What Is Growing In Your Garden?

The popular definition for the word, ‘weed,’ is any plant that grows where it is not wanted. Weeds are defined by their tendency to flourish at the expense of the gardener’s overall vision, and the battle is on.




It is important to consider, though, that a plant is a weed only within a given context, which is to say that one person’s weed is another person’s wildflower with medicinal value. The majority of us pull dandelions up by their roots and dispose of them in the interest of preserving the look of a perfect green lawn. We fail to consider that the dandelion is good medicine, packed with healing properties and vitamin-rich leaves that are a delicious, spicy addition to a summer salad. Cooked dandelion leaves sprinkled with salt and vinegar make a delicious leafy vegetable—similar to spinach.

In the wild, there is no such thing as a weed, because the overall vision is in the hands of Mother Nature, who accommodates and incorporates all forms of life. Each plant has a purpose—nature achieves balance over the long term, without the aid, or interference of human supervision. While one plant may prevail over others for a period of time, eventually it will reach an apex and then it will naturally decline, allowing for other plants to sprout and survive. This self-regulating system was the first gardener of our ancestors, who learned the art of agriculture by studying the forests and fields of the as yet uncultivated earth. Weeds are harbingers of this wilderness, pushing their way into our well-ordered plots, undermining more delicate flora and flourishing in spite of humans.

In the future when you see a ‘weed,’ consider, looking deep into its roots, learn its name, its habits, and possible uses. Instead of seeing a plant as an unwanted intruder, consider seeing it as a healer offering its leaves for a medicinal tea or its flowers for a colorful salad. No doubt if you look long enough, you will learn all plants are a messenger from Mother Earth, reminding you that, even in the most carefully controlled garden, Mother Nature cannot be completely ruled out.

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD

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Successful Gardening in Small Spaces

An effective garden doesn’t mean it has to be huge and hold tons of plants. Not everyone has the space for a garden like that, but they can grow thriving plants in a small area as long as there’s access to sunlight.

Gardens have grown in many places - from a small patch of ground outside of a home to planting pots placed outside one’s front door. The size of your garden doesn’t matter because it’s the quality of your gardening skills that will provide you with thriving plants.




You’ll want to research the plants you want to grow within your garden. Find out what plants can be planted near each other, which ones need the most sunlight and any care instructions needed to grow a particular type of plant.

This will help you plan the placement of your garden, whether you plant in a small patch of land or in planters. Next, you’ll need to find out when each plant should be planted. Some need to be planted ahead of others, so plan accordingly.

Now you’re ready to purchase the plants or seeds, whichever you choose to grow in your garden. Make sure you have the right size planters for your garden if you go with gardening pots. The plants need some space to grow, so don’t overcrowd them.

Make sure you use top quality potting soil. Your plants could use the extra effort to provide them with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Your local gardening center can help you decide which soil would be best for you to use.

Even gardens grown in small areas will have problems with insects that feed on your plants, so make sure you purchase plants that are inviting to the insects that will keep the harmful ones under control so they won’t have time to destroy your garden.

Some fertilizing soil has ingredients mixed in that will help repel some of the pests, so check them out as well. If you feel you must use pesticides, use them sparingly. Most of these harmful chemicals can affect the plants as well as animals and children, so use only what’s absolutely necessary for your garden.




Every garden, no matter if it’s big or small, needs to be nurtured. Stay on top of the weeds, aerate the soil once in awhile and water as often as needed. No garden will thrive without the proper care and nurturing from the gardener, so don’t neglect them.

Small gardens can thrive just as much as larger ones, so if you don’t have the space for a big garden, just make use of the space you do have and grow healthy and robust plants. With the proper care, any garden can produce excellent plants.

Take the time to plan out your garden to use the best areas of the small space that you have. Your small garden could then outmatch any large one if you put forth your best effort and make it successful.

By Paul Duxbury

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Hydroponic Sea Oats – How They Help the Florida Coastline

Sea oats, vital for preventing coastal erosion, have been raised in Allentown, Florida, which is more than thirty miles from the nearest beach and without a grain of sand. These sea oats are being grown hydroponically with their roots dangling in the nutrient-rich water. This method is applauded for saving energy. The sea oats have been grown in nurseries and transplanted to beaches, where they trap sand and help restore the dunes and have done so for over three decades. Hydroponic sea oats need less space and water and require fewer chemicals while generating no pesticide runoff. The process saves the energy it would normally take to make the chemicals and pesticides. With this process, there is also no need for tractors, which require a lot of fuel.

Hydroponics date back over 5,000 years when the Egyptians made paper from papyrus grown in water. Thousands of hydroponic tomato growers went out of business in the 1950s, as they were unable to compete with low prices for conventionally grown varieties. By growing sea oats, the ecologically friendly cultivation method employs few resources and reaps tremendous results. Hydroponics is revolutionizing the way environmental managers repopulate Florida’s critical natural resources.




In the natural environment, one of every 10,000 sea oat seeds will germinate. When grown using hydroponics, one out of every 10 seeds will develop for transplantation to the beach as a mature plant. Hydroponics is often defined as the cultivation of plants in water. Research has since determined that many different aggregates or media will support plant growth so the definition of hydroponics has been broadened to read the cultivation of plants without soil. Growers all over the world are using hydroponic techniques due to the lack of a large water supply or fertile farmland. Home gardeners have used hydroponics on a smaller scale to grow fresh vegetables year round and to grow plants in smaller spaces. Greenhouses and nurseries grown their plants in a soil-less peat or bark based growing mix. The nutrients are then applied to the growing mix through the water supply. This is also a type of hydroponics.

Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions with or without the use of an artificial medium to provide mechanical support. Hydroponic systems are further categorized as open or closed. The definition of hydroponics has been confined to liquid systems only, which changes statistical data and leads to the underestimation of the extent of the technology and its economic implications. All hydroponic systems in temperate regions of the world are enclosed in greenhouse-type structures to provide temperature control, reduce evaporative water loss, and to reduce disease and pest infestations.

Hydroponics is a relatively new technology and has evolved rapidly since its inception over 70 years ago. It is a versatile technology and is appropriate for both developing countries and high tech space stations. Hydroponic technology can efficiently generate food crops from barren desert sand and desalinated ocean water. The economic prospects for controlled environmental agriculture and hydroponics may improve if governmental bodies determined there are politically desirable effects of hydroponics and those merits subsidizing for the good of the public. The benefits of this may include the conservation of water in regions in which it is scarce or food production in hostile environments.

Another desirable social effect could be the provision of income producing employment for disadvantaged segments of the population entrapped in economically depressed regions. Hydroponics has fast become a technical reality. Such production systems are producing horticultural crops where field grown fresh vegetables and ornamentals are unavailable for most of the year. The development and use of controlled environment agriculture and hydroponics have enhanced the economic well being of many communities throughout the world.

By Arian Osch

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Organic Garden Pest Control - Getting Rid Of Unwanted Guests Without Chemicals

Chemical pesticides are toxic to humans, especially the very young or very old, pets, insects and the environment. Organic gardeners shun chemical pesticides and prefer to use natural and non-toxic ways of removing or deterring bugs. Soap is one useful method of pest control. You can buy organic soap or you can make it yourself by putting a few drops of dish soap into a cup of water. Spray your plants with this mixture. Spider mites and aphids hate soap. You need to completely coat the flowers, stem and leaves of the plant for the soap to be effective, although bear in mind that if you use the wrong kind of soap (for example, an antibacterial soap containing triclosan) or spray too much on, you might damage the leaves. Spray enough to kill the bugs and no more.




If you spot bigger insects on your plants, it is easy enough to pick them off. You can wear gloves if you don't fancy touching the bugs and drop them into a container soapy water. Morning or evening is usually the best time to find the most insects on the plants.

There are some plants which repel insects naturally. It might be a good idea to plant these amongst your other plants. Examples of plants repugnant to insects are garlic, onion and marigolds. There are also insects which eat other insects instead of your plants. Praying mantis and ladybugs can be used to effectively control garden insects. They can be bought in egg sacs or live from many garden stores. You just need to release them into the garden and they will find aphids or similar food and happily live off them.

It is possible to make physical barriers in some cases. For example, if you cut the top and bottom from a can or jar, and push the container into the soil around fragile young plants, this will keep cutworms away. You can sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants if slugs are a problem since slug pellets contain chemicals which we are trying to avoid. You can protect your produce from grasshoppers using fine netting. As an organic gardener, you will discover new creative ways to control insects in your garden if they are pests rather than resort to spraying toxic chemicals around.


By Lee Dobbins

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How To Keep The Bugs Out of Your Garden

You have worked for many hours on planning, preparing and planting your garden. Only to have those annoying pests then move in and destroy what you worked so hard to build up. Insects can damage your plants within a matter of hours once they’ve found the fruits of your labor.




The best way to control these bugs is to keep them out of your garden to begin with. There are many pesticides that you can use to keep the bugs away, but you need to make sure they’re safe to use.

Some of the sprays can be harmful to the health of other animals and possibly small children. You want to get rid of these pests, but make sure you don’t get rid of all of them, since there are some you actually want to keep in your garden.

Some of these helpful pests, such as ladybugs and spiders, feed on the annoying insects that damage your plants. They’re essentially the best bodyguards one could have for their garden.

One of the best ways to control the insects and pests that damage the plants in your garden is by allowing helpful pests in that will drive those harmful ones away or eat them.

By planting inviting plants or “homes” for the helpful insects, you can keep the harmful ones at bay quite efficiently. Check with your local gardening center on which plants attract the good pests.

Another thing to keep in mind is to keep your garden clean. The harmful pests are often attracted to piles of leaves, grass cuttings and dense spots of weeds. These pests can thrive in those areas, so weed your garden regularly and clean up the leaves and grass cuttings that find their way into your garden.

Some organic gardeners use a hot pepper wax that they lightly spray on the leaves of their plants. The oils from the spicy contents of this wax wards off the harmful insects and other pests as well.

The wax solution is safe for your plants and doesn’t affect the produce at all, so don’t worry about “spicing” up your vegetables. As long as you properly clean them before consuming them, you won’t notice any residue.

There are some plants that give off a scent that repels those bugs and keeps them away from your precious produce. Such plants - like marigolds and the borage herb plant - are very effective at keeping those pests away from your tomato plants. Plant them nearby and watch your tomato plants grow to be healthy and robust.

Every gardener wants to see their garden thrive after putting in a lot of hours of hard work and dedication into it. No one wants to see that labor go down the drain by losing their plants to those annoying pests that move into your garden.

Before planting your garden, do your research and find the best companion plants to repel the annoying pests and the ones that invite the good insects in according to your geographic location.

By Paul Duxbury

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How to Use more CO2 to Boost Hydroponic Plant Growth

Carbon dioxide is needed in a hydroponic garden to guaranteecontinued plant growth because it is required for photosynthesis. Many gardeners do not realize that the larger their hydroponicgarden is, the more their plants need carbon dioxide forrespiration. Plants that are grown in a small greenhouse areespecially susceptible to growth problems due to lack of sufficientcarbon dioxide.

How can you boost the carbon dioxide content in your hydroponicgarden? There are five ways that you can increase the level ofcarbon dioxide in your greenhouse to increase plant growth. First,the burning hydrocarbon fuels will create carbon dioxide gas. Second, the use of dry ice can aid in the production of this gas. Third, fermentation of organic materials creates carbon dioxide. Fourth, the decomposition of organic matter such as compost willcreate carbon dioxide. Finally, the use of compressed bottledcarbon dioxide is the most commonly used way to create the gas in agreenhouse for the desired effect.

Large greenhouses have burned hydrocarbon fuels for years in aneffort to increase growth in their plants. Examples of hydrocarbonfuels are propane, butane, natural gas and alcohol. Fuels thatcontain sulfur or sulfur compounds cannot be used because theyproduce harmful by products when they burn.

Dry ice can be used in small greenhouses, especially if a coolingeffect is also desired. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, iseffective when used in a well-sealed area. The ice can either beused in block form or broken down into small pieces and used alittle at a time. Another method is to put the dry ice into aStyrofoam container with holes in it to slow down the rate ofevaporation. Since carbon dioxide is heavier than air it must beplaced above the plants in order for it to drift down and surroundthe plants. Many hydroponic gardeners attach the dry ice to thelight reflectors in their greenhouses.

Fermentation is another way to create more carbon dioxide in yourhydroponic greenhouse. This method is easy to accomplish with fewmaterials - corn sugar, brewer's yeast, water, a small bottle and alarger container such as a garbage bag or large glass jug. Theprocess is the same as creating a batch of wine, beer or mead. Once the batch has stopped bubbling the fermentation process hasceased and another batch will need to be made in order to continuethe production of carbon dioxide.

The use of decomposing organic matter is rarely used indoorsbecause of the odor and it is unsanitary because of the bugs itattracts. It can be used outdoors in a greenhouse but the bugproblem and their potential diseases need to be addressed in orderto save your plants from their adverse effects.

The most popular method of generating carbon dioxide for yourhydroponic plants is the use of a pressurized carbon dioxidesystem. The equipment is relatively inexpensive (under $500) andthe operating expense is low. In addition this system does notgenerate heat so it is easier to regulate than other forms ofgenerating carbon dioxide. A flow meter and timer regulates theamount of time that the gas is released into the growingenvironment.

A hydroponic plant grower can use any of these methods to increasethe amount of carbon dioxide into their greenhouse environment. However, the end cost and effect of each of these methods on yourgrowing should be carefully considered before being implemented.

Increasing the carbon dioxide in your greenhouse will improve thegrowth of your plants and it could lead to increased profits forgardeners who sell their plant products. All that is needed forsuccess is careful planning, monitoring and administration of thecarbon dioxide gas.

For more information check out the whole package at homemade-hydroponics.com

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Gifts for the Gardener

My grandpa had a saying, “Spring is sprung, grass is riz. Wonder where the flowers is?” When April and May roll around, this silly rhyme rolls through my head. I start looking for those tulips and daffodils to poke up to confirm that my hard work last fall has paid off.




Do you have a gardener in your life? Even if your gardener is more of an amateur (like me) than a professional, a few gardening gifts can inspire him or her to create a lasting masterpiece.
If your loved one is new to the pleasure of gardening, the list of ideas is endless. Novice gardeners can use trowels, rakes, seedlings, seeds, watering devices and hand-held pruners. Container gardening is popular for those with limited outdoor space or for those who don’t wish to tear up the yard. An assortment of pots along with some potting soil and plants can give the recipient a ready-made and easy to maintain garden. If you want to add something unique to this gift, consider a pot scrubber. Yes, there is such thing!

Maybe your gardener is more experienced, and has every gadget one can find in the gardening catalog. A garden ornament may be just the thing. There are all kinds of statues, glass balls, wind chimes, and the like that can put a lovely finishing touch to any garden. Another idea for the experienced gardener would be skin care products. Working in the earth can be very fulfilling, but is also very hard on the hands, and no gardener can have too many skin pampering products.

Everyone is going organic these days, and what can be more organic than growing your own garden. While it’s not a pretty gift, a supply of organic fertilizer is like gold to the gardener. These fertilizers can come in the form of tea bags that are steeped in water, bags of compost, or concentrates that are dissolved in water.

Every gardener should have a gardener’s diary. These specially designed diaries allow the gardener to record what plants have been planted, where they were planted, how well they grew, etc. So, when that little weed-looking plant comes up in the spring, one simply refers to the gardener’s diary to recall that it’s not a weed at all, but that patch of herbs that were planted last summer.

And another great gift idea is a memory album in which they can place photos of the plant and garden – now how delightful would that be? Or for something they might never think about for themselves, take a golf towel (just perfect for wiping dirty hands on) and hook it onto a garener’s bag filled with basic tools like a trowel, pari of leather garden gloves and forked weeder.

By Jonell Ziola

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Analysis

All good nutrient products should include a full analysis of its components. It is very important for the grower to know what is being supplied to the plants so that adjustments can be made if necessary. If the product that you buy is supplied without an analysis, you should ask for one. You will normally find that manufacturers and suppliers will be glad to oblige.




Commercial Nutrients
Although commercial nutrients are formulated from the same materials as the best amateur ones, there is a major difference. For commercial growers there is the possibility to formulate specifically to the crop and also to take into account the grower’s water supply.

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Flush the plants

With pot culture this simply involves hosing lukewarm water through the medium until it is running freely through. This will remove any salt build up in the root zone. With re-circulating systems such as NFT or Rockwool, it will be easier to fill the tank with fresh water and allow it to circulate through the system to flush the root zone.




Make up a fresh batch of solution, check and correct the pH and Conductivity. Restart the system as before. Keep a careful eye on the new growth which should be normal from that point onwards. It is a good part of routine to flush the root zone once every six weeks or two months as a precaution against salt build up.

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Light Ideas for your Hydroponic Garden Party

Planning a garden party with your hydroponic garden as thecenterpiece? Depending on how large your hydroponic garden is thelighting for your special party can be dramatic, simple or elegant.



The first thing you need to determine is the exact area of yourgarden party. The size of the area determines how many lights youwill need to light up the area. In addition, the amount of lightwill also depend on the mood you are trying to create. Dramaticlighting may require more lights whereas an elegant party themewill use dimmer lighting sources. The theme of your garden partywill also determine the types of lights that you will want to use.

There are many different types of lights that you can use for adramatic garden party. Torchlights and tiki lights are great forcreating dramatic effects for a garden party with a barbeque orluau theme. Colored paper lanterns are very popular for an eveninggarden party as are string lights that feature items such as chilipeppers, margaritas or flowers. Rope lighting can also accent yourgarden area without having to attach the lights to plants or otheroutdoor garden items.

Looking for a simple garden party theme with easy to set uplighting? Favorite simple themes include a college party, fallparty or a family get-together. Mini string lights are favoritesfor decorators because they come in many different colors and theycan be enhanced with inexpensive light covers. Metal lanterns arealso very popular for a garden party because they can either be litwith candles, battery operated lights or string lights. Manypeople enjoy the soft glow of candles in an outdoor setting andthis can be easily achieved at a minimum of expense. Localgardening centers often sell terra cotta pots, hurricane lampshades and a variety of elevated candle holders that make beautifulcandle centerpieces for guest's tables.

Elegant lighting is often used for a romantic garden party orwedding garden party. String lights are usually white and featureflower covers that are made of silk or real leaves. Other stringlights that are popular include roses, stars, white or pastel paperlanterns, plastic yarn balls or satin globe lights. Other lighting options for a garden party include umbrellalighting, lighting for trees and other elements that can bringlight such as wire frame shapes. These types of lights can add tothe party experience and enhance your garden as well. Party hostsmay also opt to rent specialty lighting such as a lighted fountainor floating lanterns in your pond. Solar lights are also a popular choice for garden parties.

Solarlights are no longer just plain black covered lights that linewalkways in the back of your home. Solar lights come in manycolors, sizes, and shapes to suit any style home or party theme. An added bonus of solar lights is that you don't have to pluganything in and unlike candles the lights won't blow out if thereis a breeze. Solar lights can light walkways, highlight a specificitem of interest in your garden or be used to accent a table atyour party.

Garden party lighting can be a fun part of decorating if you choosethe type of lighting you want well in advance of your garden party. This is especially important if you are ordering lights from acompany that is out of your area. Choose lights that will enhanceyour surroundings and add to the theme of your party. Remember tochoose lighting that fits the size of the area you are lighting. Large artistic lighting can be used in a small area but only if itis the centerpiece or a few accent pieces. The goal of gardenlighting is to create a relaxed mood, not flood the area so that itlooks like daylight time.

For more information check out the whole package at homemade-hydroponics.com

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Mini Greenhouses - What Are The Benefits

Mini greenhouses are extremely beneficial for a multitude of reasons and if you are attempting to make a decision as to what kind of greenhouse to get there will be many pieces of information you will want to discover so you can make the right decisions.

You need to consider the amount of space you will require for your mini greenhouses before anything else. If you have decided to grow a large quantity of varietal plants then of course you will need a larger greenhouse but if you just wish to have a few plants than probably a small mini greenhouse will do. Be prepared as you want to grow more than your think and you wouldn't want to be stuck with less space than your will need.




A Little More Information About Mini Greenhouses
Mini Greenhouses have a many advantages and no doubt the top one is the fact that they are so light to transfer around your home. If you need to change locations, jut pick it up and move it, doesn't get much simpler than that.

Also, mini greenhouses can be considered the thing to do in todays environment that will show you care about ecology and cetainly your and your families health and well being. When you do decide to choose mini greenhouses please take a step back, gather all your information, look at the different varieties and really think about what you want. Make sure you are going to get what is right for you.

The ideal way to gather information is to take a trip down the information highway; the internet is just loaded with probably everything you will need to get started. You can begin with the information you have researched before you make any further decisions as mini greenhouses come in such a wide variety of shaped and sizes due to their small size. It's a great item as you can fit them into just about any open space in your home.

As a reminder, do not rush when making your choices with a mini greenhouses, be sure to pick the right sizes for the spaces you havbe available. Picking somehting too large is usually the biggest mistake people make with their first purchase.

Involving your family or friends can be a good idea as they will give you different input to locations and size that may be of benefit to you. Just remember to have fun and enjoy your new hobby.

by : Christopher J

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Never add water to Nitric Acid

Troubleshooting
There is a tendency amongst growers to suspect nutritional problems whenever their plants are not looking their best. In most cases the nutrients are not at fault and environmental problems are far more common. However, nutrient problems do of course occur at times and it is important to be able to recognise them. Assuming the grower is supplying the same solution to all his plants, we can ask the following questions to see if the problem relates to nutrition.




Are all the plants (of the same species) affected in the same way?
If not and if for instance you have some plants showing problems while others look fine, then your problem is unlikely to be the nutrient. If you have a greenhouse full of tomatoes however, and they all show the same symptoms, then nutrient problems must be suspected.

If you have a problem that shows up in the foliage, usually as inter-veinal mottling or dead spots or as pale foliage or yellowing in the older growth or the new growth then you probably have a nutrient problem. The commercial grower will need to have an analysis of his main tank to find out what is happening but for the hobby grower the solution is very simple and involves a course of action that should be carried out whenever problems are suspected.

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Nitric Acid

Many commercial growers use Nitric Acid (HNO3) for pH control. This would be a good option if you have hard water but it is not recommended for small scale growers.



Nitric Acid is a very unpleasant and dangerous liquid, it is truly aggressive and should only be handled by experienced operators.

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The Importance of Having your Own Grow Room for Hydroponics

Starting a hydroponic garden can be a big undertaking. One of thebest ways to have a successful hydroponic garden is to have a growroom. A grow room is a special growing environment for yourplants, not just a small area in a room you are currently using forstorage.




A grow room can be small and simple or large andelaborate. Luckily, there are many grow rooms on the market from completerooms that can be set up in under a half-hour to ones that may takea day or two to fully assemble. Depending on your expertise andthe amount of money you want to invest in your hobby, your growroom can be small or the size of a large greenhouse. If you are new to hydroponic gardening, a small easy to assemblegrow room is your best bet.

Many hydroponic companies offer thesegrow rooms that can be used in limited space for under $500. Miniature grow huts offer the basics that you need for your garden: a hut with a thermal plastic floor, ceiling mounts for yourlights, a filter bracket and fan.

There are plenty of add-ons thatyou may choose to add to your mini grow room such as air vents,humidity in-line fans, centrifugal blowers, heating mats, metalduct flanges and metal corners for your room. Once you have the equipment that you need for your own grow room,the fully assembled room is ready for adding your plants.

A growroom is very important for the growth of your plants because theright temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide content will eithermake your plants grow or cause their demise.

A well constructedgrow room will provide your plants with a constant temperature,consistent humidity level and the right amount of light needed tostimulate growth and eventually fruits or flowers. The correct lighting in your grow room depends on what you aregrowing.

Metal halide lighting systems produce a blue spectrum oflight and are used primarily for growing vegetables. High-pressuresodium grow lights produce a red and orange spectrum of light andare used to help growth in budding, fruiting or flowering plants.

Dual spectrum lights allow you to use two different light spectrumbulbs in the same light source. The use of the blue spectrum andred spectrum allows you to use the right light source for plants invarious stages of growth.




Fluorescent lights are used primarilyfor seedlings and starting clones. Temperature in your grow room can be controlled with one of themany controllers on the market. Temperature controllers can be setmanually or managed by your computer.

Controllers can manage boththe heating and cooling of your grow room. Proper temperaturecontrol can help the growth of your plants by keeping thetemperature at the recommended level, which is usually between 40and 97 degrees.

Many grow room owners like using an ozone generator or carbon airfilters to help control odors, especially if their grow room is intheir home. Prices for these odor killers range from $50 to $500and above but well worth it for serious hydroponic gardeners. Finally, all grow rooms should have an exhaust fan and blower.

Fans and blowers can help control the amount of carbon dioxide inyour grow room as well as regulate the amount of cool air. You caneven choose from models that are whisper quiet so they won't keepyou up at night when they come on. No matter which items you choose for your grow room you can alwaysupgrade as your garden plans change.

A grow room will help yourplants grow faster and have larger yields because of the perfectgrowing environment that they create. Set up one today and findout why hydroponic gardeners swear by them.

For more information check out the whole package at homemade-hydroponics

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Health and Safety

PH control chemicals are highly toxic and aggressive liquids Please follow these simple guidelines for safety and peace of mind.

Always store these materials in a safe place, preferably in a locked cupboard. Always keep them out of reach of children.




Always wear rubber gloves and protective goggles when handling any aggressive chemicals.

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Products for the Control of pH and Conductivity

PH Down
PH Down contains orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4). The concentration is 81% which is very strong so handle with care. Some products on the market are considerably weaker so check the concentration before you buy. This is a very dense liquid and should feel much heavier than water.

PH Up
PH UP contains potassium hydroxide (KOH). This is a very caustic liquid and should be handled with extreme care. Always check the label before you buy for best value.

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PH and Conductivity in Rockwool Systems

Plants grown in rockwool slabs need slightly different nutrient regimes than in other systems. PH should be somewhat lower, at 5.8 rather than 6. Conductivity should also be slightly lower than in other applications. It is very important to remember that the readings in the tank may not reflect the reality within the slab. Nutrient should be extracted from the slab regularly for measurement. In a well maintained system there should not be too much variation between tank readings and those obtained from within slabs. If conductivity begins to rise in the slab it will be an indication that irrigation is either too infrequent or too short.





It is necessary to trickle nutrient into slabs for just long enough to get a 10-15% run off. The timer should be adjusted to provide this amount of nutrient at least four times during the daylight period. More frequent irrigation may be beneficial. Remember that as plants grow they will take up much more nutrient and the watering cycle will need to be extended regularly throughout the life of the crop. The regular check of nutrient from within the slab itself is the most important routine for the rockwool grower. If the Conductivity begins to rise then the grower will increase irrigation to ensure run off at each watering cycle. If Conductivity begins to rise then the grower will increase irrigation to ensure run off at each watering cycle. If Conductivity remains high then it is a simple matter to flush the slabs.

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Meters for pH and Conductivity

Many different meters are available from Esoteric Hydroponics. There are cheap digital meters such as Eutech and we also stock the amazing Conductivity Truncheon and pH Wand from New Zealand which use flashing LEDs to show the CF or pH reading. These are accurate and reliable and cannot be too highly recommended.




They also carry a full two year warranty which is quite remarkable for such sensitive instruments. Esoteric Hydroponics also stock Buffers and Standards. PH buffers are liquids of a known pH, usually 7, which can easily be used to check and correct the accuracy of your pH meter. CF Standards are solutions of a known conductivity which are used to calibrate your conductivity meter.

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The Pros and Cons of Going Hydroponic

Hydroponics is a Latin term, which literally means "working water."What it means to horticulture is the growing of plants withoutsoil. Hydroponic gardening is an exciting field that offerssolutions to several problems faced in the world of foodproduction. For impoverished people who live in a terrain orclimate inhospitable to agriculture, hydroponics offers a means ofgrowing food. In areas where food is traditionally produced, butwhere fields are over crowded or stripped of their nutrients, hydroponics is a way food can be produced using a minimum of spaceand resources. It is not all good news, however. There are manypros and cons any grower should weigh before deciding to make theleap to hydroponic gardening.




First, the pros. Hydroponic growth leads to an increase inproduction over traditional farming in two ways. For one,hydroponic gardening just plain saves space. Plants can be placedmuch more closely together than in traditional fields; as many asfour times as many plants can be grown in the space usinghydroponic techniques as opposed to traditional methods. Secondly,hydroponics eliminates many of the problems associated withtraditional farming that leads to sickly, damaged, or wasted crops.Because hydroponic growers produce their own nutrients mixes, ittakes the guess work out of figuring out which plants will growbest in a field and what nutrients need to be added to the soil.The nutrient mixture is the right one for the plant, in the rightratios, every time. The fear of soil-based diseases is eliminated,because, of course, there is no soil. These two factors cometogether to make hydroponics an extremely efficient method of foodproduction.

Hydroponics is also environmentally sound. The water consumption inhydroponic growing is significantly less than traditional growthmethods; in many cases, hydroponic crops use a tenth of the waterof equivalent traditional crops. Also, the water that is used isused more effectively; in hydroponics, weeds do not steal part ofthe crop's water supply. Because the crops are in a controlledenvironment and not in a field, there is no pesticide run-off waterto contaminate the surrounding ground.

The benefits are not without their costs, however. Theenvironmental good that hydroponics produces with its decreasedwater consumption is somewhat negated by the amount of energyneeded to support hydroponic growing. Much hydroponic growinghappens in greenhouses, where significant amounts of electricityare used trying to give the hydroponic plants all the light theneed.

The electricity consumption is environmentally damaging andexpensive, and expense is another area where hydroponics comesunder the gun. The nutrient mixtures and growing mediums used canbe very expensive. While research is happening to try and bring thecosts down, and there are some promising leads, like the field ofaquaponics, hydroponics is currently financially prohibitive forsome. This makes its application as a food source in impoverishedareas not very actionable, at least for now.

There is a common misconception that hydroponics produces organicfood. While it is possible to grow organic food throughhydroponics, this is the exception and not the rule. Most growersused pesticides on their hydroponic crops. Though the pesticidesused in hydroponics do not run-off and pollute the surroundingenvironment like the pesticides used on traditional fields, theyare still on the plants themselves.

The field of hydroponics is filled with promise, and much researchis being devoted to solving the concerns that currently stop morefarmers from going hydroponic. Until these problems are solved,however, farmers and amateur gardeners alike will need to carefullyweigh the pros and cons of hydroponics before making the leap tothat style of growing.

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CF Meters

CF meters usually read in milliSiemens or CF units but for the grower it is simply a matter of getting the decimal point in the right place. As a rule of thumb, it can be said that a good conductivity level for most purposes would be 2.0 milliSiemens (expressed as 2.0 mS/cm2). We can call this a standard working solution. Therefore: standard working solution = 2.0mS = 2,000S = 20 CF units




EC
Conductivity is sometimes expressed as EC (Electrical Conductivity). Units of EC are now identical to CF units.

Parts per Million

Conductivity is sometimes expressed in terms of parts per million (ppm). One gram of any salt, dissolved in a litre of water will make a solution containing 1000 ppm of that salt. However, different salts have a different capacity to conduct electricity so two solutions made with different salts could both be 1000 ppm, but have quite different readings on a CF meter. It is therefore not possible to make an exact conversion from parts per million to CF units, however as most nutrients solutions have approximately the same ration of constituent salts we can make an approximate conversion.

1mS = 10 CF units  640 ppm

Therefore

Standard working solution = 20 mS = 20 CF  1280 ppm

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Figuring the Future of Hydroponics

Many gardeners and farmers have achieved the new technology ofhydroponics, but like many new technologies the future ofhydroponics is unknown. Hydroponics is relatively new, and it hasrapidly evolved since its inception 70 years ago.

The history of hydroponics is a very eventful one. Hydroponicsbegan as academic research as has since graduated to being used inindustry, government, and many other new applications. Theversatile technology has been used in developing countries andhigh-tech space stations.




Hydroponic technology can generate food crops from almost anywhere,including arctic communities, city rooftops, barren desert sand,and desalinated ocean water. In areas where high land prices havedriven out traditional agriculture, hydroponics can provide locallygrown specialty crops such as herbs and greens. Many are hoping thefuture of hydroponics will be just as productive as its past.

Agriculture is moving toward higher-technology, and morecapital-intensive solutions to farming problems. Hydroponics is theperfect solution for production problems, because it is highlyproductive and suitable for automation.

However, the future of hydroponics depends greatly on thedevelopment of systems of production that are cost-competitive withfield agriculture. Improvements in other associated technologies,including artificial lighting, agricultural plastics, and newcultivars with better disease resistance will increase crop yieldsand reduce costs of production.

Some co-generation projects, such as one where hydroponicgreenhouses use waste heat from industry power plants, have alreadybeen put into action and may expand in the next few years. It ispossible that geothermal heat could support large expanses ofgreenhouses in certain areas.

It has also been proposed that glasshouses located in variousdeserts of the world could serve a dual purpose. Antennas could beembedded into the glass to receive energy radiation from energycollectors in space, while facilitating hydroponic tomatoproduction. The economic outlook of hydroponics is also animportant topic.

The economic prospects of hydroponics could improve if governmentalbodies determined that there are politically desirable effects ofhydroponics that merit subsidy for the public good. The beneficialeffects of hydroponics include the conservation of water in regionsof scarcity, and food production in hostile environment.

The government has begun supporting hydroponics in the Middle East,because of its apparent benefits. Another desirable effect ofhydroponics could be the provision of income producing employmentfor disadvantaged segments of the population that are entrapped indepressed regions. This new employment could produce tax revenues as well as personalincomes, which could reduce the impact of welfare rolls and improvethe quality of life in these economically depressed areas.

Hydroponic systems are producing horticultural crops wherefield-grown fresh vegetables and ornaments are unavailable for mostof the year. Hydroponics has improved the economic well being ofmany communities throughout the world.

Hydroponics can continue to change the outlook of futureagriculture if the technology is continually refined. The system ofhydroponics can become even more productive, and will be able tofeed people around the world in a more efficient manner. In thefuture hydroponics could be used to grow seedlings forreforestation; it can be used to establish orchards, used to growornamental crops, and used to grow flowers and shrubs.

It can also be integrated with aqua-culture, where wastes providenutrients to plants, and the plants help to purify the water forthe fish. Hydroponics can be used to enhance the lives of manypeople, and the effects of the system can felt in every country.

Hydroponics has many uses today, and although the future is unknownright now, it looks to be promising if the hydroponic technology iscontinually integrated into today's agriculture.

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Conductivity

The conductivity of a solution is an expression of the capacity of that solution to conduct an electric current. Distilled or de-ionised water will conduct virtually no electricity at all and will therefore have a conductivity reading of zero. As salts are dissolved in the water so the conductivity of the solution increases.




The conductivity of a nutrient solution is therefore a measurement of its strength as indicated by the actual amount of salts dissolved. Conductivity is usually expressed in terms of CF. CF stands for Conductivity Factor and the units of measurement are usually milliSiemens, microSiemens or Siemens. The difference between these is purely in the placing of the decimal point. There are a thousand microSiemens in a milliSiemen. A CF unit is equal to a hundred microSiemens so there are 10 CF units to a milliSiemen.

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Defining and Preventing Root Rot in your Hydroponic Garden

Root rot is a common yet unwelcome pest in any hydroponic garden. This fungus-like organism Pythium has many species. The three mostcommon species of this organism are Pythium irregulare, Pythiumaphanidermatum, and Pythium ultimum. These species of Pythium canbe found in water sources as well as in soil. Pythiumaphanidermatum is most commonly found in Poinsettia plants and fewother plants.

Pythium aphanidermatum and Pythium irregulare cause the most damagein ebb and flow systems because the organism has a swimming sporestage that can attack your plants quickly. Pythium ultimum is mostclosely associated with soil and sand though it is not as prevalentas the other species of this organism.

The Pythium organism is found in pond and stream water as well asthe sediment from these sources. The organism can also be found insoil and sand as well as in the dead roots of plants. Pythium canalso be introduced to your plants through dirty gardening tools,can be carried by pets walking into your growing room and by beingcarried by the fungus gnat and shorefly.

Symptoms of root rot include stunted plant growth, plants that turnyellow and die, wilted plants that recover at night, root tips thatare brown and brown tissue on the outer portion of the root thatcan be pulled away exposing plant tissue.

Treating the disease is harder than preventing it. Preventionmethods include treating pond or other untreated water before youuse it to irrigate your plants. It is especially important tofilter untreated water to avoid getting sediment into yourirrigation system.

Slow sand filtration systems have been shown effective incontrolling this organism. Other water treatment plans includeheating the water, the use of ultraviolet light, ozonation orchlorination, all of which can stop the organism before it attacksyour plants.

It is important to keep all things within a grow room clean toprevent infection from this organism. Benches, tools, equipment,reservoirs and floors should all be cleaned periodically to avoidcontamination.

Keep pets out of your grow room to prevent contamination as theycan track the organism in on their paws and leave it on your floorsand benches where it can be carried to other items in your growroom.

Biological agents may be applied to containers prior to planting ingrow rooms and green houses that have a history of the Pythiumorganism invading the water supply. Biological agents andfungicides will have to be applied more than once to contain thisorganism.

Common chemicals that can help treat this organism includeetridiazole, etridiazole + thiophanate methyl, fosetyl-Al,mefenoxam, metalaxyl and propamocarb. Biological agents that canhelp control this organism include Gliocladium, Trichoderma,Bacillus and Streptomyces.

Many hydroponic gardeners never have to deal with root rot in theirgrow rooms or greenhouses, especially if the water to their plantsis already chlorinated. Those gardeners that collect water fromother sources or have untreated well water should have their waterchecked or treat it themselves before they use it to irrigate theirplants. Many plants will be lost if they are infected through anirrigation system.

After a greenhouse or grow room has been infected, the plants willneed to be destroyed. Affected plants cannot be composted becausethe organism lives within the roots of the dead plants. Greenhouses and grow rooms will have to be treated chemically toremove any traces of the organism, especially in all areas that thewater came in contact with. Garden tools can be cleaned with alcohol.

Before any new plantsare introduced to your treated hydroponic garden, the watertreatment plan should be changed accordingly to a system that willprevent the organism from entering the irritation system at anytime in the future.

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Solutions to Hard Water Problems

The first and most obvious solution is to change the nutrient tank regularly. This will reduce the chances of phosphate accumulation and ensure maintenance of a good nutrient profile. Frequency of changes will depend on tank size and number of plants. In very hard water areas, however, a large amount of phosphoric acid will be needed to correct pH when nutrient is first made up.




It is possible to used nitric acid to control pH. This will overcome the problem of phosphate accumulation but nitric acid is a very unpleasant and dangerous liquid. It should never be handled by anyone who is not experienced with aggressive liquids and all good laboratory procedures should be observed. Nitric acid will only solve the phosphate problem, it will not make any difference to the high levels of calcium and other minerals which will eventually accumulate in the tank.

The best solution by far is to use a specific formulation which is usually based on more acidic components. Hard water nutrients were formulated in response to demand from growers in various areas of the United Kingdom such as London, Thames Valley and other areas with very hard water. It was specifically formulated to correct the pH of alkaline water and minimise the amounts of phosphoric acid that are required to maintain it at correct levels. It also takes account of the other minerals to be found in hard water and use of this product will ensure the best possible results in hard water areas.

Another solution would be a reverse osmosis filter (RO unit) which will remove the mineral ions by passing water through a very fine membrane. The water produced can be very pure and will allow normal nutrients to be used with complete confidence.

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Hard Water

Hard water is characterised by high levels of bicarbonates and it makes itself known by depositing lime scale in kettles and by reducing the lathering capacity of soap. Hard water will usually have a high pH but this is not always necessarily the case. What will distinguish hard water is that it will take much more acid to reduce the pH than with an equivalent sample of softer water. This is because the bicarbonates have to be neutralised and this uses up quite a lot of acid.




The obvious problem for the grower is the addition of quite large amounts of acid on a regular basis. If the grower is using phosphoric acid this may lead to a build up of phosphate in the nutrient tank over time. High levels of phosphate in the solution can inhibit the uptake of other salts, like zinc, and cause general nutrient imbalance.

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PH in Active Systems

Active systems are ones in which the nutrient solution is supplied to the plants by pumping, such as Ebb and Flow tables or NFT systems. In most domestic systems, the solution is re-circulated to the roots continuously over a period of time. In an active system, the pH will need checking and adjusting in the main tank on a regular basis.




In most systems, fresh water is added to the tank to replace that used by the plants. The incoming water is usually of a higher pH than the nutrient solution so there tends to be an upward drift in pH. This can be corrected by the regular addition of small amounts of pH Down. This process of pH control can be carried out with a pH kit but as it needs doing often, the busy grower will be better off using a meter. If the water supply is classified as hard, the grower must be very careful with re-circulating systems.

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PH in Passive Hydroponics

Passive hydroponics refers to growing in pots full of a medium such as perlite or greenmix or to hand watering rockwool slabs. Normally, for this type of cultivation, it is recommended that the grower make up a large container of nutrient at a time. A 200 litre plastic drum is an ideal container. Once this is made up to the correct strength (conductivity), the pH can be checked and adjusted to the ideal level of 6.




A careful note should be made of the exact amount of pH Up or Down that is added at this time. A good pH can be used for this because although the pH measurement takes longer than with a meter, it only needs doing occasionally in passive systems. The nutrient solution in the drum should remain quite pH stable and can be applied to the plants as needed.

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Different Plant Species

Plants growing in soil have widely differing preferences for pH. This is not the case in hydroponics and all plants in hydroponics systems will function best at a nutrient pH of 6.




Measuring pH
This is best done with a meter but there are also various kits available which use liquids and papers. Kits are adequate for applications such as pot culture where the nutrient is supplied to the plant once and is used up before being replenished. Growers using re-circulating systems such as NFT or Ebb and Flow will certainly need a meter to monitor their solution accurately. Meters will require regular calibration and instructions for this are supplied with them.

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PH and Conductivity

PH and Conductivity are the two most important variables in nutrient solution management. A basic understanding of them is essential for successful hydroponics gardening. PH is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.




On a scale of 1-14 neutrality is represented as 7. The ideal pH for almost all hydroponics applications is 6. PH for rockwool cultivation should be slightly lower, ideally about 5.8.

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Trace Elements

A good nutrient solution should contain a full profile of trace elements, usually known as micro-nutrients in hydroponics. The essential micro-nutrients are iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron and molybdenum. Some solutions may contain other less common elements such as nickel but those are the key ones and no true nutrient solution would be without them.




The best solutions will supply most of their trace elements in the form of chelates which is the usual choice of professional growers. A chelate (pronounced keylate) is a form of the element in which the molecule is locked up in a kind of organic jacket which ensures its stability within the solution. Once the molecule has been taken up by the plant, it immediately becomes available to the biological process. This is particularly important in hydroponics because the pH of the nutrient solution can fluctuate quite a lot and ordinary trace elements will easily precipitate and become unavailable if the pH is not to their liking, even if it is only for a short time.

This is particularly important with the key trace element iron which is highly unstable in its non-chelated form. Chelates are many times more expensive than the simpler forms of the element. This is a very good indicator of the quality of any nutrient solution if it contains fully chelated micro-nutrients. Boron and molybdenum are not usually chelated as they are very stable in other forms.

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Composition of the Nutrient Solution

A modern solution is formulated from a large number of mineral salts. These are chosen for their purity in the first place because they are calculated to the nearest part per million (ppm) in the solution. It is not possible to formulate accurately with impure or contaminated materials. The second requirement is solubility.




All components of a hydroponics solution must go easily into solution, leaving no residue or precipitation. One of the ways of assessing the quality of a product is to examine the bottom of the tank. Any serious sedimentation after use would possibly suggest the use of cheap and unsuitable materials in the formulation.

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