21Dec/110
Foliage Plants For the Indoor Garden
If you are considering having more than just a couple of varieties of plants, it is likely that the majority of your choosing would be considered to be "foliage" plants. Whilst foliage plants do not reward the owner with masses of blooms, they have their own beauty and as a bonus are easy to grow and are readily propagated. They are also more adaptable to various climatic conditions.
Foliage plants are the mainstay of many a garden as they continue to grow and present their beauty throughout all the seasons. Within this group of plants are hundreds of naturally occurring variants and thousands of hybrids and other varieties.
The domestic gardener has a seemingly endless variety from which to choose - size of the plant, leaf shape and size, leaf colour are all indicators of difference. The following examples are readily available and can be cultivated successfully in any climatic zone.
Philodendron.
This species of plant is the most commonly cultivated house plant, equal to the ivy. They are relatively easy to grow, do not cost much and can add to any decor. Philodendrons require minimum care are known to be long lasting indoor plants. Of the hundreds of types of Philodendron available for home growing, the majority are in the category of climbing vines. The biggest seller is known by its botanical name only (P.cordatum). This beauty has shiny leaves that are heart shaped and arranged in clusters. Any form of supporting structure is appropriate for this climber, the most popular being a piece of bark. The best medium in which to grow this specimen is good quality potting soil which is kept at room temperature. The plant requires regular watering and feeding. Philodendron has become popular as an indoor plant due to the fact that it can thrive in rooms that do not receive direct sunlight, although it does require light, as do all plants, for photosynthesis to occur. It is advisable, in order to maintain the health of the plant, to ensure that the leaves are thoroughly cleaned. Not only does this improve the aesthetics of the plant, it also reduces the chance of disease and insect or parasite attack.
There are a number of other members of the Philodendron species that make excellent indoor plants. The "Cut Leaf" Philodendron (P.pertusum) has oval leaves that are quite large with splits or "cuts" in numerous places along the leaves, from the very edge of the leaf to the centre or "spine". Another cultivar is "P. hastatum". This plant has an upright growth pattern and huge leaves that extend from its very long stems. It is possible to propagate all Philodendrons using cuttings from the stems.
Another popular indoor plant is "Devil's Ivy" (botanical name Pothos). This is another climbing plant, vigorous in growth and when allowed to grow naturally will reach huge dimensions. It is identified by its distinctive leaf shape and the color of the leaves, which are bright green with irregular lines and splashes of pale yellow. The Devil's Ivy will grow under the same conditions as the Philodendron.
A species of Begonia grown exclusively for its foliage rather than its blooms is the "Rex" Begonia. The many and varied types of this plant have distinctively different colors on the leaves and the leaf patterns are all different. One similarity is that the leaves are large in size and have hair-like structures at the edges. They also exhibit veins which are prominent.
Some variants of Rex Begonia have flowers that are small and hardly noticeable as they nestle above the leaves. The main attraction of the plant is its leaf structure. These Begonias thrive in conditions that have a supply of cool, moisture laden air and an abundance of sunlight. Unlike the Lady Palm which easily adapts to most interiors, this can sometimes be difficult to achieve in a house. So it is fortunate that these plants will put up with less desirable conditions.
By: Keith Markensen
28Nov/110
An Aeroponics System Can Help You Garden Indoors Successfully
You might have wanted to garden indoors, but have been stopped short because you have no suitable area in which to garden. There are ways, however, which everyone, even those who live in cities and have no backyard, or those at the tops of apartment buildings, or those with inhospitable climates, can utilize in order to grow plants indoors. One of those methods uses an aeroponics system for growing plants indoors. An aeroponic system allows the gardener to grow plants without using soil, a great benefit if you have no soil or it is inconvenient or impossible to get soil to your home. Instead, an aeroponics system allows the plants to grow in the air, with the roots exposed to air.
Although you might have heard of an aeroponic hydroponic system, an aeroponic hydroponic system is really a misnomer. While plants grown in an aeroponic system grow in the air without soil, hydroponically grown plants also do not use soil, but they do instead use a soilless growing medium, such as coir, in which the plants are grown.
One of the best ways to get started with setting up your own aeroponics system is to use aeroponic kits. Aeroponic kits have all of the individual components that you will need for this form of gardening. Aeroponics kits will contain some means of keeping the crown of the plant supported while the roots dangle freely below. Special types of foam or even netting is used in aeroponics kits to suspend the plants in the air. Like any plant, those grown in an aeroponics system require food. The food is known as nutrient, and it is dissolved in water to form a nutrient solution. The nutrient solution reachs the plant roots through the use of aeroponic misters, which gently spray the roots of the plant with nutrient at regular intervals.
There are benefits to using an aeroponics system. One is that the roots of each plant is exposed to a great deal of oxygen. This is important, because plants need oxygen so that they can grow strong and reach maturity rapidly. Another is that fewer plant diseases cause trouble in aeroponics, because the plant is never exposed to soil-borne disease.
You can see these fantastic systems for yourself by visiting a discount hydroponic supply website. Here you can get a look at all of the different brands and models available, and learn more about this form of gardening. You can also ask questions, so that you can learn and discover just how easy it is to get started with aeroponics successfully.
By: Jonathon Blocker
22Nov/110
Gardening Styles Revisited
Each gardener has his or her own set of gardening guidelines that correspond to certain predetermined gardening styles. If you know your gardening style and if you can apply that style to creating an organic garden, then you have pretty much captured an edge over other gardening enthusiasts. But, if you do not have a gardening style that you can apply to organic vegetable growing, then you could be at a strong disadvantage. What are the different styles of gardening that actually apply to successful organic vegetable harvesting? Here are some of the types that you could consider:
Residential Gardening
This is the most common of all gardening techniques. It is often referred to as "backyard gardening". If you are just a novice and not seasonally experienced in vegetable gardening, then residential gardening is your best approach. The primary purpose of the residential garden is to feed a family. A steady supply of home grown vegetables can not only feed your family now, if you understand canning and preserving, your garden can nourish your family long after the production period of your garden has ended.
The second appeal of residential gardening lies in its aesthetic appeal. Your garden can add color and depth to your landscape. It is quite transforming to see what was once only grass, a wooden deck, or a concrete balcony develop into an eye pleasing sculpture.
Residential gardening does not require a great deal of space. A window sill, deck, balcony or other small area that has sufficient light can easily produce a small crop. These small confined areas are easy to monitor and at the same time, easy to maintain. Protecting your garden from pests is much easier in a smaller area. The great thing about residential gardening is the ease with which it transforms the gardening wannabe into the gardening professional. It takes the rookie, having no knowledge of planting, growing, and harvesting, to a level of understanding where other gardening styles become the dream and the possibility.
Specialized Gardening
Specialized gardening usually involves non-residential areas. Common examples of specialized gardening include amusement parks, botanical gardens, zoos, commercial landscaping along highway right of ways, and many more. Making the landscape more attractive seems to be the most common underlying theme of the specialized garden. These landscaping endeavors are rarely the responsibility of a single person. Often times a staff of botanists and gardeners work together to maintain the garden's aesthetic attractiveness. These gardens are often created to support or deliver revenue to their owners or the organizations supporting them.
Specialized gardens rarely sport vegetables like corn, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, or beans. They, in agreement with their type, focus more on the special or more rare type of flora. Unique flowers, shrubs, even trees are often found in these areas. But, when a specialized garden does focus on vegetable planting, wide row techniques, sewing seeds in a wide band rather than in a single row, are most often applied.
Impact Gardening
By definition, impact gardening focuses on getting the most out of a small space. It involves using a relatively small gardening area and finding ways to maximize its gardening potential. In order to accomplish this objective, plants are strategically organized and systematically planted in a "crowded" format. This type of gardening requires a basic knowledge of plant types; annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and even ground cover. Understanding the types of plants most suited to the environment and the climate is paramount to successful impact gardening.
Impact gardening requires planning. A haphazard approach will not work. A layout of which plants will be placed where is paramount to successful impact growing. The best approach is to actually draw out a schematic of the garden labeling specific areas and then filling those areas with the appropriate plants. These designs or surveys should be as detailed as possible to include plant specifics and cost analysis.
There are four basic steps to successful impact gardening.
Step one, survey a space for the garden and mark off the specific site. It is best to have the long side of the plot aligned with the sun, from east to west. This helps keep the plants from burning in the summer heat, and ruining your crops. Step two, design the garden. It should be attractive yet maintain its functionality. Step three, make long thin beds, eight feet longer than they are wide. This makes it easy to weed and plant. Build the bed frames out of long 2x8's. If you make several, you can lay them end to end, parallel to the sun. Step four, use soaker hoses to water. Place them up and down the rows, about one foot from the edges of the bed.
Indoor Gardening
Growing plants indoors is not only a science, it is an art. This type of gardening can be as small as a few potted plants kept on the coffee table or near the front door; or as large as a greenhouse with thousands of plant varieties housed in a climate controlled environment. These greenhouses or conservatories are designed and built with controlled systems for heating and air conditioning, whatever the plants require. Unfortunately this hot house type of gardening is more suitable to the commercial grower because of the expense factor involved.
For the home owner, the greatest benefit of indoor gardening is the simple fact that plants can be grown year round, completely independent of extreme climatic conditions like heat, cold, wind, or rain. Light is the most common limiting factor for indoor gardening. Most plants do not do well indoors, so it is important to match the light needs of a particular plant with the amount of light you can offer it. There are three general light categories--high, medium and low light. An easy way to measure how much light is in a particular area is to use a light meter, which is typically available at local nurseries, or simply hold your hand between the source of light and the spot where the plant is to be set. The amount of shadow gives a rough indication of available light. If there is no shadow or if a shadow is difficult to see, then that is an indication of low light.
Water Gardening
If you like low supervision gardening and love fish and aquatic plants, then water gardening is your style. Perhaps the most important consideration in water gardening is location selection. Most aquatic plants and fish need plenty of sun, so a place that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is your best bet. Choose a site away from tall shrubs and trees. This site will then provide the best lighting and hopefully prevent the accumulation of leaf debris on the pond surface.
Planning is once again very important. Make sure you apply both common sense and some basic gardening principles to your site plan before you begin construction. Consider the overall size of your property, the size of your site selection, and your ability to maintain your garden before you scoop the first shovel of dirt. It goes without saying, small ponds are best for small properties. A container on a deck may be all that your need in accordance with the space you have available. Features like waterfalls, rock work, lighting and fountains are budget dependent. They may add style, but they could be overly costly.
Aquatic plants should cover no more than 50 - 60 percent of the water surface. Some are free floating while others are marginals or partially submerged. Selection depends on pond size and your personal preference. Water lilies are very popular and can add drama and fragrance even in small gardens. Some plants oxygenate the water and they help keep the water clear and the pool healthy. Fish can be a beneficial addition, because of their scavenging activities. They naturally clean up debris that would otherwise accumulate in the garden. They also can help control mosquito larva, and other insect development.
Community Gardening
Community gardening is becoming quite popular especially in highly populated urban areas. It involves concentrated efforts from different members of the community to help plant, maintain, and then harvest a garden. It is a huge undertaking, but the members of the community are given autonomy to style their areas in whichever way they choose. Locally, the Master Gardner program, through local Agricultural Extension Services, can provide just the right atmosphere for a community to plant a garden, maintain its integrity, and harvest its produce.
Neighborhoods pull together and transform vacant lots into green space. Building tenants gather on rooftops to plant and grow vegetables. Everyone shares in the responsibility and the harvest. This is community gardening in its purest form. These community gardens are a great way to get both children and adults involved in beautifying the neighborhood while at the same time working with nature.
No matter which style suits your needs best, it can be effectively applied to organic gardening. Each gardening style requires some level of planning and site preparation. Once planting is complete, the actual work of gardening begins. Caring for the plants in your garden is very similar to caring for your pets. They need regular food and water. Their space needs to be cleaned or weeded regularly. And, the more attention you give them, the more they respond and produce.
By: W. Bergfeld
12Nov/110
Main Types of Hydroponic Systems
A few centuries ago, the only way you could grow a plant without a soilless base was to suspend it over a pool of water mixed with nutrients, that would act as the feeding grounds replacing the earth's diet. Nowadays, we have wick systems, ebb and flows, drips, aeroponics, the nutrient film technique and many more, which only shows how far in this field we have gone. And because the offer is often so varied, it's confusing for the newcomer hydroponic gardener. Picking the right hydroponic systems is a tough job, so here are a little tips to help you know the difference:
Wick Hydroponic Systems
The wick system operates under very simple parameters, in that it's passive, with no moving parts attached to it. A wick is used to draw nutrients from the reservoir and into the growth tray and it's a fully automated procedure that takes little effort from you.
Water Culture Hydroponic Systems
Like I said in the introduction, the water culture was the first type of system invented in hydroponics. It stands on fairly straightforward principles: a reservoir filled with nutrient solution, atop of which the gardener places a floating platform that can hold several planters (or cups, or something similar). The roots of the plant that you "install" will be drowned in the nutrient solution, with the rest of the plant being held by the planters.
Drip and Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Systems
Ebb and flow hydroponic systems can be found everywhere and together with their younger brother, the drip system, they make up the majority of hydroponic gardens in the World. Both types of systems work on basically the same principles: a growth tray is attached atop a nutrient container. Nutrients are flooded into the growth tray by a pump, they are absorbed by the plants and the excess solution that couldn't be absorbed is drained down into the nutrient container, recycling it for future use.
Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic Systems
Another popular hydroponic system, the NFT uses a constant flow of nutrients to wash out the plants' roots, feeding them in the process. Because this system uses no growth media for the roots, it allows for better oxygenation and it has low maintenance costs in the long run. Just like the ebb and flow or drip systems, the nutrient film technique floods the growth tray (where the plants' roots are dangling in) then drains the excess back to the reservoir. Like with the above mentioned hydroponic systems, this kind of nutrient recycling is a great way to save nutrients, but unfortunately it also creates pH instability in the reservoir, which leads to more complicated problems later on.
Aeroponic Systems
Although not hydroponic systems per se, aeroponics use some of the basic principles in water-based soilless plant growth, but use air vapors instead. Plants are usually suspended on top of a reservoir in aeroponic systems, with the container being tightly sealed. A mechanism creates vapors out of nutrient solution and sprays the result in the reservoir, engulfing the dangling plant roots. This helps them acquire nutrients faster but also allows for some great oxygenation capabilities, which cause your plant to grow heavily.
By: Nicu Zara
28Oct/110
Cloning and Propagation Techniques For Gardeners
If you are a gardener, there is always one item you would like more of, and that is more plants. If you garden hydroponically, one of the primary hydroponics supplies you will require are new plants on a regular basis. It can get expensive buying them at a gardening center, but it is easy and fun to start your own plants.
There are several ways to make more plants. You could try the cloning and propagation techniques of seed starting, cloning kits, or other forms of plant propagation to create a wealth of plants. Indoor gardening provides the ideal conditions for starting new plants using any of these methods.
What are the differences among cloning and propagation techniques?
1. Seed starting
Seed starting is an excellent way to build the number and variety of plants inexpensively. Depending on the variety, seeds require light or dark to germinate, and they vary in the number of days to reach germination. You can start seeds in homemade containers, or you can use seed starting kits. This is an excellent method to use when growing indoors.
You will need seed starting supplies such as containers and a seed starting mix, which is moistened with water to the consistency of a wrung-out but damp sponge. Place the dampened mixture into your starting trays, and place the seeds on the soil. It is important that the seeds are in firm contact with the soil, so you will want to lightly press them in. Cover the seeds, (or not, depending on their light requirements for germination), and place them in a plastic bag or with a piece of plastic over the top of the trays. This will create a mini greenhouse effect, conducive to seedling emergence. After the seeds germinate, remove the plastic and grow them on under bright lights and feed them regularly with a weak fertilizer solution.
2. Cloning and propagation techniques using cloning kits
Cloning is another method of plant propagation. You place cuttings taken of an existing plant into the cloning kit, and very quickly--in a few days--through repeated applications of rooting hormones, roots are formed on the cutting. The cutting is them removed from the cloning kit, and is grown on in a growing medium under lights. Cloning kits are a great choice when you want to propagate plants quickly, which is common in commercial greenhouse settings.
3. Other cloning and propagation techniques
There are other plant propagation techniques that are also often used. Layering is one easy method. Take a branch which is still attached to the main plant, remove some of the leaves, and place the bare portion of the branch on the soil. Hold the branch down with a rock, and leave it in place. Over time, roots will form on the part of the branch that is touching the soil, after which you can sever it from the main plant and have a new plant to grow on in a container.
By: Susan Slobac
26Oct/110
Aero Gardening – A Sure Way to Indoor Container Gardening Success
Choosing to integrate aero gardening as part of your interior container gardening will provide you with a quicker and easier way of getting great results. Not only will your plants provide beauty, they will also create a more healthy environment by purifying the air around them. You will also find gardening to be a relaxing and gratifying hobby.
If your indoor container gardening involves a non traditional way of cultivating plants, aero gardening is a gardening system that will interest you. Aero gardening is a soil free growing method which nurtures your plants with air, nutrients and water. Because the plants are kept in a very controlled environment and precisely fed with the right amount of nutrients, they grow at a faster rate. Plants are healthier , and contain a higher concentration of nutrients than those grown in soil. The growing time is shorter with a longer harvesting period.
There are additional benefits to be had when using this type of indoor container gardening. Your garden can be left unattended for a period of as much as two weeks in case of travel. Aero gardening is an inexpensive system to operate. The system is designed for maximum power efficiency, using low energy lighting comparable to a sixty watt bulb. A built in micro processor automatically adjusts nutrient delivery. Light and water cycles ensure that your plants are getting a perfect growing environment, removing any guess work on the part of the gardener. This results in providing you with fresh vegetables or gorgeous flowers more quickly and for a longer period of time.
Cooks love the constant supply of fresh herbs at their fingertips, helping them to prepare delicious meals. An extended harvest period of fresh vegetables is a cost saving benefit. Cherry tomatoes, for example, will be ready to harvest in about ten weeks, and will grow for four months of continuous harvest. Great results will be provided by this method of aero indoor container gardening
This system of indoor container gardening will successfully grow your favorite plants at a very low operating cost. With a continuous and extended period of harvesting nutritious vegetables, it will be soon become an important part of your home. You are sure to embark on a very satisfying venture when you choose aero gardening as your next project.
By: Rita Harris
21Oct/110
Indoor Greenhouse Gardening For Beginners
For any gardener who enjoys working with their plants, a greenhouse is a welcome addition to expand their hobby. Greenhouse gardening can be as intensive or as low-key as you want it to be, depending on how much gardening you do and how much money you want to invest in the hobby. Serious gardeners wishing to expand their interest into greenhouse gardening may opt for a permanent structure in their backyard, possibly something that incorporates a cement foundation, integrated doors and windows, and an auto-venting system for temperature control. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the beginning gardener or hobby horticulturist who wishes to cultivate plants indoors during the winter months or start seeds indoors in the spring for a head start on the summer growing season. This more basic form of greenhouse gardening will be our focus for this article.
Basic greenhouse gardening usually begins indoors with a temporary structure that can be set up when it's needed and taken down when it's not. An inexpensive shelving kit will work well for this purpose, provided you have space to set it up. Other structures could be a tabletop that's not in use or an old workbench. If you are purchasing something new for the purpose of indoor gardening, look for a structure that's lightweight and that can be easily disassembled for storage. Consider buying plastic, if you have the option, so that you can easily wipe away any dirt or water that accumulates.
Next, you'll need to look around your home and determine where the shelf or table will be placed. If you have a sunny window that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, this is ideal. Warm, sunny bay windows facing the west or south will usually meet the criteria. If you don't have such a window, then you'll need to consider using a grow light. This will require a special light bulb that gives off a full spectrum of light similar to the sun's rays. While the light cast from these bulbs certainly won't look like natural sunlight to your eyes, to the plants, it is virtually the same. Grow lights can usually be purchased quite inexpensively from home improvement stores or garden centers, and can then be screwed into your own light fixture at home.
When setting up a grow light, it's important to suspend the light as close as possible to the plants. Particularly if you are using the light to start seeds, you'll want to place the light within an inch or two of the seedlings themselves. If you place the light too far away, the seedlings will grow tall and spindly instead of strong and stocky.
An indoor greenhouse can feature a vinyl cover to help retain heat or moisture, or you can simply use the indoor environment of your home as the greenhouse environment. Ideal temperatures will range from 75 to 85 degrees, so choose a room of your house that is warmer than others. If you're using a grow light instead of a sunny window, you won't be as limited to the possible locations you can choose from your plants. If you're using a grow light and trying to determine a warm location in your house, consider an upstairs room and/or a high up location in the room, vertically speaking, such as on top of a high shelf or a tall cabinet. Heat rises, so the highest place in your home should also be the one with the highest temperature.
If you're a beginning gardener interested in greenhouse gardening, don't be intimidated to give it a try. Getting started indoors is easy and doesn't cost a lot of money. With a little time and a minimal investment, you can expand your gardening hobby, grow more plants, and give your green thumb a workout during cooler months!
By: Ellen Bell
19Oct/110
Introduction to Aquaponics
Hydroponics and aquaponics are very similar in every way except hydroponics requires the addition of fertilizer and there's no fish in the nutrient solution.
In aquaponics, plants and fish live a symbiotic life with the fish feeding the plants, and the plants cleaning and filtering the fish's environment.
The fish waste becomes the plant's food source, consequently, the plants' roots filter the water and keep the tank clean. In essence, aquaponics could be considered a miniature ecosystem because both plants and fish are thriving in the same environment.
Aquaponics offer benefits to both Gardener's and Fish Farmers. Fish Farmers may utilize aquaponics if they have difficulty disposing the nutrient rich fish water, while hydroponics growers benefit from having a constant supply of free plant food - eliminating the need to purchase commercial fertilizers.
Unlike hydroponics or aeroponics, aquaponics is still a relatively new cultivation technique. As more technology is developed and the process is refined, it could potentially become a space and money saving process for producing fish, vegetables and herbs.
In hydroponics and aeroponics applications, the nutrient solution needs to be prepared - measured, mixed, and then added to the reservoir. In aquaponics, there's no mixing fertilizer involved, making it a great way for beginners to cultivate plants. Only the fish needs to be fed.
The number of commercial applications utilizing aeroponics is still very limited. A number of universities globally are currently exploring the science of aquaponics to advance this extreme cultivation technique. Aquaponics is currently being used in areas where the fish population is declining and/or their food supply must be imported.
By: Kirk Gordon
17Sep/110
Home Greenhouses
If you love gardening and hate the winter months when your garden is for the most part bare, a greenhouse is the perfect solution. With a greenhouse, you can enjoy spring all year round, because a greenhouse is a gardener's haven during winter. Just like normal gardening, greenhouse gardening can be your retreat to spend some time alone, reflect on your day and gather your thoughts while tending to your plants. A greenhouse in your backyard can be a perfect getaway during the cold, harsh winter. Enter your warm greenhouse any time of day, and you will be swept away by the refreshing scent of fresh flowers.
If you are looking to have a greenhouse on your land, you will find that your options are endless. You can accommodate a small cozy greenhouse in any place that gets optimal sunlight. Home greenhouses come in a number of shapes and sizes, and you will be able to find one that suits your needs. If you feel that you don't want a greenhouse all year long, or if you want to utilize your garden in other ways for the rest of the year, then you can purchase a portable greenhouse.
You can grow just about anything in your greenhouse. Most often greenhouses are used for growing flowers, vegetables and fruits. These are then transferred outdoors when the weather turns warm. Bumblebees are used as pollinators but seasoned gardeners use artificial pollination. However, you will have to remember that a greenhouse has it own requirements and requires more effort than outdoor gardening. A closed environment means that you will have to control the light, heat and humidity of the greenhouse while constantly watching for pests and diseases.
By: Jason Gluckman