Generating between 65 to 115 lumens of light per each watt of consumed electricity, metal halide grow light lamps are considered to have high efficiency. MH lights produce light, which is very close to the natural sunlight with the rich blue spectrum. Due to this, MH lamps support vegetative growing in the most desired way – when plants have many leaves on the stem with short internodes.

Structurally, metal halide lamp is a vacuum glass tube. There is also an arc tube inside, filled with mercury and other metals in iodine form. Under the influence of electric current, those metals start to generate light and heat intensively. Though metal halide bulbs can be either transparent or coated with phosphorus, the first type is more preferred for the indoor gardening, since it produces very bright light.

There are different sizes of metal halide lamps, starting from 70watts and finishing with 1500 watts. However 250w, 400w and 1000w are modifications, most commonly used in hydroponics systems gardening. In order to make MH light to work, it is necessary to use a ballast, designed for a particular bulb size. Ballast is, in fact, a transformer, which decreases voltage to some predefined amount.

The lamps can work only in the positions they were designed for. Those marked with BU or BD should be used only in vertical position; while those lamps, which carry HOR sign, are for horizontal application. Besides, there are also universal (U) lamps, which can operate in either position. 

There are also many different styles of metal halide lamps available on the market today. Along with typical or regular MH bulbs, there are also Super Bulbs, which can produce up to 10-12% more light than ordinary bulbs.

Regular metal halide bulbs should be replaced after about 18 months or 9500-10000 hours of use. Super bulbs are less durable and should be replaced more frequently – approximately after 12 months or 6500 hours of use. These recommendations apply if grow lights will work 18 hours daily.

Key Facts on Hydroponics

• Hydroponic plants do not require soil to grow in. They use different growing media instead.
• All the required nutrients are supplied through nutrient solution.
• Hydroponic system allows cultivation of plants, irrespectively to climate and environmental condition.
• Hydroponic system allows increasing the density of plants significantly (up to 3 times higher in comparison with traditional soil gardens).
• It may be surprising but hydroponic plants consume considerable less water than those, growing in soil.
• Since soil is not used in hydroponic systems, there is no need to worry about crops rotation.
• Hydroponic plants are healthier, because there are no or very little risks for them to get infected by parasites, living in soil.
• Hydroponic gardening does not depend on seasons of the year. You can grow plants and gather harvest all year round.

Hydroponics in the Present

Thanks to many technological achievements and innovations, hydroponic growing has already become much more effective, convenient and affordable. Plastic, used for manufacturing of hydroponic equipment, such as plumbing products, fittings, growing pots and containers, etc., made it possible to lower the cost of hydroponic systems significantly.

Multiple electronic devices, such as pumps, timers and monitors, have made hydroponic growing a fully automated process. Furthermore, the hydroponic plants themselves have evolved significantly, ensuring high yield results even if used under the most extreme environmental conditions, for example, at the submarines.

Hydroponics in the Future

The next goal of hydroponics developers is to make indoor gardening eco-friendly and more energy-saving. In this regard, current achievements in the development of solar heating systems look very promising. On the other hand, current innovations open new opportunities for designing new growing light systems with higher lumen output, better spectrum profile and lower electricity consumption. In the long run, hydroponic systems may allow increasing the amount of grown plants to completely satisfy the needs of people in food products, without using additional natural resources and soil.

Furthermore, maybe in the nearest future hydroponic systems, which have already been tested in space on the space stations, will even become another valuable step in the space exploration by the humans.

The most widely-spread growing medium is, perhaps, rockwool. Originally used for insulation purposes and also known as mineral insulation, rockwool was first used as growing medium by Dane gardeners. Now, it is frequently used for drip-style indoor gardens around the globe.

Rockwool is produced by a process similar to making cotton candy: a particular mixture of sand and rock is melted and then turned into fibers by spinning the mixture to form products of multiple shapes and dimensions, from 1″ starter cubes and up to large slabs of  3″x12″x36″ in size. The variety of available forms and sizes turns rockwool into one of the most widely-used growing mediums.

Key advantages, as well as disadvantages, of this popular growing medium are listed below.

Rockwool’s Strong Points

HOLDING WATeR – rockwool as a growing medium in hydroponics systems is capable of holding a large amount of water. This creates an additional protection for situations, when water is not supplied because of power outages or failures in pumping or other gardening equipment.

ACCUMULATING AIR – up to 18 % of air are constantly kept by rockwool. Due to this capability, there is a very little risk to over water rockwool; besides, the plants are always supplied with enough amount of oxygen.

MULTIPLE SHAPES AND SIZES AVAILABLE – whether it is a small 1″ cube for seeds propagation or a large 3×12x36 inches slab for huge plant, rockwool offers a wide variety of shapes and sizes to choose from. Besides, loose rockwool is also available, designed for filling different plant containers.

NO DUST AND EASY TO USE – since rockwool maintains its form almost perfectly, it cannot be scattered accidentally. Besides, usually packed into plastic rockwool is a very clean material that is easy and comfortable to work with.

Rockwool’s Weak Points

NOT A “GREEN” MATERIAL – rockwool is claimed to be not environment-friendly material, because of its almost indefinite time of breakdown.

HEALTH HAZARDS – rockwool particles and fibers pose serious health danger, especially for human lungs. That is why it is necessary to wear a protective dust mask, while working with rockwoll.

pH PROBLEMS – because of rockwool’s high pH level, it is necessary to balance pH level in the nutrient solution properly and make it suitable for the plants, you are growing. In general, the use of rockwool requires more routine work to keep pH level of your nutrient solution at steady level.

LONG PRE-SOAK PERIOD – before rockwool can be used in the hydroponic system, it should be soaked for at least 24 hours beforehand. Other growing media usually do not require pre-soaking, it is enough just to well-water them.

Metal-Halide HID Grow Lamps

The metal-halide HID lamps ensure the growth of the plants almost like under the natural sunlight: their white light ranges from 2700 to 5500 Kelvin with a color rendering index of 65-75. No wonder they are most often used at the places where color rendering is essential: at the supermarkets, manufacturing plants, stadiums, malls, etc. Metal halide lamps, depending on the wattage, may have the usable life span from 10,000 to 20,000 hours. Horticultural metal halide HID lamps feature red light spectrum, which promotes blooming and fruiting.

 High-pressure Sodium Lamps

High-pressure sodium lamps have yellow light (2200K) and are characterized with low color rendering index (22). Nonetheless, they are very long-lived: the life span in some cases may be about two years. High-pressure sodium lamps radiate six times more light per watt   of the consumed energy than the incandescent lamps. Their main benefit, however, when used in the horticulture, is the ability to hasten the reproductive stage of the plants growth cycle, improving flowering and fruiting, as well as promoting better and richer yields. This is achieved with the help of the orange/red spectrum of the given bulbs. At the same time, plants grown under these lamps may look unhealthy and pale due to the mentioned color rendering index, which is quite poor. Still, these lights are often used in the greenhouses and indoor gardens (usually as supplemental lights), besides their frequent usage for lighting street and parking lots.

The drawback of these lamps is that they produce much heat, which can cause insects multiplying and diseases development on the plants. To reduce heat production, specifically designed air cooled bulb reflectors/enclosures may be used.

Combination HPS/MH lamps

Another type of grow lamps is combination high pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) lamps, where both bulbs types can be enclosed either with two separate ballast assemblies or with a single integrated ballast assembly. Such lights are said to give the perfect spectral mixture of red and blue light along with very good performance.

Switchable, Convertible and Two-way Lamps

A gardener may use either a metal halide lamp or a high pressure sodium bulb with the similar wattage in the same fixture (still, not together) in the convertible, switchable, and two-way lamps. Just insert a metal halide bulb in the fixture when propagating or starting seeds, and then change it with a high pressure sodium bulb during the flowering period of plants growth. Do not forget to place the switch to the necessary setting.

Along with water, hydroponic nutrients, CO2 and oxygen, grow light is the key basic component, required by plants to live. Providing additional light is necessary for indoor gardening. Furthermore, light should resemble the sunlight as much as possible. The major concern with other types of lights is that they do not produce light in the appropriate spectrum, required by plants.

Light Movers

Of course, none of the indoor lighting systems can substitute the sunlight. Artificial light is much less intense, so it is necessary to place it close to the growing plants. However, this is also not that good, because it may cause overheating of the growing medium or even burning of the plants. Besides, when light is close to the plants, it may lead to the so-called pyramidal effect, when the plants, closest to light source, grow much quicker than those at the distance from the light bulb.

Moving plants around may be a solution for that problem. However, it is not that always easy to move plants, sometimes it is practically impossible. The only way out in that case is to move light around the plants.

Special devices, called light movers, exist to move light. There are two types of light movers: linear and circular. Linear light movers move light lamps back and forward, while circular light movers can move 2 or 3 grow lamps around the circle. Linear movers can be used in rectangular shaped garden, while circular devices are suitable for round gardens as well.

Light movers help to prevent plants burning, and, at the same time, they help to increase the area, covered with light, and to balance the light received by plants that grow at different parts of the garden. Unlike stationary light, light movers provide lighting of the plants from many angels, resulting in better light distribution.

Along with water, hydroponics plant nutrients, CO2 and oxygen, grow lights is the key basic component, required by plants to live. Providing additional light is necessary for indoor gardening. Furthermore, light should resemble the sunlight as much as possible. The major concern with other types of lights is that they do not produce light in the appropriate spectrum, required by plants.

Being the most efficient bulbs, HPS bulbs are commonly used by gardeners. Producing light in red and yellow spectrum, light generated by high pressure sodium lamps resembles the natural sunlight during autumn. Due to this peculiarity, HPS light is the best for promoting plants blooming. However, some plants may react negatively to this type of light, growing with oblong stem, etc. To address that issue, new HPS bulbs with color correction have been developed. For example, Son Argo feature properly balanced light spectrum, which suits perfectly for the needs of indoor gardening.

High pressure sodium grow lamps are made of a semi-transparent ceramic arc tube, filled with a mixture of sodium, mercury, and xenon. The arc tube is placed into the protective outer glass shield, similarly to metal halide bulbs. The power ranges of HPS bulbs vary from 35w to 1000w, while the most popular are 250w, 400w, 600w and 1000w.

HPS bulbs are more durable in comparison with MH bulbs: they can be replaced once every 24 months. Though HPS grow lights lose their brightness slowly, in order to keep the brightness at the steady level, it is still recommended to replace the bulb within the specified period.

Among the brand new types of grow lights are sulfur lights, which are said to feature extremely high brightness and effectiveness. However, these bulbs are still rare on the market in view of the high price, so it is early to evaluate their practical value for those gardeners, for whom indoor hydroponics growing remains a hobby.

One can enjoy hydroponics gardening any season of the year, but it is especially rewarding during the cold and dark winter days. Being a type of indoor gardening, this system implies growing of plants in a special growing medium, supplied with nutrient solution, instead of soil. Similarly to other indoor gardening methods, with hydroponics gardening it is necessary to use grow lights, which allow plants to grow, make food and reproduce themselves through flowers or fruits. For this purpose HID lights are commonly used. There are several types of HID or high-intensity discharge lights: for example, metal halide grow lights and HPS grow lights. Every HID light requires digital ballast, which is necessary in order to control electrical current within the lamp, and thus provide its seamless functioning. Supplying light with a reflector is highly recommended as well, since it allows pointing the light in proper direction and increasing the light, produced by the bulb itself. Other type of grow lights are cost-effective and lightweight LED lights, where light-emitting diodes are used to produce light in colors beneficial for keeping up plant growth. The use of any of these lamps is highly effective for hydroponics growing.

Metal halide lamps contain aluminum arc tube, filled with argon, mercury and a variety of specific metals. It is a set of different metals that provide a particular color of the light, produced by the lamp. The argon gas works to start a lamp, when electric current is introduced at the electrodes on either end inside the arc tube. Under the effect of electric current mercury and metals start to vaporize and the light is produced. The key benefit of these lamps is that being small in size they produce a significant amount of light.

HPS grow lights, also known as high-pressure sodium lights, also have an aluminum arc tube inside, similarly to metal halide lights. However, the filling of the tubes is different: in case of HPS there are sodium, mercury, and the Xenon gas inside. Both metal halide lights and HPS lights require ballast for stabilizing electric current and providing smooth performance.

LED grow lights are small, but work very efficiently providing a lot of bright light. In general, they are similar to the lights, used for decorating Christmas tree. The light is produced when electric current moves between the two crystals inside a diode, which works as semi-conductor. Furthermore, LED grow lights usually have a reflector and a lens to direct the light where it is needed.

 Along with being cost effective and energy saving, there are multiple different color spectrums to choose among in order to suit specific plants needs in the best way. So, irrespectively to what type of grow light you choose, it will work accurately and provide effective growth of your indoor plants.  

A grow light, which is, actually, an ordinary electric lamp, is of vital importance for the plants, since it ensures the process of photosynthesis by radiating electromagnetic spectrum, which resembles sunlight. Thus, using grow light, a gardener creates outdoor-like conditions inside the house. However, sunlight is bluish, as it has high color temperature; therefore, rendering index is usually used to check whether grow light is closely similar to the sunshine. 

What Light Spectrum Is Best For Plants

Light spectrum, required by plants, depends on the stage of the plants growth. For example, vegetative stage needs blue light spectrum; while the stage of plants blooming requires red–orange spectrum. A gardener can buy a specific light spectrum bulb, or there are also universal full spectrum lights suitable for different growth stages (for example, those made by Sylvania Grolux). 

To give optimal results the light should be supplied with a reflector and an electrical ballast to regulate and augment light emissions and current. This is done in order to make artificial light as much as possible similar to the natural daylight.

Types of Growing Lamps

High pressure sodium (HPS/SON) and metal halide (MH) lamps are nowadays the most popular and frequently used ones in the professional indoor gardening. They belong to high-intensity discharge lights. Metal halide lamps are mostly used for the initial (vegetative) stage of plants growth, as they emit bluish light along with ultraviolet radiation, which results in the increased production of plants elements, thus improving and strengthening them.

 Reproductive or flowering stage of plants growth requires the use of high pressure sodium lamps, since they hasten the growth rate. They are not suitable for the vegetative stage as this would result in the fast growing of too tall plants. Nevertheless, both types of bulbs are sometimes used by the gardeners for various plants growth stages with the additional reddish spectrum adjusted to the metal halide bulbs and bluish spectrum attached to the high pressure sodium lamps

Incandescent Grow Lamps

Incandescent grow lamps are used only to emphasize and highlight plants groups grown inside, as they have red-yellowish spectrum and low color temperature (about 2700°K). They are never used as the grow lights. The life span of incandescent growing lamps is approximately 750 hours. Furthermore, this type of lights is more energy consuming than other types, and the majority of the consumed energy is transformed into heat, not light. Higher temperature around the plants may cause the increased invasion of pests and insects, thus these lights are not the best options to use in the indoor gardening.

What is Hydroponic Gardening

These days, when the humanity faces many challenges, associated with natural resources depletion, bad ecology and many health problems, stemming out of the wrong food choices, it is, perhaps, the best time ever to return to natural ways of producing food for the sake of our own and our planet.

It was a common practice for our ancestors to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers for their own needs. Nowadays, the natural way of growing plants reappears with hydroponics as the particular technique, which makes plant cultivation possible even in urban areas without the use of soil. With more and more people involved, hydroponic gardening develops rapidly these days. Irrespectively to whether it is your hobby or professional activity, indoor gardening brings significant benefits for all.

Hydroponic and soil indoor gardening – The World of Gardening for the Future

If you are only making your first steps in mastering the art of hydroponic gardening, our site will become a valuable resource for you. Our hydroponic library is a source of theory on the basics of indoor plants growing, and our shop is a one-stop destination to find everything you need for your hydroponic needs, starting from vegetable seeds and wide variety of growing media to start growing your plants, and finishing with reliable equipment, such as growing lamps and climate control, to help you gather rich harvest.

The definition of hydroponics

Hydroponics most often refers to the science of growing plants (vegetables, herbs, flowers) without the use of soil. Plants are cultivated on a special growing medium, and all the nutrients, required for growing, are supplied via specially formulated nutrient solution. The primary task of any growing medium, used in hydroponic gardens, is to support plants’ roots along with retaining water. There are many books on hydroponic gardening, so if you would need to expand your knowledge in this field, please browse our Literature section or the online library for further information on hydroponics.

If you live in an apartment or house where extra room is hard to come by, and you would enjoy doing some indoor gardening, the solution to this common problem is an hydroponic grow cabinet.  This offers all the atmospheric basics that you will need to get started with hydroponic gardening indoors.  A grow cabinet offers a user-friendly, compact footprint, so that you can fit it into nearly any room in your home.

One of the safety features built into a quality hydroponic grow cabinet are locking doors.  If you share your living space with children or pets, it can be imperative to keep young hands and little paws out of the plants that you grow, because there are a variety of plants that, while offering beautiful flowers or fruit, can in fact be quite toxic if eaten.  Such is the case with foxglove, from which the helpful drug digitalis is made.  If you are growing your fruits and vegetables in a growing cabinet, however, this will not be an issue because the doors on the front of the cabinet are easily locked for safety.  

Hydroponic grow cabinets are available completely set up for use.  You will find that although they vary as to accessories, the better hydroponic grow cabinets have some type of shelf inside, as well as displays showing the interior temperature and humidity, a grow light and ballast, reflector and ducting, as well as a system in place for keeping odors from plant material at bay.  You simply insert your hydroponic system into the grow cabinet, and you are ready to go.

An indoor grow cabinet needs to come equipped with appropriate light.  Your plants will not thrive without adequate light, and this comes from grow lamps as well as reflectors in an indoor gardening setting.  

In a hydroponic grow cabinet, you will need to think about the types of plants you wish to grow in order to ensure that you are using the right kind of light.  While young plants require light in the blue spectrum for plant growth, mature plants need light in the red and orange spectrum to bring on flowering and fruiting.  There are grow lamps available for use in a hydroponic grow cabinet that encompasses one or both of those spectrums.  You can also increase the brightness of the light in the indoor grow cabinet by making sure all inside surfaces are painted high gloss white for maximum reflection.

Ducting also comes with some high-end hydroponic grow cabinets.  This allows you to keep the interior of the grow cabinet at a proper temperature, because grow lamps can give off a lot of heat, and too much can kill plants.  

A growing cabinet can ensure that you have met all the needs of your vegetable and fruit plants so that they thrive, even indoors.

These days fluorescent grow lights (available in various color temperature ranging from 2800°K to 6000°K) are mostly used for starting seedlings and growing green leafy vegetables and herbs. Cool white fluorescent lights are also sometimes used for this purpose. In comparison to the above described lamps, fluorescent ones last much longer (for about 20,000 hours) and emit two times more lumens per watt of the consumed energy. In addition, they are quite cost-effective.

 High output fluorescent lamps are even stronger than standard ones: they produce an average 5,000 lumens per 54 watt bulb and can be purchased in warm (3000°K) and cool (6500°K) variants. Their life span is as many as 10,000 hours. Moreover, these lamps are very convenient to use in the indoor gardens with low ceilings due to the fixtures with extremely thin profiles.

 fluorescents (small lamps) are also available for purchase, being the good option to propagate plants and grow larger species. These lights are supplied with the special reflectors to better illuminate the growings. Fluorescents are also produced as cool (6500K) and warm (3000K) lamps with usable life span of almost 10,000 hours. 

 Finally, there are also hybrid high output fluorescent/HID lamps featuring cool burning combined with the penetration of high intensity discharge technology. Their advantages include even lighting and wide range of light colors, along with reasonable cost and electricity consumption when growing  plants indoors.

LED Grow Lamps

 LED grow lamps belong to the latest developments, which are nowadays successfully integrated into the indoor gardening. They are highly valued by the gardeners for the bright light they radiate, which is in addition of the exact colors necessary for the plants. Moreover, they do not produce much heat and do not need ballasts, consuming at the same time less electricity than some other types of lamps. Finally, they are long-lasting and quite inexpensive.

 A LED lamp is made of a number of narrow-spectrum blue LEDs and a much larger number of wide-spectrum red LEDs of specific wavelengths. They say High Power based LED grow lamps may be used for growing various plants indoor. On the other hand, these lights have a big week-point: they consist of the wavelengths perfectly seen by the humans, while plants may need other wavelengths for the ideal growth. Thus, luminous efficiency of LED lamps could have been better to be used for growing  plants indoors

It often happens that those seem to know best who do not actually do anything. Similarly, they think of the gardening as of something simple, which can flourish with no efforts from the gardener. They think it is just enough to put the plants or seeds into the soil under the sunshine and water them with a fertilizer to get a beautiful and rich garden. But what is the professional opinion on the Hydroponics? Urban Gardeners are positive it is a must to learn as much as possible about indoor gardening prior to creating your own hydroponics magic.

Hydroponics Gardening – Meaning

Hydroponics gardening is a notion used nowadays to describe a technique of growing plants with no soil. It is usually applied by the gardeners limited by the space outdoors, indoor gardeners, and those depending on the climatic conditions. With hydroponics, plants grow and obtain nutrients from the enriched sand, pea gravel, gravel, or other nutrient rich solutions and growing mediums.

Those interested in gardening may find all the necessary information in the specialty catalogs and online resources, which deal with outdoor gardening and hydroponic indoor gardening supplies. The latter include enriched sand types, mediums, nutrient solutions, circulating pumps, containers and much more. Following the recommendations and having good hydroponic plants one will definitely enjoy and succeed in hydroponics.

The clue to success, however, is in the knowledge and familiarity with all the pitfalls of hyroponics gardening. One has to be well-informed and know the details of plants growing in order to avoid failures and misfortunes in hydroponics. This method will also require the knowledge of lighting, spacing, seeding, fertilizing plants, etc. while practicing hydroponics gardening. Therefore, searching the internet, collecting data, and improving knowledge may help avoid disappointment, as well efforts, time, and financial losses.

These are the materials that mimic the soil in everyday gardens. It serves as a support system for your hydroponic indoor garden. They function mainly for anchoring the roots and a reservoir for water and nutrient solutions. Special attention is also placed on aeration or proper plant respiration and drainage. A balance must be kept between keeping the plant nourished and over saturating the roots.

 Types of Growing Mediums

 Choice of a specific growing medium mainly depends on the type of growing system to be used. Certain systems have no mediums used because plant growth is best when roots are suspended in air or water. Improvement made with newer growing medium mixtures has been introduced for optimum plant growth in certain systems. Ideally, an equal mixture of water and air is advised making it available for the roots to utilize at all times. Water by gravity always moves downward through coarse mediums only to be deposited in the bottom of the container. This is eliminated with the use of a hydroponic system as water is constantly circulated in the system. The only system that this would not work would be the Ebb and Flow Systems.

 Clay Pebbles

Recyclables, it can be constantly reused indefinitely reducing upkeep costs for your indoor garden. Size of the pot is one limiting factor as they do not possess good nutrient lifting ability, but effectiveness is enhanced in smaller pots and containers. Another advantage would be their neutral pH and they don’t retain nutrients. Ventilation and aeration are also maximized because of the spaces created between pebbles.

Clay pebbles are usually used together with net pots in drain and flood indoor hydroponic gardening systems. Water flow in roots is enhanced by their natural shapes and spaces hey create between them, therefore maximizing the absorption of nutrients. When using the Drip irrigation hydroponic system, use absorbent mediums to provide better retention and nutrient circulation.

 Coconut Fiber

Shredded husks of coconuts as a growing medium has also been growing in popularity. Packaged in a variety of ways like blocks, pellets, cubes and shredded fiber it can be a good substitute for any type of growing medium. It is also commonly mixed with other growing media such as perlite or rockwool.

 Why Use Coconut Fiber as a Growing Medium?

 Coconut fiber is actually a waste product; its ability to be used for other useful means takes a great step towards recycling and environmental awareness. It is the first totally organic medium which could be utilized for indoor hydroponic gardening. It is superior to rockwool in water handling ability and oxygen capacity. Coconut fibers also possess root stimulating hormones and prevent root disease and fungus infection. In its natural state, coconut fibers provide a good and rich medium for the coconut when it lands in the ground.      

Special attention should be given as to the quality of the coconut fiber to be purchased. Low grade quality is not well suited for gardening as they contain high sea salt content and fine grain texture. 

Perlite

Originally used as an additive to aide aeration and improve soil drainage, it has become one of the popular hydroponic growing mediums. Commonly used with a 50/50 mix with vermiculite, it is derived from volcanic glass with holes throughout produced by exposing it to high temperatures created by water bubbles.

 Advantages of Growing with Perlite

 Inexpensive and readily available is one of the causes of its popularity. Used in wick type hydroponic systems because of its aerate nature thereby giving a good wicking action.

 Disadvantages of Growing with Perlite

 Health hazards come with the use of perlite when inhaled, a mask is suggested when working with perlite as a growing medium. A high degree of care and maintenance is also required. Water retention is one of its weakness therefore constant watering is required.

 Vermiculite

Used in conjunction with another growing medium compliments the qualities of the other. A popular and common mix is that with perlite. In a 50/50 mix vermiculites property which is water retention (200 – 300% of its weight in water) complements perlites very porous quality and a balance is achieved.

 Dangers of Using Vermiculite

 Vermiculite can be a health hazard if not handled properly. Due to its nature of containing small amounts of asbestos, it can be very dangerous when inhaled. It easily dries on an individuals fingers when touched even when wet. It is not also practical to reuse because of the rinsing and drying required. Water retention is also a problem, because of its high water retention if not used in pair with another growing medium, root damage is likely and plant death are the result.

 Rockwool

Rockwool specifically made for indoor hydroponic gardening systems. It has remained as one of the popular growing mediums. Transplanting plants when grow too big from their previous containers is also eliminated. When this happens the existing cube with the plant is merely placed on top of a larger cube and the roots would grow through both cubes. Water retention qualities of rockwool is 10 times greater that of water. Its porous nature makes it virtually impossible to over water. Recyclable, it can be used for the next crop by merely rinsing, making it economical and environment friendly.

 Disadvantages of rockwool

 A natural pH found in rockwool is one of its disadvantages, pre-treatment is required before it is used as a growing medium. Methods of lowering its alkaline content includes mixing it with a solution of pH down, trace mineral solutions and a 24 hour fish emulsion and is then rinsed thoroughly. Gloves should be used when handling rockwool because of skin irritation but is not when rockwool is wet.

Indoor gardening has became a recent trend as people struggle to stay within their food budgets from month to month. The price of groceries has soared over the past few years and we are always looking for ways to cut down on spending. The internet can provide you with beautiful indoor garden ideas. These tips should get you started.

Light: Light is a necessary element, that all plants need, or they will gradually die. Every plant requires different lighting to grow properly, so when you are shopping for houseplants, a few indoor gardening tips are, check how much light the plant requires and the best location. Some require bright or direct sunlight so place your plant near a south facing window. For plants requiring indirect sunlight, make sure you place them close to the window but far enough away to keep their leaves from burning. You can place low light plants anywhere in a room as long as there is a little natural light.

Air: Another important factor is humidity. A humidifier should work fine, but water sprayed on the leaves each morning is helpful too. Don’t drown the leaves and only spray the leaves during the day so the water has time to evaporate. Make sure you understand the conditions needed for the plant to grow well.

Water: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all plants need a lot of water. Thinking this way may cost you the health of your plan. Each plant is different in its needs and depending on the variety may only need minimal watering. Make sure you do a little research about the particular plant that you choose to garden in your home.

Fertiliser: Another important indoor gardening tip is to always pay heed to the fertilizer requirements of the plants. Many plants looks beautiful when bought afresh, however leaves can start to yellow over a period of time and eventually fall off. It is very important to ascertain each plants fertilizer needs at the time of purchase, talk to the staff at the nursery where you buy them and heed their advice.

Pests: Indoor pest control is a very important, yet often overlooked, component of successful indoor gardening. Pests can occur indoors as well as outdoors. Many choose organic pest control products in order to ensure the purity of their food. Organic indoor pest control agents are also ideal for those suffering from food allergies or are otherwise sensitive to what they ingest.

These are just a few basic tips to get you started. You can now start looking forward to a beautiful indoor garden

Missing a Garden in the Home?

While a nice house with a picket fence looks nice, not everyone can get that. Many people live in apartments and condominiums that provide little to no space for having a garden. Unlike in suburban areas where gardens are present in almost any home, there are actually a lot of places that prevents people of having a garden. This is why there are many alternative to having plants inside the house. If you miss having a garden to come home to, then read along and see how you can manage your own personal indoor garden.

Making the Size Count

The size of an actual garden is too cramped for the indoors, which is why you should set aside your visual interpretations of the old gardens you are used to. Indoor gardens rely on innovate potting solutions when it comes to providing plants with that they need to start working better. From crystal soils to sponges there are many different technologies that are applicable in providing you with various methods to grow and water your plants. In order to determine the most effective method, consult with your local botanical expert. They will give you the best ways to take care of your plants inside the hose.

Allocate a sufficient amount of space for the garden in your home. You could integrate the garden into other rooms such as the study or in the kitchen hall. What ever decision you choose, make sure that the garden plants get a sufficient amount of water. The good thing about indoor plants is that they do not remain rooted to where they are. However, take care not to knockdown fragile pots since they can be hard to replace. Study their different watering needs as some plants cannot be watered too much but at the same time, need more than one watering per day. It would be in the plant’s best interests if you study each kind.

Bring the Sun Indoors

Water is not the only resource you need for your indoor garden, you also need sunlight. And sunlight does not naturally enter the indoors, you should situate the plants in such a way that they are reached by direct sunlight. If you have a penthouse sunroof, simply placing your plants underneath it may be more than enough. However, this is not a commonly applicable solution. Usually, a large window or even a large glass door helps bring lots of sunlight in. The important thing is to let the plants have direct sunlight. When all else fails, you can bring plants out to your patio or over the window railing in order for them to get the right amount of sunlight. Do not leave the plants outside as indoor plants usually are not able to handle heavy rains or prolonged exposure to the sun.

So whether you have a nice flat fifteen floors up or a quiet rented apartment in a four story walk up, you do not have to feel like you have been deprived of the pleasure of having your own garden. Whether you put them in individual pots or let them hang from the ceiling, you can enjoy living in the presence of plants that help keep the air clean and your home beautiful.   GP