Plant Varieties

Courses

ACACIAS VHT114

Learn about Wattles

Learn about the identification and botany, and culture (planting, watering, feeding, propagation)
of the wattles. Around 50 species are studied in detail. You also learn about the commercial uses of Acacias as building materials, food plants, for tanning, craft, etc.

Acacias have more uses than most people realize. The most obvious use is as a garden plant; or perhaps a timber. Acacias are also grown and harvested for a whole range of purposes.

  • Did you realize that Gum Arabic comes from Acacias?
  • Did you realize that some African tribes use Acacias as a major food source for livestock?
  • Do you realize, some Acacias are used to supply medicines?
  • Do you realize native peoples in Australia, Africa and other places eat seeds, flowers, gum and other things harvested from Acacias

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AFRICAN VIOLETS VHT105

Designed for the African Violet enthusiast, this course covers everything from potting and feeding, to pests and propagation. You learn how African Violets are classified, and cover the exciting range of varieties available. Heres your chance to achieve outstanding results with African Violets.

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AUSTRALIAN NATIVE FERNS VHT116

Do you want to be an Australian Native Fern expert? 
  • Build a beautiful fernery
  • Re-vegetate with native ferns
  • Work with Australian Native Ferns
  • Learn to identify Australian Native Ferns
  • Learn to propagate Australian native ferns
 
Learn which ferns occur naturally in Australia, how to identify them, where to obtain accurate information on them, how to propagate them, growing and using ferns in baskets, terrariums, and landscapes.

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AUSTRALIAN NATIVE TREES VHT115

 Do you want to work with Australian flora?
  • Work on re-vegetation projects
  • Work in national parks
  • Work in an Australian natives nursery
  • Work on tree planting programs
  • Work in agroforestry
  • Work in native tree management
 
 This course first teaches you about different types of Australian flora, plant identification, information sources, planting, feeding, soils, pests & diseases, watering, propagation and transplanting. The remaining lessons then deal with selected varieties of trees, windbreak planting, agroforestry, tree maintenance and tree selection.

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AUSTRALIAN NATIVES I BHT113

Work with Australian Plants

 
Learn to grow about Australian Native Trees, Shrubs and Climbers

Start an Australian Plant Nursery

Work in a Garden Centre selling Australian Plants

Become a plant breeder or seed collector

Become a Garden Designer, specialising in Australian Plant Gardens

Career possibilities are diverse, and go well beyond these examples.

If Australian natives are a passion; this could be the first step toward a career that is focussed on that passion.

 

Australia has one of the oldest and most diverse varieties of plants of an country. Australian natives come from tropical areas to cold temperate snow covered mountains, and from inland deserts to fertile wet rainforests. Develop your ability to identify, select, cultivate and plan a management program, for appropriate varieties of Australian native plants, in a wide variety of situations. This is relevant to not only Australia, but most parts of the world.

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AUSTRALIAN NATIVES II BHT225

Want to work with Australian Native Plants?

  • In an Australian native plant nursery
  • In a Australian native plant garden
  • In natural/native landscaping or garden design
  • Growing Australian native cut flowers
  • In the horticultural media specialising in natives
  • On re-vegetation projects

This course can help a lot. It focuses on smaller growing natives (eg. wildflowers, clumping plants, etc). It complements but also differs from the studies in our other natives courses.

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AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS VHT106

How to Grow Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Considered by many to be the very best plants a garden can offer, azaleas and rhododendrons are some of the most popular plants grown anywhere. The course shows how to grow them to perfection, and builds your knowledge of varieties available, to give you a long lasting display of colour in the garden. Soils, weed control, feeding, pest and disease control, watering, landscape design and lots more are included over eight lessons.

This is a valuable course for garden botanists, designers, gardeners, nurserymen, plant breeders or anyone else dealing with azaleas, rhododendrons and related plants in their regular work.

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BONSAI BHT320

Learn How to Grow Bonsai

This course offers great value and provides knowledge about how to create bonsai from a wide range of plants. 
 
Join the many who have learnt the ancient oriental art of bonsai through this practical and comprehensive course. Eight lessons cover the selection of plants suited to bonsai, understanding the history and classic shapes which form the basis of the art, techniques of planting, training, pruning, watering & feeding and ways of using bonsai both indoors and outdoors. You will create several bonsai of your own during the course and receive constructive criticism from your tutor as they help you develop your own personal bonsai style and techniques.

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BUSH TUCKER PLANTS BHT328

Bush Tucker Plants
 
How to Identify, Harvest and Use Australian Native Bush Tucker Plants
 
Learn about identifying, growing and using Australian indigenous plants for food.

There are many Australian plants that are edible, and even some that are in very high demand as foods throughout the world. The Aborigines lived off the land before white civilization came to Australia. Plants contributed significantly to their diet.

There are many different types of bush tucker foods:

  • Nuts and seeds (eg. Acacia, Macadamia, bunya nuts)
  • Drinks (eg. hot teas, infusions of nectar laden flowers, fruit juices)
  • Flavourings (eg. lemon scented myrtle)
  • Berries (eg. Astroloma, some Solanum species)
  • Fruits (eg. quandong, Ficus macrophylla, Syzygium)
  • Vegetables
  • Wattle seeds ground to produce ‘flour’
  • Plant roots ground to produce a paste or flour.

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CACTI & SUCCULENTS VHT108

How to Grow Succulents and Cacti

Make a drought proof, low water garden 
 
Its been said that people either love cacti or hate them. For lovers of cacti and succulents, this comprehensive 8 lesson course is a must. The course studies major cacti & succulent groups and the differences in how to treat plants from each; in terms of soils, feeding, watering, pruning, pest control, planting procedures and more. It will stimulate your interest, and set you on the path to becoming an expert with these unique plants.

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CARNIVOROUS PLANTS VHT107

Want to Grow Carnivorous Plants?

These fascinating plants provide entertainment and stimulation to the enthusiast. Nine lessons cover a range of cultivated carnivorous plants, paying particular attention to the Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes) and Sundews (Drosera).

This is a great course for horticulturists, gardeners, nurserymen, teachers or anyone who wants to know more about this quirky but fascinating subject.

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CONIFERS BHT230

How to Grow Conifers

Growing conifers in the home garden
Growing conifers as a business
Using conifers in designed landscapes
Caring for conifers
 
 
Eight lessons provide you with a systematic understanding of the way conifers are classified, show you how to identify the differences between types and develop your understanding of cultural requirements common to the whole group and differences in cultural techniques needed for specific types of conifers. Sections of this course look in detail at trees (e.g. Pines, Cedrus, Spruce), small shrubs, medium shrubs, native conifers and rarer varieties.

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EUCALYPTS VHT117

Become an Expert with Eucalypts

How to grow, propagate and use Eucalypts
 
This course could start your career in a nursery, a re-vegetation project, in agro-forestry
in rehabilitation projects etc. 

An introduction to the genus Eucalyptus, covering identification, culture (propagation, soils, landscape uses, feeding), and uses. Throughout the course you build both a knowledge of the group as a whole, and of the range of species you can identify.

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FERNS BHT314

Grow Ferns For Pleasure or for Profit
 
A detailed look at the identification and culture of ferns. You learn to propagate (spores, division, tissue culture), different groupings (e.g. epiphytes, ground ferns, tree ferns) and both common & uncommon species. Growing techniques (baskets, indoor/outdoor containers, terrariums) and cultural methods (soils, watering, pest & disease control) are also examined.

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FUCHSIAS VHT112

Set up Your Own Fuchsia Nursery

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about fuchsias, from soil management and feeding to pruning and propagation. Learn how fuchsias are classified into several major groups, the characteristics of those groups and how/where to grow different types to achieve the best results.

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GERANIUMS & PELARGONIUMS VHT113

How to Grow Geraniums and Pelargoniums
 
There is more to Geranium and Pelargoniums than meets the eye! These wonderful plants have been seen on our window boxes for hundreds of years and are a big part of many garden lovers lives. Why not start your own business with them! Learn ways to maintain them to optimum performance. Learn how to avoid problems that can be easily cured. Learn how to take your own cuttings, grow them successfully and discover how many different types there are to choose from. In this course you will also learn this basis of all good horticulture with plant health, understanding soils, plant nutrition, cultural requirements and pest and diesase treatment. Time to get those green thumbs working!

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GROWING ANNUALS BHT319

How to Grow Annuals
Experts are required! Annuals are a valuable horticultural crop grown commercially as cut flowers, as seedlings or as advanced pots of colour. It is big business and people with dedicated expertise in this field are always sought after. This eight lesson course reveals the secrets of how to identify annual species, what to grow and when to grow each variety. It covers soil improvement, pest control, irrigation, propagation, greenhouse growing, hydroponics and much more. It is equally as useful to the home gardener and to the professional gardener as to those intending to grow annuals commercially.

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GROWING CAMELLIAS VHT109

How to Grow Camellias

A course for gardeners, nurserymen, plant breeders, horticulturists, landscapers; or anyone who works with Camellias.
 
 
Beautiful camellias are great as ornamental plants in the garden - given the right soil conditions and climate they require little attention, once established, and yet there is so much to know about them.
 
This course is a wonderful way of learning about the different groups of camellias (eg. japonicas, sasanquas, reticulatas), their special characteristics, and their culture. Develops your understanding of soils, feeding, watering, pruning, planting methods, pest & disease control, propagation, & more. Improve your ability to identify different varieties (both common and uncommon), and how to use camellias to achieve desired landscape effects.

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GROWING CARNATIONS VHT110

Growing Carnations as Cut flowers
Using Carnations in the Garden
 
Learn about growing quality carnations (planting, watering, pest & disease control, fertilizing), different ways of growing them (e.g. as row crops in soil, in hydroponics, in a greenhouse); and harvesting, post-harvest treatments, and quality control.
 
A serious course equally valuable to the home enthusiast or the commercial cut flower grower.
 

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GROWING GREVILLEAS VHT118

  • How to Grow Grevilleas
  • How to Use Grevilleas in the Garden
  • How to propagate Grevilleas
 
Become an expert on Grevilleas through this eight lesson course.

It provides a thorough grounding in identifying, growing and using grevilleas.

A valuable course for:

  • Nurserymen
  • Gardeners
  • Landscapers and Garden Designers
  • Anyone with a passion for Grevilleas

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GROWING IRIS VHT111

How to Grow, Propagate and Care for Irises
 
For the professional grower or the backyard enthusiast
This is a valuable course for anyone with a serious interest in irises either as a commercial grower or an enthusiastic home collector. You will gain an in-depth appreciation of the iris, how to grow them to achieve optimum results and the identification of different varieties of irises. Significant sections are included on landscaping with irises, hybridisation and propagation, harvest, post-harvest treatments, achieving and assessing quality, and exhibiting the flowers.

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INTERIOR PLANTS (Indoor Plants) BHT315

Work in the Interior Plantscaping Industry

Start an Indoor Plant Nursery

Work in a Garden Centre

This is a course equally applicable to the professional interior plantscaper or the home owner (or interior decorator) who aspires to achieve the very best results with their indoor plants. You will learn about the main family groups indoor plants fall into, the cultural requirements and general characteristics of each of those groups, and from there develop the ability to select the right plant for the right situation. Many types of growing methods are covered (in pots, baskets, hydroponics, terrariums, greenhouses), as well as soil mixes, propagation, pest control, feeding and lots more.

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ORCHID CULTURE BHT232

How to Grow Orchids
How to Propagate Orchids
How to Cultivate Orchids
How to Care for Orchids
 
Set up a business growing orchids
Or extend your knowledge as an orchid enthusiast
 
Get the broad picture of what orchids are all about and learn how to improve your results and grow flowers which will be the envy of all who see them. If you would like to grow your own orchids for business, cut flower market, florists or speciality groups, this is the place to start.

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PALMS & CYCADS BHT233

Become an expert in palms and cycads

Throughout this course you will learn to distinguish between the characteristics of different types of palms and cycads.
Learn the general cultural practices required to grow palms and cycads including propagation and appropriate pest and disease treatments.
Discover how to choose palms and cycads to suit different climatic situation; how to use them in the landscape and their various commercial applications.

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PERENNIALS BHT316

How to Grow and Use Perennials

A great perennials course for the professional gardener, garden designer, nursery person, propagator.
 
Opportunities abound! Perennials are versatile, beautiful and important to the landscaping industry as well as the nurseries that grow and supply them. As the climate changes and gardening becomes more difficult then ever before, gardeners are increasing looking for tough reliable plants. Perennials are very popular  with gardeners mainly because in this group of plants you will discover the toughest and yet most beautiful examples of garden plants. There are opportunities in this field for knowledgeable people, with a passion for perennials, to propagate, grow and advise clients on their cultural requirements and how to use them in their gardens or public parks.  

Perennials come in all forms, from herbaceous plants that die down in the winter and re-emerge in spring (year after year), to plants that retain their soft-stemmed leafy growth year round. Although beautiful, many perennials are also tough and very much adapted to a variety of climates - ranging from very dry to wet. Some have colourful foliage as well as beautiful flowers, others add architectural interest - but all add excitement and diversity to the landscape or garden as they burst into flower each year. Discover what perennials are, which perennial plants are most popular today, their cultural requirements (ie. feeding, watering, soil requirements, pruning, pest control), and learn how to use them to create beautiful landscapes. A course equally valuable to landscapers, nurserymen, cut flower growers and garden enthusiasts.

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PROTEAS BHT318

Become a Protea Expert

Learn all about growing proteas
  • Grow and sell Cut Flower Proteas
  • Start a Protea Nursery

Learn where and how to grow Proteas and their relatives in the Proteaceae family. With the right cultural techniques (e.g. proper drainage, soil treatments, irrigation methods, feeding, pruning, weed control), you can achieve top quality, large blooms in what might otherwise be considered poor horticultural conditions.

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ROSES BHT231

 

How to Grow, Propagate,  Care for and use Roses.
 
Looking to enter the field of rose growing or to further your career potential?
Then further your knowledge with this unique and comprehensive rose growing course, aimed at both  professionals and amateur growers. 

 

The value of rose blooms extends beyond the ornamental garden; roses are grown for many reasons including: the cut flower trade, for perfume extraction, to harvest the hips and for rose oil. This course covers all these aspects and much more. Learn the history of the rose, the confusing rose classification system, how to identify the different species, their general cultural needs (soils, pests and disease management and pruning), how to use roses in garden design and how to produce a commercial rose crop. 

Roses, often referred to as 'The Queen of the Garden', are one of the most popular and prized ornamental plants. They are included in the greatest gardens in the world and many claim roses to be the most beautiful flower in existence. 

This course could set you on the path to success.

 

 

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SCENTED PLANTS BHT229

How to Grow and Use Scented Plants - A course for:

  • Landscape Designers and Contractors
  • Trade Gardeners
  • Horticulturists and plant lovers wishing to extend their plant knowledge
  • Herb farmers interested in exploring a wider scope of scented plants
  • Those setting up sensory gardens

Learn to identify, grow (propagation and culture), and use different types of scented plants. You will find out how to harvest and dry scented plants, and through practical assignments actually make a whole range of exciting herb crafts (e.g. pot pourri, soaps, candles). Learn also how to landscape a scented garden and expand your knowledge of dozens of different scented plant species.

 

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TROPICAL PLANTS BHT234

Growing Tropical Plants

Work in a Nursery, Garden or Design Tropical Landscapes.

Improve your knowledge of tropical plants and how to grow them - in or outside of tropical regions. 

Some people would think a tropical is a plant that comes from the tropics. Others might consider tropical to also include plants from sub tropical places. This course is concentrating on plants which originate from tropical or sub tropical climates; but there may be some plants covered which fit a looser definition of “tropical”.

This course provides valuable instruction for both growing plants in warm places or in protected places such as greenhouses and inside homes or offices.

Study many of the significant tropical plants including: Heliconias, Alpinia, Hedychium, Zingiber, Musa, Costus, Cordylines, palms and cycads, climbers, shrubs, trees, orchids, ferns, Aroids and Bromeliads, herbs, vegetables and fruit bearing plants, etc.

 

This course also covers: This course also covers: plant names/classification (scientific and common), climatic conditions, plants suited to your locality; cultural practices: understanding soils, naming a soil, propagation, watering, feeding, pruning etc. Growing tropical plants outside the tropics and indoors - in different climates and conditions.

Discover: how to landscape with tropical plants and how to use colour and texture; how to select appropriate plants for; how to plan a courtyard and prepare sketch plans.

A great course for those working in or wanting to work in this field.

 

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