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Unique "Hydroponics" Gardening:
By Anne Del Rio
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Pros and Cons
The interest in "hydroponics" gardening continues to grow. This crop growing procedure utilizing nutrients in water without any soil has been adopted by numerous individuals. In fact, research studies reveal that agriculturists expect more farmers to take on hydroponics farming in the next five years. The transfer from traditional farming techniques to this novel method is brought about by assertions that growing conditions can be more controlled under the hydroponics system.
With these developments, it is essential to identify the advantages and possible drawbacks of hydroponics gardening.
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Consider these advantages: One of the major benefits of hydroponics is that growers use less space but can expect more production. Crops are said to develop faster so there is a reduced amount of time between the stage of transplanting sprouts and harvesting. There is minimal labour since you are spared of digging and taking away weeds. Hydroponics has been described as having a cost-effective supply mechanism for nutrients and minimal risks in terms of harvest. In other words, hydroponic plants are not susceptible to pests and effects of insect killers.
There are also some negative aspects in hydroponics that you have to study carefully.
Although plants grow in water, there is a need for lesser volume of H2O compared to the conventional methods. You can save on financial resources since the nourishing elements can always be re-cycled. The nutrients are infused in the water and distributed to the roots for optimum results. Plants remain fresh since these can receive nutrients until the final growing stage.
Start-up costs are fairly high since you have to procure special equipment such as (Aeroponics Systems), nutrients, lighting facilities, fertilizer supplements, and organic manure. Novices will surely experience losses initially. If you plant to venture in hydroponics farming, it is important to study the complicated processes to maintain the best possible production or hire an expert to manage the growing techniques.
Initial investment in hydroponics is relatively lower than ordinary farming procedures. It can be the ideal alternative to conventional farming particularly in arid regions, mountainous areas and remote islands. You can easily cultivate crops even in ice-covered terrain since there is no need for garden soil.
Hydroponic plants are sensitive to any changes in the surroundings. You can see the deficiencies right away. Since all the plants in the system share the same water and blend of nutrients, any disease or pest invasion spreads speedily throughout the growing system.
Agriculture students can learn the entire process without difficulty because the roots are clearly perceptible. You will definitely see the full stages of growing. The root setting can be controlled with respect to temperature, moisture and nutrient blend.
The restrictions in oxygen and natural weather can make a significant variation in your production and harvest.
Having seen both positive and negative aspects, you can now evaluate if hydroponics is for you. Remember that you will really pay a high price for organic products. However, you also have to consider the long-term developments and effects in the agricultural sector. This will certainly help you make a good decision. If you are looking for information on hydroponics systems or Wilt guard products, click on the links. Or you can visit CXHydroponics.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Del_Rio
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LED grow lights are a relatively new technology. In the coming years it is this authors belief that they will replace high pressure sodium (HPS) lights.
In order to understand how LED grow lights work you must first understand how plants grow. It first it may seem kind of complicated but once you understand the basics the rest is fairly easy to learn on your own.
Unlike animals, plants use sunlight to generate their food in a process known as
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The energy from the photons of the sunlight is used to generate chemical energy in plants. Photosynthesis needs two main ingredients in order to generate chemical energy using sunlight: carbon dioxide and water. It releases oxygen as a waste product. The world wide total energy captured by photosynthesis is around 100 terawatts. The first photosynthetic organisms developed roughly 3.5 billion years ago. 10
How Work With Regards to Plant Growth By Matthew M Stein
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The process begins when energy from light is absorbed by proteins named photosynthetic reaction centers. These reaction centers contain chlorophylls held inside of chloroplasts. The energy gathered from chlorophylls is stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Organisms that are able to convert light into energy are referred to as photoautotrophs. A chloroplast is referred to as an organelle, the cell equivalent of an organ. Chlorophylls are only capable of absorbing selective wavelengths of light. The reason plants appear green is because they do not absorb light from the green part of the spectrum. The majority of the sunlight energy captured is in the leaves of the plants. Green plants only absorb light at specific wavelengths. There are two types of main chlorophylls and each one is capable of absorbing light in either the blue or red spectrum. Chlorophyll A best absorbs light at wavelengths of 430nm and 680nm. Chlorophyll B absorbs light at its maximum efficiency at wavelengths 470nm and 630nm. Chlorophyll will absorb light that falls a bit outside of its peak efficiency but as the wavelength distance increases from max efficiency the efficiency of absorption will decrease quickly.
LED grow lights work by only targeting the wavelengths of light that plants are able to absorb most efficiently. This is why most LED manufactures use 440nm, 470nm, 630nm and 660nm LEDs. Since LED grow lights only produce light in the areas where plants are able to absorb them most efficiently they are able to maximize the growth of the plant when compared to a white spectrum of equivalent light. Guru Grow Lights has spent the last two years developing the best combination of LEDs to use in its grow lights. If you are interested in learning more about how plants grow or how LED grow lights work check us out. Matt Stein is the CEO of Guru Grow Lights. He also writes their Blog [http://www.blog.gurugrowlights.com]. They manufacture high quality Canadian made LED grow lights. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_M_Stein
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Is it Safe For an Indoor Grow Room? By Marcia Price
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Many Hydroponic gardeners have experienced problems with plant odour, mold, mildew, and even mites that contaminate the air. One solution used or considered for use against this problem is an ozone generator. , when properly used, is the most effective, dependable method of odour elimination. An ozone generator releases ozone (O3) into the indoor gardening area eliminating plant odours. However, some people may have questions over the safety of ozone generators indoors. One common misconception arises from the association of ozone with smog and pollution. Ozone is usually mentioned in pollution and climate change news stories, however, ozone is not a greenhouse gas. In fact, ozone plays an important part in protecting life on Earth by absorbing potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation.
A natural gas, ozone is created when air in the atmosphere is bombarded with ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Ozone can also be created artificially by devices using high voltage electrical currents. Ozone is able to kill odours because it releases its third molecule, which then acts as a sort of "predator" of other odours by binding to their sources and eliminating them.
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An ozone generator releases ozone (O3) into the indoor gardening area eliminating plant odours. However, some people may have questions over the safety of ozone generators indoors. One common misconception arises from the association of ozone with smog and pollution. Ozone is usually mentioned in pollution and climate change news stories, however, ozone is not a greenhouse gas. In fact, ozone plays an important part in protecting life on Earth by absorbing potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation. Ozone is basically just oxygen (O2) with three rather than two molecules. A natural gas, ozone is created when air in the atmosphere is bombarded with ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Ozone can also be created artificially by devices using high voltage electrical currents. Ozone is able to kill odors because it releases its third molecule, which then acts as a sort of "predator" of other odours by binding to their sources and eliminating them.
The generators are very energy efficient and economical to use. They are also small and easy to fit into practically any type of grow room configuration. Ozone generators are available in a wide range of sizes to handle both large and small indoor grow rooms. Are there any dangers to worry about? Ozone air generators are safe so long as they are installed and operated properly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have certain standards for save levels of ozone in occupied areas, which all manufacturers follow.
For this reason, ozone has been popularly used by commercial establishments for years as a means of purifying and deodourizing the air. If you have a Hydroponic indoor grow room, an ozone generator may be the most cost effective solution as compared to other types of air purification systems.
If your Hydroponic indoor grow room is not occupied, then there is no danger using an ozone air generator. The safe levels required only apply to rooms in which there are people or animals present. If there are people or pets in the areas of the generator, the room should be well-ventilated and the ozone air generator set at safe levels.
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Is it Safe For an Indoor Grow Room? The ozone generator should be synchronized to run when your exhaust fan is on. Using a timer to run this device when the exhaust fan is activated will turn the generator on with proper ventilation. You can then arrange your plant maintenance time around the exhaust system cycles, and ozone will only be released when you are out of the indoor grow room and absent from the area. This will solve any concerns about safety and ozone. The short bursts of ozone emitted by ozone generators turn back into oxygen generally within 30 minutes. In order to keep ozone from penetrating into other rooms, you should keep doors and other openings shut, and preferably sealed if there are large gaps underneath the indoor grow room entrance. You can use plastic sheeting to seal off openings that cannot be closed. Remember, ozone is only dangerous at high levels. You can work in your Hydroponic grow room so long as the room is well ventilated and the generator is kept at a safe level setting or off. In fact, ozone exists naturally in the air we breathe regardless of whether there is a generator around or not. Dangers arise only when the ventilation is not sufficient to handle the amount of ozone produced by the generator. If you are venting directly outdoors, ozone air generators do not produce enough ozone to endanger the areas outside of your grow room.
Vented ozone quickly dissipates in the surrounding air outdoors. The dangers only apply to confined areas in which the ozone can build up if the settings are too high or the ventilation is inadequate. One point to repeat is that ozone is not a greenhouse gas! If you closely read those articles about the ozone layer, you will find that scientists are actually worried about the depletion of the ozone layer, i.e., too little rather than too much ozone. So if you are considering using ozone for your indoor grow room, it is safe so long as the equipment is installed and operated properly within your exhaust system. The benefits of using an ozone generator to eliminate plant odour, mold and pests far out weight the small inconvenience of plant maintenance during times the generator and exhaust system are cycled off. Marcia Price became a specialist in Hydroponic indoor gardening for the protection of our environment. Growing plants in water is an ecologically sound decision, with no water or space waste, ground or water contamination, or top soil erosion. Hydroponics must be the future for gardening and crops. If you are interested in starting your own ecofriendly Hydroponic system, visit http://www.NaturesHydroponics.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcia_Price
Plug-In Ozone Generator Ideal for removing odour, bacteria and virus from areas of concern
Ozone concentration: 0.6mg/l Power: 7.2W Ozone output: 50mg/hour Electric: 220V/50Hz Effective Area: 10~30 m2
ÂŁ33.99 17
By William S. Edwards
Buying plants from grower or nurseries is an easy way to start or enhance your garden. But, you don't want to buy problems. Taking a few minutes when you are picking out your plants, can save you lots of time and money. Buying unhealthy plants can either be a waste of money because they don't survive the transplanting, or they can bring insects and disease to your garden and cause you more time and expense to treat these on all your plants.
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Tips to Buying Healthy Plants - This is the first and easiest area to look at to tell how healthy your plant is. Look for well formed leaves, a compact bushy growth is best. Yellowing leaves can be signs of pests, disease, or nutrient deficiency. Wilted leaves could be a temporary condition, possibly stressed by lack of water, but it could also be from regular neglect from nursery staff.
- The soil for a healthy plant should be moist. Poke your finger into the soil about 1 inch and check below the surface. If the soil is too dry or too wet, you may already have root damage. As mentioned in the roots section, you need to make sure of a good balance of roots to soil. Avoid plants that are either 25% or less soil as this is a sign of too many roots and 75% or more soil as this is a sign of too few roots.
- A healthy plant should have consistent colour across all the leaves. Look for the proper colour for the plant. Not all plants leaves are green all year round. Do some research ahead of time and compare with other plants of the same variety at the nursery. Yellow or discoloured leaves can be signs of pests, root problems, fungal infections and others. Avoid plants that don't have fresh properly coloured leaves.
- Look for signs of pests or disease like chewed leaves, sticky residues, webs, or leaf distortion, spots and mushy leaves. These are all signs of stressed plants that will not transplant well, but they can also bring these bugs or diseases back to your garden. - Ideally, you want to buy your plants before they start to flower. Plants expend a lot of energy to create the flowers, so transplanting them during this time will create additional stress on the plant. The best time to buy these plants is just before they start to bud, or with a few buds.
- Check for scars or nicks in branches or stems. This can show damaged plants that could be future sites of disease or weakness. For bushy plants, you want to see lots of short stems and lots of leaves. Plants with spindly growth are indications of poor light conditions, poor pruning, or it has outgrown its pot.
With these tips, you should be able to find strong healthy plants that will quickly adapt and be a welcome addition to your garden. If there is any doubt put it back and keep looking. This advice will save you money and time and allow you to enjoy your garden for years to come.
- A healthy plant should have a good set of roots, but not too many for the current pot. Don't be afraid to look at this before buying the plant, most reputable nurseries will be glad to help you with this if you are not sure how to check. Roots should always be firm, well formed and hold the soil together. There should be a good balance of roots to soil. Too much soil and little roots, means recently repotted. Very little soil and mostly roots means the plant has outgrown its container. Either case will put increased stress on plant when it is transplanted.
For more information about plants and gardens check out PlantAndGardenDirectory.com [http://plantandgardendirectory.com/]. The Plant and Garden Directory [http://plantandgardendirectory.com/] is the most up to date collection of websites related to plants, landscaping and gardening. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_S._Edwards
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FORUM Q
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Q
I'm new to hydroponics and although have been studying and reading everything I can, I still have a few general questions. I have a small basement that has two small windows for air to/from the outside. I'm using CFL grow lights. Do I really need an exhaust fan? I don't plan to grow in the summer aside from greens and herbs. I do however plan to try to grow all kinds of veggies / greens / herbs throughout the winter. The temperature down there stays fairly constant without any fluctuations between day / night. I think I will need a heater, but what about recycling the air and/or fresh air. Will a standard oscillating fan suffice? Will I need to open the windows at all because that would most likely let in cold air? There is a dehumidifier down there currently. but will I need a humidifier at all? I plan to start small with a simple DWC for greens / herbs. Then if I am successful with that, I'd like to start with tomatoes, peppers, etc.
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I am just about ready to put my first DWC into action growing lettuce. I am curious to know how far the water level should come up into the net pots? I will be using rockwool cubes and clay pellets. From experience with lettuce, I would say your water levels should be up to the underside of the net pot. The temptation is to fill higher so that the clay pellets are also submerged, but if you leave the depth of net pot as an "air gap" the moist atmosphere created from the air pump as the bubbles break on the surface should be sufficient for root growth and will encourage the roots to grow down and seek out the nutrient and air rich water.
CFL grow lights do not get very hot, in general, and unless you notice a heating problem I wouldn't worry about the heat. I don't think you will need to open windows, a fan will be just fine to circulate air, and the dehumidifier won't be a problem, as long as you don't put your fan or dehumidifier right next to your plants so that it is constantly blowing the moisture out of the leaves. DWC is easy to do, just make sure to put a bubbler in it and change your nutrient solution on a regular basis so salts don't build up, and the water doesn't stagnate. Tomatos are the easiest thing to grow, they are hardy and the plants are pretty resilient. They can get quite large, so be aware of how many you plant and how close together. With the plants and the heater you will probably notice more humidity so its a good idea to keep an eye out for mold and plant rot. 22
TOPICS Q
A
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I've started a DWC system as a home project and I could use some help from more experienced growers. I have a 50ltr container aerated by an airpump and 2 airstones. I use a standard 3-part nutrient system and 250W CFL’s which seem to give sufficient light to grow my 4 pepper plants. However, in my nutrient solution I have what I believe to be algae, as it seems to be growing on my netpots and the sides/bottom of my tank. I was told Hydrogen peroxide would probably be a solution, but is it my best option?
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I have a 600w light with 4 plants growing in a temp which reaches about 30deg. The light is about 45cm above the top of the plants, but the edges of the leaves seem to be curling. Any advice would be appreciated. It could depend on what type of plants you are growing? Tomatoes for instance experience leaf curl due to temperature fluctuations. It could be nutrient deficiencies, Magnesium show yellowing between leaves (chlorotic look) and have leaves curling inwards. Calcium deficiencies show yellow leaf margins accompanied by leaf edges curling.
The best and easiest way to stop algae growth is to maintain darkness in the nutrient resevoir. If it is dark enough the algae cannot photosynthesise and will die. So sealing your nutrient resevoir against light is the best thing. If this fails, then hydrogen peroxide I have heard works, watch out for the concentration of it in the water, and plant roots hate it. Ozone is good, strongly oxidising and very short lived it kills pathogens and aerates the water without harming the roots
These are a selection of questions and answers from our forum which you can find here The answers are not representative of our views but merely an individuals opinion given freely, and are not to be taken as fact or definitive in any way. If you would like to give an opinion or solution of your own, or raise a question on a similar or related topic, you can do so here 23
An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners :
What is hydroponics gardening? Derived from the Latin Hydro, meaning water and Geoponics, meaning the study of agriculture, hydroponics is the science of growing plants using a solution of suitable nutrients instead of soil. Most types of plant can be grown very successfully using hydroponics.
In conventional gardening the plants are grown in soil and take their nourishment from the chemical compounds contained within that soil. The hydroponic gardener replaces the soil with a balanced, nutrient rich, solution that the plant can absorb with ease. Because the plant does not have to work so hard to absorb the available nutrients it saves energy which can then be utilised for stronger growth.
By John R. Haughton
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(Part 1) Starting Out
Because of this energy saving, plants grown using hydroponic methods outperform conventionally produced plants in both growth and fruit production. Due to the consistent results and good profit margins, more and more commercial growers are turning to hydroponic production.
Continuous Flow Hydroponics Systems.
Totally organic production is possible using specially designed organic nutrients, giving excellent, inexpensive, vegetables and herbs.
This system is one in which the plant roots hang in the air and are misted regularly with a nutrient solution.
There are several different types of hydroponic system, but all share the same basic principle of supplying the plants with nutrients and water. The most common systems are: Water Culture, Aquaculture, or Nutriculture. This is a Hydroponics system in which the plant roots are immersed in water containing a complex mixture of dissolved nutrients. A simple example of water culture is the Hyacinth bulb growing in a wine goblet shaped glass, its roots growing down into the hollow goblet stem. Aggregate Culture. In this system a material such as sand, gravel, or marbles supports the plant roots. It is important to note that the support material, unlike soil, does not absorb nutrient. It merely traps it in the spaces between the grains or stones allowing the plant roots to freely take up the liquid.
In these types of system the nutrient solution flows constantly over the plant roots. This is the most commonly used system for commercial production. Aeroponics.
There are a number of pre-packaged hydroponics systems available for both the commercial grower and hobbyist. Individuals, who lack building skills, or are inexperienced plant growers, should consider one of these kits as an introduction to hydroponics, a fascinating and challenging hobby. Similar systems can be built at lower cost, however, by those of you who have the expertise. The requirements for healthy, strong, diseasefree plants are covered in my next article entitled - - What do your plants need?
A partner in a thriving retail hydroponics supply business, Rickie Haughton is the owner of http://www.hydroponicsgardening-information.com Your First Choice For Hydroponics Gardening Information, the HydroponicsGardening-Information website is packed with good content about all aspects of hydroponics gardening and offers a free Hydroponics Gardening Information Club membership to all subscribers. Copyright (C) 2004, 2005, 2006, John R Haughton - All Rights Reserved Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_R._Haughton
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The Indoor Grower's - The process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. - A sustainable food production system that combines a traditional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In the aquaculture, effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish. This water is led to a hydroponic system where the by-products from the aquaculture are filtered out by the plants as vital nutrients, after which the cleansed water is recirculated back to the animals. - This is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, earth science, and genetics. - This is basically an auxiliary piece of equipment designed to start and to properly control the flow of power to gas discharge light sources such as fluorescent and high intensity discharge lamps. In metal halide systems, it is composed of the transformer, capacitor and connecting wiring; sodium systems require an ignitor in addition to the transformer and capacitor.
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- This describes a top-fed Deep Water Culture hydroponic system. Basically, the water is pumped from the reservoir up to the top of the roots (top feeding). The water is released over the plant's roots and then runs back into the reservoir below in a constantly recirculating system. As with traditional Deep Water Culture, there is an airstone in the reservoir to help add oxygen to the water. Both the airstone and the water pump run 24 hours a day. - An electronic device that can store electrical charge. The capacitor is one of the main components of an HID lighting ballast. Because they can store a very strong electrical charge, capacitors can be very dangerous to someone who is unaware of this fact and opens a ballast in order to examine or repair it. If one does not know how to safely discharge the stored electricity, one should allow a trained technician to do any ballast repairs (also known as coco peat or coco) - This is the leftover material after the fibres have been removed from the outermost shell of the coconut, and is a 100% natural grow and flowering medium. It is extremely difficult to over water coir due to its perfect air-to-water ratio, and plant roots thrive in this environment. - This is a hydroponic method of plant production by means of suspending the plant roots in a solution of nutrient-rich, oxygenated water. Bubbleponics is a related method of plant production that involves a top-fed Deep Water Culture system. A more accurate definition for the acronym DWC is Direct Water Culture. Direct Water Culture can be performed in deep or shallow water.
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- A controlled system of irrigation where water is provided to the plant drip by drip in precise amounts by a system of pipes and metered valves. Modern equipment with sensor technology may have their irrigation pattern computerized with the amount of water being adjusted depending on the data received from the sensors.
- this can be any product that destroys or inhibits fungus. - Any of a group (Fungi) of saprophytic and parasitic sporeproducing organisms usually classified as plants that lack chlorophyll and include molds, rusts, mildews, mushrooms, and yeasts. Common fungal diseases that attack plants are Botrytis, and powdery mildew.
- aka "Flood & Drain" is a form of hydroponics that is known for its simplicity, reliability of operation and low initial investment cost. Pots are filled with an inert medium which does not function like soil or contribute nutrition to the plants but which anchors the roots and functions as a temporary reserve of water and solvent mineral nutrients. The hydroponic solution alternately floods the system and is allowed to ebb away.
- The process of causing the initiation and development of a plant from seed.
- A lightweight ceramic shell, rounded in shape, with honeycomb core produced by firing natural clay to temperatures of 1100-1200째C in a rotating kiln. With the advantage of light weight, high permeability, high durability and excellent thermal insulating properties, expanded clay is a good 'all round' aggregate for use in an a variety of applications and hydroponics in particular. It is also an environmentally friendly product composed mostly of naturally occurring clay, is not susceptible to chemical attack and has a long life span. - aka "Ebb & Flow" is a form of hydroponics that is known for its simplicity, reliability of operation and low initial investment cost. Pots are filled with an inert medium which does not function like soil or contribute nutrition to the plants but which anchors the roots and functions as a temporary reserve of water and solvent mineral nutrients. The hydroponic solution alternately floods the system and is allowed to drain away.
- A room of any size where plants are grown under controlled conditions. Plants can be grown with the use of artificial light, sunlight, or a combination of the two. Due to the heat generated by high power lamps, grow rooms will often become excessively hot relative to the temperature range ideal for plant growth, often necessitating the use of a supplemental ventilation fan. 27
The Indoor Grower's
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- In lighting terms, a high intensity discharge.
- In terms of lighting, LED stands for Light Emitting Diode
- The science, art, technology and business involved in intensive plant cultivation for human use. It is practiced from the individual level in a garden up to the activities of a multinational corporation. It is very diverse in its activities, incorporating plants for food (fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, culinary herbs) and nonfood crops (flowers, trees and shrubs, hops, grapes, medicinal herbs).
- Plant lighting or grow lights are an artificial light source, generally an electric light, designed to stimulate plant growth by emitting an electromagnetic spectrum appropriate for photosynthesis. Grow lights are used in applications where there is either no naturally occurring light, or where supplemental light is required. Grow lights attempt to provide a type of light spectrum similar tailored to the needs of the plants being cultivated. Outdoor conditions are mimicked with varying colour temperatures and spectral outputs from the grow light, as well as varying the lumen output (intensity) of the lamps. Depending on the type of plant being cultivated, the stage of cultivation (e.g., the germination/vegetative phase or the flowering/fruiting phase), and the photoperiod required by the plants, specific ranges of spectrum, luminous efficacy and colour temperature are desirable for use with specific plants and time periods.
- When plants are grown in a soilless medium. Plant nutrients are distributed via water. - A subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, expanded clay or coconut husk.
- This is an organic soil mixture of crumbly clay, silt and sand. - Metallic element essential in the production of chlorophyll in plants. Magnesium deficiency can stunt development, so is an essential element in hydroponic nutrient solutions. - A chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate processes and are converted to and used as energy. Most plants ingest nutrients directly from the soil or modified water solutions, either through their roots or from the atmosphere.
- Any chemical preparation used to repel or destroy insects, usually in the form of liquid or powder. - A measure of electricity used per hour; a 1000-watt HID uses one kilowatt in one hour. 28
- This is a hydroponic technique wherein a very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for plant growth is re-circulated past the bare roots of plants in a watertight gully, also known as channels. In an ideal system, the depth of the recirculating stream should be very shallow, little more than a film of water, hence the name 'nutrient film'.
- Substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.. Crop protection products in general protect plants from damaging influences such as weeds, diseases or insects. A pesticide is generally a chemical or biological agent that through its effect deters, incapacitates, kills or otherwise discourages pests.
- In a hydroponic system, this is the mixture of water and water-soluble nutrients which is provided to the plants for nourishment - This is a form of growing that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms, and human sewage sludge. - The egg of a plant found within the calyx. It contains all the female genes and when fertilized, an ovule will grow into a seed. - A volcanic rock that has been superheated into very lightweight expanded glass pebbles. It is used loose in potting soil mixes to decrease soil density and has similar properties to vermiculite but, in general, holds more air and less water.
- A known scale from 1 to 14 that measures the acid to alkaline balance of a growing medium (or any other substance). In general, plants grow best in a pH range of 6 to 6.8; 6.3 is considered ideal. If the pH is not within the acceptable range, nutrients may not be absorbed to maximum capacity.
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- A process used by plants to capture the sun's energy to split off water's hydrogen from oxygen. Hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide (absorbed from air or water) to form glucose and release oxygen. All living cells in turn use fuels derived from glucose and oxidize the hydrogen and carbon to release the sun's energy and reform water and carbon dioxide in the process (cellular respiration).
The Indoor Grower's
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- (Chemical symbol - K) It promotes disease resistance and good development of carbohydrates, starches and sugars, and increases fruit production. Potassium is a macronutrient. - A mineral wool and one of the most widely used mediums in hydroponics. An inert substrate suitable for both run to waste and recirculating systems, it is made from molten rock, basalt or 'slag' that is spun into bundles of single filament fibres, and bonded into a medium capable of capillary action, and is, in effect, protected from most common microbiological degradation.
(HPS) - High-pressure sodium lights yield yellow lighting (2200 K) and are often used for the second (or reproductive) phase of the growth. If used for the vegetative phase, plants will usually grow slightly more quickly and tend to be taller and leggier. High-pressure sodium lights enhance fruiting and flowering in plants which use the orange/red spectrum in their reproductive processes, which produces larger harvests of higher quality herbs, vegetables, fruits or flowers.
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- The large, central root that grows downwards, and from which smaller, lateral roots grow. - The part of the ballast that transforms electric current from one voltage to another.
- Part of a passive hydroponic system using a wick suspended in the nutrient solution, the nutrients pass up the wick and are absorbed by the medium and roots. - The amount of produce obtained from a cropping plant, measured by weight or quantity.
Light with very short wavelengths, out of the visible spectrum. - A mineral that has been superheated until it has expanded into light pebbles. Vermiculite has a natural "wicking" property that can draw water and nutrients in a passive hydroponic system. - A concept that argues that it is economically and environmentally viable to cultivate plant or animal life within skyscrapers, or on vertically inclined surfaces. "The Vertical Farm" promotes the mass cultivation of plant and animal life for commercial purposes in tall buildings and skyscrapers using advanced greenhouse technology such as hydroponics and aeroponics. - A sap-sucking insect of the family Aleyrodidae. A particular pest of the greenhouse and indoor garden, whitefly can be very destructive.
- A chemical trace element found in soil, and one of various micronutrients typically added to hydroponic solutions to supply essential elements, along with the major nutrient nitrates, sulphates and phosphates.
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The Indoor Grower's Directory UK
UK
UK
Blooming Direct Rue des Cabarettes St. Martin, Jersey, JE3 6HT Tel: 01534 857160 www.bloomingdirect.com
Gardening Express Chelmsford Essex, CM1 4UA www.gardeningexpress.co.uk
Seymour Green Hydroponic Centre Unit 4 Fordhouse Rd Ind Est, 2 Steel Drive, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, WV10 9XA Tel: 01902 782 900
Ecotechnics Unit 2K, Old Dalby Business Park LE14 3NJ Tel: 01664 822 281 Eden Project Shop Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG www.edenproject.com/shop Even Greener No. 1, Whitehall Riverside Leeds, LS1 4BN Tel: 0845 658 5588 www.evengreener.com
Grow Expo 2012 Unit 7, Park Rd Bus' Cen', Park Rd, Bacup, Lancs, OL13 0BW Tel: 01925 924 082 info@grow-expos.com www.grow-expos.com Indoor Growers Network Enquiries and information info@theindoorgrower.net www.TheIndoorGrower.net
Thompson & Morgan Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com
Keengardener Ltd 19 Arden Business Centre Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6HW www.keengardener.co.uk
Two Wests & Elliott (UK) Unit 4 Carrwood Rd., Sheepbridge Ind. Est., Chesterfield, S41 9RH www.twowests.co.uk
Focus Aim Fire Ltd 24 Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7PA Tel: 01492 547 118
Odyssey Hydroponics 556 Hagley Road West, Birmingham Tel: 0121 421 3494
Garden Chic Beacon Hill Office Park, Newark Nottinghamshire, NG24 2TN www.gardenchic.co.uk
Original Organics Unit 9 Langlands Business Park, Uffculme, Devon, EX15 3DA www.originalorganics.co.uk
GardenBargains.com Ideal Home House, Newark Road, Peterborough, PE1 5WG www.gardenbargains.com
Plant Me Now Eastcote GC, Hampton Road Eastcote, Solihull, B92 0JJ Tel: 01675 442 551 info@plantmenow.co.uk www.plantmenow.co.uk
Gardening Direct 1st Floor, Nelson House, David Pl., St Helier, Jersey JE2 4TD www.gardeningdirect.co.uk
The Indoor Grower Online magazine enquiries info@theindoorgrower.co.uk www.TheIndoorGrower.co.uk
Riverford Organic Farms Ltd Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0JU Tel: 01803 762059 www.riverford.co.uk
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International Green Thumb Depot Tel: (800)-830-6558 contact@greenthumbdepot.com www.greenthumbdepot.com Hydroasis 2643 S.Fairfax Ave Culver City, CA 90232, US Tel: (310) 559-GROW contact@hydroasis.com www.hydroasis.com Natures Hydroponics Willowcreek Circle Sun City, AZ 85373, US Tel: (623) 974-0787 NaturesHydroponics@gmail.com www.natureshydroponics.com
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With our range of soft fruit plants you can be picking your own crop next summer and delighting family and friends. Easy to grow and maintain and all can be planted directly into your growing system. Order yours today for depatch during September and October!
A heavy cropping Gooseberry with delicious sweet & juicy berries. These Gooseberries plants produce heavy crops of delicious sweet and juicy berries. They also have excellent disease resistance. Height: 1.5 - 2m - Spread: Approximately 150cm Harvesting June to July Sold As 9cm Pot ready for immediate planting.
Imagine the delight of picking your own delicious home-grown blackberries, fresh from your garden. Easy to grow and look after. The fruits are best eaten from the plant but can be frozen. Height: 1 - 1.5m - Harvesting: July to September Sold As Bare Root. Plants are sold with the roots exposed, rather than in soil.
Delicious home-grown blueberries. Imagine the delight of picking your own blueberries, fresh from your garden. Delicious eaten straight from the bush. Height: 1.2 - 1.5m - Spread: 50-60cm Harvesting June to August Sold As 9cm Pot ready for immediate planting.
Delightful home-grown freshly picked fruit Imagine the delight of picking your own fruit, fresh from your garden. Height: 80 - 120cm - Spread: Approximately 150cm Harvesting June to July Sold As Bare Root. Plants are sold with the roots exposed, rather than in soil.
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