plant breeding – (by Dr. Elizabeth Williams)
- The process of pollination
- Requirements for successful pollination
- Cross-pollination
- Determining the stage of pollination failure
- Fertilisation
- Embryo and seedling formation
- Male and female recognition
- Methods of overcoming incompatibility
- Post-fertilisation
- Pollen selection
- Flower structure
- Rockwool for propagation
- Characteristics of rockwool
- Recommended practices for propagation
- Benefits of rockwool propagation
- Limitations experienced in the use of rockwool propagating blocks
Unit 7 – Propagation Structures and Materials
- Propagation structures
- Growing plants in a greenhouse
- What can you grow?
- Growing structures
- Cold frames
- Plant needs
- Environmental factors that influence plant growth
- A little more on environmental control
- Temperature control
- Heat loss
- Heaters
- Centralised and localised heating system
- Localised heaters
- Light control and artificial light
- Horticultural management in a greenhouse
- Fungi
- Common fungal problems
- Water excess and deficiency
- Culture and management of some greenhouse crops
- Pollination
- Optimum growth requirements for certain plants
- Greenhouse benches
- Greenhouse cooling systems
- Fog systems
- Principles of temperature control
- Carbon dioxide
- Plants that respond to co2
- Plant containers – what’s in a pot?
- Potting up plants
Unit 8 – Risk Management
- Nursery hygiene
- Risk assessment of a propagation nursery
- Keeping the work site safe
- Work place safety
- The significance of illness
- Protective clothing
- Safety with tools and equipment – general safety rules
- Safety with electricity
- Pests and diseases
- Law in relation to chemical use
- Diseases
- Plant viruses – their detection and diagnosis
- Virus control
- Pests
- Environmental problems
- Chemical controls in nurseries
- Weed control in nurseries
- Weed control in greenhouses
- Soil fumigation to control plant diseases
- Golden rules for using chemicals
Unit 9 – Nursery Management I
- Plant modification to achieve uniformity
- Modification techniques
- Developing a thicker or sturdier stem or trunk
- Making a plant taller
- Developing a compact root system
- Encouraging compact, bushy growth
- Improving foliage colour and vigour
- Promoting flower development
- Getting plants to flower out of season
- Spacing and staking
- Chemical growth modification
- Growing-on areas for container plants
- Management policies
- Terminology
- keeping records in propagation
- What to record
- Nursery production systems
- Operational flow chart for seed propagation
- Propagation stage
- Transplanting stage
- Growing on stage
Unit 10 – Nursery Management II
- Nursery standards
- cost efficiency
- quality standards
- size standards
- Practical exercise
- The nursery site
- Size
- Planning restrictions
- Site characteristics
- Location
- Designing facilities in the nursery
- Administrative offices
- Circulation and parking
- Employee facilities
- Chemical storage
- Drainage network
- Production areas
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
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
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Payment Options
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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:-
- Gardener
- Hobby gardener
- Horticulturalist
- Landscaper
- Nursery professionals
- Plant breeders
- Environmental/revegetation officers
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