This second unit covers the management of soils, growing media and plant nutrition, and an understanding of organic growing systems.

It builds on the basics of RHS level 2 'Plant Nutrition and the Root Environment'.

Correspondence course 

We will send you full-colour printed course materials, plus a revision workbook test paper,  for each unit. Your tutor can be contacted via email to support you in your studies, marking your revision workbook and mock examination papers to give you feedback and help you to prepare for examinations. You will also have access to the online classroom as a backup, to get reminders about examinations and to network with other students.

Exams

The theory Certificates are assessed by national exams set by the RHS each year in February and June. Each unit has its own  short written exam.

We do not enter you for the examinations, but we will make you aware through the online classroom of exam dates and deadlines and your tutor will give you guidance on whether you are ready to take the exams. 

When you have passed exams in all the units, the Royal Horticultural Society will award a Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Health and Applied Propagation.

If you successfully complete the other theory Certificate, and the RHS Level 3 Practical Certificate in Horticulture as well, the RHS will award you a Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture.

Your enrolment gives you online access and tutor support until the final examinations which the RHS hold for this form of the Certificate.

Study at home, or whenever and wherever it suits you, with your full colour printed course books.

Individual units are  £150 each.

These course costs do not include RHS examination fees  (currently about 30 per unit, but prices increase each year in September so please consult the booking page for current fees). 

These fees are paid to the RHS by the Centre where you choose to take your exams, and while we offer our students the facility to take exams at our Ryton Centre, this may not be the most convenient location for you. You can arrange to take examinations at any Centre which offers your specific exam and which will accept an external candidate. The RHS website gives guidance on finding an exam centre. you can also choose to take your exams online using your own computer and remote invigilation - for this you need to contact the RHS direct on onlineexams@rhs.org.uk.

You can enrol and buy your chosen units on the website using PayPal.

Your username and password for the online classroom should be emailed to you automatically; please check spam filters if you do not see an email within an hour, and contact us if nothing has arrived overnight; correspondence materials will be sent out within a week. 

This is the second unit in the Level 3 Plant Growth Certificate which is offered only as a completion to anyone studying this qualification and buying units individually.

Units 3 and 4 are also available individually to complete the Certificate.