The Indoor Grower by Bluuprint

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Gardening and the city We've long known that there are pros and cons to living in a city. Urbanites get to enjoy the glamour and fast paced lifestyle that only a city can offer; while suburbanites and country folk get to enjoy more pastoral pleasures like fresh air and gardening. That's just the way it is, right? You can't have your cake and eat it too... To heck with that - yes you can! More and more people living in the city are deciding to bring simpler pleasures to their city lives, including growing their own food. Fed up with tasteless genetically modified produce and paying exorbitant prices for organic produce, city gardeners are taking matters into their own hands.

In outside gardens you are at the mercy of weather and environment. But in your indoor garden, environmental factors such as light, temperature and humidity are all within your control, meaning you have more control over the final results of your garden. Outdoor gardeners are constantly worrying about the bugs and critters eating up their plants. Indoor gardeners hardly have to give this a second thought.

Balconies, patios, fire escapes, rooftops, windowsills and even indoor growing rooms are all "gardening space" ready to cultivate delicious home grown produce for the most Jimmy Choo-obsessed urbanites. One of the least understood of all of these activities is indoor gardening. So the big question is...

Indoor plants are also less susceptible to most of the diseases that plants in outdoor gardens are prone to. This saves us time and worry. .That's right! The bane of the existence of the traditional gardener doesn't bother us indoor gardeners at all! It's starting to sound better and better, isn't it?

At first glance, indoor gardening seems like a last resort. Those with no spare balcony, patio, rooftop or even window box might finally turn to their indoor home to find a place to garden. However, aside from it being a last ditch effort, indoor gardening actually has a few advantages over gardening outdoors.

Plants are natural air filters. They create a healthier living environment for you by filtering out toxins and chemicals in the air, absorbing them and giving off pure beneficial oxygen for you to breathe. 6

By Becky Sheldon 7

Gardening and the city.... . No, you don't have to just stick with houseplants! There are many fruits and veggies that can be grown indoors. An indoor vegetable garden (and some fruit!) can be wonderfully rewarding. Tasty, organic produce doesn't have to be carted in from the country...you can grow it in your own city home!

Not only do indoor plants provide a more oxygen-rich environment by cleaning the air and increasing humidity; studies by the American Horticultural Association have shown that spending time in therapeutic indoor gardens helps to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, increase a sense of peace and well being, alleviate depression and even promote healing. And with an indoor garden, the plants surround us all of the time!

Plants are beautiful aren't they? The green foliage, the bold colours or delicate flowers. With their wide variety of shapes and colours, they are nature's decoration.

These are just a few of the many advantages of indoor gardening.

You can create living artwork in your home by combining plants and containers - from romantic to extravagant to subdued...You can create the combination that is right for your home. And they are even more beautiful when you know they are growing delicious food for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

You can create a lush garden oasis in your home, even if you live in the city!

To learn more about Indoor Gardening, Urban Gardening and Apartment Homesteading, sign up for the FREE Mini Course "Indoor Gardening Success" at http://www.ContainerGardeningCenter.com Becky Sheldon is a container and indoor gardening expert and enthusiast who wants everybody to be able to grow their own delicious food, no matter where they live! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Sheldon

By Robert M Mullen

Nowadays, indoor gardening is becoming increasingly popular among many households because of its several benefits to the indoor environment. Aside from making your home more aesthetically pleasing, it also helps in making the environment more comfortable and serene both for your family and visitors. But how do we grow plants indoors? What are the supplies needed for creating an indoor garden? What are the important factors to consider in order for this project to become successful?

We all know that plants require essential nutrients in order to grow. These may include food, water and sunlight. While food and water supplies are easily accessible even if you are growing plants indoor, sunlight on the other hand is relatively limited. In this case you need to find an alternative lighting system that can support the process of photosynthesis in plants.

A LED grow light is an artificial lighting system available at a wide range of light wavelength levels. It works by nourishing plants with a number of red and blue diodes used for growing fruit-bearing plants, herbs and vegetables without causing any side effects. Compared with traditional horticulture system, this light gives you the power to nourish your plants even without using soil. It also shortens the growing period, giving you a tastier and fresher result more quickly than those grown in soil.

One of the best indoor lighting systems used for growing indoor plants nowadays are LED grow lights.

Growing plants indoor is not very complicated as long as you understand the right process and provide the essential ingredients to your plants. Below are the three basic things you will need for setting up your indoor garden:

To find the indoor plant for your particular project, all you have to do is to search via the Internet. Here you can find lots of different plants to choose from. While searching, do not forget to take note of their specific requirements. This will help you determine what appropriate level of light wavelength to use.

As mentioned earlier, the best way to nourish your indoor plants with sufficient lighting is through the use of LED grow lights. When it comes to choosing what particular type of LED light to use, you need to measure your garden first and determine the required level of light wavelength. Read more on this topic to find the different choices available for you. As indoor gardeners, buying LED grow lights should be one of our major concerns.

Anything that can hold the plant you've chosen will work. You can use some clay pots or plastic cups, depending on the requirements of your plants. Whichever you decide to use, you have to make sure that they are clean, sterile and have good drainage to easily drain excess water away.

Find LED grow lights that were tested to provide specific light and certain wavelengths that are proven to grow larger, faster and overall healthier plants.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_M_Mullen

For many people, spring planting is the perfect time to begin an herb garden. For most herbs, planting should wait until there is no more danger of frost if you plan to put the seeds directly in the ground. However if you want to grow herbs from seeds, you can also start your seeds indoors a few weeks before you plan to put them outdoors and then simply transplant them after the frost danger is gone.

You can plant seedlings instead of seeds, whether you grow the seedlings yourself indoors before transplanting them outdoors for your spring planting or you can purchase seedlings from a nursery.

For instance, purchase your seedlings from the nursery this year and after you plant them in your herb garden you can save the trays for planting your own seeds indoors next year.

By Terry Teeters

You can get cuttings from your friends who have herb gardens or you can take cuttings from plants that have already been established in your garden. Remember to take a new shoot that is quite vigorous and about three inches long. It should not have any flower buds on it. Cut it from the stem but leave a small portion of woody stem on it. Plant the end directly in the garden or in a pot. Hardy herbs like Rosemary are perfect for cuttings. These may come in a flexible nursery bag or in a pot, usually made of plastic. You may even purchase a fully prepared and planted container garden where the herbs are planted in a large container that is designed to be your herb garden. This type of garden is self contained, and the plants may be a bit more expensive because the container is the garden.

You can start your herbs directly in your outdoor garden or in containers.

Hydroponics is a method of gardening to grow plants indoors using artificial lights and a special chemical preparation instead of actual soil. Any way you grow your herb garden, you are bound to find not only great fresh herbs to add to your cooking but also a great deal of satisfaction from growing them yourself.

For more information on creating and maintaining a home herb garden please visit http://thehomeherbgarden.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Teeters

By Richa Parera

Modern scientific techniques make it possible for people to grow plants, vegetables and even fruit right in their drawing room in indoor gardens.

With the some effort and knowledge you can now grow a variety of plants indoors, either with hydroponics, which is a soil less growing technique or by using suitable techniques for conventional geoponics (growing in soil). Irrespective of the method you choose, you can even make your indoor garden yield better results than a comparable conventional outdoor garden with less effort and in less time.

For successfully using indoor gardening techniques you need to understand five essential aspects of plant growth such as lighting, nutrition etc. These need to be considered and properly provided for during the planning stage, if you want to ensure adequate returns on the time and effort you put in. The five essentials are:

In the majority of cases, while gardening outdoors, you don't have to consider lighting because the proper light balance and intensity for healthy growth is taken care of by the natural patterns of seasonal and diurnal changes. Your plants sense and respond to these changes and grow in accordance with the natural life cycle progression.

In hydroponics or soil-less gardening, the plant is supplied nutrients mixed with water.

When growing indoors you need to properly design the lighting system to provide this vital input for accomplishing the same task.

The rule of thumb is to provide for the larger of the two -one gallon of soil per foot of plant growth or one gallon per month of growth.

With these nutrients the plant grows much faster resulting in larger yields than in conventional gardening. Plants grown in soil need to be provided a container that is large enough to sustain growth.

You may need to do a little research to decide which method will best suit your preferences considering your budget, the amount of time and effort you can devote etc.

If you want to grow healthy indoor plants you can't afford to neglect air circulation. An adequate supply of fresh air is vital for plant growth as important plant processes depend on exchange of gases between the leaves and the atmosphere. These processes will be impeded in the absence of fresh air.

Providing the right nutrients at different stages of the plant life-cycle is important. During the vegetative phase, plants that put out heavy vegetation need larger amounts of nitrogen.

A continual supply of fresh air will help your plants grow strong and healthy.

On the other hand, during fruiting time they need a high phosphorous mix. Provided you have got all support systems in place, you can start off with seed, a cutting from an existing plant or a pre-started plant.

An abundant supply of trace elements is vital for plant growth in indoor gardening. Select trace elements rich nutrients to meet the unique demands of plants grown in containers.

If you plan your garden keeping in mind the stage of the plant life cycle you want to start with, you will be in a better position to take care of all the inputs your plants will need at different times in its life cycle.

Know more about hydroponic gardening Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richa_Parera

FORUM Q

Is it possible to get some info on growing hydroponically in a unheated garage. For lighting, I was thinking of a 1000 watt MH lamp covering a relatively small area of about 16 sq. ft. I was looking to provide a heater just in the colder months if / when the temperature drops below freezing (to keep costs to a minimum). Can I grow a nice hardy lettuce or spinach successfully under these conditions (fair amount of light, not a lot of heat). If so, what sort of yield could be expected assuming use of the proper nutrients. I plan on consuming the produce and giving away any surplus to friends / family. I understand the electric bill on 1000 watts at 16 hours a day will cost me about ÂŁ50 a month, and that 1000 watts may be a little excessive.

I have read that HPS can provide the spectrum needed for floral growth stage better than MH so maybe you could try 600 watt HPS 12 hours on during that time. The smaller light will save you money. Also, either as an alternative to, or in addition to your cold environment heating problem you could try using a submersible water heater. Just place it in the water and set the desired temperature to 20 deg or so and leave it running, then at least your water wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t freeze! Actually lettuce would be ok at a lower temperature than this.

I am relatively new to hydroponics and thought I would start growing some lettuce as I understood it was quite easy to do. It looked really good and healthy however it tasted a bit like plastic. I have since grown another batch and it tasted the same. I am using basic grow solution as I was told that was all that I needed, but now wonder if I need some additives to improve the taste. Check your nutrient concentration. You could find it is too high for lettuce. Also, you could try towards harvest using a very small amount of molasses based additives, to improve the flavour. This works well with chillies, so your mileage may vary with lettuce, as it can practically grow on plain water. If using a recirculating hydro system, beware of using this before the end result as you will need to completely clean tank and system after using any sort of molasses based liquid.

TOPICS Q

After a lot of researching into growing produce at home, I got some T5 lights and a grow pot system to grow my own lettuce, as well as some tomatoes, and aubergines. Since I started my project, I've seen conflicting reviews and read some critical articles about the use and power of fluorescent lights when it comes to anything other than lettuce. Are the T5 lights I bought going to be enough to take my tomatoes and aubergines through to bloom? More importantly, I recently noticed some leaves turning a yellow / brown colour and they seem to be getting a bit dry. My ph is ok and temp about 24 to 28 degrees, and my T5 light is about 5 inches from the top of the plants. Any idea what the problem could be?

I am going to experiment with aeroponics in my system but from what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve read, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m worried about blocking the tubes / sprayers. Where can I get a universal fit filter for my pump?

As filters are not readily available for different types of pump, a simple solution I have used is to put a piece of stocking over the pump inlet / suction.

It may not be the only cause of your problem, but you could try moving the lights up to about 12-18 inches from the plant and see if that helps. The yellowing could be due to a lack of nitrogen, so check nutrient levels and suitability for your particular crop.

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 21

An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners :

What Do Your Plants Need? All plants need the correct conditions in order to grow to their full potential. Plants grown using hydroponics systems are no exception to this basic rule. Like their soil grown cousins they need sufficient light of the correct wavelengths, a suitable temperature, an adequate water supply, enough oxygen, mineral nutrients and support for their structures. Sufficient light of the correct wavelengths, used by the plant at the growth stage it has reached, is essential for its survival. Plants use lots of light, at least 8 to 12 hours each day, in order to make carbohydrates from CO2 and water. Chlorophyll, the green colour in plants, absorbs the sunlight and uses its energy to synthesise these carbohydrates. This process is known as photosynthesis and is the basis for sustaining life in all plants. Because animals and humans get their food by eating plants, it can also be said to be the source of our life.

By John R. Haughton

Artificial lighting is generally a poor substitute for sunshine, because most indoor lights provide insufficient intensity to produce a mature crop. High intensity lamps such as high-pressure sodium lamps can provide more than 1,000 foot-candles of light. The hydroponic gardener can use these lamps very successfully in areas where sunlight is inadequate. The fixtures and lamps, however, are usually too expensive to be viable for a small commercial operation. It is important to allow adequate spacing between plants as this will ensure that each plant receives sufficient light in the grow-room. For example, tomato plants, pruned to a single stem, should be planted so as to give 4 square feet per plant, while European seedless cucumbers should be allowed 7 to 9 square feet and seeded cucumbers about 7 square feet. Lettuce plants need to be spaced 7 to 9 inches apart within the row and 9 inches between rows. Most other vegetables and flowers should be grown at the same spacing as recommended for a conventional garden.

(Part 2) Plant Needs

A suitable temperature is required for the plant to grow normally. Temperatures that are too high or too low will give rise to abnormal development and reduced production. Summer vegetables and most flowers grow best between 60째 and 80째 F, while winter vegetables like spinach and lettuce prefer temperatures of between 50째 and 70째 F. An adequate water supply is not normally a problem when using a hydroponics system, since the basis of hydroponics is the supply of water containing nutrients in solution. Having said this however, there are some systems which can give rise to inadequate watering, with the consequent detrimental results to your plants. Ebb and flow systems which are not checked on a regular enough basis, can run short of nutrient in their supply tanks, as can continuous flow systems. Most, if not all, automated hydroponics systems can have disasters if they are not monitored closely. A blocked or burst pipe, or a pump failing can result in lack of nutrient flow, which, coupled with the intense lighting and the correct ambient temperature in the grow-room, will result in dry roots and severe damage to, or even the death of, your plants. Oxygen is a basic requirement of most living things. Plants need oxygen for respiration, so that they can take up water and nutrient. In soil systems enough oxygen is usually available, but plant roots growing in water will quickly use up the supply of dissolved oxygen.

This can damage or even kill the plant unless additional air is provided. A common method of aerating the nutrient is to bubble air through the solution. Continuous flow and aeroponic systems do not usually need supplementary oxygen. Mineral Nutrients are needed by most green plants. They must absorb certain minerals through their roots in order to survive. In conventional horticulture these minerals are supplied by the soil and by the addition of fertilizers such as manure and compost. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur are needed in large quantities, whilst the micro-nutrients, iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and chlorine are also needed, but only in very small amounts. Support is normally provided by the soil that surrounds the growing plant. A plant grown using hydroponics however needs to be artificially supported. This is usually done with string or stakes. It is possible to buy inexpensive automatic string reels to support your plants as they grow. This cuts out the tedious task of having to keep re-adjusting the strings on fast growing plants. A partner in a thriving retail hydroponics supply business, Rickie Haughton is the owner of http://www.hydroponics-gardening-information.com Your First Choice For Hydroponics Gardening Information, the Hydroponics-Gardening-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

The Indoor Grower's - The supplying of soil and more importantly roots with air or oxygen. In some hydroponic systems, a nutrient solution is aerated by the output of an aquarium pump - 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.

- Fertilizer high in phosphorus (P) that increases flower yield. - 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.

- 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. - A very efficient watering system that employs a main hose with small water emitters. Water is metered out of the emitters, one drop at a time. - 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 then allowed just to ebb away. - 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 then is allowed to drain away. 25

- 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. - The process of causing the initiation and development of a plant from seed.

- 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.

The Indoor Grower's

- 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.

- The offspring from two plants of different breeds, variety or genetic make-up. - 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. 26

- 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'. - 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.

- 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. - Phosphorus promotes and stimulates early growth and blooming and root growth. It hastens maturity and seed growth, and contributes to the general hardiness of plants. Phosphorus is a macronutrient.

- 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.

- 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 - (Chemical symbol - K) It promotes disease resistance and good development of carbohydrates, starches and sugars, and increases fruit production. Potassium is a macronutrient.

- Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are considered to be the secondary nutrients.

- 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.

- The large, central root that grows downwards, and from which smaller, lateral roots grow.

- A compound that reduces the droplet size and lowers the surface tension of the water, making it wetter.

- The bud at the growing end of the main stem.

- A sap-sucking insect of the family Aleyrodidae. A particular pest of the greenhouse and indoor garden, whitefly can be very destructive.

- The part of the ballast that transforms electric current from one voltage to another. - Aframe or netting (lattice) that trains or supports plants.

- 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. - The circulation of fresh air, fundamental to a healthy indoor garden, an exhaust fan creates excellent ventilation. - 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.

c - 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.

The Indoor Grower's Directory UK

Blooming Direct Rue des Cabarettes St. Martin, Jersey, JE3 6HT Tel: 01534 857160 www.bloomingdirect.com

Grow Things 33, Glengarvan Close, Lambton, Tyne and Wear, NE38 0DY Tel: 0191 417 4363 sales@grow-things.co.uk www.grow-things.co.uk

Seymour Green Hydroponic Centre Unit 4 Fordhouse Rd Ind Est, 2 Steel Drive, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, WV10 9XA Tel: 01902 782 900

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

The Indoor Grower Online magazine enquiries info@theindoorgrower.co.uk www.TheIndoorGrower.co.uk

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 Focus Aim Fire Ltd 24 Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7PA Tel: 01492 547 118 Garden Chic Beacon Hill Office Park, Newark Nottinghamshire, NG24 2TN www.gardenchic.co.uk GardenBargains.com Ideal Home House, Newark Road, Peterborough, PE1 5WG www.gardenbargains.com Gardening Direct 1st Floor, Nelson House, David Pl., St Helier, Jersey JE2 4TD www.gardeningdirect.co.uk Gardening Express Chelmsford Essex, CM1 4UA www.gardeningexpress.co.uk

Indoor Growers Network Enquiries and information info@theindoorgrower.net www.TheIndoorGrower.net Keengardener Ltd 19 Arden Business Centre Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6HW www.keengardener.co.uk Odyssey Hydroponics 556 Hagley Road West, Birmingham Tel: 0121 421 3494 Original Organics Unit 9 Langlands Business Park, Uffculme, Devon, EX15 3DA www.originalorganics.co.uk Plant Me Now Eastcote GC, Hampton Road Eastcote, Solihull, B92 0JJ Tel: 01675 442 551 info@plantmenow.co.uk www.plantmenow.co.uk Riverford Organic Farms Ltd Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0JU Tel: 01803 762059 www.riverford.co.uk

Thompson & Morgan Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Two Wests & Elliott (UK) Unit 4 Carrwood Rd., Sheepbridge Ind. Est., Chesterfield, S41 9RH www.twowests.co.uk

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