Course CodeVHT240Fee CodeS3Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationStatement of Attainment Orchid Care as a Cut Flower Crop Growing orchids is more than just producing a pretty flower! If you know thw right techniques from planting to harvest you will have far better success in producing great blooms that are much sought after in the flower trade. This course covers those techniques. Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: Introduction - Plant classification, naming of plants, parts of the flower. Culture - Basket, epiphytes, media. Propagation A - Methods, materials, equipment. Propagation B (Tissue Culture) - Techniques, application, culture nutrients. Greenhouse Management A - Environmental controls, beds & benches, carbon dioxide. Greenhouse Management B - Temperature, irrigation, cooling, ventilation, etc. Pest and Disease Control & Identification Management, Harvest and Post-Harvest - Harvesting, post harvest, standards, layout, production costs. Marketing - Marketing the product, valuable orchids, international markets. Detailed study of one species or group of orchids. 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.Aims Explain the plant naming system, identify flower parts and compile resources. Describe cultural techniques applicable to orchid growing. Describe propagation techniques used for orchids. Explain tissue culture propagation techniques. Describe protected plant production facilities suited to orchids. Explain the day to day management of a greenhouse. Manage Pests and diseases on an orchid flower crop Explain management of an orchid enterprise and the harvest and post harvest of an orchid crop. Explain marketing techniques used for cut flower orchids. Describe a major orchid group Harvets and Post Harvest: Orchids Flowers perish easily and are generally fragile, by correct harvest and post harvest handling procedures the grower ensures a clean and quality crop as well as prolonging the bloom time. Sterilise equipment during harvest to prevent premature petal drop and the spread of bacteria. Different species need to be harvested differently, and treated differently after harvest. The time at which you harvest depends upon the stage of growth which the plants are at; but it can also be affected by market demand. (eg. you may decide to harvest plants before they reach an optimum stage because you can get more for the flowers at that earlier time when demand is higher). Some flowers should be opened well before the buds open; and the buds then open later on. This makes transport easier, and sometimes means that the flowers last longer. For other flowers, the flower must be at least partially opened. It might not open if harvested too earlier. The grower needs to have a very good knowledge of how the flower continues to develop after harvest. Bud opening Buds are stimulated to open by different things. For many plants, heat will stimulate bud opening; so keeping the plant cool is important if you wish to delay bud opening. Special solutions can be used to help regulate bud opening, extend the life of the flower and discourage disease attacking and rotting the stems. This is particularly important on some types of flowers when they are picked early. Solutions often contain sugars to compensate (partly) for inadequate food reserves available to the buds, and a sterilant such as sodium hypochlorite, to kill disease organisms in the water. The strength of chemicals used can be critical. Some flowers are damaged by concentrations which are ideal for others. These solutions need appropriate temperatures to be absorbed by the plant. At very low temperatures they will not be absorbed, so cool stored plants may be sometimes put into a warmer situation for a period before cool storage to allow absorption. Conditioning for market Flowers sometimes need to be "hardened up" before packing and sending off to market. This may involve standing in "cold" water to allow turgidity to reach optimum level (ie. maximum amount of water in the plant tissue), before they are packed dry and sent to market. A solution containing a flower preservative and bactericide is often used in the water at this stage. REQUIREMENTS (IN BRIEF) OF SELECTED ORCHID GENERA GENERA MINIMUM TEMPERATURE Celcius HABIT WHERE TO GROW REQUIREMENTS SHADE Ascocentrum 10‑15 Epiphytic Pots Heavy to medium Brassavola 15 Epiphytic Pots Essential Brassia 15 Epiphytic Pots Essential in summer Bulbophyllum 18 Epiphytic Pots or slabs Medium Cattleya 12 Epiphytic Pots Mild‑Medium Coelogyne 10 Epiphytic Pots and baskets Mild‑Medium Cymbidium 7 or lower Epiphytic or terrestrial Pots Medium Dendrobium some 10, others lower Mainly epiphytic Wood/fern slabs, pots or baskets Light‑medium shade in summer Epidendrum some 10 others lower Epiphytic Pots, beds, or baskets Light‑medium Laelia 10 Epiphytic Pots Mild‑medium Masdavillea 10 Epiphytic Pots Mild Odontoglossum 15 Epiphytic Pots Mild Oncidium 15 Epiphytic Pots or slabs Mild Paphiopedilum 13 Terrestrial Pots Medium to heavy Phalaenopsis 18 Epiphytic Pots or slabs 70‑80% Pleonie 10 or lower Epiphytic or terrestrial Pots Mild‑Medium Vanda 12‑20 Epiphytes Usually slabs sometimes pots Essential in summer Zygopetalum 12‑15 Epiphytes Pots, baskets or slabs Mild Who Will Benefit From This Course? Cut flower growers Indoor plant growers Those wanting to set up a business in this field Hobbyists and enthusiasts