Plant Gardens 101

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…)

Gardening can be defined as a useful work of growing a bunch of useful plants or growing of ornamental plants that add beauty to your garden. The useful plants are plants such as spinach that can have medical values and can be consumed as food or in other words they have a useful thing for the humans. Some of the useful plants are vegetables and fruits.

The ornamental plants are the plants such as lily, hibiscus that yield beautiful flowers that add beauty to the garden. These plants improve the overall appearance of the garden. Gardening has a wide range of scale from short herbs to herbaceous plants. Gardening is a completely different thing from the forestry or farming.

Types of gardening

There are many types of gardening depending on the scale and location of it. Residential gardening is the type of gardening that takes place in the house campus or in the area near the house. The place where the gardening is done is called as garden. (more…)

Each model comes with a variety of features and the trick is to see which ones are right for you. You might have to decid between weight or storage, maneuverability or a trendy design, but on the whole you should be able to find a stroller that has everything you need. Before shopping make a check list of the features that are important to you.

Basket Capacity
Once you decide where you and baby are going, you need to decide what you need to take with you. How much storage does that require? Do you need a basket that can fit a large diaper bag, extra clothing, and lunch? Or would a pocket for your keys and a cup holder work better for you? Be sure to check dimensions so you can take all your supplies wherever you need to go.

Weight
Again, you need to ask yourself where you will be taking your stroller. If you need to transport your stroller you may want to research the lighter models. Heavier strollers are likely to be well built and loaded with features, but it may not be worth it if you hate to lug your stroller around. (more…)

If you think that creating the garden of your dreams with just a few hours of work is possible you are probably wrong since sooner or later it will become obvious that this is much more of a complex task that one could possibly foretell. There is a way you could get the garden of your dreams in just a few days but that would require landscape designers, a landscape crew and a lot of money. It is true that these designers do a wonderful job but the only drawback is that the finished product of these professionals will present their concepts, ideas and personality. It means you will have their dream garden on your property and not yours.

Planning and imagining is part of the work a gardener needs to perform in order to achieve the garden of his dreams. You are for sure wondering if having a garden requires much work? The answer is YES! BUT that work is enjoyable and each hour of effort you put in your garden will reward you with a great sense of accomplishment when you finally take a look at the end result. Just think about the moment when you will be able to stand back and enjoy the beautiful landscape that you were able to built with your own hands. (more…)

You visit the local farmer’s market on a whim, stroll past vegetable stands, herb bunches, and flower bouquets. Finally, your eyes fixate on a huge tomato that’s bigger than both of your hands put together. It pulls you toward it; you lift it in your palms up to your nose and inhale all the sweetness of a thousand harvests. You are ruined in an instant and vow never again to be seen buying little mushy pre-ripened red water balloons that the local grocers label as the same fruit.

The “real” thing is always better than a fake, lacquered, forced vegetable. If you’ve ever wished you could grow your own crops, you’re not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people have realized the taste and nutritional benefits of producing their own food. Not every body has a large patch of ground in which to sow their seeds. But anyone anywhere can grow their own food. (more…)

The only thing that distinguishes a kitchen vegetable garden from any other sort is that the garden plants are specifically selected to be eaten. Given that, the primary consideration in choosing your plants is what you will use, either for your own consumption or as trade items at a local farmer’s market. (Of course the climate in your area and the length of the growing season are also major factors.)

Your primary goals are to save money, to provide yourself with a healthy source of fresh food, and to have some fun in the process. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing something you’ve grown with your own hands on your dinner table. But how to start?

Where to Plant Your Garden

Obviously you can only use the land available to you, if there is any, or you can augment what space you have with containers. Figure out how much room your plug plants will need and plan accordingly. Tomatoes and peppers grow to a large size and do quite well in containers with cages for stabilization. Carrots and lettuce, on the other hand, do well planted in rows. (more…)

This article provides an overview of the Japanese Tea Garden and the culture it promotes among the Japanese Garden lovers. It also shares information of the basic concepts to keep in mind when designing a Japanese Tea Garden.

The history of Japanese gardens dates back to the eleventh century in which distinct and strict rules were established for garden design. Documented writings describe forms of waterfalls, materials to be used, relationships of materials, and placement of the different elements. Also noted are historical references of garden design and arrangement and actual categories or styles that included Artificial Hill Gardens (Tsuki-yama), Level Gardens (Hira-niwa), and Tea Gardens (Chaseki). Much of the cultural influence came from the Chinese. Their traditions and Buddhism religion was imported around the sixth century A.D. which had an enormous influence on the Japanese way of life and also included gardening as well. The influence could be seen for more than a thousand years. The native religion of Japan, Shintoism, emphasized that all of nature, plants, trees, and rocks were sacred, and many gardens were considered a sacred place of worship that the Gods would visit. These areas would actually receive offerings and symbolized not only a place to worship nature and all of its creatures, but to worship their creator as well. The Japanese garden has evolved over the centuries in that it is much more than just an accumulation of rocks, trees, and other physical elements. It is a symbolism of belief in a spirit of unique gardens representing people and their cultures. (more…)

Various techie gadgets and toys are taking up much of our time. We are usually indoors and strapped in front of the computer or any other gaming gadgets. This is most common among youngsters, which is a little sad since their other potentials are left out in the corner. One of these is working with their green thumb. Having a garden is certainly not one of the things that are keeping them busy these days,

One can have any kinds of gardens at home. The specific needs of a certain garden depend on the plants planted in it. Whether one prefers a flower garden or an herbal one, the impact it has on the environment does not really matter much. Having a garden at home is not only a good way to spend one’s time on but is also an additional asset to the home and its occupants. Having more plants around helps out with the circulation of fresh air in the surrounding.

A flower garden adds beauty to one’s home. Having it in the front yard helps create a very scenic view of the home and at the same time, it signifies a welcoming smile for guests and strangers alike. A bunch of flowers in vases inside the house and a bouquet of fresh roses for a neighbor who just moved in are just a few sample of what can be done with the flowers. (more…)

For many years, lovers have given roses and poets have written of their merits. Now, you may be considering showing how much you love roses by planting your own rose bushes. No doubt you’ve heard a lot about how to take care of roses – the diseases to watch out for and the ways to prune them. While it may sound pretty complicated, you’ll find that planting your own rose bush is much easier than you think. If you take the following guidelines into consideration and use them, you’ll be sure to do a great job and have a beautiful rose bush that will look wonderful.

Things to Do Before Planting Your Rose Bush

If you are waiting for spring to arrive so you can plant your rose bush, there are some things that you may want to do. You may want to start thinking about the types of bushes you want for your rose garden. There are hundreds of different rose bushes that you can choose from and it may be a bit difficult to make your choice. You may want to visit a nursery in your area to find out more about bushes. Also, look for friends and neighbors that have beautiful bushes and find out what types of bushes they are growing. Make sure that you know whether a certain bush is prone to disease or if it takes a lot of attention as well before making your choice. (more…)

It’s easy to imagine a garden that is full of tall, brightly-colored sunflowers. They’re easy to grow, simple to maintain and can add a dazzling splash of color to any landscape. However, though sunflowers are easy to grow and maintain, there are several potential pitfalls. Small critters can steal the seeds before they have a chance to sprout. High winds can decimate a sunflower garden if stakes aren’t used for structural support. Wild birds can swoop down to pillage the seeds before they can be stolen by other animals.

By taking a few preventative measures, you can help ensure that your sunflowers grow to be a vibrant, stunning component of your garden. Below, we’ll explain how to grow sunflowers and provide a few useful tips for cultivating a gorgeous end-of-summer garden. (more…)

Building a greenhouse is easier than you may think. You can choose different designs and sizes that you would like to build.
A greenhouse will give you comfort whenever you visit your plants, vegetables, flowers, or orchids. It also provides the needed sunlight and humidity for these plants.

You may relax and enjoy it every time you visit this place where you have exerted all your effort of building such a wondrous place.

You may save more money if you decide to build a small greenhouse. There are supplies and materials that you can use which should be just enough according to your own prepared budget.

If there is enough space that can accommodate a larger greenhouse, do it because you may want to develop more plants and vegetables. (more…)

You know your soil is “clean”, that your soil is not contaminated in any way because you got your soil tested, so now you’re looking for some organic seeds to plant. At this point you are probably asking yourself, “How do I know that the seeds I am buying are organically grown and where is the best place to buy my seeds?”

Well, you can wait till the last minute and chance buying your seeds at your nursery or such places as Canadian Tire or Home Hardware. However, your best bet is to plan ahead and order via seed catalogs so that you can identify whether the company’s seeds are organically grown.

When looking for companies, look for those who have labels for the seeds which they grow and sell. Those who grow and sell organic seeds will use one or more of these labels: U for untreated, O for organic, OP for open-pollinated, and H for heritage. (more…)

When you plan to build your own hydroponic system or purchase a starter’s kit, you are not only just getting a container or a tray, putting your plants in it and supplying the plants with water and nutrients. It is important to bear in mind that there are basically two primary objectives that you need to achieve in hydroponic gardening.

The hydroponic system structure must be able to support the root system without soil.

1. You need to have an efficient method of supplying air, light, and nutrient to your plants.

2. When these two requirements are fully satisfied, you can then begin experimenting a more complicated and automatic system.

To meet the first requirement which can be quite easy with the help from good beginner’s guides. All you need is a simple hydroponic unit that consists of a waterproof container filled with a growing medium or aggregate for root support. You will place seeds or young plants into the aggregate. Then you pour a nutrient solution over the aggregate to feed the plants, and that’s it, you have your own hydroponic garden! (more…)

Establishing and maintaining a garden requires a basic set of knowledge. Mother Nature insists that certain rules be followed and the gardener must work with Mother Nature to help plants grow bloom and produce fruit abundantly. Here’s an overview of the gardening basics every gardener needs to know. The Bones of the Garden The walkways, patios, decks and borders, along with trees buildings and different planting areas make up the bones of the garden. Working with the existing elements and adding to the structure will enhance the overall appearance and practicality of your garden. Planting Zones Planting zones have been established using the average minimum winter temperatures in each geographical area. When choosing plants for your garden spot, the gardener must know which plants will survive in an outdoor garden in that area. A Quick Overview of Fertilizers Commercial fertilizers all contain three basic ingredients: Nitrogen for new foliage and overall plant growth, Phosphorus for a healthy root system and Potassium for the development of blooms and fruits. Fertilizers come in dry, soluble and time-release forms, giving the gardener choices in how quickly the fertilizer is absorbed and a choice in the strength of the solution to be applied.

Mulch Mulch is much more than just a decorative dressing. Mulch protects the soil from the sun’s damaging rays, helps the soil retain moisture and helps prevent weeds. Mulch can also protect your plants from freezing. Deadheading Deadheading does more than just keep your garden looking neat and tidy. Deadheading keeps the plant from going into a reproductive mode and encourages it to put on more blooms, giving your garden more flowers throughout the season. (more…)