Online training opportunities for greenhouse and nursery growers: Part 1

Greenhouse and nursery growers can beat the heat by exploring numerous online video training opportunities to brush up their skills and knowledge during the off season.

July 2016 has brought temperatures in the 90s and 100s across the United States. Greenhouse growers that want to beat the heat can do so by exploring numerous online training materials this summer. In Part 1 of this article, I will review training materials through Electronic Grower Resources Online (e-GRO). Michigan State University Extension recommends growers subscribe to the many resources e-GRO offers: alerts (articles), videos, webinars, e-books and research reports from the e-GRO team.

Specifically, I would like to make growers aware of the 57 free videos available through e-GRO University and those available through e-GRO on YouTube. These videos are categorized by greenhouse management, growth management, nutrient management, insects and mites, and diseases. Unless otherwise noted, all of the following videos can be found at e-GRO University.

Greenhouse management e-GRO videos

Topic

Volume

Duration (minutes)

Structure Types and Terminology

1.01

20

Glazing Materials

1.02

28

Overview of Greenhouse Heating

1.03

20

Greenhouse Cooling

1.04

19

Plant Growth and Development

1.05

21

Carbon Dioxide Injection

1.06

9

Growth management e-GRO videos

Topic

Volume

Duration (minutes)

Managing Photoperiod in the Greenhouse

2.01

12

Measuring and Monitoring Photosynthetic Light in a Greenhouse

2.02

17

 

Effects of Increasing Light Quantity on Greenhouse

2.03

17

Effects of Light Quality and Duration on a Greenhouse

2.04

20

Managing Photosynthetic Light in a Greenhouse

2.05

15

Effects of Temperature on Greenhouse Crops

2.06

16

Measuring Temperature in a Greenhouse

2.07

10

Environmental and Cultural Management of Plant Growth

2.08

25

PGR Options

2.09

45

PGR Calculations

2.10

13

Propagating Vegetative Cuttings

2.11

17

Disbudding and Flower Removal

2.12

8

Overview of Irrigation Methods

2.13

18

Physiological Disorders Caused by Environmental Stresses

2.14

15

Pinching

2.15

8

Spacing

2.16

11

Watering Potted Crops

2.17

8

Watering Plugs and Bedding Plants

2.18

7

 

Nutrient management e-GRO videos

Topic

Volume

Duration (minutes)

Media Physical Properties, Part 1

3.01

9

Media Physical Properties, Part 2

3.02

11

Mixing, Handling, and Filling Root Media

3.03

14

Controlled Release Fertilizers

3.04

11

Fertilizer Calculations

3.05

9

Water Soluble Fertilizers

3.06

11

How Fertilizer Formula Influences Plant Growth

3.07

14

Injector Selection and Maintenance

3.08

13

How to take Water, Tissue and Medium Samples

3.09

20

Pour-thru Nutritional Monitoring

3.10

48

Understanding Alkalinity

3.11

28

Nutritional Disorders_ Part 1

3.12

14

Nutritional Disorders Part 2

3.13

38

Nutritional Disorders Part 3

3.14

9

Nutritional Disorders Part 4

3.15

30

Nutrient Management Triangle

3.16

10

 

Diagnosing nutrient disorders of Angelonia and Gloxinia e-GRO videos (YouTube)

Topic

Nitrogen vs Sulfur Deficiency (Angelonia)

Calcium vs Boron Deficiency (Angelonia)

Magnesium vs Potassium Deficiency (Angelonia)

Magnesium vs Manganese Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Nitrogen Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Phosphorus Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Potassium Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Calcium Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Magnesium Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Sulfur Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Boron Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Boron Toxicity (Gloxinia)

Iron Deficiency (Gloxinia)

Manganese Deficiency (Gloxinia)

 

Insects and mites e-GRO videos

Topic

Volume

Duration (minutes)

Insect and Mite Pest Identification and Damage Symptoms

4.01

14

How to Scout for Insect and Mite Pests

4.02

14

Sanitation

4.03

12

How to Use Pesticides Effectively

4.04

13

How to Use Biological Controls Effectively

4.05

13

How to Effectively Scout for Pest Management Problems

-

6

Correctly Diagnosing Insect Mite and Pest Problems

-

6

Implementing Biological Controls

-

6

 

Diseases e-GRO videos

Topic

Volume

Duration (minutes)

What is a Plant Disease

5.01

24

Diagnosis of Plant Diseases

5.02

15

Powdery Mildews

5.03

11

Downy Mildews

5.04

10

Botrytis Blight

5.05

9

Fungal and Bacterial Leaf Spots

5.06

13

Rusts

5.07

10

Vascular Wilts

5.08

12

Damping off and Root Rot Diseases

5.09

15

Diagnosis of Plant Diseases

5.10

15

Diseases of Geraniums

5.11

27

Geranium Disease Management

5.12

29 

For those looking for more in-depth courses, refer to “Online training opportunities for greenhouse and nursery growers: Part 2.”

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