A Step-By-Step Guide To Hydroponics

A Step-By-Step Guide To Hydroponics by Claire Winters

Hydroponics can be used as a buzzword and also to describe a method. You’ve heard that with it, it is possible to grow indoors, achieve amazing yields very quickly, and extend the growing season. If you’re environmentally oriented, it's likely you have even heard about not needing pesticides or herbicides and about the efficiency of nutrient recycling. However you’ve heard about it, you may be a little clueless as to how it works, but excited to learn about what constitutes a hydroponic system.

There are some different basic systems in hydroponics: the drip system, the deep water culture, the nutrient film technique, and the ebb and flow system. The drip system is well-liked and simple to implement, and works well for large plants. In a drip system, plants are placed in a non-soil growing medium such as gravel, rockwool, perlite, coconut coir, L.E.C.A., higromite or vermiculite, then suspended in baskets. Water and nutrient solution are pumped to the growing medium from a reservoir using a basic plumbing set-up, enabling the solution to then drip through the medium. There are different ways to set up the drip system; you can choose to set it up without or with automatic, timed pumps and with or without a recirculation system that funnels excess solution back to the reservoir.

Another hydroponic system, the deep water culture or direct water culture, involves the immersion of plant roots in oxygenated, nutrient dense water. For this system you need an air pump, and it is common to use a net pot to suspend the plant in the water in the bucket. In the net pot, many gardeners use L.E.C.A. (lightweight expanded clay aggregate) for the roots to secure themselves since they immerse in the water-nutrient system. The trick with this system is to ensure that the water is adequately oxygenated to keep the plant alive and healthy. The advantage to this system is the continuous availability of nutrients.

Nutrient film technique or NFT has been promoted as the system that has the best balance of oxygen, water and nutrients, but this technique is not recommended for beginners. The plants are grown, bare-rooted, in watertight channels in which a thin stream of nutrient-laden water is constantly circulated and recirculated. The thinness of the stream is meant to ensure that the top part of the root mat will always be exposed to oxygen, while the bottom has a steadily obtainable supply of nutrients and water. The secret with NFT is to establish the right channel slope, correct channel length, and proper flow rate.

Another simple hydroponic system, the ebb and flow system, utilizes a tray that is filled with a growing medium and a water-nutrient solution is pumped into it to flood the tray periodically. A holding tank under the tray allows the solution to drain back out through the same tube using the force of gravity. This system isn't necessarily in favor with large commercial growers, however it is well-liked by quite a few hobbyists and gardeners for its simplicity. Maintaining a proper pH level of the of the recirculating water to ensure healthy plants and regular and thorough water drainage as well as the need to ensure your plants do not suffer from pathogens which can cause root rot are the challenges faced with the ebb and flow system.

All hydroponics systems can be utilized in greenhouses or used indoors with the aid of full spectrum lights. Grow lights, reflectors and light movers must all be used effectively in order to achieve successful indoor development, extension of the growing season and produce high yields. Ask local suppliers about the proper system and set-up for you or your business.

Check out eHydroponics today to search our massive collection of more than 6000 discount hydroponics resources, which include grow rooms and complete systems. Additional information on eHydroponics are readily available on the company's site, http://www.ehydroponics.com/.

Article Source: A Step-By-Step Guide To Hydroponics

Organic Gardening ~ Why we should practice it

Organic Gardening ~ Why we should practice it by Laurel Abell

Not certain about what organic gardening entails? Good. Prepare to get all the details concerning organic gardening. This article introduces the basics of organic gardening, along with basic techniques you'll use whether you're growing edibles, flowers, or lawn and landscape plants. You will also be introduced to the benefits of organic gardening alongside the risks and harm caused to the environment if synthetic pesticides are used. If you should support your organic preferences to naysayers, you'll have what to comment after reading the article.

Organic gardeners depend entirely on the nature. Instead of depending on the spray substances marketed by pesticide manufacturers, organic gardeners observes what is happening in their farms and intervene to prevent pest problem. They view the farm as a living ecosystem and thereby work with the nature to yield an excellent landscape and healthy food. Regardless of the plants you are growing - vegetables, fruits herbs, flowers, grasses - the same procedures apply. Organic gardening techniques help to nurture the condition of the universe and all its inhabitants

Techniques used in organic farming

Soil building


Just as a permanent building demands a solid foundation, healthy plants need soil that can nourish their roots with nutrient, water, and air. Building healthy soil is the most important thing to execute so as to guarantee the success of the garden and also the landscape plants. Building the soil involves providing soil life - microbes, worms, fungi - with the substance and the conducive environment they reguire to do their job. Organic matter should therefore be introduced to soil.

Planting wisely


The first step in wise-planting is understanding your region's climatic conditions and also your landscape's particular attributes. Then you can effectively match plants to their sites. You have to choose the plants that match the garden's site sun, the type of soil as well as soil moisture. By taking that into consideration, you will be heading in the right direction to developing a healthy pest-free landscape.

Use of Integrated Pest Management


When subjected to pest problems, many farmers will definately go for a can or jar of poison. Using chemicals to kill insects deprives the pests' natural predators of nourishment, which results in the decline of the predators. This willnecessiate increase use of pesticides to achieve pest control. Organic farming does not involve the use of any chemicals. There are other methods that can be employed instead of using pesticides i.e. IPM. They include;

-Crop monitoring
You have to be aware of the pest you are trying to control

- Cultural controls
Techniques like rotation of crops to avoid planting related plants on the same place every year is advisable. Choosing pest-resistant varieties will also minimize problems.

- Mechanical methods
preventing the pests from reaching the plants should be observed. Some of the measures to use involve covering the plants with some special materials lie fabric or using hot water, air, fire and sun's heat to kill pests without poison.

-Biological controls
Using organisms like ladybirds, nematodes are examples of the ways of controlling pests biologically.
It is evident that organic gardening should be embraced. It is a procedure that does a lot to preserve the ecosystem. Moreover, it is the cheapest way. The secret is that gardening should be done free of pesticides

http://www.onlinegardeningguide.com

Article Source: Organic Gardening ~ Why we should practice it


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Looking For A Hobby?

Organic Gardening Can Make For A Great Hobby by chickie maxwell

Gardening is a great hobby for a wide variety of reasons and for a wide variety of people. However, organic gardening may even be a more interesting hobby. Organic gardening is the process of integrating the entire landscape into your gardening design and to garden in as healthy a manner as possible. This includes using non-synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. It is designed to help promote the health of the soil and the environment.

There are many aspects of organic gardening that make it a worthwhile and even fun hobby. The first is the physical exercise. Any type of gardening is going to require a lot of physical labor. Organic gardening is no different. Organic farmers prefer to do much of the work by hand, foregoing the pollution of gas powered farm equipment.

As a result, you will be hoeing a lot of land, removing rocks, hand picking weeds, digging seed holes, planting seeds individually and picking the fully grown plants. A good organic farmer often ends up losing a lot of weight and increasing muscle mass. Improved muscle mass also helps contribute to weight loss, as muscle burns more calories than fat.

The health benefits of organic gardening go beyond increasing physical fitness. Gardening is a strenuous process that actually often causes the mind to relax. Strenuous exercise focuses the mind more on the physical nature of performing the exercise. This helps create a relaxing environment and mind set that can benefit people who suffer from anxiety and other mental problems. Organic gardening exercise is no different from regular exercise.

Another, perhaps more controversial health benefit is eliminating the chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers. Many people argue that eating too many plants grown with commercial fertilizers or pesticides can cause health problems. Others think that the benefits gained from eliminating these chemicals are exaggerated. If you are interested in eating less chemicals, organic farming is one way to help.

Growing your own food also offers you the benefit of supplementing your diet with much cheaper food. It may take longer to prepare home grown, organic food but in the long run it will be much cheaper than buying food from a store. The inflated prices of commercial food is understandable, given the costs of growing it, paying people to pick it and shipping it. However, eliminating the middle man in this method is still a great way to save a lot of money.

Organic gardening also helps eliminate a lot of pollution that would otherwise occur by using chemicals on your food. These chemicals can seep into the soil and infect water sources. They can also kill other animals they weren't meant to kill, such as small mammals. Insects can also build up immunity to pesticides and fungicides over time, leading to worse infestations in the future.

Try out organic farming if any of these benefits appeal to you. Purchase natural fertilizers and use natural pest killing methods, such as water buckets with bait to begin organic gardening today.

MyReviewsNow offers information regarding organic gardening. To learn more about organic gardening, visit our website website at MyReviewsNow.net.

Article Source: Organic Gardening Can Make For A Great Hobby

Composting

Have You Thought About Composting? by Gardenorganic

Composting is the process of biologically breaking down of organic matters, such as leaves and vegetable scraps, for the purpose of improving the soil conditions to provide nutrients for garden and plants. The composting process is the result of aerobic organism activities taking place inside the materials that are being composted.

Composting is a very important and integral part of organic gardening - a corner stone of organic gardening. Composting not only provides the best possible food for your plants and garden, but also saves you a lot of money. Home composting reduces daily living waste thus keeps compostable materials going to landfill, and therefore promotes sustainable living and protect our natural environment.

There are numerous ways to compost. Traditionally, composts were made by leaving plants, leaves and other organic matters in a pile or a heap. Over time, the organic matters are decomposed and compost is matured. This method is the cheapest but is may have odors and attract insects or small animals. It may take a year or more for compost to mature. Today's technology has brought forth innovation in the area of composting. Compost Bins, Compost Tumblers are intelligently designed to provide the best conditions for aerobic activities of organisms, thus quicken the biological decomposing process, reducing the time needed for mature compost to a matter of months or even weeks depending on the specific composter.

There are three key elements that decide how much time the composting process needs: temperature, aeration and moisture. Some compost bins and compost tumblers today even have insulated walls so the composting process can continue year round. The higher the temperature it gets inside the composter, the faster the process; the more oxygen induced by aeration, the faster the process. The appropriate amount of water is important, as the lack of moisture is not conducive to organism activities, and yet too much moisture will cause odor and breeding of flies and mosquitoes. Having moisture does not always mean adding water. Putting fresh yard clippings, garden wastes, fruit and vegetable leftovers will usually provide enough moisture.

There are two types of materials that can be composted: 1. The green nitrogen material such yard clippings, garden wastes, fruit and vegetable peels and leftovers, tree leaves (fresh), straws and; 2. The carbon material such as hay, wood chips and sawdust, coffee grounds and filters, tree leaves (dry) teabags and threaded paper. Do not compost meat, fish or meat bones and dairy products as they may cause odors and attract animals. Also avoid using diseased plants or weeds.

We are a bunch of environmentally conscious people. Since we started composting, we dramatically reduced the amount of waste we discard for landfill, probably in excess of 30%. Combined with recycling other recyclable materials, such as plastics, glasses and Styrofoam, our total waste is less than one third of what it used to be. Such may not seem like a huge number, but imagine what our earth would be like if everyone does it.

Gardenorganic has always been passionate about organic gardening and composting. She currently helps run a website where they sell compost bins and all kinds of composters, compost tumblers, compost bins for vermicomposting and more.

Article Source: Have You Thought About Composting?

I've had alot of people ask me about this...

How to Garden in a Small Space

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit


In many places, land is costly or scarce. Many homes and apartments include only a tiny porch, balcony, or patio. Others have a very small yard backing up to the neighbor's fence or the back side of another structure or a smaller part of a larger garden, such as a side alley. Even a single, well-placed container can add personality and color to a small space. Here's how to make the most of your space, however small.

Steps

1. Size up your space.
   
   • Measure it physically. How much space do you really have?
   • What is the climate and exposure in your space? Does it get a great deal of sun or shade?
   • Look at the surroundings. Is there something you wish to cover up or conceal, such as a wall, fence, or utility box? Is there something you wish to preserve or incorporate, such as a nearby tree, a view, or other surrounding landscape?
   • Check out the soil. If your small space has soil, is it clay or sand? Does it support other plants, even weeds?
2. Figure out where water will come from. Do you have someplace to hook up a hose to water the plants? If so, consider a self-coiling hose with a nozzle that will turn off the water. Get a hose sized for your space. Otherwise, get a large watering can.
3. Choose a purpose for your garden.
   
   • Is it purely decorative, or would you like to grow a few herbs or food plants?
   • Decide where you will be when you look at this garden. Will you be out in it or will you mostly view it from indoors? One or two chairs and a small table can make a small garden an attractive retreat in which to sit and read.
4. Clear the clutter. If you are serious about making a garden here, try to find someplace else to store the mop. Many communities discourage the use of outdoor spaces as storage, anyway.
   
   • If you must store items in this area, such as if this is the only place for your bicycle, at least minimize the size and number of items stored. Discard or remove any items that are not necessary and give yourself space to organize and access the rest.
5. Use perspective. Place larger, brighter specimens closer to where you will be viewing them. Use more muted colors and smaller features (leaves and flowers) further away. This helps to give the illusion of a larger space.
6. Disguise the boundaries, or at least soften them. If a fence or railing is the prominent feature in your garden area, it is very clear how small the space is. Instead, use plants as your boundary.
   
   • Use any plants peeking over the fence. If you can see a bit of a neighbor's shrub or tree over your fence, plant some lower plants in a grouping in front of it. Done right, it can look like all three plants are in your yard.
7. Use garden rooms. You can't always divide the space if it is very small, but if you have a bit of space to work with (say, a small back yard rather than an apartment balcony) don't have all of it showing at once. Have a pathway to another space or area. A small space could be just right for a hidden treasure or for a place to hide out.
   
   • Vary the path or patio material from one room to the next.
8. Make a space for people, especially the gardener. If a path is all you have room for, leave space for that. If you can, though, add a bench or chair.
9. Go up. Generally, the horizontal space is what's limited. Build a vertical garden, try a taller container planting, or train a climber up a wall or fence. You could also use window boxes or other wall- or fence-mounted containers, or a table or open shelving for more containers.
10. Create a focal point, or one focal point per room, if you have multiple rooms. This could be a colorful chair or bench, a water feature, or an especially showy plant or planting.

Video

A tour of one person's small backyard garden. You can get some idea of how she has arranged different plant groupings.

Tips

• Place containers up on feet and place trays underneath them to prevent staining the surface below. Most plants don't like to have their roots standing in water, but you should water containers until the water runs all the way through and out the bottom. If there is excess water in the saucer or tray after watering, pour it out.
• Consider portability. If this is an apartment, how long will you be staying there? Will you have to move plants to a new home?
• Unglazed terracotta (red clay) containers lose water quickly. A colorful glazed ceramic, plastic, or resin pot can be a design element in itself, and its contents won't dry out as quickly.
• Choose plants and containers together. You can match the color and design as well as the size. Ask at your nursery or look up how large a plant will get.
• Find a balance between cozy and crowded. You want a garden, not a jungle.
• Don't forget indoor spaces if you want more plants than you can put outside. A sunny windowsill can grow a variety of herbs, or a few well-placed houseplants can brighten things up. Did you know you can even grow corn indoors?
• Using empty crushed/diced/whole tomato cans to start off your young tomato plants is both efficient and poetic. Use a can opener to make a few small holes on the bottom of each can for drainage.

Warnings

• Be sure anything you place on a balcony or second-floor porch is secure against falling.
• If you choose to conceal something, consider its purpose and accessibility. It's one thing to train a vine up a fence, but don't cover up a utility meter or obstruct a ventilation intake. Instead, try to obscure these items from view without blocking access.

Related wikiHows

• How to Build a Small Garden Path
• How to Create a Patio Garden
• How to Decorate Small Apartment Balconies
• How to Create Your own Mini Garden
• How to Design a Container Garden

For More Information CLICK HERE !

Sources and Citations

• Really small gardens: a practical guide to gardening in a truly small space, Jill Billington 1999.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Garden in a Small Space. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.