Course CodeVHT105Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationStatement of Attainment Why Grow African Violets? Popular indoor plants with eye catching bloom Adds colour to home or any indoor areas They are small but mighty and easy to contain Easy to maintain This course is not only teaching you about African violets, but also laying the foundations for successful culture of other gesneriads. Become an expert in growing African violets by enrolling in this course Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: Introduction What is an African Violet Plant name pronunciation Review of the system of plant identification Introduction to Gesneriads Classification of Gesneriaceae Introduction to most commonly grown African Violet Species Information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs etc.) Culture Understanding how plants grow Soils ad nutrition African Violet potting mixes Other cultural practices -Planting, watering, feeding, etc. Review of Gesneriad Genera -Columnea, Streptocarpus, Episcia, Aeschynanthus etc Propagation Sexual and asexual explained Propagation aids -greenhouses, hotbeds, cold frames, misting etc. Cuttings Seed Division Pests & Disease Plant maintenance and health Identifying problems Controlling problems Reviewing pest, disease and environmental issues that can confront African Violets Light and its Affects Understanding light affects on african violet flowering Artificial lighting Greenhouse Culture The greenhouse system Components of a greenhouse (floor, structure, ventilation, heating, etc) Types off Greenhouses Shadehouses Coldframes Heated propagators Environmental controls Heaters, Ventilators, etc Ways to Use African Violets Containers, in the ground, in greenhouses, growing for profit (to sell etc.) Review of popular cultivars Special Assignment PBL Project: Planning the establishment of a collection of Gesneriads, for a specific (real or hypothetical) location. 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 Describe how African Violets and related plants are classified and the plant naming system Describe the cultural requirements of African violets Select appropriate propagating materials and using them, propagate African violets. Identify and control pest and diseases of African violets Discuss the role that light plays in the growth of African violets Describe greenhouses and other environmental control equipment used for growing African violets. Describe the various ways in which African violets can be grown Demonstrate the knowledge acquired for a specific group or individual plant in the Gesneriaceae family through research. Cultivars of African Violets There are over 40,000 varieties of African Violets known to be in existence, and new ones are being developed all the time. The following are some of the more popular African Violet cultivars that have been grown around the world. Pink Flowers Georgia -Single flower, Deep pink; dark green leaf Rococo Pink –Double flower, Iridescent pink Swan Lake - Large flowers, Ruffled edges to petals, Deep pink flower Blue Flowers Bright Eyes -Single flower, Dark blue with prominent yellow anthers on flowers; Dark green leaves Delft -Very large semi double flowers; Cornflower blue colour, mid green foliage, relatively vigorous variety Wonderland -Large semi double flowers, Light blue, Olive green wavy leaves Purple Toned Flowers Diana Blue -Single, mid purple with contrasting yellow anthers Fusspot -Double flowers, Lilac with richer colour on edges of petals Tessa -Frilled petals, Rich purple colour, Floriferous. Lush mid green leaves Red and White Flowers Fancy Pants -Single flower, Frilled red and white. Very popular and prized variety by many enthusiasts. Silver Milestone Star -Huge single star Flowers, Magenta with white edges Mystic Moment -Semi Double and striking; Magenta with white edges, Deep green leaves Blue and White Flowers Alabama -Single, Frilled petals, White flowers edged with blue Ballet Silver –Large single star flowers, Deep royal blue with white edge to petals Blue Nymph -Blue and white pansy like flowers Pink and White Flowers Celebration -Large single flowers, Ruffled petals, White banded with rich pink Crimson Frost -Frilled petals, Dark pink with white edges and prominent yellow stamens Fancy Pants –Single flowers, white with frilled red margins, Mid green leaves Miss Pretty -Single, frilled flowers, Pale pink and white, Pale green leaves START LEARNING WITH THIS VIDEO WE HAVE PRODUCED Who Can Benefit From This Course? Passionate amateur gardeners Plant collectors Commercial growers Horticulturist Garden centre staff Florists Indoor Plantscapers HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side - follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE