9Sep/110
Inline Fan Grow, Your Best Indoor Garden Ventilation
Achieving full potential of big harvest is what every gardener dreams of. For the first time, you should be able to supply fresh air as basic element for your plants. Fresh air will help plants reach its full potential growth. Rewarding harvest will not be such a dream anymore.
It is always different from outdoor gardening. Availability of good air is no sense. You should supply them by yourself. To make the plants grow well, you should set up some equipment that can supply fresh air plus CO2 enrichment. An alternative is also can be done with inline fan grow to make fresh air.
Actually, plants will grow with less stress if the humidity and temperature levels are kept well. High humidity levels doubled with lower nighttime temperatures will create condensation on the leaves. If it happens, the plants will be vulnerable against fungal diseases. Have you known that lack of ventilation will cause fungal diseases? This condition will make plants difficult to grow.
Ventilation system is the way to go whenever you get stuck on the problem. It will keep moisture in your growing room at proper level. Have you ever tried an inline fan grow? It will decrease moisture level at your desired range and creates good environment for plant growth.
During winter period, plants will be hard to grow, they need an inline fan grow simply to dehumidify air rather than to lower temperature. Because during winter, the air is not swapped often, the plants obviously increase moisture with unexhausted air. For the most of all, what you need to do is to monitor and to check the field for determining the right balance of moisture and temperature. In a nutshell, Inline fans grow is recommended by indoor gardening experts to help you get correct level of temperature and moisture.
By: Zulia Perez
7Sep/110
How to Grow Hydro – Using Hydroponics Systems to Grow Plants
For a gardener, growing plants in a controlled setting is a blessing because it would mean better results and may be even the best harvest ever! If you want to grow plants in your home but have no space for a bigger garden or just can't garden at all because of the weather, why don't you try hydroponics?
From the Greek words, "hydro", meaning water, and "ponos", meaning labor, hydroponics is the method of growing plants without using soil. So, it is lesser hassle than actually doing the gardening outside and digging under the sun and rain. Let me give you the basics in creating your own hydroponics system at home.
There are few things to consider in using hydroponics systems to grow your plants. Here are some of the important things you need to know in building one for your own use.
Choosing the system
You can choose to use one from the six basic types of hydroponics systems: the Drip, Wick, Ebb and Flow, Aeroponics, Water Culture, and Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T.). Aeroponics is the most complicated, technically and technology-wise. This is the one with the plants hanging in mid air and the system misting the roots periodically with the nutrient solution. The simplest is the Wick system, with the nutrient solution being pulled into the growing platform via a wick. The Drip system is the most commonly used. It works with a pump that delivers the nutrient solution directly to each plant via a tube with drip points in it.
Starter Cubes
Another thing that is important to know about are starter cubes. Starter cubes are where you plant the seeds in and allow them to sprout before you move them to the hydroponics system. Some of the most commonly used are peat pots, Organo-Cubes, Rockwool, and Oasis Cubes. You start by making a hole in the top, put the seed in, and cover the hole with surrounding starter cube materials. Your starter cubes should remain moist, but should never sit in water, or your seedlings might drown.
A nutrient solution is basically composed of fertilizer and water. During the first two weeks, your nutrient solution should be mixed at a 1/4 to 1/2 fertilizer-water ratio. After that, you can move onto the full strength.
Lighting
Plants need a good lighting sources to grow. This is a must, whether you plant in soil or in a system. There are three basic light types you can use indoors: fluorescent, incandescent, and high intensity discharge. Although, it gives off much lower heat than high intensity discharges, fluorescent is still the lighting of choice for small gardeners because they are inexpensive. High intensity discharge lights are more effective and also more expensive.
At last, the seeds! Actually, you can grow whatever you want - tomatoes, lettuces and spinach. These do well under fluorescent lights because they do not need direct sunlight. You can also grow African Violets. There are guides you can buy online and at grow shops near you that may be able to help you in choosing plants to grow in you're your garden. But, of course, read the labels of your seed packages. Most include information about growing them and help if you're still learning.
Building your own hydroponics system is not difficult. It's actually a lot of fun! You can use this to introduce gardening to your kids and even develop it as a hobby in which you can share and enjoy together as a family. Not to mention the benefits of having a great garden at home.
By: Jack Stinton
4Sep/110
A Quick and Easy Guide to the Different Types of Hydroponic Gardening
The terms hydroponics gardening refers to growing plants without the traditional use of soil. Instead it employs another form of growing medium, often times more successful with higher yields produced. With the hydroponics system, any gardener would be hard pressed to find a reason to go back to traditional gardening.
Finding the right hydroponics systems for your needs is a difficult decision. To help you out, here are three of the most common types of gardening using hydroponics:
o Ebb and flow system - The ebb and flow system is one of the more favored ways of hydroponics gardening. It is known as an active system as well as being a recovery type. The plant is contained in a reservoir filled with a nutrient solution. The nutrients are pumped in to the plant. Once the water reaches a preset level, it is drained in to a river while oxygen is sucked in by the roots.
o Aeroponics system - Although not technically a hydroponics system, aeroponics uses much of the same basic principles in water-based, soil-less plant growth. However, aeroponics implements the use of air vapors instead. The plants are hung on top of a reservoir in an aeroponic system and the container is sealed tightly. A device creates vapors out of the nutrient solution which is then sprayed in the reservoir, engulfing the dangling plant roots. The roots soak up the nutrients quicker and allow for great oxygenation capabilities, causing the plants to grow more heavily.
In an aeroponics setup the roots are separated from the tops of the plants and misted with a water/nutrient solution. These systems possess advantages such as helping to fully aerate the roots of the plant, stimulating growth. Aeroponics is also a cost saver for larger needs since it uses less growing medium.
Areoponics cloning also revolutionized the culturing of plants. Aeroponics cloning permitted the entire culturing process to be carried out in a single unit. Numerous plants can now be replicated simply from a single stem cutting. This was a major advantage to green houses attempting to propagate plants normally propagated by seed.
o Deep Water Culture Hydroponic Systems - The deep water culture was actually the first type of system invented for hydroponics. It is basically a straightforward growing system. There is a reservoir filled with nutrient solution, atop of which the gardener sets a floating platform which contains several planters. The roots of the plant are drowned in the nutrient solution, with the rest of the plant being held by the planters. Deep water culture systems, even for how simple, can yield the highest producing harvest of all considering the other systems inability to maximize nutrient and oxygen levels.
By: Anne Harvester
23Aug/110
LED Grow Lights – Tips For Successful Plant Growth
Growing flowers, plants and vegetables with LED lights is a balance of multiple variables including proper and correctly timed nutrition, precise watering, correct room temperature and proper LED lighting coverage design. If you are a veteran gardener this is already known.
If you are new to this fascinating world of greenhouse or indoor gardening do not get overwhelmed. Achieving this balance of growth factors is the fun part and should not be stressful. Growing healthy and beautiful plants will be the outcome of patiently adjusting these parameters.
Here are some LED grow light tips to take the guess work out of successful plant growth with LEDS:
- LED grow lights can be placed closer to the plants because of the low heat that the fixtures produce. Always, move your lights closer slowly (over days) and check your plants regularly for any type of heat stress.
- When talking with your supplier ask for light coverage specifications or a lighting coverage design before you purchase LED grow lights.
- Plant type, room size, other lighting sources and budget are all factors to be considered before purchasing. Any reputable distributor or retailer should be able to do this for you. If you are a commercial grower this lighting design can be very helpful in assisting you determine return on investment.
- Watering has to be adjusted with lights because the soil is not being "baked" by lights that produce high heat amounts. We suggest at least using an inexpensive soil dampness meter if you are growing in soil.
- Monitor before changing to LED grow lights so you have a baseline for your water use. Hydroponic growers will also see less water used also but this level is easier managed because of the centralized water/nutrient source.
- Along with watering be watchful of nutrients levels given to the plants under LED grow lights. The environment is gentler and may need fewer nutrients by the plants to achieve the same amount of growth.
- Environmental conditioning needs to be adjusted because the heat created by LED grow lights LED is less than conventional grow lighting. Room temperature for proper plant growth needs to be a in a certain range for the plants you choose to grow. As a general rule plants optimally grow and flower at temperatures between 68F to 86F.
By: Pete Bunner
16Aug/110
Backyard Greenhouse Basics
Having a greenhouse in one's own backyard is a hobby that will provide hours of enjoyment -or work, depending on how the challenges of gardening are viewed. For those with dreams of spending days blissfully working in the garden or greenhouse they may be in for a rude awakening once the greenhouse kit arrives and they realize the amount of work that goes into maintaining a successful greenhouse.
Like most hobbies there can be moments of sheer frustration but the reward can definitely outweigh the effort. Knowing the basics of owning a greenhouse can save the gardener multiple trips to the garden store and save many unsuspecting plants' lives. Before the beginner greenhouse owner wastes money on plants that will die if the greenhouse is not set up properly, he or she should take the time to learn a little about the ins and outs of greenhouses.
Greenhouses create mini ecosystems. Much like the larger system we know as our planet, heat from the sun becomes trapped and gives rise to the warm temperatures needed for plants to grow. The sunlight, heat, moisture, nutrient, and gas levels must all be within certain ranges to keep the plants healthy and growing. A backyard greenhouse will need things like sunlight, ventilation, heaters, and an irrigation system for it to be a success.
Let's start with the creation of the greenhouse itself. The site of the greenhouse should be a sunny location in the yard. The plants need the light to grow and to keep the climate within warm enough. The size of the greenhouse will depend on the gardener's budget. It's easy to fill up a greenhouse so buying as large as one can afford would be wise- it's hard to expand or put an addition onto a greenhouse.
For the most part no foundation is needed, but if the greenhouse is intended to be a permanent structure then a gravel floor is nice. Concrete or pavers can also be used, but a means for drainage will be needed- so gravel is usually the best bet. Also if concrete is used make sure the floor has some texture as it will often be wet and slippery.
Greenhouse kits make it easy to build the actual structure. Getting the measurements and dimensions correct when building the greenhouse from scratch can make for a frustrating weekend or two. The greenhouse needs to be properly sealed and able to withstand the local weather. Kits can be bought online and come in several sizes.
If the local weather doesn't include snow then cheaper polyethylene film greenhouses will do just fine. If snow and extreme weather take place during certain times of the year then a polycarbonate greenhouse will be a better choice. Most of the polycarbonate greenhouse kits have frames that allow the panels to snap right in making assembly a breeze.
Once the greenhouse is assembled the work is not over yet. Those who live in climates with cold winters will need to provide heat during those months so that the temperature inside the greenhouse never goes below forty degrees or so- depending on the type of plants being grown. Low cost heating systems with thermostats can be installed or for those looking to reduce costs even more; a good old-fashioned thermometer, space heater and daily monitoring can also work.
Ventilation is also key to maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the greenhouse. Without ventilation the air can become stagnant and the temperatures can become too hot. Those using space heaters must be extra diligent about ventilation. Most greenhouses have vents built in, but a fan will also help keep air moving.
Irrigation is another critical component to a greenhouse. It's true that a hose can be dragged in and out every day to water the plants, but the ease of installing a drip system or a mini sprinkler system makes it seem silly to deal with a hose. The systems can easily be setup on a timer and the amount of water each plant receives can be precisely controlled.
In the warm summer months sometimes a fan and adequate ventilation won't do the trick. Greenhouse shades are available to help cool the structure during the hottest hours of the day. Those who have a larger budget can always spring for an air conditioner, but the cost of cooling a see-through structure can be astronomical even if it's a small space.
After all the systems are in place the plants can finally be brought in. Some greenhouse kits come with shelving, in other kits the shelves will need to be purchased separately. The gardener will quickly learn which accessories are missing. The chances of a successful greenhouse are much greater when the gardener is prepared and has some knowledge on how the greenhouse actually works. Taking the time to learn the basics will make the hobby more enjoyable and produce healthy flowers and vegetables for years to come.
By: Anne Clarke
29Jun/110
AeroGrow AeroGarden Hydroponics Kit Review – Indoor Hydroponics for the Rest of Us
Looking for something different for a gift for your gardener? Or something for the cook in your life. It's not often that something completely novel shows up in the world of gardening, but the Aerogrow Aerogarden Indoors Hydroponics kit is something new, that uses technology that did not exist ten or fifteen years ago, and at one point was actually featured in Time magazine.
The Aerogrow system is a completely self contained hydroponics system. Hydroponics is a soil-less system, in which the plant's root system actually grow in enriched or fertilized water. Because the Aerogarden is a soil-less hydroponic system, it eliminates a lot of the mess associated with indoor container gardens. There is also no risk of soil-borne diseases or pests when using a hydroponics unit.
The Aerogrow Aerogarden kit includes not only the hydroponics system, complete with a computer controlled pump, but a built in adjustable grow light as well. Because of this level of automation, you can set the system up and not bother it for up to two weeks. It includes seed sets for many different types of plants. Ranging from herbs to to salad fixings to small vegetables there are seed kits for many different types of vegetables. You simply set the computer control for the type of seeds you have selected, and you are set to go.
Because this is an indoor hydroponic unit, the Aerogrow system can be used year round. Harvesting herbs and vegetables in the middle of winter is not a problem, and it can be used indoors in the heat of the Southwest summers to keep a supply of vegetables that would normally wilt that far south.
By: J Ruppel
28Jun/110
Indoor Vegetable Garden Planting For All Season Fresh Vegetables
Winter time can be an opponent to a gardener or farmer of vegetables. It does so because vegetables need much exposure of sunshine to grow and they can be rotten easily in such season. Nonetheless, these days you could practice early vegetable garden planting in overcoming the problem. By practicing the vegetable planting, you don't require the stopping of winter time only to start growing your appetizing and uncontaminated vegetable garden.
Whatever the objection might be for early vegetable planting, you can achieve your reason by starting to grow seeds indoors.
What to Grow in Vegetable Garden Planting?
While the snowflakes are still on the ground you can start almost any type of crop indoors for vegetable garden planting. Warm weather crops that require a longer growing season will do better if they are started early indoors.
Winter season crops need to be mature before the summer comes, which also makes them fine candidates for indoor planting. It doesn't take much buck or time to try out this method of early vegetable planting.
Where to Cultivate the Vegetable?
In your early indoor vegetable planting, one of the most relevant things is the exposure of sunshine. The exposure of the sunshine is truly needed for small seedlings to grow well.
How to Grow in Vegetable Planting?
You have a number of alternatives for your early planting in terms of the sorts of soil and containers that you employ. The most up to date trend for many home gardeners is to start seeds in trays of peat pellets. The method is by far the least challenging technique to start early vegetable garden planting. Mixture two parts loam to one part sand and one part natural substance, and mix it together in a wheelbarrow. Fill your pots and add your seeds. Now your new vegetable planting is complete.
In consequence, we can see that early indoor vegetable garden planting can be an alternative of getting fresh and good vegetables all the time along.
By: Linda Ellan
26Jun/110
Indoor Vegetable Gardening – The Eight "Do’s" And "Don’ts"
"Oh, how I long for a garden of my own!" Does this refrain seem familiar? Many people are cheated of a garden of their choice simply because they do not have enough yard space for growing plants. Sometimes, the weather acts like a spoilsport! What can one do then? Just go for indoor vegetable gardening like many others are doing!
The advantage to indoor vegetable gardening is that no matter what the weather be like outside and no matter what season it be, fresh vegetables are always on hand! It can turn into a great hobby, especially for the physically handicapped who are trapped indoors all the time! The activity itself does not involve much expense. The only qualities required are a caring attitude and plenty of patience!
Popular vegetables that flourish indoors include miniature cabbage, tomatoes, certain types of carrots, peppers and lettuce.
To get down to the brass tacks of what is involved in indoor vegetable gardening--
(1) The basic requirement for houseplants is containers. Now containers can mean anything--readymade pots purchased from the market, old cans, plastic containers that are no longer in use--anything, in fact.
(2) Each container must have some holes to allow excess water to drain out. An ice pick can be used to bore holes in plastic as well as tin and metal containers. Some containers would require drilling with tools. The holes should be placed at the sides and bottom.
(3) Soil type for indoor vegetable gardening should match the particular vegetable being grown. For instance, containers placed on flat surfaces would require a heavier growing medium as compared to pots hung from the ceiling.
(4) Soil can be mixed by the gardener himself/herself, or bought from a store. What should be kept in mind is that the soil is drainable and light in weight. Clay soil is not advisable because it does not drain properly; also, it is very heavy. Experts suggest having a mixture of soil, mulch and sand for beneficial results. Again, garden soil is not advisable.
(5) There is a skill involved in placing the soil properly into a container. Too tightly-packed soil will inhibit the development of roots. There should be some space left at the top for the purpose of easy watering.
(6) How does one select seedlings or seeds for indoor vegetable gardening? Seeds are advisable for the person who wants to do everything from the beginning. The others can straightaway start with seedlings.
(7) Houseplants also need water, same as the plants grown outdoors. There should be no underwatering or overwatering, the amount should be approximately correct. Where indoor vegetable gardening is concerned, the plants can be given water evey day or every alternate day.
(8) Other advantages to indoor vegetable gardening include minimal weeding and more resistance to attacks from pests.
By: Abhishek Agarwal
15Jun/110
African Violets and Philodendrons Make Excellent Indoor Plants
When deciding how to decorate the interior of your home, plants can be just as important as furniture, because they drastically change the visual impact of the room. Plastic plants are very popular for this purpose, but artificial plants can collect dust, and may look a little silly to visitors.
Because of the drawbacks of artificial plants, why not try your hand at growing the real thing? Indoor gardening can be quite easy. Aside from the beauty of indoor plants, they also provide health benefits. After all, as we learned in grade school, plants clean the air by using the carbon dioxide we breath and producing more oxygen.
Many beginning gardeners become overwhelmed with trying to choose and care for houseplants. If you are a beginning gardener, here are some simple tips to help you be successful at growing a beautiful garden right inside the comforts of your own home.
Lighting is very important to the growth of house plants. Each type of plant has a requirement for how much light it will need. First, you need to decide which part of the house will be home to the new plants. This will help you decide which kind of plant will grow best. There are many plants which only require medium to low light, and are suitable for indoor gardening. Some common examples include Philodendrons, Boston ferns, African violets, Cyclamens, and Creeping Fig.
Another important task to consider is watering. Many beginning gardeners make the mistake of over-watering their indoor plants, which can harm the roots. You should research your specific plant, because each kind has varying water needs.
Most indoor plants will require the use of pots or other containers. You should make sure that the pot is clean before placing your new plant in it, which will prevent infection and encourage healthy growth. Pot size and other characteristics are also important, and will depend on the plant you choose.
Humidity is another factor which can be difficult for the beginning gardener, but it is very important to your plants. The amount of moisture in the air affects the growth of your plants. During the morning, you should spray the plants with water from a spray bottle, which will provide them with much needed moisture.
Fertilization is another factor to consider when choosing outdoor or indoor plants. Like watering, fertilization needs depend on the type of indoor plant you have chosen. If you supply your plants with the right amount of light, water, and humidity, you may not need much fertilizer for your plants to thrive.
With these tips in mind, you can forgo the plastic plants in favor of the real thing. They will add beauty to your home, and can be easy to grow if you choose the right plants.
By: Kent Higgins
14Jun/110
Greenhouse Preparation Tips
If you have some gardening experience with open tillage, raised beds, or pots on your patio, you will be able to apply much of your knowledge to greenhouse gardening with just a bit of variation to gardening under glass. A greenhouse is not in all cases a "hot house," as it is sometimes called. Some species of plants do best at slightly lower temperatures and with a much higher humidity than is usually maintained in a natural outdoor garden or inside your home. The temperature and humidity levels inside a greenhouse can be regulated fairly easily.
There are a number of reasons why gardeners may choose to garden inside a greenhouse. The most common reason is usually a desire to extend the traditional growing season into the winter months. The use of a greenhouse also enables the gardener to retain plants in the fall and throughout the winter for spring seeding or planting use. When starting new plants from seed, a greenhouse allows you to plant the seedlings sooner than you would if they were sowed directly in the outdoor garden. Starting plants from seed is also a very economical option, as opposed to the expense of purchasing young plants from a nursery. Other common reasons for greenhouse gardening include growing tropical or exotic plants, growing vegetables for winter use, and experimenting with hybridization of plants as a hobby or for home science experiments.
When preparing to set up your greenhouse, you'll want to consider designing a workflow layout for your new space. For example, there will be days you will just plant seeds and other days you will be transferring seedlings from small beds to larger beds. You may want your potting tables in one specific location, shelves in another, etc. The layout is something you want to think through carefully to insure you are not going to have to remove everything after the first season and rearrange. One way to design a layout is to spend some time doing "play work" in your greenhouse, or simply imaging how your work will be done in the space.
The location you choose for your greenhouse is critical. You do not want a shade tree blocking important sunlight. When planning the location, also keep in mind that a tree that's small right now will grow much larger over the next five, ten, or fifteen years. You should also think about traffic patterns. Is the greenhouse going to be convenient to access? Is it far enough away from the street and lot lines to satisfy local building codes and neighbors? Also be sure to explore whether your neighborhood has any local covenants that would affect the building of a greenhouse.
Another important part of greenhouse preparation is determining if you want to build the structure yourself or hire outside labor. First, you'll have to carefully and honestly assess your own abilities and skills to execute a DIY project of this magnitude. What tools will be necessary and do you have access to them and the knowledge to operate them? Are you physically fit to do the job yourself? Will you be able to execute the job in a timetable that meets your own needs and expectations?
If you do decide to hire outside help, be sure to check references carefully. Have they built other greenhouses before? If so, get a list of some projects they've completed in your local area and do a drive-by evaluation of their work. Or better yet, stop and knock on the door and inquire with the homeowner about the project. Was it completed in a timely manner and did the contractor stick to the budget? Were there any unexpected delays or costs that came up during construction? Most homeowners that are proud of the end result will be happy to talk to you and show you their new greenhouse. Lastly, you'll want to find out if the contractor is bonded and insured. The last thing you want is to hire some for a day's labor and then find yourself with a workers' compensation claim because they were injured on the job and the firm did not have insurance.
By: Ellen Bell