Plant Gardens 101

The importance of a fluorescent light in a hydroponics grow box

When most people are looking to purchase a hydroponics grow box for the first time they are often looking at the wattage of the primary light and that is included with the hydroponic system. Generally it is best to get the highest wattage HPS or metal halide light as you can. The reason for this is that the more lumens that light will put out the better the yield you will get. So often the first question out of a lot of people’s mouths when a first purchasing a pre-build hydroponics grow box will ask for the wattage of the primary light. These are good questions to ask you may be overlooking a small factor.

When you are first starting seedlings or clones you do not want to put them under a very powerful light. The reason is the plants are very small at this stage of their life. A plant of this small size does not need to be overwhelmed with a super powerful high pressure sodium light which is way too much for a small plant grown in hydroponics. This is really where the vertically mounted florescent lights come in. When purchasing a hydroponics grow box try to find a unit that is sold with T5 vertically mounted florescent lights on the side of the grow box machine. Often the more vertically mounted florescent lights the better in a hydroponics grow box. Big difference to keep in mind here is that the fluorescent light put out just the right amount of blue light for your small seedlings. The fluorescent light will not overwhelm the small plant is a much better choice at this early stage of growth. The fluorescent light in the cool blue spectrum is perfect for their first few weeks of vegetative growth. Starting seedlings and clones with the vertically mounted fluorescent lights is definitely the preferred method rather than putting them under too powerful HPS or MH lights at this early stage of their development. (more…)

Beware of dealers posing as manufacturers when purchasing your first hydroponics grow box.

So, you want to begin growing indoors. You have decided to purchase your first hydroponics grow box and grow your own. You are no longer willing to pay the high prices for fruits and vegetables sold by companies like whole foods and he decided to grow your own fresh fruit and vegetables right in your own home with hydroponics. By no doubt you’ve taken the time to do the research and decided against building a room for hydroponic since this is such a messy and expensive endeavor. It looks like if you’re reading this article you may have decided that you actually rather purchase a hydroponics grow box rather than modifying the room.

Since you’re in the market for a new hydroponics grow box there is something that I would definitely look out for before you make any purchase. There are other in reputable dealers out there that are posing as manufacturers of hydroponics grow box systems. They will often have the same photographs on their website as the actual real manufacturer of the hydroponics grow box you are actually interested in. They will often put misleading information on the website making it look like they make the machines they sell, but they do not actually manufacture the machines they sell. (more…)

Hydroponics grow box machines with air-conditioning

There was a day not too long ago when indoor gardeners grew their plants in a grow box with no air-conditioning. Some users in hot parts of town would often grow in temperatures of 90-100° or more. No matter how many fans they used to cool a grow box, you really could never keep it cooler than ambient temperature at best.

That’s where the air conditioned hydroponics grow box comes in. Growers these days are blessed because they can now install air-conditioning machines right into their hydroponics grow box units so that they can keep the temperature whatever they wish with no fear of burning their plants. There is no need to rely simply on the fans to keep a grow box cool. Air conditioners will do a fantastic job of bringing it warm air and then cooling the air to a usable temperature before pumping into your grow box. (more…)

How to purchase a hydroponics grow box

Purchasing your first hydroponics grow box can be a big decision. We have written this article to make it easier for you to purchase a hydroponics grow box that is going to be right for you. There are many things to consider before you buy your first grow box. Usually the grow box you want is best based on as much money you are comfortable spending on a grow box. Once you have a number in your mind, be prepared to spend at least this or maybe a little bit more to get a grow box that’s going to last for many years. Try to think about expandability in mind. Get the best grow box you can afford at the time as it will serve you well into the future. Based on the price you have some idea as far as the features that you are looking for, or rather to say can afford.

Usually the more expensive the grow box is, the more plants you can grow, the more room you have to use as the plants grow fast, the more powerful the lighting system will be, and overall more technologies usually involved in the manufacture of that particular hydroponics grow. The cheaper or less-expensive grow box systems are often smaller than their larger counterparts and even use less light. For instance you may have an air cooled reflector on your higher end grow boxes versus the non-air cooled reflector on your lower end entry level grow boxes. (more…)

As what most people would say, growing plants is a skill and great skills comes form experience. You need to have some experience before you can start growing plants successfully. But with NaturesHydro grow boxes, only a little experience is needed to actually start growing plants such as medical marijuana. A lot of marijuana growers know how hard it is to become successful in growing marijuana the traditional way. With all the hassle of monitoring and all the efforts in maintaining with the absence of control over these things, it is possible that there is a big room for errors which would result to failure. But when you switch to using NaturesHydro grow boxes in growing your herbs, not only that you will become successful but you can also have better yield compared to traditional soil growing methods. With NaturesHydro grow boxes you will be able to accelerate the growth of your medical marijuana and optimize its full potential. This is because a NaturesHydro grow box has all the accessories, like hydroponics system, plant light, nutrients, CO2 ventilation, that made it capable of controlling and customizing the growing environment to make it suitable for marijuana to grow and yield optimally. (more…)

I have just completed my first grow in a Homegrown Hydroponics Large PC Grow Box. I was so impressed with the performance of this micro grow box that I felt compelled to write this review. It all began several months ago when I was off to college. I wanted to continue growing plants, but I’ve would now be living in a dorm with other people. After scouring the Internet for micro grow boxes I finally came across the Homegrown Hydroponics Large PC Grow Box. The Large PC Grow Box by Homegrown Hydroponics with exactly what I was looking for. A small and compact hydroponics grow box that looks like a computer.

The Large PC Grow Box is the coolest and best designed hydroponics grow box I’ve ever seen, because it looks exactly like your computer tower case. Homegrown Hydroponics also make the smaller one which is their standard PC Grow Box which will grow up to three plants were the Large PC Grow Box that I got will grow up to six plants. So the Large PC Grow Box is basically a much bigger hydroponics growing system, that will grow six plants instead of three like it’s smaller cousin. However I only decided to grow for large plants instead of six plants so that they could grow larger. (more…)

Review of the Homegrown Hydroponics PC Grow Box

For quite some time I have been looking for an easy and convenient way of growing my plants hydroponically indoors in a stealth-like fashion. I am a 42-year-old man and I have a wife and kids that I live with. I live in California where it is legal to grow my own medicinal herbs, I have chosen to look purchase a commercial grow box that would suit my needs. After several weeks of Internet research I finally came across the Homegrown Hydroponics PC Grow Box.

I really like the design and functionality of Homegrown Hydroponics PC Grow Box, and I also thought the $595 selling price was more than fair. This is a micro grow hydroponics system that I purchased will grows up to three plants, even though I decided to actually grow only two. The PC Grow Box comes with a 125 compact fluorescent light which seems to be the perfect amount of light for a grow box of this size. The plants have a little bit less than 2 feet to grow so this would definitely be considered a micro grow. (more…)

Buying your first hydroponic grow box is considerably a tough decision to make. This article will serve as your guide to give you an idea and help you decide on what kind of grow box you would want to purchase. There are a lot of factors to consider if you are planning to buy one for your own. First you have to have the budget and consider how much you are willing to spend. Because hydroponic grow boxes comes in different prices, it is practical to know the specifications you want so that you’ll be able to manage your budget well. Also consider the quality and durability because you would definitely not want to spend more on a hydroponic grow box just for it to break so easily. If you are thinking why there are expensive grow boxes and less-expensive ones, this is because those grow boxes that costs much usually have more features and can accommodate more plants. (more…)

Growing with hydroponics is easier than growing in the field

If you have decided grow your own plants, then you have a decision to make right now. Do you want to grow your plants indoors with hydroponics, or do you want to grow your plants outdoors in nature. There are many advantages and disadvantages to growing outdoors versus indoors with hydroponics. This article will discuss the differences between growing indoors with hydroponics and growing outdoors with soil, and the many advantages of growing indoors with hydroponics versus growing with soil.

Let’s begin by talking about gardening outdoors. Gardening outdoors has a lot to the advantages and disadvantages versus growing indoors with hydroponics. First we’ll talk about some of the advantages of growing outdoors. That’s the sun. This sun is the most powerful light bulb you will ever find. The amount of lumens of the sun puts out is not matched by any light bulb that man can manufacture. Meaning that plants grown in nature with direct sunlight will be able to grow like monsters. The sun doesn’t cost you anything. Light bulbs can get a little pricey versus this sun which is in a huge source of free energy, if you own a good piece of land that is. (more…)

The advantages of growing with a hydroponics grow box versus converting a room

There are numerous advantages to grow in your plants hydroponically in a grow box of versus converting a room in your house or apartment. Converting a room can be a huge undertaking. Often there will be a huge mess associated with converting one of the spare rooms of your house or a closet into a hydroponics grow space. Often these spare rooms on their own do not have adequate ventilation by default, so you could have temperature issues right off the bat. Certainly in most cases it’s not a good idea to have water directly on your carpet or wood floor. A grow box is self-contained unlike the grow room but the advantages don’t stop there. A grow room cannot be moved in a moment’s notice. A hydroponics grow box however can simply be moved to another room or space in your house or even to another growing location with ease. It comes completely assembled and ready to use. It can be broken down and cleaned in minutes. You can’t rebuild a the room that fast. (more…)

Homegrown Hydroponics Fantastic Customer Support

I recently purchased the Homegrown Hydroponics Mini Fridge Grow Box to use in my home. However I almost did not purchase it because it seems like there is some mixed reviews regarding the customer service and customer support of Homegrown Hydroponics. There have been some negative publicity for this company, and even though I have no affiliation whatsoever with Homegrown Hydroponics I wanted to post this article to show my gratitude towards this company for a job and a product well done. From my personal experience I have found that what some others have said Homegrown Hydroponics to be totally untrue and unwarranted, and since few others have spoken up, I thought that I would speak up by writing this article and give a honest review of their product and services.

My foray into hydroponics came a few months ago when I decided to purchase my first hydroponics growing machine. I did my due diligence and research to find companies that manufacture hydroponics grow boxes for home use, and after many weeks of research I narrowed my focus specifically down to Homegrown Hydroponics and their Mini Fridge Grow Box specifically. However I was also interested in one time and possibly considered their Living Room grow box which looked exactly like a piece of furniture but would allow me to grow plants inside with stealth as to not detract from my simple bedroom. I also briefly considered that PC grow box for growing my plants. However because I know because I have very little experience with hydroponics, I really needed a helping hand and some good insight on a grow box to purchase. (more…)

Review of the Homegrown Hydroponics Economy Grow Box

I lived in Alaska where we have a very harsh climates. We have irregular day and night patterns as well as extreme temperatures, which makes it almost impossible to grow outdoors. Since I do not live in Anchorage or any other major city, I am forced to grow my own food. Of course there has traditionally been really no way to do that until I found out about the Homegrown Hydroponics Economy Grow Box.

For those that don’t know what a grow box is, essentially it is a self-contained enclosure for growing plants with hydroponics. I purchased and received an Economy Grow Box that I got from Homegrown Hydroponics recently. It came with a 400 W high pressure sodium lighting systems, which really put out huge amounts of red light which really helps your plants when they flower. Also included was a deep water culture hydroponic system along with all the necessary air pumps and air stones to make that work. The Economy Grow Box came with the nutrients that I needed to get my first round of plants going along with the starter cups and clay pellets and the Rockwell cubes, it came with bottles of pH adjustment solution and the manuals. Even though videos are also available online. (more…)

Advantage of choosing a hydroponics grow box manufacturer that produces custom built units versus one-size-fits-all variety.

Purchasing a hydroponics grow box is much like purchasing a car. When you purchase a car you do your due diligence. You do everything you can to read and research everything about your new car before you buy. You should be all over the Internet looking for reviews and articles, blog posts, research on forums and find out everything you can about that car before you buy it. You should definitely visit the manufacturers website multiple times and really study that car from top to bottom. You should memorize all this specification and attribute that car has. You know how fast it car can accelerate from 0 mph to 60 mph.. You know how much gas that car use is on the highway and how much gas it uses on the road. And you definitely want to know how much horsepower that car has under the hood.

So why would purchasing a hydroponics grow box be any different? You definitely want to take the time to do the same amount of research on a hydroponics grow box that you would when buying a car because buying the right hydroponics grow box certainly is a huge decision as well. If you’re in the market for a new hydroponics grow box the first thing I would do is go to the website of the manufacturer of the grow box are interested in and study the specifications and the features of that grow box from top to bottom. (more…)

The Urban Gardener’s Journal: Hydroponic grow box systems for year-round organic growing

There is a big dilemma for modern urban gardeners these days. Unlike those who live in a house urban gardeners do not have their own plot of land to grow their fresh organic fruits and vegetables. So urban gardeners living in high-rise condos are forced to use their small patio if they even want to grow any kind of federal. Often they are forced to use a confined area with inadequate lighting and no for an odor reduction whatsoever. It can be a huge issue for gardeners who appreciate creating the best possible conditions for their plants and a little control over mother nature really never hurt anyone at all.

Not to fear. The modern urban grower has an arsenal of hydroponics grow box systems at their disposal. You can choose to purchase a prebuilt hydroponics grow box or the more crafty individual can build their own. With hydroponics grow boxes you don’t need to rearrange a room to say the least or go out of your way whatsoever. There is no cutting or drilling holes in your walls and making a huge mess. No need to rip up carpets or drill holes into the attic for ventilation. There is no need for a giant mess when you decide to grow with a hydroponics grow box instead of building your own or converting a room. These are fantastic machines of varying sizes that makes it simple to grow plants all year round, no matter where you grow. Most grow boxes are usually shipped assembled and ready to use the very same day you get them. Often a hydroponics grow box systems will contain everything you need to grow using hydroponics like lighting, intake and exhaust fans, and timers and nutrients to go your plants with relative ease and with no mess such as in soil grows. To sum it up a hydroponics grow box is everything you need to grow your plants in a high-tech fashion and is very simple for even the most novice gardener to use and understand. There are numerous free DVDs on hydroponics available to make you an expert in no time. (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…)

Which is cheaper, buying a hydroponics grow box or constructing your own hydroponics grow box?

If you have spent any time on forums lately, you will notice that quite a few people recommend that beginners should build their own hydroponics grow box machine for their first grow. However what does the beginner or amateur really know about building a hydroponics grow box? When you are about to take on an endeavor of building your own grow box, there are many safety concerns that you really have to think about. Really think about how much you really know about electricity and how to wire it properly. You will be dealing with a very high wattages and a dangerous amount of electricity in close proximity to water. Do you safely know how to work with electricity and high voltages around water? Do you have experience wiring for hydroponics applications. Do you know the difference between live wires and ground wires? Essentially at some point you will actually need a certified electrician to oversee your work in order to make sure that it is safe to run. Not doing so can lead to disastrous consequences that has happened for many poor growers.

Besides being a qualified electrician you really do have to know your stuff about ventilation in keeping your hydroponic grow box running super cool. You will be using very powerful lighting systems to light your hydroponics grow box machine. You can be using 600 Watts or even 1000 W lamps in order to light up your grow box machine. These types of lamps are known to generate an immense amount of heat. Many people talking on the forums will recommend building your hydroponics grow box out of some sort of particleboard or cheap painted wood. This is a really bad idea! Danger! Danger! (more…)

Setting up your digital temperature and humidity gauge

Your temperature and humidity gauge will display the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity of your grow box, as well as that of the room it’s in. It stores both the minimum and maximum values of the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity. It can be run in both Celsius and Fahrenheit mode. Your digital temperature humidity gauge also displays a clock which can be run in 12 or 24 hour mode. This unit also features a recall function for both the minimum maximum values of temperature and humidity. The minimum and maximum values can be applied to both the temperature and humidity. This unit is powered by one AAA alkaline battery, which can be replaced by opening the small door on the back of the unit.

1. This unit automatically memorizes the minimum and maximum values of both the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity.

2. Press in/out key to switch between indoor and outdoor temperatures. (more…)

Growing with hydroponics grow boxes

A hydroponics grow box makes it very easy to have a year-round garden right in your own home or apartment building. A hydroponics grow box is essentially various pieces of equipment and enclosed inside a machine and they are constructed in different sizes for the purpose of growing plants indoors. For instance you can get very small grow boxes that are as little as a computer tower case, and in some cases even look like a computer tower. You can even get much larger hydroponics grow box machines that are like 4 feet tall, as well as even larger still 8 feet tall if you want a really large grow box for a commercial type yields. A grow box is essentially a bunch of equipment that is preinstalled for you with the purpose of growing plants indoors all year long .

A typical hydroponics grow box will consist of a very powerful lighting system; often a high pressure sodium or metal halide light. The lighting is what simulates the sun in nature and gives your plants the energy to grow indoors. The lighting will also need to be very high wattage to give you the best possible yield therefore it must also be ventilated properly. A prebuilt hydroponics grow box will have properly installed ventilation on the lighting systems to make sure that your grow box cooled properly. (more…)