Plant Gardens 101

There was a time if you wanted outdoor lights, you had to gather the lights, dig ditches, run wires, find and outlet for the transformer (these were low voltage systems using 12 volts), connect the light connections to the main cable, cover the ditches and set back to enjoy the fruits of your labors. If there was a sidewalk or driveway involved, then the work had just begun, trying to get your main cable across these obstacles. They worked great until the bulbs started getting older, then they would fade a little, burn out or their connection would corrode and need occasional cleaning and reinserting.

Solar lighting has progressed over the last decade. The effectiveness of the solar panels including the reduction in their size coupled with the quality of the batteries they charge has made the purchase of solar lights very cost-effective. In the beginning, they only had one color, bluish white. They have now developed an amber color which is less artificial looking.
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How long have you been growing orchids for? If you are anything like me you would have fallen in love with growing orchids. But have you ever considered setting up your own hydroponic garden? Well, you may be surprised to know that it is a lot easy than you think and it can help you with your orchid care.

Let me start by explaining a little about hydroponic gardens. To put it simply, hydroponics is the process of growing plants without soil. Instead of soil or compost, the roots of the orchids are placed in a mineral nutrient solution.
Hydroponic systems have become very popular in recent years, not just for orchids but all plants in general. There are many advantages associated with growing plants/crops in a hydroponic system. These advantages are beneficial especially to commercial farmers where their livelihood depends on the success of a crop yield.

The soilless nature of hydroponics means that soil borne diseases are no longer an issue. How many times have one of your orchids developed a disease which originated in the soil and infected many orchids before you realised? This will not happen in your hydroponic garden which means there is less need for pesticides.

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Vines and windows just naturally go together; each helps the other to brighten a room and give it a garden air. And most windows are so light and bright, you’re not limited to the trustworthy foliage vines. You can have flowers. And you have a wide, wide variety of vines to choose from. Even a shaded window is the best place to display some sun-loving plant you’ve grown to full flower in other, more suitable quarters.

A single hanging container displayed at eye level – a luxuriant tuberous begonia or fuchsia spilling cascades of glowing flowers; the silver-patterned, plum purple Cissus discolor; or the brilliancy of an ivy geranium – will stop visitors in their tracks. Or use a matching pair of wall brackets, one at each side, to soften the straight lines and sharp corners of the window frame, with a flowering or foliage variety that drifts down or climbs up the casing. Or set a fast-growing specimen like velvety Cissus in an urn on the floor at one side of the window, and let it scramble up cords strung inside the frame.

Use vines to unify and frame a group of potted plants in a window garden, or to tie two or more windows together. Replace an old-time bay window with floor-to-ceiling glass, and arrange plants for an eye-catching focal point in living or dining room. Or install a window greenhouse – ready-made or do-it-yourself – and arrange vines to frame it inside or dangle from the shelves. (more…)

Training your plants to grow in a hydroponics grow box

Growing plants inside of a hydroponics of grow box is a bit different than growing plants in nature. In nature you have the sun which is providing plenty of light for your plants. In nature your plants have an unlimited amount of space to grow. Unless you are growing in a greenhouse there is no ceiling so you can grow as tall as you want. You can grow your plants as high as you wish with really no envelope. There is nothing stopping your plants from growing even eight or 9 feet tall. Even small plants can grow as tall as trees in nature.

But when you are growing in an enclosed space such as when you’re using a hydroponics grow box for instance. You also have to keep in mind that you’re going to need a couple inches of clearance between the tops of your plants and the bottom of your lights. Because the lights of a hydroponics grow box will create quite a bit heat which can burn the top of your plants if your life gets too close or if you have poor air circulation. This concept is the very reason that we are going to introduce you to the concept of training your plants.

Training your plants absolutely necessary if you’re going to be growing in a grow box or any other enclosed space. Because you have limited amount of vertical height you have to maximize the amount of grow space in your hydroponics grow box to its maximum. Naturally plants are going to want to gravitate towards the light. This is natural for them. Meaning all plant naturally grow towards the middle and directly towards the light source. In order to get the most out of your grow box you will train your plants to use every nook and cranny of space you have available to grow in. Now some of these techniques may seem far out to the new hydroponics grower, but these techniques are commonly used in any type of hydroponic garden, you should learn these well. (more…)

In orchids, the uppermost “petal” of a flower