Why do good quality triple-pack nutrients come in Grow

Why do good quality triple-pack nutrients come in Grow, Bloom and Boost options?
Optimum and Power Gro are both available in two distinct formulations, each with a different ratio of the macro elements. The Grow formulation is designed to supply the needs of the plant during the vegetative stage of its growth cycle. High levels of nitrate-Nitrogen will encourage rapid leaf and shoot growth and maximise the potential of the young plant to produce fruit and flowers later in its life. The bloom formulations are dedicated to the fruiting and flowering stage of plant growth, containing reduced levels of nitrogen but greatly enhanced levels of phosphorous and potassium, the elements required for development of buds and flowers. The change over from grow to bloom is especially recommended for strawberries, tomatoes and flowering plants. Ionic and GH Flora include the above with an extra Boost formulation to enhance the Grow and Bloom nutrients.

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The pH

The pH of town water supplies can fluctuate during the year so you should always make a final check of pH after making up a large batch of nutrient solution. A good quality product, such as the nutrients mentioned will be found to contain comprehensive instructions to make all this very easy. Once you have established a routine, you will find it a breeze.

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Making up nutrient solutions

Making up nutrient solutions is very easy. First of all you need a container to make it up in. It is always best to make up as large a quantity as possible. Nutrient products come supplied with very detailed instructions to make life easy.

A 200 litre drum is an ideal size for a mixing tank and 200 litre drums are very commonly available. It is quite possible, however, to make up just a bucket or watering can full, remembering that the mixing ratio is 3.5 mls of A & B (& C) per litre. The measuring flask enclosed with the pack makes it easy. Any plastic container will do as a nutrient container but remember to keep it covered when storing nutrient solution. If light is allowed to get to it there will eventually be algal growth in the tank which you will recognise as a green slime, unsightly but not harmful.




You will need to know the volume of your container. Large rubbish bins for instance are usually about 70 litres. If you are using your nutrient solution for pot culture in which it is supplied to the plant from a large tank or drum, you can quickly standardise your mixing procedure.

When you make up your first drum, you will need to follow the manufacturer’s directions very carefully. You will however, need to add a small amount of pH Up or Down to correct your pH. When you do this keep a careful record of the amount you add, it may only be a few drops. Once you know how much is needed, it will be a simple matter in future to add it to the water in the drum before you add the nutrient. If you do this you can normally be sure that your final pH will be correct.

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Esoteric Hydroponics

Hydroponics nutrient solutions are blended from mineral salts and are formulated to contain all the mineral elements needed for plant growth. Green plants can only take up elements which are exactly the same whether they come from manure or from a nutrient solution.





Recent research has confirmed that the food value of hydroponics produce is at least as high as the soil grown alternatively and in many cases it is superior.

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Rockwool

This is a distinctly different medium and requires a specialised nutrient solution to get the best results. There are very few nutrient products on the market designed specifically for rockwool but if you can find one you should use it.





Most nutrient solution are formulated for rockwool. These nutrients are now available from Esoteric Hydroponics.

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Recirculating Systems (other than rockwool)

These systems include NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) and Flood and Drain tables. It is normal with these types of systems to monitor the nutrient solution and to top it up regularly in order to maintain the right conductivity or "strength".




For this kind of hydroponics system, you should always use a top quality twin or triple pack liquid nutrient.

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Passive Hydroponics (Pot Culture)

Pot culture is the simplest form of hydroponics and involves the use of an inert medium such as perlite or greenmix in a plastic pot in place of soil. Despite the ease of using this system, do not make the mistake of under-estimating it. Incredible results have been achieved with flowering plants and vegetables and it is an ideal first step away from all the problems of soil.




If you are using pot culture for foliage plants only, you will be well suited with a single pack nutrient solution such as Formulex. However, if you wish to grow flowers or vegetables, you should consider using a twin or triple pack nutrient solution such as Optimum, Power Gro, Ionic or GH Flora range.

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Applications for Nutrients - Soil Growing

Plants growing in soil can be fertilised with any of the plant "foods" on the market. Follow the directions on the packet but do not overdo it. If you feed too often or with too strong a solution, you can cause overfeeding. The soil will hold the excess fertilizer salts and this will tend to build up with each application. Avoid this by watering with plain water several times between each "feed".




If you wish to use a hydroponics solution with soil, we would suggest a single pack solution such as Formulex. This is a full featured solution but is slightly less concentrated than the twin or triple packs. It is pH stabilised and will produce great results with soil.

It is also possible to use twin or triple packs with soil. The important thing to remember, whichever solution you use is not to overfeed. Nutrient solutions should always be applied to soil at half strength and no more than once a week. Watch out for the symptoms of overfeeding which are very easy to see. The leaves will have a tendancy to curl downwards and become dark green, brittle and glossy. If this happens, flush the soil by watering heavily with tap water. Wait a week or two before resuming the feeding routine.

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Packs

Single Packs
The reason that liquid nutrients are usually supplied as twin packs is that some of the components are incompatible in concentrate and will cause precipitation when they come together. Once they are diluted into a "working solution" however, there is no problem. There are several good single pack liquid nutrients on the market now, including Formulex. In Formulex, the antagonistic elements are held in a chemical complex to avoid precipitation. It is an ingenious solution to the problem of precipitation and is highly suitable for growing house plants and for all soil gardening.





Twin / Triple Packs
There is no question that for serious hydroponics there is still no better product than a good quality liquid twin or triple pack nutrient solution. Twin and triple packs are very easy to make up and use and they are usually provided with comprehensive instructions to ensure success.

Optimum and Power Gro are well established twin pack nutrients. Optimum and Power Gro have been on the market for over ten years but their formulations have been continually modified and improved in the light of new information and more experience. Ionic and GH Flora Range Triple Pack nutrients provide an unbeatable comprehensive diet of primary and secondary nutrients plus unique pH buffers to keep nutrients fully available to the plants. Optimum, Power Gro, Ionic and G.H Flora Range are now available right across the UK so for supplies or more information, contact Esoteric Hydroponics.

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The Nutrient Solution

Modern nutrient solutions come in several different types. It is important to make sure that the solution you use is the best for your purpose. Solutions that are designed specifically for soil, often called plant "foods" or fertilizers, are suitable only for soil and not for hydroponics. One of the reasons for this is that various trace elements can be relied upon to exist in soil and they are not usually added to the solution. The other reason is that much cheaper and less soluble materials can be used with soil nutrients. They are also often crudely formulated and contain the wrong form of crucial elements such as nitrogen.




True hydroponics nutrient solutions on the other hand must be complete, containing every element needed for plant growth in its most soluble form. This is why hydroponics solutions tend to be more expensive. Do not be put off by this as the total cost of nutrients is still a very small part of your overall expenditure and saving money on nutrients is to run the risk of serious problems. Always use the best quality nutrient solutions as the solution is the only source of nutrition in hydroponics so it must be of the highest quality. The advantage of course is that every time you water your hydroponics plant, you can be sure that it has a full profile of nutrients in exactly the right proportions. You can never be sure of this with plants in soil. In fact, it is almost impossible to maintain a good balance of nutrient with soil in containers.

While it is true that plant "foods" for soil are not suitable for hydroponics, it is quite possible to use hydroponics solutions for soil growing. You can actually achieve great improvements this way because the plant is fully supplied as it may not have been before. There is a risk, however, that you may overfeed the plant so we recommend that you make the solution at only half the regular strength and that you only use it once a week with soil. The symptoms of over feeding are easy to spot and quick to remedy.

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The Ins and Outs of Hydroponic Gardening

Hydroponics simply means growing plants without soil. Food for the plants, which are called hydroponic nutrients, are dissolved in water and fed directly to the roots. The plants form smaller roots and grow in inert grow media. Hydroponic vegetables are healthy, vigorous, and consistently reliable. Hydroponic gardening is clean and extremely easy and requires very little effort.

The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words, “hydro” meaning water and “ponics” meaning labor. The concept of gardening without soil, or hydroponics, has been around for thousands of years. Hydroponics is proven to have several advantages over soil gardening. The growth rate on a hydroponic plant is 30 to 50% faster than a soil plant grown under the same conditions. The yield of the plant is also greater. The extra oxygen in the hydroponic growing mediums helps to stimulate root growth. Plants with ample oxygen in the root system absorb nutrients faster. The hydroponic plant also requires very little energy to find and break down food. The plant then uses this saved energy to grow faster and to produce more fruit. Hydroponic plants also have fewer problems with bug infestations, disease, and funguses.

Hydroponic gardening offers several benefits to the environment. Because of the constant reuse of the nutrient solutions, hydroponic gardening uses considerably less water than soil gardening. Fewer pesticides are used on hydroponic crops as well as they are not necessary. Since hydroponic gardening systems use no topsoil, topsoil erosion is not even an issue. Most of the principles that apply to soil fertilizers also apply to hydroponic fertilizers, or nutrient solutions. A hydroponic nutrient solution contains all of the elements that the plant would normally get from the soil. These nutrients can be purchased at a hydroponic supply store and come in liquid or powdered mixes. Like soil, hydroponic systems can be fertilized with organic or chemical nutrients. An organic hydroponic system is considerably more work to maintain. The organic compounds have a tendency to lock together and cause pumps blockage. Hydroponic systems are characterized as passive or active. An active hydroponic system actively moves the nutrient solution with a pump. Passive hydroponic systems rely on the capillary action of the growing medium or a wick. The nutrient solution is absorbed by the medium or the wick and passed along to the roots. Passive systems are usually too wet and do not supply enough oxygen to the root system to maximize growth rates.

Hydroponic systems are also characterized as recovery or non-recovery. Recovery systems, or re-circulating systems, reuse the nutrient solution. Non-recovery systems apply the nutrient solution to the growing medium, but are not recovered. Most consumers question whether they should buy or build a hydroponic system. If the consumer has the mind of an engineer and dreams of building their own hydroponic system, they should consider buying one first. Buying a system, which does not cost a lot of money, will allow them to have a better understanding of how hydroponics works. The hands- on experience is worth the cost of the system and they will likely be able to reuse the parts in the system when they decide to build their own.

Consumers should do their research and get all of the information they can. Hydroponics is a constantly changing industry and the consumer should be prepared to be patient. Building ones own system can be very rewarding or very frustrating. Hydroponic gardening is the wave of the future and is currently being studied in classrooms around the country, horticultural societies, and in government funded research at major universities. It is also fast becoming a popular hobby, as it is fun, exciting, and easy to get involved in.

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What to Expect When Attempting your own Hydroponic Garden

In order to know what to expect when attempting your own hydroponic garden is to know what a hydroponic garden is. Once you understand what this type of gardening entails, you will be more aware of what to expect when constructing a garden of this nature.

Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in water without soil, and with the proper nutrients added. This process became considerable popular in recent years, and has been done experimentally for over a century. In the year 1929, new studies regarding the feasibility of hydroponics for growing commercial crops have taken place as well.

Nowadays, many home gardeners and farmers use this technique. This method enables plants to be grown closer together in a field, which helps increase the yield of crops. Not only that, but also several crops can be grown in the same hydroponic growth tank.

As far as what to expect from the process of using the hydroponic technique, you will experience both the advantages and disadvantages of growing crops in this manner. One major advantage of hydroponics (besides conserving space) is that it virtually eliminates all weed and pest problems. It is another form of pesticide-free gardening, in some cases.

The major disadvantage of hydronponics is that the equipment used to garden using this methods is very expensive. You will also need to be prepared to provide extensive physical support for your plants when grown by this method. However, this growing method for the most part can benefit many gardeners and crop producers in many ways, if they know how to do it correctly. Those who are successful at this type of gardening can expect nothing but a rich harvest.

Another big advantage for small-scale hydronponic gardeners is the opportunity to grow plants year-round. This can be accomplished by the use of indoor lighting. The correct type of lighting that you would need for growing plants indoors using the hydronponic method would be a High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D.) light. These types of lights are designed to give off the correct spectrum of light waves, which are perfect for growing plants indoors-and in water no less.

The basic hydronponic growing system includes a variety of other components as well. For example, hydroponic-grown plants are held upright by wire supports or are rooted in substances such as sand or gravel. Furthermore, the growing environment for hydronponic-grown plants needs to be as sterile as possible for best results.

To get you started on using the hydroponic system you will need to keep in mind a few tips. For example, if you want to plant a spring garden, there are some things you will need to know, such as the effect of germinating your seeds ahead of time.

In order to germinate your growing seeds you can grow them a month early with an indoor grow light, and wait until after the last projected frost date to transplant it. Even if you decide to transplant your indoor plants outdoors, you will enjoy a longer production and/or blooming season.

The nutrient solutions added to plants grown by the hydronponic method require the correct concentration of various nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and other nutrients that most plants need. One recommendation for growing plants indoors is to add liquid seaweed to them, which also supplies necessary ingredients to plants.

Other names for hydronponics are soilless culture, chemiculture, and water gardening. This type of growing has impressed many people during the experimental phase and is becoming more and more of a successful form of gardening. It is one way of producing organic foods on a larger scale as well.

Now that you know a little more about hydroponics and what to expect from attempting to construct a hydroponic garden it may be time for you to try it for yourself. You have plenty of free resources available to you online to help you get started. In addition, you can refer back to this article.

If you ever have any questions about the hydroponic growing process you can contact gardening or farming expert. They will help direct you to all the information and resources that you need to help you along.

To find out more about hydroponics see: Homemade Hydroponics

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A Birdseye View into the Different Types of Hydroponic Growing Systems

Hydroponic gardening is the way of the future for environmentally controlled agriculture. Hydroponic gardening eliminates soil borne pests and diseases and maximizes water and nutrient uptake by the plant. Incredible yields can be achieved in a relatively small space with hydroponic systems. There are many types of hydroponic systems available for home and commercial use. These systems include the Europonic Rockwood System, the Ebb and Flow System, Aeroponic Systems, Continuous Drip Systems, and Rockwool Based Systems. Hydroponic systems come in all shapes and sizes and can be adapted for nearly any budget.

Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT, is another popular system. The plants are held in troughs with nutrient solution constantly trickling over the roots. A reservoir with a pump that is submersible re-circulates the nutrient solution continually, pumping the solution to the top of the troughs to trickle back through the system. Larger Nutrient Film Technique systems are used commercially, both abroad and in the United States. When choosing a Nutrient Film Technique system, care must be taken to choose the correct trough size. Large commercial systems use wider troughs with greater flow capacity. Aeroponics is a system in which the plant’s roots are suspended in air. They are excellent for growing herbs and leafy vegetables. The plants are held in web pots with neoprene inserts to support the plant. Different hold configurations in the top cover provide the proper spacing. Aeroponic systems are also great propagators. The seedlings can be germinated in rockwool then transferred directly to the web pots. Aeroponic systems are also very popular at NASA research centers and other educational facilities around the world.

The Europonic System is modeled after commercial systems that are used in Europe. A basic system has three trays and holds eight plants each. The system may also be expanded to five trays if desired. A nutrient solution is pumped from a thirty-gallon reservoir to individual emitters at each plant. The solution trickles through the rockwool, over the roots, and back to the reservoir where it is re-circulated on a constant basis. Rockwool, or mineral wool, is the most popular and highly used hydroponic medium. It is made from spun material fibers and has a high water and air holding capacity. It can also be cut and formed into many shapes and sizes that allow many diverse growing applications. The Europonic System uses rockwool slabs with two slabs fitting into each tray. Rockwool is easily able to support a relatively extensive root system so the Europonic System is ideal for vine crops such as tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers, plus large flowering plants.

In a continuous drip system, a single pot is used with a two-gallon reservoir underneath. The system acts like a percolator as air is pumped down a vertical shaft, creating pressure, and nutrient solution is forced up another tube. A drip ring constantly irrigates the substrate, and the nutrient solution drains back into the reservoir. This type of system is easy to use, inexpensive, and great for individual experimentation. However, it is impractical for most commercial applications. Ebb and flow systems are also popular in hydroponics. They are good for crops such as lettuce, pepper plants, miniature tomatoes, and potted flowers. Ebb and flow systems can also be used as an herb garden to provide fresh basis, thyme, and oregano year round. Ebb and flow systems do have a few drawbacks, one including the possible buildup of fertilizer salts in the substrate. As the water evaporates between flooding, the salts are left behind as a residue and may rise to toxic levels. It is best to flush the system with pure water periodically to take away any toxic salt buildup.

To find out more about hydroponics see: home hydroponics

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The Benefits of Gardening the Hydroponic Way

Gardening has been considered to be one of the most therapeutic rewards for North Americans. Gardening stimulates all of the senses, giving great satisfaction and pleasure. Hydroponics is the growing of plants without the use of soil. A variety of hydroponic gardening techniques exist and just about any plant can be grown with hydroponics. Hydroponic gardening is considered to be quite easy and many teachers use this method of gardening with their students when working on science projects.

There are a variety of benefits associated with hydroponic gardening. When plants are grown using hydroponics, the roots do not need to search for required nutrients. The nutrient solution is provided directly to them, which results in plant growth, which is more abundant. Incorporating hydroponics into an outdoor garden can help add interest and intrigue. The natural conditions available outdoors in the summer make it a perfect time to experiment with the various types of hydroponic cultivation. Annual flowers, fruit, herbs, and vegetables do exceptionally well with hydroponics.

With hydroponics, important growing factors such as light, temperature, and humidity can be controlled. Since there is no soil, there is less maintenance involved with hydroponics. There is no need for weeding and the worry of pests or soil borne diseases is drastically reduced. Hydroponics is always a soil less culture, but not all soil less cultures are considered to be hydroponics. Many of these cultures do not use the nutrient solutions, which are required for hydroponics. There are two main types of hydroponics, which are solution culture and medium culture. Solution culture uses a nutrient solution but does not use a solid growing medium for the roots. The medium culture has a solid growing medium for the roots such as gravel, sand or a perlite culture. Hydroponic plants are grown in a number of ways, each supplying nutrient solution to the plants one way or another.

Hydroponics can be used to grow plants anywhere, even in your own backyard. Using hydroponics can grow anything from garden crops to flowers. Hydroponic gardening is considered to be a clean and highly effective method for growing plants. There is less mess and less maintenance. Hydroponic gardening helps to eliminate the need for weeding and helps to cut down on diseases and pests. This form of gardening is also easily adapted to indoor environments, which means it can be used throughout the year to grow a gardener’s favorite plants. The greatest advantage to hydroponics is the overall outcome of the plants, which will be of better quality and are much healthier. Gardeners can give nature a helping hand while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of their garden. Gardeners will be able to watch the spectacular improvements that growing hydroponically can bring to their garden.

Hydroponics has always been an ecologically sound gardening choice. It uses much less water than conventional gardening and does not erode the soil or add toxins to the environment. Soluble nutrient formulas are re-circulated and used by the plants’ roots, which helps eliminate environmental waste. Plants tend to be healthier in a hydroponic system than those grown in soil, which makes them more pest resistant. Biological control agents are used as preventative measures. Harmful herbicides are simply not required because there are no weeds in a hydroponic garden. As many gardeners today are choosing to grow organically, organic crop cultivation in hydroponics has become very popular. Organic gardening is the cultivation of plants without the use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides. Gardeners are willing to invest in the extras required by organic gardening because it ensures that no harmful pesticides or fungicides will be used. There are many organic nutrients and additives designed specifically for use in hydroponic gardens. To find out more about hydroponics see:

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Solar greenhouse References

Analytical Spectroscopy Research Group, Spectroscopy Overview, http://www.pharm.uky.edu/ASRG/general_spectroscopy.html Describes the operation of the greenhouse effect both globally and in greenhouses.
Fairey, Philip; An Analysis of Greenhouse Cookpot Design Considerations For Low-Cost Solar Cookers, Florida Solar Energy Center, http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/cookpot/ , accessed 3-30-2005.
Giacomelli, Gene A. and William J. Roberts1, Greenhouse Covering Systems, Rutgers University, downloaded from: http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/research/archive/HortGlazing.pdf on 3-30-2005.
Joliet O., et al.; Horticern - An Improved Static Model for Predicting the Energy-Consumption of a Greenhouse, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 55(3-4): 265-294 Jun 1991.
Kiehl, J.T., and Trenberth, K. (1997). Earth's annual mean global energy budget, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 78 (2), 197–208. Stanford University, Planetary Habitability, Chapter 7 A Clement Climate, http://pangea.stanford.edu/courses/gp025/webbook/07_clement.html Earth Science Web Book which discusses greenhouses.

From : Wikipedia

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Practical applications

The modern development of new plastic surfaces and glazings for greenhouses has permitted construction of greenhouses which selectively control the transmittance of both incoming solar radiation wavelengths and outgoing thermal IR wavelengths.




The new materials also provide insulation to reduce conductive loss through the glazing in order to better control the growing environment. The research starts with the blocking of convective heat loss as a given in an isolated system and works toward improving IR absorption and insulation to further reduce radiative and conductive energy loss.

Gardeners sometimes use a "greenhouse-in-a-greenhouse" technique, in which they lay additional IR absorbent plastic sheeting inside a greenhouse in order to provide additional warmth in an isolated area to plants or water pipes.Another practical application of the greenhouse effect is in the creation of solar cookers. The analysis compares the thermodynamic properties of several solar cooker designs.

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Solar greenhouse

A solar greenhouse works by letting in solar radiation and trapping the energy from that radiation to increase and maintain the internal temperature above that of the temperature outside - see greenhouse effect for details.

The most basic aspects of greenhouse design are: first, to thermodynamically isolate the system to stop convection and conduction from equalizing the temperature with the ambient temperature; and second, to provide a covering with a controlled difference between the transparency in the solar radiation band (280 nm to 2500 nm wavelengths) and the terrestrial thermal radiation band (5000 nm to 35000 nm), for the purpose of either raising or lowering the temperature inside the greenhouse. A greenhouse covering which is more transparent to the solar radiation band and less transparent to the thermal radiation band will result in a temperature higher than the surrounding environment, and a greenhouse covering which is more reflective of solar radiation and more transparent to thermal radiation will lower the temperature relative to the surrounding environment.

For the traditional case of a warming greenhouse, such as with a glass covering, a covering material is chosen which will absorb some of the outgoing IR and radiate a portion of it back into the greenhouse environment to reduce radiative energy loss to the sky from the amount that the ambient environment experiences. The use of insulation and more infrared-absorbent glazing enhances the effect by reducing heat loss by conduction and IR radiation.

The soil mass at the base of the greenhouse acts to absorb a portion of the available heat during the solar period of the day for later use as a night time radiant heat source. Installations of subterranean air circulation tubing can be designed to enhance the soil mass heat absorption potential.

With proper subterranean design, underground air circulation tubing can absorb most of the daytime solar gain directly into this soil mass to provide air cooling, prevent overheating and serve as an additional heat source at night. Also the addition of heat storage materials with high heat capacity, such as containers of water or bins of sand and rock absorb heat energy during the day to help prevent greenhouse overheating, and release that energy to maintain the internal temperature during cooling periods, such as during the night.

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Greenhouse History

19th Century Orangerie in Weilburg, Germany

The idea of growing plants in environmentally controlled areas has existed since Roman times. Doctors for the Roman emperor Tiberius prescribed him a cucumber daily. The Roman gardeners used artificial methods (similar to the greenhouse system) of growing to have it available for his table every day of the year. Cucumbers were planted in wheeled carts which were put in the sun daily, then taken inside to keep them warm at night. The cucumbers were stored under frames or in cucumber houses glazed with either oiled cloth known as "specularia" or with sheets of mica. (Pliny the Elder and Columella).

The first modern greenhouses were built in Italy in the sixteenth century to house the exotic plants that explorers brought back from the tropics. They were originally called giardini botanici (botanical gardens). The concept of greenhouses soon spread to the Netherlands and then England, along with the plants. Some of these early attempts required enormous amounts of work to close up at night or to winterize. There were serious problems with providing adequate and balanced heat in these early greenhouses.

Jules Charles, a French botanist, is often credited with building the first practical modern greenhouse in Leiden, Holland to grow medicinal tropical plants.

Originally on the estates of the rich, with the growth of the science of botany greenhouses spread to the universities. The British some times called their greenhouses conservatories, since they conserved the plants. The French called their first greenhouses orangeries, since they were used to protect orange trees from freezing. As pineapples became popular pineries were built. Experimentation with the design of greenhouses continued during the Seventeenth Century in Europe as technology produced better glass and construction techniques improved. The greenhouse at the Palace of Versailles was an example of their size and elaborateness; it was more than 500 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 45 feet high.




Victorian conservatory, Kew Gardens

In the nineteenth Century the largest greenhouses were built. The conservatory at Kew Gardens in England is a prime example of the Victorian greenhouse. Although intended for both horticultural and non-horticultural exhibition these included London's Crystal Palace, the New York Crystal Palace and Munich’s Glaspalast. Joseph Paxton, who had experimented with glass and iron in the creation of large greenhouses as the head gardener at Chatsworth, in Derbyshire, working for the Duke of Devonshire, designed and built the first, London's Crystal Palace. A major architectural achievement in monumental greenhouse building were the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken (1874-1895) for King Leopold II of Belgium.In Japan, the first greenhouse was built in 1880 by Samuel Cocking, a British merchant who exported herbs.

In the Twentieth Century the geodesic dome was added to the many types of greenhouses.

In 2005 David Chelf PhD. in physics (University of California, Berkeley) introduced the first wind-assisted, air-supported greenhouse. Wind-assisted, air-supported greenhouse

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Greenhouses important

Greenhouses are increasingly important in the food supply of high latitude countries. The largest greenhouse complex in the world is at Leamington, Ontario (close to Canada's most southern point) where about 200 acres (0.8 km²) of tomatoes are entirely grown under glass.



Greenhouses protect crops from too much heat or cold, shield plants from dust storms and blizzards, and help to keep out pests. Light and temperature control allows greenhouses to turn unarable land into arable land. Greenhouses can feed starving nations where crops can't survive in the harsh deserts and arctic wastes. Hydroponics can be used in greenhouses as well to make the most use of the interior space.

Biologist John Todd invented a greenhouse that turns sewage into water, through the natural processes of bacteria, plants, and animals.

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Greenhouse Uses

Greenhouse effects are often used for growing flowers, vegetables, fruits, and tobacco plants. Bumblebees are the pollinators of choice for most greenhouse pollination, although other types of bees have been used, as well as artificial pollination.




Mowing young tobacco in greenhouse of half million plants (Hemingway, South Carolina)

Besides tobacco, many vegetables and flowers are grown in greenhouses in late winter and early spring, then transplanted outside as the weather warms. Started plants are usually available for gardeners in farmers' markets at transplanting time.

The closed environment of a greenhouse has its own unique requirements, compared with outdoor production. Pests and diseases, and extremes of heat and humidity, have to be controlled, and irrigation is necessary to provide water. Significant inputs of heat and light may be required, particularly with winter production of warm-weather vegetables. Special greenhouse varieties of certain crops, like tomatoes, are generally used for commercial production.

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Greenhouse

A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse or hothouse) is a building where plants are cultivated.


A greenhouse in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

A greenhouse is a structure with a glass or plastic roof and frequently glass or plastic walls; it heats up because incoming solar radiation from the sun warms plants, soil, and other things inside the building. Air warmed by the heat from hot interior surfaces is retained in the building by the roof and wall. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings. The glass used for a greenhouse works as a selective transmission medium for different spectral frequencies, and its effect is to trap energy within the greenhouse, which heats both the plants and the ground inside it. This warms the air near the ground, and this air is prevented from rising and flowing away, in addition to the fact that infrared radiation cannot pass through the greenhouse glass. This can be demonstrated by opening a small window near the roof of a greenhouse: the temperature drops considerably. This principle is the basis of the autovent automatic cooling system. Greenhouses thus work by trapping electromagnetic radiation and preventing convection. Miniature greenhouses are known as a cold frame.

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Bulb Gardening

ABCs Of Bulb Gardening

Flowering plants that overwinter and multiply by means on fleshy stems of leaves are called bulbs. The bulbs we grow in our gardens today are native to temperate zones all over the world, the woodlands, meadows and mountains of the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North America. The Dutch have been extremely successful over the centuries in collection and hybridizing new species of bulbs and improving them for reliable garden performance. Tulips in particular, once played an important role in the Dutch economy.

There is no easier plant to cultivate than a bulb. Planted at the right time, in a loose, well-draining soil, bulbs will bloom punctually year after year and even spread (“naturalize”) if conditions are to their liking.

By planting a sequence of spring-, summer- and fall-flowering bulbs at the appropriate time, you can enjoy their blooms practically year ‘round.

Fall (late September through late November) – Plant hardy, spring-flowering bulbs: tulips, narcissus (includes all types of daffodils), crocus, eranthis (winter aconites), erythronium, fritillaria, hyacinths snowdrops, scilla, hardy cyclamen, lilies. In California and milder areas of the Southwest, also plant ranunculus, freesias, anemones and paperwhites outdoors. Store tulips, crocus and hyacinths in refrigerator for 6-8 weeks before planting. In all regions, store potted bulbs in refrigerator for forcing indoors.

Winter – In California, plant prechilled- hardy bulbs outdoors. In all regions, remove sprouted bulbs from refrigerator for indoor forcing.

Spring – Plant more tender, summer-flowering bulbs: achimenes, gladioli, alliums, calla lilies, tuberous begonias, ixia, crocosmia, dahlias, cannas.

Late Summer – Plant the late bloomers: fall crocus, fall- and winter-blooming hardy cyclamen.

Click here to browse bloomingbulb.com for #1 quality plants and bulbs.

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Sprouting and the Living foods diet

Advocates of a raw food diet promote the use of sprouting as an effective way to increase the nutrient value, and digestibility, of beans, seeds and nuts. Sprouts are in fact the most nutrient dense food on earth [citation needed] – nutrient density refers to the amount of nutrients per calorie. This is why many people on a low-calorie diet make sprouts and baby greens the mainstay of their diet, especially blended for easier digestion.

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Nutritional information and precautions

Sprouts are rich in vitamins, minerals, Amino Acids, proteins and phytochemicals, as these are necessary for a germinating plant to grow [citation needed]. They are also rich in nutrients essential for human health.



Some legumes can contain toxins, which can be reduced by soaking, sprouting and cooking (eg, stir frying). Joy Larkcom, advises that to be on the safe side “one shouldn’t eat large quantities of raw legume sprouts on a regular basis, no more than about 550g (20oz) daily”.

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Sprouter

These problems are easily solved by an automatic sprouter that mists and drains the sprouts at regular intervals. To control temperature, in the winter a warming blanket can be placed under the sprouter, and in the summer small fans in the lid if it's very hot and humid.
Mung beans can be sprouted either in light or dark conditions. Those sprouted in the dark will be crisper in texture and whiter, as in the case of commercially available Chinese Bean Sprouts, but these have less nutritional content than those grown in partial sunlight. Growing in full sunlight is not recommended, because it can cause the beans to overheat or dry out. Subjecting the sprouts to pressure, for example, by placing a weight on top of them in their sprouting container, will result in larger, crunchier sprouts similar to those sold in Polish grocery stores.

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Sprouting

Sprouting is the practice of soaking, draining, then rinsing at regular intervals seeds until they germinate and begin to sprout.

Seeds that can be sprouted.
One of the most common sprouts is that of the mung bean (Vigna radiata), often sold as ‘Chinese Bean Sprouts’; another common sprout is the alfalfa sprout.

Other seeds that can be sprouted include adzuki bean, almond, amaranth, annatto seed, anise seed, arugula, barley, basil, kidney bean, navy bean, pinto bean, lima bean, broccoli, buckwheat, cabbage, canola seed, caragana, cauliflower, celery, chia seed, chickpeas, chives, cilantro (coriander), clover, cress, dill, fennel, fenugreek, flax seed, garlic, hemp seed, kale, kamut, kat, leek, green lentils, millet, mizuna, mustard, oats, onion, black-eyed peas, green peas, snow peas, peanut, psyllium, pepita (pumpkin seeds), quinoa, radish, rye, sesame, soybean, spelt, sunflower, tatsoi, triticale, watercress, and wheat berries.

With all seeds, care should be taken that they are intended for sprouting or human consumption rather than sowing. Seeds intended for sowing may be treated with chemical dressings. Several countries, such as New Zealand, also require that some varieties of edible seed be heat-treated, thus making them impossible to sprout.

Sprouting
Moisture, warmth, and in most cases, indirect sunlight are necessary for sprouting. Some sprouts, such as mung beans, can be grown in the dark. Little time, effort or space is needed to make sprouts.

To sprout seeds, the seeds are moistened, then left at room temperature (between 13 and 21 degrees Celsius) in a sprouting vessel. Many different types of vessels can be used. One type is a simple glass jar with a piece of cloth secured over its rim. ‘Tiered’ clear plastic sprouters are commercially available, allowing a number of "crops" to be grown simultaneously. By staggering sowings, a constant supply of young sprouts can be ensured. Any vessel used for sprouting must allow water to drain from it, because sprouts which sit in water will rot quickly. The seeds will swell and begin germinating within a day or two.

Sprouts are rinsed as little as twice a day, but possibly three or four times a day in hotter climates, to prevent them from souring. Each seed has its own ideal sprouting time. Depending on which seed is used, after three to five days they will have grown to two or three inches in length and will be suitable for consumption. If left longer they will begin to develop leaves, and are then known as baby greens. A popular baby green is sunflower after 7-10 days. The growth process of any sprout can be slowed or halted by refrigerating until needed.

Common causes for sprouts to turn out inedible:

• Seeds are allowed to dry out
• Seeds are left in standing water
• Temperature is high or too low
• Insufficient rinsing
• Dirty equipment
• Insufficient air flow

From Wikipedia

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NASA Aeroponic Links

· "A High Performance, Gravity Insensitive, Enclosed Aeroponic System for Food Production in Space"
· "Aeroponics Versus Bed and Hydroponic Propagation"
· "Developing a sterile environment for aeroponic plant growth - NASA"
· NASA Space Flight Plant Growth
· NASA Spinoff 2006
· "Re-examining Aeroponics for Spaceflight Plant Growth"

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Large Scale Integration of Aeroponics

In 2006, the [Ag University of Hanoi Vietnam] in joint efforts with Stoner established the postgraduate doctoral program in aeroponics.



Aeroponic Graduate Program: Hanoi Agricultural University, Hanoi Vietnam

The university's Agrobiotech Research Center, under the direction of [Dr. N. Thach], is using aeroponic laboratories to advance Vietnam's minituber potato production for certified seed potato production.



Aeroponic potato explants on day 3 after insertion in the aeroponic system at the Hanoi Ag University, Hanoi Vietnam 2006

The historical sigfnicants for aeroponics - its the first time a nation has specifically called out for aeroponics to further an agricultural sector, stimulate farm economic goals, meet increased demands, improve food quality and increase production.

Potatoes are one of the world's top foods containing a high level of protein. "We have shown that aeroponics, more than any other form of agricultural technology, will significantly improve Vietnam's potato production. We have very little tillable land, aeroponics makes complete economic sense to us”, attested Thach.



Aeroponic greenhouse for potato minituber product Hanoi Ag University, Hanoi Vietnam - April 2006

Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 2007. The impact of aeroponics in Vietnam will be felt at the farm level.

Aeroponic integration in Vietnam agriculture will begin by producing a low cost certified disease-free organic minitubers. Which in turn will be supplied to local farmers for their field plantings of seed potatoes and commercial potatoes. Potato farmers will benefit from aeroponics because their seed potatoes will be disease-free and grown without pesticides. Most importantly for the Vietnamese farmer, it will lower their cost of operation and increase their yields, says Thach.

from : wikipedia.org

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Aeroponic Bio-pharming

Aeroponic bio-pharming is used to grow pharmaceutical medicine inside of plants. The technology allows for completed containment of allow effluents and by-products of biopharma crops to remain inside a a closed-loop facility.




Aeroponically grown biopharma corn, 2005

As recently as 2005, GMO research at South Dakota State University by Dr. Neil Reese applied aeroponics to grow genetically modified corn.

According to Reese it is a historical feat to grow corn in an aeroponic apparatus for bio-massing. The university’s past attempts to grow all types of corn using hydroponics ended in failure.

Using advanced aeroponics techniques to grow genetically modified corn Reese harvested full ears of corn. All the while containing the corn pollen and spent effluent water and prevent them from entering the environment. Containment of these ecologically harmful by-products ensures the environment remains safe from GMO contamination.

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