Plant Indoors under Grow Lights

In tough times of the past, people have looked to ways to provide for their families. One of those ways was through growing their own vegetables, fruits and herbs. The "Victory Garden" came into being during World War II and times of food rationing. Today, many people are looking for easy ways to grow delicious, wholesome food and this can be done through indoor gardening.

A very successful gardening method is hydroponics, requiring no soil at all in order to grow wonderful foods. With this type of indoor gardening systems, you will need appropriate grow lights in order for the plants to thrive.

Plants need light in order to perform photosynthesis, whereby the plant converts light to energy. This energy is what makes the plant to grow, mature and reproduce. The key to good photosynthesis in indoor gardening situations is having ample light available to all plants. Without enough lighting, the growing plants will struggle to reach the available light and will become spindly and weak.

Automated Hydroponics Systems

Quite a few gardeners are now adapting automated hydroponics systems to their indoor gardens. These automated hydroponics systems are capable of monitoring and adjusting your water levels automatically. This means your plants will never run out of water.

At the same time the pH levels are also monitored. When the pH levels are skewed, a pump is activated to automatically adjust levels up and down. This results in your plants always having the optimum amount of water and nutrients at the proper pH level. This will keep the plants growing at their peak performance. Automated hydroponics gardening is changing the way indoor growers produce their organic vegetables and fruits.

Grow your own Vegetables and Fruit

Have you ever been disgusted by the quality and the prices of the vegetables offered at the local supermarket? Has the thought of growing your own vegetables has entered your mind? Even if you have a good range of vegetables at reasonable prices at your local store,the ever increasing concern over the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers gives can give one pause to consider opting for growing their own vegetables.

Growing your own vegetables indoors does not involve a tremendous amount of effort and in addition to enjoying a supply of fresh produce, you also discover a relaxing hobby. Even if you happen to live on an upper floor of an apartment building you can still grow a range of vegetables and fruits in hydroponics on your balcony or patio. This is a hobby everyone can enjoy.

Simple Hydroponics

What if hydroponic gardening was as simple as a bucket of sand with a single plant in it? This can be what it is, right up to a hydroponic system using measuring instruments to control water cycles, nutrient strengths and lighting times.

A system usually consists of these basic parts: a growing tray, a tank or reservoir, a timed submersible pump to irrigate the plants and an air stone and pump to oxygenate the nutrient solution. Light will of course be required and that can be natural or artificial. There are many different types lights to choose from, from fluorescent to LED to complete lighting kits.

Light up your clones

Unlike seedlings, clones need light from day one, after rooting. Start with lower and diffused light intensities from sources such as T-5 or T-8 fluorescent lighting. During the first few days, the cuttings will do best with just one to two 24 watt strips over the top of a standard 10" x 20" propagation tray.

You can gradually increase the light intensity after a few days by lowering the light fixtures closer to the propagation dome. However, make certain the temperature doesn't rise above 850 F inside the dome after making this adjustment.

Once the roots develop, you can switch to HID lights that provide mostly red and blue growth stimulating spectrums. Condition your plants to this more intense light by gradually decreasing the distance between the plants and light fixtures. After a couple of weeks, your plants should be able to handle very bright levels of light which will encourage healthy, robust and fast-growing plants.

Which type of Rock Wool to choose

There are several types of Rock Wool designed for the propagation of seeds and cuttings. The best for hydroponic hobbyists is considered to be the Single Block System known as SBS. This system consists of small individual cubes or mini blocks of Rock Wool on a small plastic tray. This makes the plants easy to handle and are ideal for selling or giving away.

Be certain to pre-treat the rock wool for 24 hours before use. Use a product that will
reduce the alkaline nature of the media until it balances out at between 5.8 and 6.3. One advantage of Rock Wool is its ability to hold enough water to last through the average period of time required for the cuttings to root. However, you will need to use a humidity dome.

Enjoy the convenience of organic products in a re-circulating system

Re-circulating systems are a convenience but some growers feel they are restricted to using conventional salt based nutrients. Thus, they miss out on the rewards associated with organics. Here is how to use organics in a re-circulating system.

Reduce your conventional salt based nutrient to a 70% concentration. Then add an organic base nutrient at 30% the recommended strength.

The addition of the organic nutrient will help stabilize the solution chemistry while buffering the salinity and pH value of the synthetic based nutrient in the root zone and growing media. Also, the additional building blocks supplied by the organic base nutrient will increase yields, crop health, flavor, aroma and essential oil production.

Mini Caddy Hydroponics System

Do you have a spare closet? Introducing the "Mini Caddy", the ultimate compact home hydroponics system. Terrific for confined spaces.

The Mini Caddy is small enough to fit in any closet and is ideal when space is a concern. The inline cooling system keeps the inside of the cab always under 5ºF above room temperature. With this cabinet your growing will be easy, high yielding and above all, safe. The Mini Caddy arrives pre-assembled and requires less than 15 minutes of setup time to start growing. This affordable hydroponics system is perfect for experts and beginners alike.

Light vs temperature to keep plants cool

During the summer months, you may need to make a compromise between light levels and the optimal temperatures for your plants. Otherwise you could end up over- heating the tops.

Your HID (high intensity discharge)lights will also contribute to high temperatures. This creates high heat in both the growing area and the internal core of your plants.

By raising the lights a few inches you can help reduce some of the heat stress on the
plants. This slight loss of light will do much less harm than the heat.

When to water... more or less

When to water and how much has always been something of a guess. Generally speaking, plants begin gradually using more water at the start of their flowering cycle. Peak water consumption comes just after mid-flowering. After that, water needs taper off.

During the ripening phase, water use is lessened even though the plants are at their largest mass. It's easy to over-water during this phase so be careful not to drown the
roots.

Most self-help studies stress the need to create a perfect environment to be able to live a "successful" life. From the most famous celebrities to the most celebrated politicians and all of us mere mortals in between. To be truly happy, therefore, one needs to be fulfilled and so our environment is crucial for us to be are able to share and give to our fellow humans.

Whether it's a city street, a rural farm or a Hollywood stage, finding the environment that suits your character can be a lifelong search, so the journey must be enjoyed.

Get in touch with nature and re-assure yourself that the natural world will carry on no matter what. Draw from the creativity of a flower growing, a vegetable being formed, insects oblivious to what's on TV tonight, and water flowing over naturally formed rocks.

Try an experiment... spend a full half hour or more alone in a forest or next to the sea or, failing that, a park where you won't be disturbed. Make sure you feel safe from wild animals and humans and just let your mind wander, allow your thoughts to flow freely. Call it meditation time if you need an excuse to spend some time on your own. Just enjoy and allow your thoughts to wander free and your imagination to leap into fantasies.

Benefits of a Grow Chamber

Technically, grow chambers are not classified as a hydroponics growing technique. It's actually a housing or a container for the hydroponics system, accessories and lighting fixture.

Grow chambers are perfect for the home grower because the system is enclosed, putting everything in one container and out of view. Of course, keeping your grow space nice and neat is only one of the many benefits a grow chamber offers.

Some systems are approximately the size of a refrigerator allowing you to grow your plants in one side of the chamber and mother plant with clones in the other. Grow chambers varies in size.

Most systems are built with a reflective interior to efficiently distribute light and increase the amount of lumens reaching the plants, resulting in a higher yield.

Not enough Soil for a Garden?

Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants a garden but doesn't have enough land or soil. Hydroponics gardening is, essentially, a way to cultivate plants using a nutrient solution instead of soil. With hydroponics gardening, it's easy to grow lovely flowers and succulent vegetables virtually anywhere you want! It's true that hydroponics gardening needs much less time than an ordinary garden. In fact, you might spend only five minutes a day maintaining you're hydroponics garden. Once a month the nutrient solution will have to be changed but this will only take a few minutes.

While hydroponics gardening can be a little confusing sometimes when starting out, you'll soon get the jist of it. The same as you need gardening supplies for a ordinary garden, you'll need hydroponics supplies for your hydroponics garden. The most popular system is the passive system. This is where the plants sit directly in the nutrient solution. All passive air systems use an aquarium air bubbler otherwise the solution can become deoxygenated and could rot the plants. If you can find the right system for you, hydroponics gardening will provide you with all the flowers and vegetables you could possibly want.

A Summertime Warning

If the roots of your container plants are sitting in warm water, they may become
susceptible to contracting pathogens that lead to root rot. How do you prevent this?
Here are several suggestions:

First make certain that your containers are well drained.

Next, add an enzyme product to your nutrient mix. Buy quality. You want plenty of live enzyme action that will quickly break down older decaying roots, turning them into valuable food sources. Too many inexpensive enzyme products contain only dead
enzymes or the shelf life is so short that by the time you buy the product the enzymes are all but useless.

Remember, root decay is a normal part of the root growth cycle. You can't avoid it. But you can make certain that the decayed materials are turned into a valuable food source through enzyme action.

Increase your Root Mass

Obviously, the bigger a plant's root mass the better it can absorb nutrients and water. But how do you encourage extra root growth?

There are a number of products on the market that are formulated to increase the size of a plant's root mass. Some of the best can provide a root increase up to 700%. Here are some things to look for when buying these products:

Search for products containing super strains of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). When this product is combined with bacterial and fungi inoculates, it can provide almost magical root and plant development.

The inoculates you want to add to your media are trichoderma, endomycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. You may have to buy two different products to get a full range of inoculates. For example, some products contain 8 species of trichoderma and others have 18 species of endomycorrhizal.

These are living organisms so be certain to buy quality products that are relatively fresh. When applied to your media, they will colonize both inside and outside your plant roots, making them stronger and healthier. (voodoo juice, piranha, tarantula)

Clones from Clones?

There are two things to consider when cloning plants, particularly if you want to preserve the genetic characteristics for future crops. These are genotype and phenotype.

Genotype is the genetic make-up (DNA) of the plant, which is quite stable. Only in rare instances will genes tend to mutate, thus creating a slight variation.

The phenotype is the physical expression of a plant's DNA and may change under
different environmental influences. For example, the same genes grown in two different rooms may be similar but could appear slightly different in the finished product.

As long as you maintain a consistent environment and avoid a prolonged stress on a
mother plant or clone, a clone from a clone should remain very much like the original. However, it's often a good idea to start new mother plants from seed every few years. This helps maintain higher levels of vigor. Stuff can happen to plants after being grown for several years.

When NOT to use organic teas

If you are using a purely water based media, such as deep water culture, it's best to avoid organic teas. A salt based fertilizer is generally preferred because it is absorbed directly into the roots.

However, organic teas are an ideal companion for growing in media such as rockwool, coco coir or Sure to Grow. It will provide a harmonious and fertile environment for the roots of your crop.

Exceptional Lighting Kit

These “Power Plant Kits” are custom designed lighting systems with all of the latest horticulture technology. Rather than try to mix and match a variety of different ballasts, bulbs, and reflector from different manufacturers, they've put the best of everything into one offering.

Each kit includes a digital ballast, 6" air cooled reflector, 2 bulbs (one MH and one HPS), a timer, 2 light mover pulleys and a video grow guide. It works on 120 volts.

I suggest you shop around and realize what an incredible deal this kit is.

Hydroponic Technology

Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions (water and fertilizers) with or without the use of artificial medium (e.g., sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, peat, coir, sawdust) to provide mechanical support. Liquid hydroponic systems have no other supporting medium for the plant roots: aggregate systems have a solid medium of support.

Hydroponic systems are further categorized as open, where after the nutrient solution has been delivered to the plant roots, it is not reused; or closed where surplus solution is recovered, replenished, and recycled. The definition of hydroponics has been confined to liquid systems only, which blurs statistical data and leads to 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.

Read more...

Growing in Hut or Tent

Some hydroponic gardeners have a preference to keep what they’re growing in a definitive enclosed environment. If you don’t have the money to buy a hydroponic tent, you can always use an empty cupboard but you will need to make it light proof, feed in a light supply and ensure circulation of air. You may have the problem that while your plants start off fitting inside the cupboard, they might out grow it, so you will have the added complication of re-housing your plants.

Hydroponic tents come in various sizes. They are totally light proof so you know that you won’t have a problem with light spillage from inside the tent and outside light will not intrude during necessary dark periods. Hydroponic tents can be quite expensive due to the light containing material they’re created from.

Grow your own Mushrooms

Growing your own edible mushrooms has never been easier. The FUNgus Factory comes complete with everything you need to grow your own edible mushrooms indoors in any dark corner of your house.

Each kit comes standard with enough mushroom food and supplies to grow over ONE POUND of your favorite fungus. When your kit runs dry simply order Spawn Sac replacement for unlimited growth potential.

Don’t waste your time fighting off molds and mildews. This kit will help you see serious results in just a few short weeks.

More Advanced Nutrients

If you want amazing yields and high-quality crops, use Connoisseur Part A. Through its special blend of highest quality ingredients, Connoisseur Part A gives you control over a wide variety of plant mechanisms. When used in conjunction with Connoisseur Part B, this two-part formula can be varied according to your particular needs and the individual conditions involved.

• Increased number and quality of flowers and fruit
• Contains specific classes of poly amino alcohols
• Earlier flowering and maturation
• Enhanced potency, taste, and aroma
• Enhanced market value of harvests

Start using Connoisseur Part A one week after flowering has been triggered, mixing it directly into the reservoirs. An initial dose of 2.0 ml Part A and 2.0 ml Part B per each litre of nutrient solution is recommended, to be followed by applications at rates falling between 1.5 to 5.0 ml of fertilizer per liter of water. Connoisseur Part A should not be used on its own, but together with Connoisseur Part B. Floral growth should be carefully monitored before exceeding the recommended 2.0/2.0 ml per litre dosage.

B-52 Nutrient Booster

Designed to boost the metabolism of the plant with vital B vitamins and crucial amino acids that are essential for optimum growth. B-52 increases plant metabolism, strengthens its immune system making it able to grow more vigorously.

B-52 also contains several naturally occurring hormones. You can use B-52 as a foliar spray and a drench to soak cuttings/seedlings for a healthy start. If stretching is not desired then it will help keep the plant shorter. B-52 also increases the lateral growth of the plant.

Brand New Lighting System

Here's some very exciting news. A manufacturer of hydroponic cabinets has just announced that they've tested over 20 brands of LED UFO's from different manufacturers and have finally found their favorite!

This model tested the best out of several growing results comparing 630nm Red's, 660nm Red's, Tri-Bands, and even a 400w HPS Hortilux bulb. This unit outperformed ALL OF THEM!

Here are some of the highlights:
1.) Virtually No Heat Production, So Cabinet Stays At Room Temp.
2.) Lower Operating Costs With 180watt consumption versus 400 watt
3.) No Noise, Which Results In A Stealthier Cabinet
4.) Lower 'Intensity' Light Results In Less Burning Of Plant Tips
5.) Longer Life (10years for LED's) versus 1-2 for HID Bulbs
6.) Higher Plant Growth Yields In Both Veg & Bloom

A Garden for the People

The Volksgarden® brings simple, clean, and amazingly effective hydroponics gardening to the comforts of your own home. Grow what you want, when you want! The Volksgarden® unit allows you to grow up to 80 plants at once. Herbs, Vegetables, Fruits, and Grains can be harvested easily and continuously by even beginner gardeners.

The Volksgarden® utilizes a rotating cylinder housing the plants arranged around the light at the center. The result is highly effective use of lumens, water, and nutrients. Ultimately, you'll have a garden that grows fast, strong, and healthy through each season of the year. The Volksgarden® is truly a garden for the people!

Growing Potatoes in Hydroponics

Article by: Tracy Ballisager

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have all your supplies. You will need seed potatoes, straw, perlite, wood chips, or sand, and a planting container. Now that you have everything you need, you can get started.

When growing hydroponic potatoes at home, you need to make sure that you have a good setup. This means you want an area that is dark and cool. You never want to plant your potatoes in an area that will ever be more than eighty degrees ever. If you do, you will find that it will have difficulty producing any new products.

Now, to get started, cut your seed potatoes in half. Allow them to dry just as they are for as long as a week. When they have dried, plant the halves within your choice of growing method. It will only take a few days to sprout new potatoes.

As mentioned you want to keep the plant dark, no sunlight is necessary. In fact, using straw to cover the entire thing will do the trick and it is cheap at the same time. As time goes and you are ready to harvest, all you need to do is reach in and grab. This is important because it will provide room for the others to keep growing.

If you have troubles at first, growing hydroponic potatoes in your home, do not fret. Potatoes are very difficult to achieve in this medium simply because they require so little, which makes it so hard. When growing hydroponic potatoes, just remember that you need dark, cool, and seed plants to get started.

Hobby Hydroponics

In this wonderful indoor hydroponic garden, Emily's Garden, each plant thrives in its own small one-gallon container. These stand in a reservoir filled with nutrient solution.

Fresh air is bubbled through the solution to provide the high oxygen level needed for robust growth. As you can see, the plants just love it. The garden comes complete and ready-to-run; just add seeds of your choice, light and water!

All-In-One Nutrient

Moon Dust is an All-In-One nutrient designed specifically for hydroponic cabinets.

Instead of purchasing over 10 different products, Moon Dust combines the best of several well tested plant additives and base nutrients for a well balanced start to finish formula.

Simple for beginners, but powerful enough to out grow nutrient programs the pros use.

Outstanding for all plant types.

# Super concentrated, pH stabilized, and superior chelating (the way the plant foods interact with each other).
# Includes beneficial additives such as Carbohydrates (similar to CarboLoad), Humic Acid (similar to Grandma Engy's), Silica Blast (similar to Barricade), Kelp Meal (similar to Iguana Juice), and other vitamin complexes (similar to Vita Boost Pro).
# Includes over 18 Beneficial Funguses (similar to Piranha), 19 Beneficial Bacteria (similar to Tarantula), and 2 Trichoderma Species for outstanding symbiotic assistance for accelerated plant health.
# Moon Dusts base fertilizer consists of 19-8-13, with a well balanced formula for growing from start to finish, instead of difficult to use grow and bloom formulas. It also includes added Calcium and Magnesium for extra strong cell walls, and higher insect tolerance.

Healthy eating with Hydroponics

Everybody values good health and staying healthy means eating healthy. To stay healthy, you should always be sure that you eat a balanced diet. This means eating a good variety of fresh foods and giving your body the essential resources it needs.

With an hydroponic growing cabinet or garden in your home, the task is easy. You know where the food comes from and when it was picked. Couldn't be fresher. The plants have the oportunity to develope their natural sugars and so pass them on to you. It's a good lifestyle habbit to maintain.

Hydroponic Lettuce all Year Round

Hydroponics - growing plants without soil. What could be easier? No more recalled lettuce because it has been contaminated on the long journey to your local store. These highly efficient cabinets will allow you to grow your lettuce year round with no more scares. Tastes like real lettuce, too!

You are what you eat - someone smart said that.

Soilless Gardening

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

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

The SuperCube is for the hobby grower looking for a completely enclosed, counter top growing cabinet. It is set up to flower 12 plants up to two feet tall. Perfect for the kitchen or anywhere where space is a constraint. Perfect for four-season growing!

The SuperCube's growth potential is 1-12 plants which can mature up to 2 feet tall. Great for tomatoes. The custom powder coated cabinet 3.5ft tall x3ft wide x2ft deep. It comes equiped with full spectrum 400 Watt HPS light and automated custom Hydro-Drip System for soil or hydroponics.

Harvest and enjoy fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs right from the comfort of your own home.

Preventing micro-nutrient deficiencies in your plants

From the vegetative to the flowering stages, your plants explode with growth. That
requires a lot of nutrients and can tax the plant's delivery system.

As a result minerals such as iron, zinc and copper may have a hard time reaching all areas, particularly in the upper portions. This can slow down growth and eventually affect the quality of your flowers.

To increase the mobility of elements throughout your entire plant, use products containing fulvic and humic acids. They will help keep your delivery system strong and enhance the quality of your flowers during the final stages of growth.

If your crop experiences a trace element deficiency and you're confident you've diagnosed the problem accurately, a foliar spray will help green-up your plants. You can also use a solution containing a full spectrum of trace elements.

Harvesting Fresh Food in your Kitchen

Whether you are preparing a fancy meal or a quick dinner, nothing enhances the flavors of food like fresh herbs. What better place to find them than right in your own kitchen!

Many herbs can be grown successfully on a bright, sunny indoor windowsill. Better still, set up a little hydroponic garden anywhere in your kitchen. The one I'm thinking of has its own built-in light. Quite self-sufficient, it only needs the water topped up now and again and a little nutrient added.

Buying the right nutrient product for your flowers

When considering a fertilizer for your flowers, first check to see if it's been tested on the type of flower you'll be growing. Many manufacturers only do limited testing so using their products can be something of a gamble.

Of course, the fact that a product has only received limited testing won't be announced on the package. However, manufacturers who go to the expense and effort to test their products on a wide variety of crops will generally announce this on the container or in their literature.

You also want to make certain the nutrient is formulated for flowers. Otherwise, the
product may contain too much nitrogen which will end up giving you more leaves than
flowers. The rule of thumb is that using any un-balanced fertilizers for the type of plants you are growing will result in a lower yield and affect the fragrance and taste.

Before you begin cutting your plant for cloning

Before you begin cutting, fill a clean sterile bin with the same nutrient solution used for preconditioning your media. You can dilute it a bit and also make certain it is lukewarm so it doesn't shock your cuttings.

Select a bin with enough depth so that you can fully immerse all your cuttings. Remember, if a cut stem is exposed to air for any length of time, an air bubble could develop inside the stem. This will reduce the health and vitality of the plant. It may even cause it to die.

Using a bin to carry or wheel around the greenhouse is a good idea. This way, you didn't have to move the mother plant.

Precondition your Rooting Media

At least 24 hours before using your rooting media, pre-condition it with a nutrient solution that's balanced and pH adjusted. Using a reputable manufacturer's complete bloom-based nutrient at 1/4 strength will usually provide a balanced fertilizer charge for your cuttings.

Of course, the concentration and type of nutrients used are somewhat dependent on your rooting media. But one nutrient every grower considers essential is a B vitamin product. This will greatly reduce the stress plants experience during the cloning process.

Here is a brief pH guideline for media presoaking:

Rockwool: This media requires a very acid Ph solution because of its high alkaline nature. Go for a range between 4.5 to 5.0

Peat pellets: pH 6.3

Compost/polymer plugs: pH 5.8 to 6.3

Coco Coir: pH 6.3

Cloning Done Right

Get everything ready for your clonning operation

Once you start your cloning operation, you don't want to stop to go fetch a tool or materials. You want everything at hand before that first cut on the mother plant.

Cuttings are sensitive to the environment, chemical changes, insects and disease. So the longer it takes you to treat and plant them, the more problems you may encounter.

Here is a list I have used to check off the tools and materials I want on hand before starting. This isn't offered as a complete list. You may have different needs. But it's a good place to start:

* Pre-conditioned rooting media
* Root stimulator
* Rooting accelerator
* B vitamin supplement
* Spray bottle
* Tray with a clear lid to retain humidity
* Thermometer
* Isopropyl alcohol (99.9%)
* Disposable scalpel or razor
* Sterile high density plastic cutting board
* Tray heating mat with thermostat

Some growers use a box cutter razor which is all right. But remember, they often have an oily surface that needs to be removed before using. A surgical scalpel is a better tool.

Reflector Hood for Hydroponics

The SuperNova is a high performance, glass enclosed reflector hood perfect for hydroponic grow lights. It is air-coolable and super efficient for a mid-sized reflector.

The SuperNova comes with louvered cooling outlets for standard operation which can be replaced with 4" flanges for additional air cooling. Comes standard with tempered glass.

Germinating Seeds with Hydroponics

Hydroponically germinating seeds has several advantages over using soil to do the same job. This is the best way to avoid many common diseases because the hydroponic medium is clean. Soil may contain insects or fungus that can harm vulnerable seedlings.

Using a good hydroponic growing system is also a good way to avoid root rot. The area where hydroponic growing is better than using soil is the control of the growing environment. The gardener is not at the mercy of the soil’s nutrients or water content with hydroponics. This will help to assure that the grower alone will control every aspect of the plant’s growing conditions. This can be a major advantage for young seedlings as they will get the proper nourishment right from the start of their life and will lead to much healthier plants in the long run.

Good results for Hydroponic Gardening

A well-balanced nutrient solution for your hydroponic garden is the key to success. The nutrient solution circulates around the roots of your plant and the formula will either make your plants happy and fruitful or kill them.

The perfect level must be found for the plants you are trying to feed. The pH level for plants determines what type of nutrient solution they need. Acid loving plants need a pH level below 7 while other plants need a level above 7 to achieve optimal growth. In addition, for optimal absorption of the nutrient solution, air must be allowed to circulate around the roots of the plants.

High Temperatures not good for Hydroponc Growing

High temperatures in your hydroponics system can cause many problems for the plants being grown. The temperature within your hydroponic system should be maintained at a level where plants are able to survive. A high nutrient temperature can cause your plants a lot of problems. If the temperature becomes too high, it’s advisable to use an extractor fan to reduce it but not a good idea to rapidly cool the environment.

Plants don’t like fluctuations in temperature and practices such as this could kill plants. The extractor can be linked to a thermostat to ensure that the room never reaches the high temperatures again. High temperatures can have a negative growth affect on many plants.

Nothing "new fangled" about Hydroponics!

A common misconception about hydroponics is that is a new fangled, fashionable trend. Actually, it has been practiced for centuries. Even the ancient Egyptians used hydroponics to grow their food. Great strides have been made in the field since the 1970s, when agriculturalists began studying it in earnest as an alternative means of food production, which perhaps is the reason behind so many people thinking it is a new invention.

Contrary to popular belief, hydroponics has absolutely nothing to do with genetically modified food. While genetically modified food has been offered as a solution to solving global hunger, as hydroponics has, it is a completely separate entity. Because genetically modified food is so controversial, hydroponics sometimes gets a bad rap. In fact, hydroponic food is 100% natural food, not modified in any way, and no chemicals are added to the plants to make them grow that they would not get in traditional fields. It’s simply a different way to grow food; no genetic manipulation involved.

Grow food on your Kitchen Counter

The SUPERFLOWER is for the hobby grower looking for a completely enclosed, counter top growing cabinet. It has the functionality of a continuous vegetative/clone chamber and a separate flowering chamber.

Imagine reaching into this cupboard and snipping fresh vegetables for dinner! Need some basil for the spaghetti? Snip, snip, wash and chop. What a boon for vegetarians and vegans. Surely adds another dimension for a healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of Parsley

Parsley is extremely easy to grow on your countertop with hydroponics. Keep a constant, fresh supply.

Parsley is one of the world''s seven most potent disease-fighting spices. Most people do not realize that this vegetable has more uses than just being a decorative garnish that accompanies restaurant meals. Parsley''s history, its 33 health benefits, nutritional value, how to pick it, process it and store it are discussed.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), the world''s most popular culinary herb is also known as "rock celery" and belongs to the Umbelliferae family of plants. Parsley is one of the world''s seven most potent disease-fighting spices which also include Ginger, Oregano, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Sage, and Red chili peppers. Parsley grows in most climates and is readily available throughout the year. It is a biennial plant which means that it produces seeds during its second year of production and will reseed itself if you let it.

Hydroponic Nutrients

Properly grown hydroponic plants also are healthier and more vigorous because all of the necessary growth elements are readily available. The plants can mature faster, yielding an earlier harvest of vegetable and flower crops. Hydroponic gardens use less space since the roots do not have to spread out in search of food and water. This small space requirement makes hydroponics ideal for home gardeners, and it makes better use of greenhouse space.

The big advantage to hydroponics is the ability to automate the entire system with a timer. Automation reduces the actual time it takes to maintain plant growth requirements. Automation also provides flexibility to the gardener as one can be gone for long periods of time without having to worry about watering the plants.

Hydroponics offers many advantages for commercial agriculture. Cultivating plants without soil eliminates the need for vast farmland and allows crops to be produced in greenhouses or even in the desert sands. Hydroponic techniques also allow for precise water and nutrient application directly to the roots of each plant. Water is reused in these systems and less is lost through evaporation and run-off. Therefore, arid lands, such as deserts, can be transformed into productive lands using limited amounts of water.

Growing plants hydroponically is not difficult if one understands the basic principles. As long as plant growth requirements are met, there are numerous hydroponic systems that can be used.

Hydroponic Growing Media

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; therefore, 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, such as an apartment or balcony.

Greenhouses and nurseries grow their plants in a soilless, peat or bark-based growing mix. The nutrients then are applied to the growing mix through the water supply. Therefore, this is also a type of hydroponics. Soilless gardening offers many advantages to the home gardener. Since a sterile medium is used, there are no weeds to remove, and soil-borne pests and diseases are minimized, if not eliminated completely.

Cloning Plants

Cloning can be a difficult and tricky procedure; however this guide should help eliminate some of your hurdles. To start take a clone from a mother plant while still in the vegetative phase. Use a sharp knife or razor blade and cut a 3inch or so branch from the base of the mother plant at a 45 degree angle. Make sure there are a few leaves on the new clone so it can absorb enough light to take root.

Now at this point, you can take the cut end of your new clone or stick it directly into 2inch neoprene plug so that the stem of the plant fits snuggly in the small hole in the middle and is deep enough that the cut portion of the stem is at least ½ ways down the length of the netpot.

During the next 48 hours your plant may wilt, but this is normal as the clone is being placed under a great deal of stress by being cut. If the plant is still wilted after 5 days then odds are it won't take root and grow, so it can be discarded. Also, if you notice dead leaves you should pull them off and keep any dead matter out of the way.

If all goes well you should see roots forming and your clones should stay upright and begin to grow at an increased rate.

Grow Lights and Bulbs

One of the biggest advantages to indoor gardening is the regulation of plant growth through the use of artificial sunlight. The most commonly used grow lights are metal halide, high pressure sodium, and fluorescents. Each has its advantages that I will briefly cover. Both metal halide and high pressure sodium lights are high intensity discharge, which mean the light they produce has a better ability to penetrate the plant leaves.

Fluorescent light can grow plants indoors, but produces much smaller plants and is generally considered to be far inferior to both metal halide and high pressure sodium lights. Fluorescent lights are most often used with seedlings or clones, as the light produced is gentler on fragile plants.

Perfect Indoor Growing Cabinet

Most popular full sized Grow Chamber around!

Caddy Dimensions: 72" tall x 31" wide x 23" deep

The Caddy's Ease Of Use…
The Caddy comes pre-assembled, and requires less than 15 minutes of setup time to start growing. Once your Caddy system is in place you can simply plug it in and walk away for days at a time! One of the most popular features of The Caddy line, as with the Cool Cabs, is that the light and infrared proof exterior chamber which provides an easily controlled environment. It’s simple, watch the instructional video, spend 15 minutes adding water and seeds, then walk away and watch your plants grow! Note that if we built a cabinet larger than the Cool Cab Or Caddy it wouldn't fit through a doorway pre-assembled. This is one of our largest top of the line units!
20 cu. ft. capacity
Light-proof custom Mylar interior doesn't act as an eye-sore
Our custom made interiors have a 99% reflective surface for maximum light absorption by the plants.
Includes ventilation system (450+ CFM of air cooling)
11 plant capacity
Grows 11-17lbs. of dried plant matter per year in the Caddy

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SuperFlower growing cabinet

What it is:
The SUPERFLOWER is for the hobby grower looking for a completely enclosed, counter top growing cabinet with the functionality of a continuous veg/clone chamber and a separate flowering chamber. 42”H x 46”W x 24”D

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AeroGarden for indoor growing

Aerogarden garden kit grows lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, petunias, and more!

Includes:

# The AeroGarden
# 2 daylight spectrum bulbs
# Pre-seeded bio-dome grow pod
# Time release nutrients
# Tending and harvesting guide with recipes.

Self-monitoring system adjusts for best growing conditions.

# Automatic alerts notify when more water or nutrients are needed.
# Organic-based, 100% natural tool requires no dirt or natural light
# Grows 5 times faster than soil!
# Grows 7 plants

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600 Watt Power Plant Lighting Kit

Our All New “Power Plant Kits” are custom designed lighting systems with all of the latest horticulture technology.

Rather than try to mix and match a variety of different ballasts, bulbs, and reflector from different manufacturers, we put the best of everything into one spectacular offering.

We suggest you shop around and realize what an incredible deal this kit is!

Each kit includes:

# Digital ballast
# 6” air cooled reflector
# MH bulb
# HPS bulb
# Timer
# Two light mover pulleys
# 120 Volts
# Video grow guide, and more!

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Volksgarden grows 80 plants at a time!

This unit could feed your family fresh vegetables and fruits for a whole winter. It would also save you a lot of money.

AeroGarden

This is the most perfect way to grow your own vegetables on your kitchen counter-top.