Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the production procedure of staged containerisation of nursery plants after propagation in production nurseries and defines the standard required to: prepare tools, equipment and plants for potting up; prepare growing media for potting up plants; pot up plants to required specification pot size; type and carry out follow-up procedures to potting up.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to transplanting established plants with developed root systems sown from seed, from cuttings, layering, growing on tissue cultured plants, division or splitting, spores, cloning, and budding or grafting into larger appropriate sized containers of growing media. Potting up involves working within routine methods and procedures under supervision with intermittent checking. Responsibility for some roles and co-ordination within a team may be required.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for potting up operations

1.1. Workplace information is interpreted and clarified according to instructions.

1.2. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified and reported to the supervisor.

1.3. Tools and equipment for potting up are selected and used according to documented guidelines.

1.4. Work area is cleaned and disinfected according to company hygiene practices.

1.5. Materials are collected and checked to ensure sufficient quantity and quality for potting up operations.

2. Prepare growing media

2.1. Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected, used and maintained.

2.2. Media components are measured and mixed according to documented guidelines.

2.3. Growing media is tested to ensure the product complies with media specifications.

3. Pot up propagated plants

3.1. Plants are prepared for potting in accordance with enterprise guidelines.

3.2. Plants are graded during the potting process according to quality specifications.

3.3. Media level in pots is adjusted to produce a well-furnished plant according to documented guidelines.

3.4. Placement and depth of plants comply with the planting method and plan.

3.5. Potting operations are carried out according to written OHS requirements.

4. Complete potting up operation

4.1. Plants are watered in to eliminate air pockets and prevent dehydration.

4.2. Cleaning procedures are performed and hygiene practices followed according to enterprise guidelines.

4.3. Waste is collected and disposed of or recycled to minimise damage to the external environment.

4.4. Records of potting up operations are maintained in the appropriate format.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• prepare tools, equipment, media and plants
• handle plants with care
• grade plants for quality
• apply different types of potting media
• measure out media components accurately
• produce a uniform media level in the pot
• use and maintain tools
• disinfect selected work areas
• treat common problems of plants in a controlled environment
• participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
• interpret work procedures
• maintain required records
• minimise damage of waste products on the environment
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• appropriate use of personal protective equipment
• properties of relevant potting media
• basic plant physiology
• enterprise plants and their characteristics
• hygiene and quality control
• common problems in a controlled environment
• methods of disposing of waste.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• prepare tools, equipment and plants for potting up
• prepare growing media for potting up plants
• pot up plants to required specification
• carry out follow-up procedures to potting up.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Potting up plants may include:

transplanting of established plants with developed root systems sown from:

• seed
• from cuttings
• layering
• growing on tissue cultured plants
• division or splitting
• spores
• cloning, and budding or grafting into larger appropriate sized containers of growing media.

Unit sector 

Nursery

Co-requisite units 

Competency field