Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting, Biological Control for Greenhouse Growers, and Floriculture Root Zone Management
MSU to launch three new greenhouse courses
These non-credit courses in the series are pre-recorded and registrants have three months (June 1 to Aug. 31, 2017) to complete the course. Students in the course will take a pre-test and a final exam to gauge their learning on the topics. Registrants also can complete the optional self-assessment quizzes to engage with the material throughout the course. Each of the courses are $129.
There are four scholarships for each of the three courses for those interested but do not currently have the financial means to take it. The cost of the course will be reduced to $39.99 for scholarship winners. Interested greenhouse growers should see the registration websites below for more details. Registration for all three courses closes May 31.
Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting
The Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting Course is intended for greenhouse and ornamental plant growers and others interested in learning about the fundamental concepts about how plants respond to light quality, quantity and duration. It provides introductory to moderately-challenging content based on experiments performed at MSU and Purdue University. The units in the course cover photoperiod, photoperiodic lighting, light quality, quantity and duration, and factors that should be considered when replacing or installing new lamps.
To date, a total of 140 people have taken this course from 20 countries, including 28 U.S. states and 14 counties of Michigan. In the most recent session, which ended January 2017, 100 percent of course participants said they would recommend the course to another individual! As a result of the course, 73 percent of people intended to make a crop production change.
Register for Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting.
Biological Control for Greenhouse Growers
MSU Extension partnered with Raymond Cloyd from Kansas State University Extension to offer an online course on biological control pest management. It is intended for greenhouse growers and others interested in learning about the challenges and opportunities associated with a biological control pest management program. The content of the course covers introductory materials to more advanced concepts such as utilizing banker plants.
A total of 133 people have taken the Biological Control of Greenhouse Growers course from nine countries, including 24 U.S. states and 12 counties of Michigan. In the most recent session, which ended January 2017, 81 percent of respondents intended to make a change in their pest management practices as a result of the course.
Register for Biological Control for Greenhouse Growers.
Floriculture Root Zone Management
The Floriculture Root Zone Management course is for beginning level floriculture growers. It covers the fundamental concepts about irrigation water, media and their effects on plant nutrition. The course covers water sources, water quality, water treatment, irrigation methodology and substrate components. The final unit of the course covers the essential elements for plant nutrition, how to select a fertilizer and how to monitor nutrition of greenhouse crops.
Register for Floriculture Root Zone Management.
Source: MSU Extension