(Flower bouquet) Introduction to Hydroponics

By Jovan_Gomez

  Hydroponics by definition, means water-working. In practical use, it means growing plants in a water and

nutrient solution, without soil. Hydroponics allows a gardener to grow plants in a more efficient and productive

manner with less labor and time required.

The science of hydroponics proves that soil isnt required for plant growth but the elements, minerals and nutrients that soil contains are. Soil is simply the holder of the nutrients, a place where the plant roots traditionally live and a base of support for the plant structure.

In hydroponics you provide the exact nutrients your plants need, so they can develop and grow. The nutrients

are fed directly at the root base, never stressing the plant due to lack of nutrients or water.

Virtually any plant will grow hydroponically, but some will do better than others.

Hydroponic growing is ideal for fruit bearing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, leafy crops, like lettuce and herbs and flowing plants. Most hobby hydroponic gardeners plant crops similar to what they would grow in a soil garden. Most commercial hydroponic growers combine hydroponic technology with a controlled environment to achieve the highest quality produce. Within a green- house structure you can control the ambient temperature, humidity and light levels allowing you to grow on a year- round basis.

There are many advantages of hydroponic growing. These include:

Most hobby hydroponic gardens are less work than soil gardens because you do not have soil to till or

weeds to pull.

By eliminating the soil in a garden, you eliminate all soil borne disease

A hydroponic garden uses a fraction of the water that a soil garden does because no water is wasted or consumed

by weeds.

In hydroponics, plant spacing can be intensive, allowing you to grow more plants in a given space than soil

grown produce.

A small hydroponic garden can be set up almost anywhere.

By providing the exact nutrients your plants need, they will grow more rapidly and produce bigger yields.

In studies it has been proven that hydroponic produce is higher in nutritional value than field grown crops.

Hydroponic produce generally tastes better than field-grown produce.

If you are growing indoors or in a greenhouse, you can grow your hydroponic plants on a year-round basis.

Jovan Gomez is the webmaster of hydroponics dictionary . It was designed and contributed to by many authors that bring a wealth of information and experience about the hydroponics industry.

Guide To Basic Container Gardening
By Benjamin Brook

  Container gardening can be very convenient for individuals with minimal space in their homes or those who wish to have plants inside their homes. Container gardening enables the gardener to bring in a splash of color to their homes. Compared to single pots, most containers used in container gardening are relatively large and can contain several plants of the same species or of different species.

Choosing A Container For You Garden

One thing that you should consider when choosing a container is the kind of plant you wish to put in the container. Some vegetables require deeper pots for their roots to burrow into while others do not require as much space. Container gardening mediums vary from containers such as plastic pots, terracotta containers and wooden boxes.

Plastic containers for container gardening tend to discolor in time and may also eventually be susceptible to cracks and deterioration. Unglazed terracotta containers will dry up eventually and may be prone to breakage as well as being heavy to cart around. Glazed terracotta containers are ideal since the glaze seals them and protect them from drying up. Wooden containers are prone to rot although choosing wood that is not susceptible to rotting is an option.

One advantage of wooden containers for container gardening is that these can be made to fit the specifications of the area you wish to put your plants in. You must bear in mind that treated wood that you will use for container gardening can affect your plants so ask what chemicals were used to treat the lumber before you buy.

Containers used for container gardening must also have a wide opening for better plant growth. The containers must also have appropriate drainage to prevent root rot and other root damage. For containers with big drainage holes, you can line the bottom inside part of the container with news paper to prevent soil loss.

Most container gardening are for indoors plants so it is best to consider the areas where they are placed. Sunlight is one thing to consider as well as the temperature in the area. Some plants need more sunlight than others so make it a point to ask or find out what kind of care your plants need.

Container gardening can be especially satisfying when you plant herbs or vegetables that you place in your kitchen for fresh use when you are cooking. Live plants can also bring color to any area of your home.

For more information about gardening please visit my website Gardening - Gardening and Moon Phases

Getting Your Garden Ready For Planting And What You Need To Know
By Vin DeWolfe

  First things first, pick out the right spot for the garden plot. Plants all possess their own brightness preferences, but as a general rule, they need some daily sun. Vegetable plots do better in full sun while some flowers and other plants favor shade. Sun loving plantlife command a minimum of six hours and sooner 8 or more hours of sunlight per day. Scout your yard for a sunny day and check what areas get the most sun. Avoid areas that are shadowed by houses or other foliage for long time periods.

The location your garden will grow best also depends on the soil. A clay dirt with little drainage or a dry sandlike soil are less inclined to produce than a robust, black, considerably drained earth. Check your location and check the character of the earth before strating. Test kits are easily found at yard and garden depots. If you find pitiful circumstances, debate improving the earth or fill containers with better soil and attempt raised bed gardening.

Once you’ve picked the area, it’s time to get to work. First, neaten the spot. Weeds and their roots ought be dispatched from your new garden plot. Pull them, dig them up, whatever you need to do to remove them completely. All the weeds you pick should be added to a compost heap. Even if you don’t have a compost pile, start one! The gains to your garden are wonderful. The heat from the cooking compost will off the weed seeds, making them unable to reproduce.

Later, as they break down, they develop into an organic fertilizer that you can use on all of your plants. Dead leaves, and old discards from the garden can also be added back into the compost as the vegetation grows. This way, the garden almost feeds itself.

The soil in your garden plot requires to be loosened before you plant. The total area should be dug to a depth of several inches. Spade fulls of earth get turned over and all the clods should be broken up. Use a rake to help break up the soil and even out the surface. Keep doing this until the garden plot is altogether free of weeds, stones, sticks and debris. This takes a bit of time, but it’s considerably worth it. The fewer weeds that stay, the easier time your seedlings will have in getting started. likewise, the more effective job you do now in removing weeds and other undesirable plants, the lighter weeding will be later on.

Now that the soil is groomed, it’s time to plan the layout of your garden. Even in conventional garden bed planting, there are variants. Some folks like to sow their seeds in neat, long courses. Others choose tightly planted, shorter rows arranged in groups. Either way, lay out how you want the garden to be; spuds here, onions there, a row of carrots over there, etc. Draw it out on a paper or mark it out right on the garden plot.

It’s not all about how you want the garden to look though. Garden plants, particularly vegetables, develop in a potpourri of sizes, heights and widths. Some plants like squash and pumpkin are vines that spread in all directions and overtake adjacent plants. Corn can get very tall and shade out shorter plants next to them. These are just two cases, but you get the idea. In order for your garden plants to all get along, they must to be sown so their compatible.

The hardiness zone you live in will also influence what types of things you can raise. Some plants need more sunshine, higher or lower temperatures or more rainfall than your zone grants. Check your hardiness zone and purchase plants that are known to produce within it. Seed packages and seed plants typically will have a label telling the hardiness zone right for them.

When buying your seeds or spouts, keep in mind the rest of your garden design and seek out the correct plants. Ask questions at the home & garden center and do your research. A well designed garden truly is a thing of splendor.

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