Plant Gardens 101

Hydroponics uses several different types of lights for optimum plant growth. While using different grow lights, it is important to invest in a specialized digital ballast, which is a necessary component of any lighting circuit. Simply put, a ballast is an electronic component in a lighting system that controls the amount of current in a circuit. Without it, a grow light would fail to work.

Why Digital Ballasts
Earlier ballasts consisted of resistors, which is an inefficient way to control current, as it leads to loss of electricity. Modern digital ballasts limit current flow without wasting electricity. They also help to extend the lifespan of grow lights. Moreover, they help to reduce flickering, a common feature in older ballasts. Also, the performance of most conventional magnetic ballasts worsens after few years of operation, while digital ballasts provide a consistent lumen output and efficiency over its lifetime. As a bonus, digital ballasts offer noise-free operation and less startup time, or the time required to achieve full brightness. (more…)

Anyone in the nursery profession knows that come spring, you have to be able to keep up with the demand of shoppers wanting to buy new plants. In order to produce the numbers of plants needed, one needs an efficient way to propagate plants quickly and cost effectively. Cloning kits are the perfect solution for this sort of propagation dilemma. When used as part of an aeroponics system, cloning kits work together and utilize much of the same equipment to both produce new plants and grow them on to maturity and presentation on your sales tables.

An aeroponics system allows you to grow plants without the expense of needing a growing medium. Plants are grown in the air using this very efficient growing system. Pumps are used to create a misting spray of nutrient solution that dampens the plant roots; this feeds the plants and, combined with the large amount of oxygen the roots are exposed to, causes the plants to reach maturity very quickly. (more…)

Now that spring is here, those in the horticultural/nursery trade have gardeners roaming their store aisles, purchasing new plants for their gardens. It is the nursery owner’s job to make sure that their tables are always well stocked with a variety of plants that appeal to home gardeners. In addition, there are always special events such as home and garden shows and plant sales that require a large inventory of young plants. This is when you will want to give serious consideration to using an aeroponic cloner to help you produce new plants quickly. Aeroponic cloning is the fast way to produce sturdy young plants easily. An aeroponics cloner is also useful when you are using hydroponic kits, which need new plants frequently.

An aeroponics cloner uses the same mechanisms for aeroponic gardening in order to get plant cuttings to take root. The cuttings are held suspended in air, and a misting system is used that sprays the bottom of the cuttings with a fine spray of rooting hormone. Because conditions are very clean and completely suited to rooting cuttings, you can expect your cuttings to show good roots in as little as five to ten days. After this, the young plants can be grown on in an aeroponics gardening system, or transferred to hydroponic kits, where the plants will grow in a growing medium, or they can be potted up in soil in individual four-inch or one-gallon sized pots for retail sales. (more…)

General Hydroponics Inc. is one of the more venerable players in the field, having been around since the 1970s. General Hydroponics nutrients have the distinction of being the first such fertilizers to be used off-planet; General Hydroponics products have been used by NASA for the hydroponic gardens aboard the International Space Station.

Unlike FoxFarm, which caters primarily to traditional outdoor gardeners, General Hydroponics specializes in and markets to hydroponic gardeners, and the company’s products are engineered specifically for hydroponic applications. Located just north of San Francisco in one of the premier agricultural regions of California, General Hydroponics maintains a 45,000 square foot facility where new systems and fertilizers are constantly being tested and improved. In addition, this company offers a full line of equipment and other accessories for the hydroponic gardener, including controllers, pumps and replacement parts for various elements of the hydroponic system. The company website itself is an excellent resource for anyone interested in this type of production, including an online “nutrient calculator” to assist in determining the needs of specific plants.
Consumer response to General Hydroponics nutrients has been positive. One of the features of General Hydroponics products is that unlike many such nutrients, they are simple and easy to use. Whereas many such products are two and three-part solutions that require careful mixing, this company’s products are one-part nutrients, making the overall process much less complicated in general. Hydroponic gardeners who have reviewed General Hydroponic’s products note that they are extremely concentrated; at least one reviewer described the product as “heavy” and “like chocolate tar” – you won’t need to use much, but you will require a blender or a good solid whisk in order to emulsify General Hydroponics nutrients properly. (more…)

Botanicare is a line of products for hydroponic gardeners from American Agritech. Like most hydroponic formulas, Botanicare nutrients are engineered from synthetics as well as organics in order to provide maximum benefit from both. Botanicare products are one of the most comprehensive lines of nutrient supplements available for maximizing hydroponic plant health, yield and quality, and are available all over the world through the company’s international distribution network.

Among American Agritech’s product offerings are Botanicare Cocogro and Botanicare Pure Blend Pro. The former, Botanicare Cocogro, is described by the company as “the world’s most premium coir fiber” that is substantially lower in potassium and sodium. As the name suggests, Botanicare Cocogro is derived from the husks of coconuts. Coir fibers are the layer between the outer shell and the husk of the fruit (they are what give coconuts their “hairy” appearance). Because these have a relatively low cellulose content compared to say, cotton fibers, they are stronger and make for an ideal alternative to peat as a hydroponic medium and is resistant to the types of bacteria and fungi that are often a problem with sphagnum moss. Most of the coir fiber used in Botanicare Cocogro is imported from southern India, where it is allowed exposure to monsoon rains for least three years, and is available in a variety of packages. (more…)

Organic gardening is the exact same as regular gardening except that no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This can make certain aspects difficult, such as controlling disease, insects, and weeds. Organic gardening also requires more attention to the soil and the many needs of plants. Organic gardening starts with the soil. Gardeners must add organic matter to the soil regularly in order to keep the soil productive. In fact, compost is essential to the healthiness and well being of plants grown organically. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings, manure, and many other things. The ideal soil has a dark color, sweet smell, and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives than regular compost can give, such as bonemeal, rock phosphates, or greensand. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you will need to use.

One thing that makes even gardeners that are very serious about organic gardening reach for pesticides is insects on their plants. The best way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative measures. One thing that can be done is to make sure plants are healthy and not too wet or dry because insects usually attack unhealthy plants and if healthy, they can often outgrow minor insect damage. A variety of plant types is a good idea to keep pests of a particular plant type from taking out the entire garden. (more…)

It’s no surprise that farming can be a rewarding hobby for many different reasons. Besides the endless quantity of flora and vegetables than can be grown in a patch, there’s an elite sort of satisfaction from nurturing and caring for plants, and then reaping the ample rewards. A few equipment, some dedication, and a bit of shrewd farming guidance are all you’ll hardship to get ongoing and on your way to rising your own patch.

Before direction out to the plot or the regional farming core, it’s important to thoroughly proposal out the correct mode of backyard you’d like. Whether it’s ready to be just a few potted plants, a small story in the yard, or even a few view boxes, doing some study and judgment handy farming guidance is important, particularly for creation gardeners. Besides knowledge of all the different plants that may grow well in your part, you’ll also learn how to take thought of them, and what enter of maintenance they’ll ought to boom.

Finding great farming opinion is now, as unadorned as surfing the internet. There are copious websites to hunt for things such as how to jerk your own garden, and which plants are best matched to the kind of seat and quantity of time you have to recommend to their problem. Some plants require very little maintenance other than the occasional watering, while others penury to be pruned frequently, or may indigence to be planted in certain types of nutrient-unhealthy soil. (more…)

Hydroponics systems offer a way for everyone, regardless of their location, to garden effectively. If you live on the top of a skyscraper, then hydroponics is for you, because it allows you to grow fruits, flowers and vegetables without any soil at all. If you live on the tundra, or in the desert, you are in luck as well, because hydroponics systems offer a way to grow all sorts of plants indoors, where you can control the climate. Although there are several different types of hydroponics systems available, one of the most popular ones is deep water culture, and a related method of indoor gardening called aeroponics.

Deep water culture is one of several types of hydroponics systems where the roots of the plants actually stay in the in the growing medium that is a solution, which is made up of water and plant food called nutrient. In deep water culture the plants receive needed oxygen even when the roots are submerged in water through the use of a aerator pump and air stones, which both help to oxygenate the water. Deep water culture requires equipment such as a container like a bucket, which holds the solution and plant roots. The top of the plant, called the crown, has to be held above the water or it will rot. This is accomplished usually by using a net suspended over the lid of the bucket with a hole cut out of the center of the lid. (more…)

Many gardeners are beginning to switch to Hydroponics gardening for many different reasons. These types of gardens are small and can easily be grown inside and are perfect for most vegetables, especially the red tomato. Also the equipment required for Hydroponics gardening is not expensive and they are relatively easy to manage.

Hydroponics gardening is the growing of plants without soil, in other words, “dirtless gardening”. There are many methods of Hydroponics gardening, most of which work better than regular soil gardening because it is easier to give the plant exactly what it needs when it needs it. Plants will only receive what you give them; therefore you will be able to regulate the pH, nutrients, nutrient strength, water amount, and light amount. This makes it imperative that you research the kind of plants you will be growing so you know what they need to survive.

Hydroponics gardening is only as difficult as you make it. It can be complicated if computers with sensors are used to control water cycles, nutrients, and light for the plants. However, it can also be as simple as a hand watered bucket with a single plant. The normal home Hydroponics system is usually made up of a few basic things: a growing tray, light (natural or artificial), a reservoir, a water controlled pump for watering (or some type of watering equipment), and some form of air pump to give oxygen to the nutrients. (more…)

There are many different types of grow lights available for indoor gardening. You will see HID, high intensity discharge; MH, metal halide; and HPS, high pressure sodium, grow lamps advertised for use in greenhouses and all types of indoor plant growing situations. led grow lights are also now available, and offer a superior solution to indoor plant lighting than was previously available.

Lightweight

The LED grow light is quite a bit lighter in weight than other types of traditional grow lamps. This is because HID, MH and hps lights all require the use of a ballast in order for them to function properly. Reflectors, to cast a larger pool of light on the plants, are also used with hps light bulbs and others, adding to the bulk of the equipment. Because the lights are usually suspended in some fashion over the plants, weight is an important consideration, especially if lights must be regularly raised and lowered for plant maintenance chores, such as watering, to occur, as well as an appropriate distance from the plants to be adhered to. With certain high-end LED grow lights, they come with built-in fans, negating the need for air-cooled reflectors and ducting. (more…)

One of the most recent developments in LED lighting in indoor gardening applications is the advent of the Led Supernova Grow Light. These grow light systems offer the most efficiency that will help your plants grow rapidly to maturity.

LED Grow Light Systems
LED stands for light-emitting diode. They have been around since the 1920s, but have come into their own in more recent years. When the diode is switched on, it releases energy in the form of light. Diodes can produce different colors of light based on the semiconductor’s energy gap. The diode is used with other optics to shape the light and cause it to reflect.

LED grow light systems take advantage of all that the power from these amazing diodes has to offer. LED lights use less energy and last longer than traditional light bulbs. They offer a brighter light coming from smaller-sized equipment. (more…)

UFO led lighting is a fairly recent development in indoor gardening lighting. It takes the power of tiny LED lights and combines and configures them in such a way as to produce indoor light perfectly suited for growing plants. There are many types of indoor gardening applications where the ufo led grow light can be beneficial.

Seed Starting and the UFO LED Light
Many different types of seeds benefit from the application of appropriate light during the seed germination process. Seeds such as lettuce, mullein and evening primrose achieve germination only when light is applied. If they are outside in the garden, they rely on natural sunlight, but if indoors, it is up to the gardener to apply the light they need. The UFO LED light is suited to this purpose, because it not only offers the bright light needed for germination, but in the case of lettuce, which requires cooler soil and air temperatures for germination to occur, the LED UFO grow light produces no heat. This allows you to more easily control the air and soil temperatures so you can achieve the best germination rate for your seed. You can do this without the added expense of fans and vents, which are typically used with other types of lighting. (more…)

If you are a commercial plant grower or hydroponic gardener, you know that speed in getting your plants from seedlings to marketable size rapidly means the difference between making a profit and not. If you are a home gardening aficionado, you want to get your seedlings off to a great start in order to have your flower and vegetable starts ready to plant out when the weather warms up in spring. For all these uses, high output LED grow lights offer an indoor garden lighting solution that leads to healthy plants that grow rapidly.

Color Temperature and led grow lights for plants (more…)

THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.

What Do Your Plants Need?

All plants need the correct conditions in order to grow to their full potential. Plants grown using hydroponics systems are no exception to this basic rule. Like their soil grown cousins they need sufficient light of the correct wavelengths, a suitable temperature, an adequate water supply, enough oxygen, mineral nutrients and support for their structures.

• Sufficient light of the correct wavelengths, used by the plant at the growth stage it has reached, is essential for its survival. Plants use lots of light, at least 8 to 12 hours each day, in order to make carbohydrates from CO2 and water. Chlorophyll, the green colour in plants, absorbs the sunlight and uses its energy to synthesise these carbohydrates. This process is known as photosynthesis and is the basis for sustaining life in all plants. Because animals and humans get their food by eating plants, it can also be said to be the source of our life. Artificial lighting is generally a poor substitute for sunshine, because most indoor lights provide insufficient intensity to produce a mature crop. High intensity lamps such as high-pressure sodium lamps can provide more than 1,000 foot-candles of light. The hydroponic gardener can use these lamps very successfully in areas where sunlight is inadequate. The fixtures and lamps, however, are usually too expensive to be viable for a small commercial operation. It is important to allow adequate spacing between plants as this will ensure that each plant receives sufficient light in the grow-room. For example, tomato plants, pruned to a single stem, should be planted so as to give 4 square feet per plant, while European seedless cucumbers should be allowed 7 to 9 square feet and seeded cucumbers about 7 square feet. Lettuce plants need to be spaced 7 to 9 inches apart within the row and 9 inches between rows. Most other vegetables and flowers should be grown at the same spacing as recommended for a conventional garden.

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The Basics of Hydroponics Gardening.

What is hydroponics gardening?

Derived from the Latin Hydro, meaning water and Geoponics, meaning the study of agriculture, hydroponics is the science of growing plants using a solution of suitable nutrients instead of soil. Most types of plant can be grown very successfully using hydroponics.

In conventional gardening the plants are grown in soil and take their nourishment from the chemical compounds contained within that soil. The hydroponic gardener replaces the soil with a balanced, nutrient rich, solution that the plant can absorb with ease. Because the plant does not have to work so hard to absorb the available nutrients it saves energy which can then be utilised for stronger growth.

Because of this energy saving, plants grown using hydroponic methods outperform conventionally produced plants in both growth and fruit production. Due to the consistent results and good profit margins, more and more commercial growers are turning to hydroponic production. Totally organic production is possible using specially designed organic nutrients, giving excellent, inexpensive, vegetables and herbs. (more…)

While knowledge and experience are obviously important factors in successful hydroponic growing, a hydroponic grower is only as good as their supplies. And one of the most important kinds of hydroponic supplies that you will buy is the kind that manipulates the general environment of your grow room. The air and temperature of your grow room can have a profound impact on how your plants grow.

If you want to control your environment for maximum benefit, make sure to have these essential supplies in your garden or grow room

Fan – One of the most inexpensive, but also one of the most important hydroponic supplies that you can purchase is a small fan. Moisture and gasses don’t tend to stay evenly distributed. In fact, they actually tend to clump around in certain sections of the room. This means if the air in a grow room is fairly still, you may be depriving your plant’s leaves of carbon dioxide and your roots of oxygen, even if there are sufficient amounts in the room. But by keeping the air constantly circulating, you increase the odds that your plants are exposed to all of the gasses that they need to grow well. (more…)

Whether you want to enter the world of hydroponic gardening for fun or profit, it pays to know what you are doing before you make any investment. As with most hobbies, you will become a better gardener as you become more accustomed to the requirements and complexities of growing plants in a soil-less environment.

With the proper amount of research and planning, you can avoid several costly, common and time consuming mistakes.

Going Cheap On The Light – Many make the mistake of thinking that fluorescent lights are suitable for all plants at all stages or are simply drawn to fluorescents because of the price. The truth of the matter is that fluorescent lights emit only one kind of light: white. Sunlight, which is that standard by which all other lights are judged, emits the full spectrum of light colors. Thus fluorescent lights are only really adequate for young, seedling plants. As your plants enter the vegetative and flowering stages, they require red, blue and orange rays to grow properly. Florescent lights may actually cost you more than you expect, both because they yield a poor quality crop compared to other lights and they require frequent maintenance. (more…)

The Lettuce Raft System – Hydroponics

Each day I respond to more and more emails from people looking for the simplest, most inexpensive means of growing hydroponically. I often recommend the Hydroponic Planter from the previous chapter, however, this “simple and inexpensive” method just isn’t complicated enough. So… after giving it some careful thought, a worthwhile solution presented itself.

The raft system is simple, inexpensive ($20-$30 complete) and “complex” enough to satisfy any first timer’s appetite for a fun project that actually works quite well. In concept, the raft system does exactly as it says. Plants are grown in Styrofoam “rafts” that float in a shallow pool of nutrient. To keep the nutrient from stagnating, a small air pump is used to deliver oxygen to the solution and eagerly awaiting roots. (more…)

To learn and experience hydroponic gardening, beginners including myself usually prefer to have a beginner’s kit or a standard kit for them to try out.

When I began reviewing hydroponic components and starter’s kits on the Internet and nearby gardening suppliers. I was amazed to discover that basically you can purchase from a simple hydroponic unit costs about $20 to greenhouse with full automation costs $20,000. The vast range of product and amount of information available is both pleasing and confusing. While you have a great range of products to choose from, it is not easy to make a choice.

Therefore, before you buy anything or start looking for a starter’s kit, get a few good hydroponic gardening beginner’s guides and take your time to read up on the subject. Then develop a rough idea of the size of the hydroponic unit your want and what you want to grow in it. Much of the beginner’s kits won’t make sense unless you understand the basics of hydroponics and your needs. (more…)

If the advantages of hydroponic growing could be summed up in a single word it would be “control.” As a hydroponic grower, you have ultimate control over your plants environment, including the amount of light your plants receive, your hydroponic nutrients, and your pH levels. But without knowing how to properly measure all of these factors, this control that you enjoy is completely useless. For this reason, it is vital that you purchase the appropriate measuring equipment and know how to use it properly.

First, it is important to remember that for most minerals, the plants roots will absorb the hydroponic nutrients as they are needed. For this reason it is essential to maintain a proper balance of nutrients in your nutrient solution. Too little, or too much of any given nutrient will result in smaller yields, smaller buds, and vegetables that will not have the flavor you are probably hoping for.

For this reason, a digital parts per million meter should be an major part of your hydroponic system. A parts per million meter, just as the name implies, measure the parts per million of total dissolved solids in your nutrient solution. It works by measuring how conductive the water is. Normal, completely pristine water, has no conductivity at all. But as it is diluted with salts, minerals, or hydroponic nutrients, it becomes more conductive. The more ingredients that are dissolved into it, the more electricity that the solution is able to conduct. The ideal parts per million of hydroponic nutrients in your nutrient solution will vary depending upon what plants you are growing and your grow medium, but it generally lies between 1000 and 2000. Every few months you should remember to calibrate your PPM meter to ensure accuracy of readings. This is accomplished by placing the meter in a solution that has a known parts per million and making the necessary adjustments on the measuring device. (more…)