Horticulture Department Programs
 
 

Horticulture has a direct relationship to many fields of study at the Oaksterdam University. Horticulture also dovetails well with a Patient Relations education, those wanting more from their Methods of Ingestion, Expert Witness Training and greatly assists communications for instruction of others and journalism. We have expanded the courses available to better tailor to your needs. Whether you are learning to start a small garden for yourself or going into production for others in your collective, we have specialized classes that will maximize your productivity!



Oaksterdam University Presents the Basic Horticulture Semester: Offered for new students in the Cannabis Industry.

The Semester Course is best suited for students new to Oaksterdam University who can meet regularly for ten weeks, with no previous growing experience necessary. The Basic Indoor Horticulture Semester is comprised of 10 individual classes that meet once per week for two and a half hours of instruction per class, totaling roughly 25 hours of classroom and lab instruction, plus opportunities for additional lab time with an OU Lab Tech. The Horticulture Semester includes all of our prerequisite core classes for an overview into vital facets of cannabis, as well as do-it-yourself (DIY) opportunities. An advanced Horticulture Semester is available if you have taken your Prerequisite Core Curriculum or Basic 101 Weekend Seminar (read below).

If you are new to cannabis altogether, or growing is your goal and you are looking to learn more, this semester offers you necessary basics focusing on a quality horticulture education. Each week includes a comprehensive grow lab with accomplished growers who can walk you through starting your first garden, or help you identify opportunities to improve your current system. This course can enable you to be a good grower, a responsible citizen, an educated voter, and a prepared advocate for yourself and others. We are offering the new student SIHX Horticulture Semester on Tuesdays at the Oakland Campus. This course is designed for adults 18 and over who are qualified patients and caregivers, however you are not required to be a patient to take this course.

Students who choose to attend the Horticulture Semester Course can potentially achieve:
  • Certificate of Completion
    • Attend all classes, labs and pass the final exam.
  • Certificate of Completion with Honors
    • In order to receive full semester certification, the student must complete weekly homework and lab assignments and attend a field trip, attend all classes and labs, and pass the final exam.
  • Certificate of Achievement with Honors
    • Attaining Class Valedictorian will earn a certificate of achievement. In order to receive the highest honors currently available, the student must complete above requirements, and pass the final exam with the highest overall score among their semester peers.

Semester Indoor Horticulture 10 Week Program (SIHX)

Week 1 Politics & History
Lecture: Get a detailed overview of the politics and history surrounding cannabis, historically referred to as hemp or marihuana. This course covers the political history of cannabis, as well as important legal decisions that affect both individual patients and their collectives. Learn about historical events leading up to our political climate while getting the latest information on current court cases and legislative decisions that may affect you.

Horticulture Lab 1:
Horticulture Lab 1:
  • Introduction to OU Grow Lab
    • Starting from Seeds
  • Germination of Seeds Demonstration:
    • Living illustration of seed germination
    • How to plant a seed

Week 2 Legal: Federal Vs State Law
Lecture: Learn about the laws that govern cannabis allocation, cultivation, possession, and consumption for adults and medical patients. Have your questions answered by prominent cannabis lawyers. What's the difference between state & federal law and what does that mean for you? Learn how to behave safely and responsibly under California Law, and understand how to choose the best practices to fit your lifestyle.

Horticulture Lab 2:
  • Multiple Mediums Demonstration:
    • Planting with multiple mediums
    • Display functions of various mediums
  • DIY: Planting into your 4" pot
    • Plant seeds
  • Transplanting Lab:
    • Transplanting in multiple stages of growth
    • Transplanting into diverse media
    • Root mass development
  • DIY: Transplanting
    • Topping

Week 3 Civics & Economics

Lectures: Civics: Apply your legal rights: What is a qualified patient, and how do you become one? What are your rights under the law? How do you exercise your rights to navigate police encounters successfully? Learn your civic rights and responsibilities to positively contribute to our community and the cannabis industry. This class is a must for anyone in contact with cannabis on any level, including patients, caregivers, doctors, and the entire work force within the cannabis industry.

Economic$: Taxation and Regulation of cannabis, the largest cash crop in California, is on the ballot for 2010. Eighty percent of Americans agree that current policy has failed. Oaksterdam University Students, Alumni, Volunteers, Faculty, Staff and Instructors are working hard to make safer communities through the regulation of cannabis for adult possession and personal cultivation, as well as giving local cities and counties the option to regulate sales and commercial cultivation. This class will touch on the basics of the voter initiative and help you to facilitate the discussion about the economics of cannabusiness with your family, friends, community leaders and elected officials.




Horticulture Lab 3:
  • Exploring Ways to Water Demonstration:
    • Bottom Feeding
    • Top Feeding/Drip
    • Wicking
    • Ebb & Flow
  • Preparing Proper pH Levels Demonstration:
    • pH Up and Down
    • pH Reference Solution
    • TDS Reference Solution
  • DIY Lab:
    • Calibration of Meters
    • pH Water
    • Prepare Rock wool

Week 4 The Science of Cannabis

Lecture: How does cannabis affect your body? Unlock your understanding of the human receptor system through our body's interaction with the cannabis plant. Know the facts; learn the science! Be trained to debunk commonly cited studies against cannabis and review studies in the past that have impacted the social environment surrounding cannabis today. Discuss emerging ethical and political issues regarding new cannabinoid research. Discover new therapeutic uses and explore the clinical benefits, research summaries, and scientific applications of cannabis.

Horticulture Lab 4:
Anatomy and Physiology of the Cannabis Plant Lab:
  • Compare architectural Vs mechanical (animal)body design
    • Growth and Development
    • Sexing
  • Plant Psychology and Morphology Lab: Plant responses to their environment
    • Metabolism, cell division, properties of tissues in the stem, roots, leaves and flowers

Week 5 Indoor Horticulture Safely and Responsibly

Lecture: Learn how to grow cannabis from start through harvest. This semester course covers everything needed to get going and produce a harvest. Instructors will detail the life cycle of a plant, watering, lighting, environmental controls, and equipment options. The next six weeks are focused exclusively on the aspects of indoor horticulture and takes you step by step through the process of growing your own garden.

  • Good Neighbor Relations and Security Best Practices:
    • Discretion & Safety
    • Controlling Visitors & Visuals
    • Sealing your Grow Space Odor & Light Pollution
    • Hygiene, Cross Contamination & Waste Disposal
Horticulture Lab 5:
  • Equipment Demonstration:
    • Identifying your basic material & equipment needs
    • Appropriate use of equipment
    • Exploring various types equipment, pro's and con's of growing spaces
    • Understanding your limits and options
  • DIY: Measuring and calculating your grow space
    • Determining the most efficient grow methods for your space
    • Start Hort project for healthy plants and a healthy wallet

Week 6 Electrical Safety and Lighting

Lecture: Understand your capabilities and limitations with respect to electrical safety. Know when to hire a professional, and how to talk to an Electrician. Learn the differences between requirements and responsibilities for commercial and residential. We will show you how to perform electrical installation up to code without electrical and fire hazards from a qualified Journeyman Electrician. The lesson plan will cover AC & DC theory, load calculations, and safety instructional methods for electrical installations the correct way to avoid electrical and fire hazards, such as circuit overloads.<

  • Electrical (OHM's Law) Theory
  • Formulas for Load Calculations
  • How to use calculated formulas and apply them for amps, voltage, resistance and power
  • Proper way for Installation for Indoor/Outdoor applications
  • Identification and corrections of electrical and fire hazards
  • Equipment and materials such as main service panels, subpanels and disconnects
  • Devices such as circuit breakers, fuses, switches, smoke detectors, and fans
  • Voltage: Low, medium and high voltages

Horticulture Lab 6:
Lighting Demonstration:
  • Light Coverage, Spectrum and Intensity
    • High Intensity Discharge Lamps (High Pressure Sodium, Metal Halide)
    • Florescent Lamps (T-5, T-8 & T-12)
  • Reflective Hoods: Horizontal, Vertical & Air-Cooled fixtures
  • DIY: Load Calculations

Week 7 Fundamentals for the Life Cycles of the Plant
Lecture:
  • Nutrients & Water Quality
    • Plant Nutrition, Feeding Schedules
    • Macro/Micro Nutrients, 19 Essential Elements
    • What to use, how to utilize nutrients properly
  • Mediums & Hydroponics
    • Soil, Coco Coir Fibre, Ebb & Flow Systems
  • Air
    • Climate control, controlling airflow, CO2
  • Light
    • Light cycles from the plant's point of view
  • Temp/Humidity
    • Limits and Thresholds
Horticulture Lab 7: Plant Nutrition Demonstration:
  • Mixing Nutrients
  • Applying Fertilization
  • DIY: Water Run-Off Test

Week 8 Plant Propagation
Lecture:
  • Planning Crop Cycles
  • Seeds vs. Clones
  • Nursery Management
  • Propagation Techniques (Cuttings & Cloning)
  • Pruning and Topping
Horticulture Lab 8:
  • Climate Control Demonstration:
    • Intake/Exhaust fans step-by-step
  • Cutting Demonstration:
    • Preparing the Mother
    • Processing the cuttings
  • DIY: Taking Cuttings
    • Insertion Process
    • Pruning from the bottom

Week 9 Troubleshooting Pests and Pathogens
Lecture:
Pests
  • Identifying pests, their life cycles, and consequences
  • Options for treatment in different plant life cycles: organic, poison, predatory insects
  • Scheduling and implementing your plan for elimination
  • Pest Prevention, Quarantine Procedures
Disease
  • Environmental & Genetic Causes for disease
  • Identifying symptoms & treatments for diseases
  • Quarantine Procedures for prevention
Mold and Mildew
  • Environmental Controls
Contaminates
  • Pets and Pests
  • Additives and Adulterants
Horticulture Lab 9: Problem Solving Demonstration:
  • Diseases, Virus and Fungal
  • Pests, Parasites and predators
  • Malnourishment and Mobility
  • DIY: Mixing and applying foiler sprays and dips
    • Organic solutions

Week 10 Harvesting Strategies
Lecture:
Harvest
  • Plant Maturity, Leaves, Sinsemilla
  • Step by Step Harvesting Techniques
  • Manicuring
Preparing for extraction for cooking and extracts
  • Time, Storage, Temperature, Humidity and Darkness
  • Preparing for allocation
    • Horticulture Lab 10: Grading Demonstration:
    • Preparing medical grade cannabis
    • Grading and Weighing
    • DIY: Grading Exercise
    • Preparing for allocation of medicine


    Horticulture has a direct relationship to many fields of study at the Oaksterdam University. Horticulture also dovetails well with a Patient Relations education, those wanting more from their Methods of Ingestion, Expert Witness Training and greatly assists communications for instruction of others and journalism. We have expanded the courses available to better tailor to your needs. Whether you are learning to start a small garden for yourself or going into production for others in your collective, we have specialized classes that will maximize your productivity!



    Oaksterdam University Presents:
    The Alumni Advanced Horticulture Semester

    Designed for Alumni and experienced students in the Cannabis Industry by popular demand, we have launched a 10-week Advanced Alumni Horticulture Semester Program for our students who have already completed the core prerequisite legal, politics, history, civics, and science classes with us. Classes are held once a week at the Oakland Campus on Saturday Morning. The Semester Course is best suited for students who can meet regularly for ten weeks, with no previous growing experience necessary.

    Oaksterdam University presents the most comprehensive specialized horticulture training for the Cannabis Industry. The Alumni Advanced Horticulture Semester is comprised of 10 individual classes that meet once per week for two and a half hours of instruction per class, totaling roughly 25 hours of classroom and lab instruction, plus additional lab time with OU Lab Techs and instructors, as well as do-it-yourself (DIY) opportunities. If you are new to cannabis altogether, or growing is your goal and you are looking to learn more, this semester offers you comprehensive horticulture focused education. Each week includes a grow lab with accomplished growers who can walk you through starting your first garden, or help you identify opportunities to improve your current system. We are offering the new student SAHX Advanced Alumni Horticulture Semester on Saturdays at the Oakland Campus. This course is designed for adults 18 and over who are qualified patients and caregivers, however you are not required to be a patient to take this course. You must have completed the core curriculum prior to the start date of this course.

    The Alumni Advanced Horticulture Semester Course (course code SAHX) includes:
    This semester is designed for students who are interested in taking only horticulture classes and labs. One "Current Events" introduction course will update you on important court decisions and legislation that may affect the way you cultivate.
    • A comprehensive, weekly horticulture lab to support and enhance lecture topics.
    • Industry leaders as instructors, lab technicians, guest speakers and mentors.
    • Open Hort Lab Time on Tuesdays reserved for Semester Horticulture Students only
    Students who choose to attend the Horticulture Semester Course can potentially achieve:
    • Certificate of Completion: Attend all classes and labs, complete class lab project & pass the final exam
    • Certificate of Completion with Honors: In order to receive full semester certification, the student must complete weekly homework, class lab project, attend a field trip, attend all classes and labs, and pass the final exam.
    • Valedictorian Certificate of Achievement with Honors: In order to qualify to receive the highest honors currently available, the student must complete above requirements, and pass the final exam with the highest overall score among their semester peers.
    COURSE CURRICULUM

    Week 1 Introduction and Current Events
    Lecture:
    • Welcome/Intro/Code of Conduct
    • Updates/Current Events in the Cannabis Movement
    Horticulture Lab 1:
    • Introduction to Semester Grow Lab
    • Starting from seeds, seed selection, obtaining seeds, researching genetic history, feminized seeds
    • Germination of Seeds Demonstration
      • Conditions for effective seed germination
      • How to germinate and sow a seedling
    • DIY:
      • Starting the germination process
      • Planting into your 4" pot

    Week 2 Starting from Cuttings/Intro to Vegetative Growth

    Lecture:
    • Seeds vs. Cuttings: advantages & disadvantages
    • Quarantining new plants
    • What is vegetative growth?
    • Light Cycle: 18hr vs. 24hr
    • Transplanting/Root Development
    • Acclimating Plants: Light/Temp/Humidity Shifts
    • Internodal Space/Branching
    • Topping/Bending/Pruning Techniques
    Horticulture Lab 2:
    • Multiple Mediums Demonstration:
      • Display various planting mediums and their functions
      • Grow Media Preparation: Mixing and amending grow media
    • Transplanting Lab:
      • Transplanting in various stages of growth
      • Transplanting into diverse media
      • Demonstration of root mass development
      • Topping and Bending
    • DIY:
      • Transplanting cuttings
      • Topping

    Week 3 Nutrients and pH: Mixing, Measuring & Adjusting
    Lecture:
    • Feeding & H20
    • Macronutrients
    • Nutrient Ratios & Levels for Various Stages of Growth
    • Watering/Feeding Frequency
    • Flushing
    • pH
    • Ways to Water: Manual vs. Automated
    Horticulture Lab 3:
    • Preparing Proper pH Levels Demonstration:
      • pH Up and Down
      • pH Reference Solution
      • TDS Reference Solution
    • Exploring Ways to Water Demonstration:
      • Bottom Feeding/Top Feeding/Drip
      • Wicking
      • Ebb & Flow
    • Demonstration/DIY Lab:
      • Calibration of Meters
      • Mixing a Simple Nutrient Solution
      • Measuring and Adjusting PPM & pH
      • Conditioning Rock wool

    Week 4 Flowering and Plant Propagation
    Lecture:
    • What is Flowering?
    • Light Cycle Shift
    • Pre-flowering/Sexing
    • Planning Crop Cycles
    • Flowering for "Perpetual Harvest"
    • Propagation Techniques: Seeds/Cuttings/Tissue Culture
    • Selective vs. Non-Selective Breeding through Pollination
    • Mothers & Cuttings
    • Tissue Culture
    • Nursery Management
    • Pruning
    Horticulture Lab 4:
    • Cutting Demonstration:
      • Preparing and Caring for Mother Plants
      • Conditioning Rock Wool
      • Taking Cuttings
    • DIY:
      • Process of Taking Cuttings and Insertion
      • Pruning from the bottom

    Week 5 Conditions for Optimal Plant Growth
    Lecture:
    • Nutrients & Water Quality
    • Plant Nutrition, Feeding Schedules
    • Macro/Micro Nutrients, 19 Essential Elements
    • What to use, how to utilize nutrients properly
    • Over/Under-Fertilization
    • Mediums: Soil --> Hydroponics --> Aeroponics --> Deep Water Culture
      • Soil, Coco Coir Fibre, Ebb & Flow Systems
    • Air
      • Ventilation, controlling airflow, CO2, Oxygen
    • Light
      • Light (cycles/intensity/spectrum) from the plant's point of view
    • Temperature/Humidity
      • Limits and Thresholds
      • Transpiration
    Horticulture Lab 5:
    • Anatomy and Physiology of the Cannabis Plant Lab:
      • Compare architectural Vs mechanical (animal) body design
      • Growth and Development
      • Sexing
    • Plant Psychology and Morphology Lab: Plant responses to their environment
      • Metabolism, cell division, properties of tissues in the stem, roots, leaves and flowers
    • Discussion/Workshop: Diagnosing Nutrient Issues
    • Demonstration/DIY: Test of Water Run-off

    Week 6 Indoor Horticulture Safely and Responsibly/Intro to Grow Equipment
    Lecture:
    • Good Neighbor Relations and Security Best Practices:
    • Zoning
    • Electrical Safety (in-depth next week)
    • Discretion & Safety
    • Controlling Visitors & Visuals
    • Sealing your Grow Space: Odor & Light Control
    • Hygiene, Cross Contamination
    • Waste Disposal
    Horticulture Lab 6:
    • Equipment Demonstration:
      • Identifying your basic material & equipment needs
      • Appropriate use of equipment
      • Exploring various types equipment
      • Pro's and con's of growing spaces
      • Understanding your limits and options
    • DIY:
      • Ventilation: step-by-step
      • Measuring and calculating your grow space
      • Determining the most efficient grow methods for your space

    Week 7 Electrical Safety and Lighting
    Lecture:
    Understand your capabilities and limitations with respect to electrical safety. Know when to hire a professional, and how to talk to an Electrician. Learn the differences between requirements and responsibilities for commercial and residential. We will show you how to perform electrical installation up to code without electrical and fire hazards from a qualified Journeyman Electrician. The lesson plan will cover AC & DC theory, load calculations, and safety instructional methods for electrical installations the correct way to avoid electrical and fire hazards, such as circuit overloads.
    • Electrical (OHM's Law) Theory
    • Formulas for Load Calculations
    • How to use calculated formulas; apply them for amps, voltage, resistance and power
    • Proper way for Installation for Indoor/Outdoor Applications
    • Identification and corrections of electrical and fire hazards
    • Equipment and materials such as main service panels, sub panels and disconnects
    • Devices such as circuit breakers, fuses, switches, smoke detectors, and fans
    • Voltage: Low, medium and high voltages
    Horticulture Lab 7:
    Lighting Demonstration:
    • Light Coverage, Spectrum and Intensity
      • High Intensity Discharge Lamps (High Pressure Sodium, Metal Halide)
      • Florescent Lamps (T-5, T-8 & T-12)
    • Reflective Hoods: Horizontal, Vertical & Air-Cooled Fixtures
    • DIY:
      • Load Calculations
      • Hort Lab Project Revision

    Week 8 Troubleshooting Pests and Pathogens
    Lecture:
    • Pests
      • Identifying pests, their life cycles, and consequences
      • Options for treatment in different plant life cycles: organic, poison, predatory insects
      • Scheduling and implementing your plan for elimination
      • Pest Prevention, Quarantine Procedures
    • Disease
      • Environmental & Genetic Causes for disease
      • Identifying symptoms & treatments for diseases
      • Quarantine Procedures for prevention
    • Mold & Mildew
      • Environmental Controls
    • Contaminates
      • Pets and Pests
      • Additives and Adulterants
    Horticulture Lab 8:
    • Problem Solving Demonstration:
      • Diseases, Virus and Fungal
      • Pests, Parasites and predators
      • Malnourishment and Mobility
    • DIY:
      • Mixing and applying foliar sprays and dips
      • Organic Solutions

    Week 9 Organic Method
    Lecture:
    • Indoor organic methods
    • Intro to organics (concept of gardening)
    • Media
    • Compost Teas
    • Composting
    • Aquaponics
    • Co-planting
    • Pesticides
    • Fungicides
    • Beneficials
    • Microbials
    • Building Your Own Recipe
    Horticulture Lab 9:
    • DIY:
      • Mixing Organic Nutrients
      • Building a Living Soil
      • Introducing Beneficial Nematodes
      • Compost Tea Brewing

    Week 10 Harvesting Strategies
    Lecture:
    • Harvest
    • Measuring Plant Maturity
    • Late Flowering Techniques
    • Resin Production: Cannabinoids/Terpenes/Flavinoids
    • Quality vs. Yield
    • Manipulating Color
    • Harvesting for Our Needs & Preferences: Cannabinoid Ratios
    • Harvesting Techniques: Staged vs. Whole Plant
    • Manicuring: Wet vs. Dry Trim
    • Drying Techniques: On-stem vs. Dry Racks
    • Conditions for Proper Drying: Temperature, Humidity, Darkness & Air Circulation
    • Curing Techniques
    • Proper Storage
    • Preparing for allocation
    • Preparing for extraction for cooking and extracts
    Horticulture Lab 10:
    • Discussion: Managing Your Harvest (small to large)
    • Demonstration/DIY: Inspecting Trichome Maturity
      • Manicuring: Wet & Dry
      • Curing Jars
    • Grading Demonstration:
      • Preparing medical grade cannabis
      • Grading and Weighing
    • DIY:
      • Grading Exercise
      • Preparing for allocation of medicine