About this workshop
Understanding your potting mix is a key component to successful growing. This is a practical hands-on workshop. The workshop provides staff with the practical skills needed to measure and evaluate the physical and chemical properties of potting mixes using the Australian Standard AS3743 – 2003.
The testing procedure is demonstrated in a video reinforced by the facilitator. The facilitator then guides the participants whilst they perform the tests on potting mixes.
After performing the tests the participants will use basic plant diagnostic skills to identify problems that may exist in container plants in nurseries. Then through group discussion and brain-storming activities they will offer solutions to problems associated with potting mixes - all this in the context of Nursery Best Practice.
Workshop outcomes
At the completion of the workshop participants will be able to:
- Describe the purpose of the Australian Standard for Potting Mixes AS3743 – 2003
- Carry out the following tests on potting mixes
- Air-filled porosity
- Total Water Holding Capacity
- Wettability
- pH
- Electrical conductivity
- Toxicity
- Air-filled porosity
- Interpret the results of these tests by comparison with the Australian Standard
- Recognise potential nutrient problems by visual evaluation
- Recommend a range of remedial actions that could be used to rectify identified problems
- Present a case for managing nurseries in an environmentally safe manner in the context of Nursery Best Practice
Pre-requisites
Participants should have completed the Growing Media I workshop (Identifying, Handling & Recommending Growing Media) or have the equivalent knowledge. This workshop builds on the knowledge and activities covered in Level 1.
Workshop outline
- Welcome and Introduction
- What is required from a potting mix
- What we want from a potting mix
- The process of diagnosis
- Setting up a CSI kit
- Getting to the root of potting mix problems
- Testing the physical properties of potting mixes – Air-filled porosity, Water holding capacity, wettability
- Adjusting physical properties
- Testing the chemical properties of potting mixes – pH, Electrical conductivity
- Testing nitrogen drawdown and toxicity
- Testing for nutrients
- Adjusting chemical properties
- Industry Best Practice
Target audience
Industry members who are supervisors, technical staff or specialists working in or for container nurseries where potting mixes are manufactured, used or sold.
Staff working in retail garden centres who are interested in the more complete story of potting mixes would find this workshop useful as an extension.
Workshop prerequisites
There are no pre-requisites. This is the first in the series of two sessions on Growing media.
Session length
6 hours (either as a one-day session or as 2 half-day sessions) + breaks
CNP activity points
6 CNP points
For more information
For more information about this workshop contact your state or territory Nursery & Garden Industry Association.
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