ORCHID CULTURE BHT232

Distance Education Plant Course

• Learn to identify different orchids
• Learn to cultivate and use orchids in different ways
• Expand your horticultural knowledge and career opportunities, start a business -or just follow a passion

Course Structure

The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:

1.  Introduction

• Introduction to Orchid Species
• Plant Names and the System for Naming Orchids
• Orchid sub families and tribes
• Plant Name Pronunciation
• Orchid Plant structure.
• Resources
• Terminology

2.  Orchid Culture

• Overview of Growing Orchids
• Guidelines; temperature, light, humidity, ventilation, watering, feeding, potting mixes
• Growing Cattleyas
• Substrates for Geophytes and Epiphytes
• Understanding Soils; texture, pH, nutrient availability, fertility
• Mycorrhyza and Orchids
• Propagating and Potting Media
• Nutrients and Nutrition
• Plant Health; orchid pests, orchid diseases, other problems
• Pruning Orchids
• Watering Orchids

3.  Propagation

• Sexual vs. asexual propagation
• Asexual Propagating sympodial Orchids
• Asexual Propagation of Monopodial Epiphytes
• Aerial Offset Propagation (Keikis)
• Propagating Orchids by Seed
• Hybrid Seed Production
• Harvesting Orchid Seed
• Flasking Method of Seed Sowing
• Tissue (Meristem) Culture of Orchids
• Propagation Equipment; greenhouses, hotbeds, cold frames, mist systems, furo light boxes, etc

4.  Cymbidiums And Dendrobiums.

• Cymbidium culture
• Dendrobium Types -soft cane, hard cane, black haired
• Dendrobium Culture
• Dendrobium species

5.  Cattleyas, Vandas And Other Commonly Grown Orchids.

• Cattleya varieties and culture
• Vandas; main species and culture
• Odontoglossum
• Oncidium -types (climbing and spreading), culture
• Paphiopedalum (Slipper Orchids)
• Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids)
• Pleione (Indian Crocus)
• Crucifix Orchids (Epidendrum)

6.  Australian Native Orchids.

• Endemic, naturalised and indigenous plantsProblem Based Learning Project, with the following Learning Ourtcomes:
  • Determine which species of orchids are most commonly sold in your locality. 
  • Determine orchid varieties which are being grown in your locality
  • Determine any orchid genera suited to growing in a warm climate.

7.  Growing Orchids: Commercial and general uses

• Cut Flower Production of Orchids
• Basket Plants
• Epiphytes
• Review of Orchid Genera for Cut Flower Production
• Environmental Requirements for many significant orchid genera
• Vanilla Bean Culture and Production
• Greenhouse Management for Orchids

8.  Harvest and Special Project On One Group Of Orchids.

• Writing a schedule for production of an Orchid Crop
• Harvest and Post Harvest of Selected Orchid Cut Flowers; bud opening, transport, storing flowers, etc
• Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium

What you will do in this course:

• Compile a resource file or organisations and information sources relevant to orchids.
• Obtain and orchid flower; draw and label this flower.
• Review 56 different orchid species in detail.
• Obtain soil from two different areas (two different types of soils). Using the tests in the Lesson notes, do the following, name each of these soils and test the drainage of each soil.
• Obtain (or make up) a potting mix which you consider appropriate for growing orchids.
• Visit a nursery or garden growing orchids. Notice how and where these plants are growing.
• Determine which plants are healthiest and assess the conditions in which they are growing.
• Obtain enough plant material to propagate four different orchids. Propagate these orchids vegetatively.
• Visit a nursery, or some other place which sells a wide range of different types of pots.
• Consider the properties of the pots you see for sale and their suitability for growing orchids in.Note down the prices of each.
• Investigate further into tissue culture processes specific to Orchids beyond the notes offered in the course.
• Determine which species of orchids are most commonly sold in your locality.
• Carry out research and look through any references you have and determine any orchid genera (not yet covered in this course), which are suited to growing in a tropical or sub-tropical climate.
• Visit a native plant nursery which sells a range of native orchids. List at least 5 native orchid varieties which are being grown in your locality.
• Visit a florist shop. Notice what orchids are being sold; how they are presented for sale, how they are stored etc
• Evaluate the cultural practices observed (or investigated) in the 2 different enterprises which you considered in your set task.
  

Duration: 100 Hours       You can start this course when you like and complete it at your own pace

Summary of Orchid Culture -for commonly grown genera

REQUIREMENTS FOR A RANGE OF ORCHID GENERA

• Student discounts are available to anyone studying with ACS Distance Education.
• Both printed books and ebooks (as downloads) available

• Click on above link for info
• Sample pages available to download for all ebook
• E Books can be purchased online for immediate download (Can be read on a computer, ipad, iphone, lap top, most book readers or similar devices).
• GO TO www.acsbookshop.com for more titles