Agriculture and Nature Conservation Horticulture

Treat Floristry Plant Material Training

SAQA US 119693 | NQF 2 | Credits 7 | Duration 4 Days
From $1,107 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively treat floristry plant material, including the use of preservatives, pest control, and conditioning techniques. It ensures compliance with South African health and safety standards while maintaining the quality and longevity of floral products.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify and apply appropriate treatment methods for floristry plant material to extend vase life.
  • Demonstrate safe handling and application of preservatives and pest control agents.
  • Evaluate plant material for signs of disease, pest infestation, or damage and implement corrective measures.
  • Apply conditioning techniques to prepare plant material for display or sale.
  • Comply with relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations during treatment processes.

Target Audience

This course is designed for florists, horticulturists, and floral industry workers who handle plant material and require training in safe treatment practices.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Floristry Plant Material and Handling Principles

Objectives:
• Identify common cut flowers, foliage, and fillers used in South African floristry.
• Explain the physiological needs of fresh plant material.
• Demonstrate correct initial processing and hydration techniques.
• Recognize signs of poor quality or damage in plant material.

Topics:
• Overview of the floristry industry in South Africa.
• Classification of plant material: flowers, foliage, fillers, and exotics.
• Plant physiology basics: transpiration, respiration, and water uptake.
• Receiving and inspecting stock: quality indicators.
• Step-by-step processing: stripping, cutting, and conditioning.
• Use of floral preservatives and clean water.
• Storage requirements: temperature, humidity, and ethylene control.
• Safety and hygiene in the work area.

Day 2: Conditioning and Extending Vase Life

Objectives:
• Apply specialised conditioning methods for different plant types.
• Implement techniques to prolong vase life.
• Manage ethylene-sensitive materials correctly.
• Troubleshoot common post-harvest problems.

Topics:
• Specific conditioning for woody stems (e.g., roses, proteas).
• Conditioning for soft stems (e.g., tulips, freesias).
• Use of hot water, boiling water, and flame treatments.
• Ethylene management: sources, effects, and prevention.
• Refrigeration best practices and cold chain management.
• Hydration solutions: pH, biocides, and sugar additives.
• Reviving wilted or stressed material.
• Identifying and resolving issues like bent neck, leaf yellowing, and premature drop.

Day 3: Care and Maintenance of Plant Material in the Floristry Environment

Objectives:
• Maintain plant material quality during design and display.
• Implement daily care routines for shop and studio.
• Monitor environmental conditions and adjust as needed.
• Apply sustainable practices to reduce waste.

Topics:
• Daily care routines: recutting, water changes, and cleaning containers.
• Designing with longevity in mind: material placement and mechanics.
• Environmental monitoring: light, temperature, and air circulation.
• Managing mixed arrangements with varying needs.
• Waste reduction: composting, recycling, and repurposing.
• Record keeping: stock rotation and loss tracking.
• Customer advice on home care to extend vase life.
• Sanitation protocols for tools, buckets, and work surfaces.

Day 4: Advanced Applications and Practical Integration

Objectives:
• Apply all learned principles to create a professional arrangement with maximum longevity.
• Evaluate and adjust care protocols based on real-time observations.
• Troubleshoot complex issues in a simulated business scenario.
• Compile a personal reference guide for ongoing practice.

Topics:
• Practical assessment: design and condition an arrangement for a 5-day event.
• Simulated business scenarios: handling large orders and varied materials.
• Advanced troubleshooting: diagnosing hidden issues and corrective actions.
• Developing a quality assurance checklist for daily operations.
• Creating a personal care guide: species-specific notes and reminders.
• Review of key concepts and Q&A.
• Certification criteria and next steps for professional development.
• Course wrap-up and feedback.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Thu 10 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
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Mon 06 Dec 2027 Thu 09 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
Tue 28 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 528 sessions across 26 venues
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Mon 05 Jul 2027 Thu 08 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 27 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,436 Register
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Mon 03 Jan 2028 Thu 06 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,436 Register
Tue 25 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,436 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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