Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of maintaining indoor plants and defines the work required to: preparing the tools, equipment and materials for indoor plant maintenance; identifying hazards involved in indoor plant maintenance; maintaining a growing environment; recognise common problems; use and maintain the watering systems; inspect plant quality and record workplace information.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to the processes involved in maintaining indoor plants.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare to maintain indoor plants

1.1. Workplace information is interpreted and clarified with the supervisor.

1.2. Tools, equipment and materials for maintenance activities are selected and prepared according to enterprise guidelines, and safe working practices are employed.

1.3. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards relating to maintaining indoor plants and the growing environment are identified, risks assessed and reported to the supervisor.

2. Maintain the growing environment

2.1. Plants are accessed according to client requirements and supervisors instructions.

2.2. Tools, equipment and materials are transported safely in accordance with access requirements, client and supervisors instructions.

2.3. Watering system is maintained and / or adjusted where necessary according to enterprise guidelines.

2.4. Light meter readings are taken to ensure specified parameters are maintained.

2.5. Condition of media is checked according to supervisor's instructions.

2.6. Containers and growing site are cleaned to ensure the aesthetic and hygiene standards of indoor plants are maintained.

3. Maintain indoor plants

3.1. Common problems in indoor plants are recognised, and rectified and/or reported to the supervisor.

3.2. Treatments are selected and applied to optimise plants health and appearance according to enterprise guidelines.

3.3. Water is applied in the quantity and method specified by enterprise work procedures.

3.4. Plants are replaced when no longer at optimum health and appearance.

4. Complete indoor plant maintenance operation

4.1. Rubbish, litter and decaying material are removed from plants, pots and surrounds and c leaning procedures are performed according to enterprise guidelines.

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

4.3. Tools and equipment are cleaned and stored according to enterprise work procedures.

4.4. Workplace information is recorded in the appropriate format.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
• interpret enterprise work procedures
• communicate with clients, team members and supervisor
• take light meter readings
• measure quantities and calculate application rates
• operate, adjust and maintain the watering system
• inspect plant quality
• 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 

• identification and characteristics of common indoor plants and their culture
• botany and physiology of indoor plants
• growth requirements of indoor plants
• light and moisture tolerance/intolerance for common indoor plant species
• acclimatisation techniques for indoor plants
• common problems that may occur with indoor plants and their treatment
• operations and maintenance of a range of irrigation/subirrigation systems used for watering indoor plants/displays
• methods of disposing of waste to minimise damage to the environment.

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:

• preparing the tools, equipment and materials for indoor plant maintenance
• identifying hazards involved in indoor plant maintenance
• maintaining a growing environment
• recognise common problems
• use and maintain the watering systems
• inspect plant quality
• record workplace information.

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.

Indoor plants may include:

• all plant species and cultivars used as indoor plants.

Unit sector 

Nursery

Co-requisite units 

Competency field