Get off to a good start by ensuring that any new plant acquired is isolated from the present ones for a ‘quarantine’ period. Many pests readily move from one plant to another. Keeping the new orchid isolated for inspection can help prevent spreading. Depending on conditions, that quarantine period may need to be as long as several weeks.

In many cases, problems can result from insects laying eggs in the orchid. One example is the Cattleya fly, which deposits eggs on the plant. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed, often creating considerable damage. When they fully emerge as a small fly they can devastate an orchid.

Treatment is simple using a commercial preparation designed to combat them. At the same time, it will protect the plant from several other varieties of harmful pest.

Treatment for infestations of the Cattleya beetle, for example, is similar. They are hard-shelled, shiny black bugs with curving beaks that can attack flowers, leaves or buds. They lay eggs at the tips of roots, so digging into the bark is necessary to spot them. When they feed on the roots, the plant can die very quickly.

Some insects feed more often in the dark, such as cockroaches, snails and slugs. Finding them by leaving off the lights and searching with a flashlight and hand removal is the easiest way to rid a plant without the use of chemicals. For those who prefer pesticides, common bait in the form of pellets is very handy and effective.

One way of preventing snails from getting to the plant in the first place is to surround the orchid pot with clean gravel or place them on a cement floor. Another method is to set the pot in vegetable oil. Pellets of Snarol or Buggetta can be used to keep snails and slugs at bay. To enhance the attractiveness of the bait, it can be mixed with rotten lettuce leaves.

Earwigs are another common invasive pest and can be controlled using similar bait. Laying newspaper around, on which they crawl during the night, then removing and burning, can help keep the population down without chemicals.

It is possible to use biological controls - one helpful organism can be used to combat a harmful one. The practice requires some homework, however. Ladybugs eat aphids, for example. But it’s important to not accidentally introduce an insect that will eliminate one species only to start consuming the orchid afterward.

Chemical treatments are available that are both safe and effective. Mealybugs are easily controlled by systemics that are absorbed through the leaves then spread throughout the plant to the roots where the pest may be feeding.

Some pests may be difficult to spot, such as mites, which are very small. But their effects will become obvious before too long. The leaves will become silvery looking on the underside. The top may form yellow spots. You may also be able to see their tiny webs.

Raising the humidity can help keep them under control. Washing the leaves regularly is also a good practice. Several commercially available chemicals can help protect your orchids from mites. Just spray once to kill the adults, then again to get the eggs or nymphs later.

(ARA) - Many gardeners who love their ornamental landscape are not sure if they want to give up space for a vegetable garden that needs to be replanted every year. Fortunately, there are dozens of incredible edibles that add beauty and style to the garden — and provide a bounty of fruits and herbs.

Monrovia, a leading plant grower, offers these suggestions for easy-to-grow edibles:

Fruit trees make a beautiful addition to the garden or in a container on a patio. Citrus, with its glossy green foliage and fantastic fragrance, can provide an abundance of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons and limes. Nicholas Staddon, new plants director for Monrovia, suggests the Variegated Calamondin Orange, with stunning green and cream-colored foliage. Even the fruit is variegated with a pale green stripe. The Moro Blood Orange has bright red-fleshed fruit with a delicious flavor; and the Meyer Improved Lemon produces a crop of juicy fruit twice a year. Gardeners in colder climates can easily grow citrus in containers and winter them indoors.

Pomegranate trees have brilliant orange flowers and will yield a crop of big red fruit that are extremely high in antioxidants. Quince is a spectacular flowering tree that produces a tart fruit that makes fantastic jams. Try the Super Red Flowering Quince and enjoy huge bright red blossoms, or the Cameo Japanese variety, with delicate apricot-pink blooms.

Blueberries, according to Staddon, are the hottest edible for home gardens. Perhaps it’s because this delicious, antioxidant super-food is quite pricey in the supermarket, yet one plant can produce six to seven pounds of fruit. Blueberries are surprisingly easy to grow throughout the United States — even in warmer regions. Monrovia suggests the Southern Highbush varieties like ONeal, Sunshine Blue, Jubilee and Southmoon. These are extremely tolerant of heat and humidity and don’t require a pollinator to produce fruit.

For the colder parts of the country, plant the Northern Highbush varieties, such as HardyBlue, Patriot, and Spartan, or the really cold hardy Half-High varieties Northblue and Northsky. These do require a pollinator, meaning that you need to have at least two different varieties with similar bloom times, planted close together. Blueberry shrubs have a fantastic array of white to blush-colored flowers in the spring and foliage that changes in the autumn from a pretty green to vivid red and gold.

For something a bit more exotic, try growing kiwi. This native of New Zealand is delicious and easy to grow. It’s a fast-growing vine, so plant near a trellis or arbor so it can climb and the fruit can hang down for easy harvesting. Grapes are another great vine for covering structures, and you’ll be rewarded with sweet, juice grapes for eating or for winemaking.

Herbs will round out your incredible edible garden. Just tuck in creeping Rosemary like the Huntington Carpet or an upright grower like Roman Beauty or Barbeque, and some lavender, such as Hazel Spanish Lavender or the dwarf Thumbelina Leigh English Lavender. Try growing a Sweet Bay in a container on your patio and use the leaves for soups and sauces.

For more great ideas on adding attractive edibles to your garden, visit www.monrovia.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Among the most common problems are viruses. There are over 25 reported viruses known to infect orchids, but there are probably many more. Two of the most common are the cymbidium mosaic virus and odontoglossum ringspot virus. In many cases, the plant will fight off any infection using its evolved mechanisms. But how effectively it can do that can be altered by the amount of sunlight, water and feeding provided to the plant.

Yellow or brown spots are a typical symptom, especially when they appear in rings. The petals may show brown streaks or discoloration. There are kits available that can help diagnose which virus is responsible and to treat it. In the interim, it’s important to keep any infected plant isolated as some viruses can spread via air. Treatment may be as simple as an alcohol swab or dip, or a short soak in 10% bleach for a few seconds.

Isolation and quick treatment is essential. The injured parts should be cut off and the rest of the plant carefully inspected.

Fungi are another common problem when growing orchids.

Though orchids prefer a high humidity environment, it is possible to go overboard. That can promote the growth of fungi that are harmful. The risk is increased if the temperature drops too much at night. Keeping the environment above about 65F/18C will be helpful. Though, the number varies with different species. Some prefer cooler nighttime conditions, some warmer.

Gloeosporium is one of the more common types of troublesome fungus. It produces yellow spots that will eventually merge and evolve into a large brown spot. Simple air flow and mild drying can help cure the orchid.

Similar causes and treatments occur in the case of bacterial infections. Phytomonas cypripedii, for example, causes a brown rot. One way to lessen the problem is to ensure that tools and gloves are cleaned with bleach to prevent spreading by contact while working with the orchids.

Keeping any infected plant away from another is important. Trim any diseased portion you see and treat the rest right away. In some cases, it’s best to know when to give up and simply try again. When you do replace a plant, be sure to carefully clean and disinfect any pot before reuse. That’s easily accomplished with bleach, high heat in a microwave oven or other common method of killing disease-causing organisms.

They photosynthesize to produce their own nutrients. They require warmth to keep biochemical reactions going, and going at the right rate. They regulate many processes by the amount of light present, speeding some up and shutting down others.

During photosynthesis plants take in carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen. The glucose is used as an internal energy source and much of the oxygen is expelled. But the color and intensity of the light they receive plays a large role in how they do that.

The fact that leaves are generally green and/or yellow shows that those colors are being reflected. The other components of white light (which is a mixture of many wavelengths) are mostly absorbed. But some are taken in more efficiently than others at different growth stages. Wavelengths in the range of the spectrum we perceive as red are used more during growth phases. Blue is absorbed more to produce flowering or fruiting.

Since few hydroponic gardens are simply left out in the sun to take their chances, a lighting scheme is required to assist them in all those activities.

Plants that sit near an open window or are grown outdoors largely self-regulate the wavelengths they absorb, where the whole spectrum is abundant. But those that live indoors can only take up what is available. That makes it important to ensure that they have all they need, both in terms of intensity and wavelength.

Indoor lights are typically less intense (provide less overall energy) and therefore plants may need to be supplemented with natural light. Or, it may be necessary to use special lights to provide the total amount of light energy needed for warmth, photosynthesis and other useful tasks. The mixture will vary from one climate to another.

Indoor lights come in a variety of types, prices and wavelengths, some better for plants than others.

Incandescents provide a lot of heat. They’re relatively inefficient at using electricity for that reason. But they produce strongly at the red end and weakly in the blue range.

Many fluorescents, by contrast, tend to produce greenish light. They’re filled with mercury and the interior coatings that produce light in the visible range may be better or worse at producing a white-approximating spectrum. But, they are much cheaper to use in the long run.

A relatively inexpensive setup can be achieved with a mixture of incandescents and fluorescents. A 30-watt incandescent with a 100-watt equivalent fluorescent provides a good balance of wavelengths. Fluorescents use much less electricity so the wattages can’t be directly compared.

While they cost more, metal halide and sodium lamps make for very good lights for hydroponic gardens. Metal halide lamps produce well in the blue range and sodium lamps provide more reddish light. The bulbs can’t be switched between fixtures so it’s necessary to buy a housing appropriate to each type.

Some newer LED lamps will produce a very broad spectrum and some can be adjusted to favor one wavelength range. However, they’re expensive and many won’t produce the same output as any of the other types.

Plants vary in the intensity they require, as well. Ensure that medium light plants receive at least 1,000 foot-candles. Others will need 2,000 foot-candles (about 20 watts per square foot) or more. A good light meter will tell you how much is being given off, or you can sometimes find the rating listed on packaging or advertisements.

Most lamps should be placed about a foot from the plant to provide the proper intensity. The figure will vary considerably, though, depending on whether incandescents, fluorescents or another source is used.

Plants that receive sunshine will need from 8-10 hours per day. If all artificial light is used, the number rises to between 12-14 hours per day. For some plants and lighting schemes 16-18 hours per day may be needed. The specific number depends heavily on the species of plant.

Rockwool

One of the most popular choices is a material called rockwool. It’s a type of basalt that is specially processed to provide a strong, porous base. It’s mostly inert, so it won’t decay or leach compounds into the water very much. Since it’s porous, it provides good drainage. It’s also lightweight and inexpensive.

Rockwool cubes are often used but small slabs are also available. Pre-drilled holes allow for placing and growing seeds and any cubes containing plants that don’t survive can be easily removed. The cube can be cleaned and replaced with another seed to try again, or simply left out to provide additional space for the survivors. This way, the hydroponics tray can be regulated easily so that there are a limited number of plants competing for air, light, space and nutrients.

Despite its lightweight and porous nature, rockwool provides a very sturdy medium for growing plants. It gives good support to developing roots. At the same time it helps regulate the water temperature by being a good heat conductor. Adding rockwool will alter the pH of the environment slightly at first, but this is easily controlled using a pH kit.

Though rockwool has many advantages for a hydroponic gardener, most everyone will want to experiment with different media at some time. There are many more options available.

Sand

Ordinary beach sand is one common medium. It drains well compared to ordinary clay-infused soil, but in a hydroponic setting it doesn’t do as well as most other possible media. But it’s extremely easy to use and certain plants take to living in sand very well. Certain orchid species in the wild, for example, grow naturally in wet sand.

Gravel

Ordinary aquarium gravel is used in some settings. It provides a strong, clean supporting medium that can also be attractive. But it can crumble and so will have to be cleaned and filtered well before use. Because it’s very heavy, a good pump will be required to keep air and water flowing through the system properly. Otherwise, plant roots may dry out.

Perlite

Perlite is a more popular alternative. It’s a type of volcanic rock that is heated to form small, lightweight pebbles resembling glass beads. It’s desirable for its ability to retain air. Since hydroponically grown plants will quickly deplete any dissolved oxygen, perlite will help the pump keep the water oxygenated.

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is similar to perlite. It, too, is made into small pebbles to provide a flexible supporting medium for hydroponic plants. It draws in water from passive systems by capillary action, helping automate the watering and nutrient feeding tasks. Since it holds even more water than perlite it may exclude air so it needs to be used in moderation. A mixture of perlite and vermiculite is often used for that reason.

Try different options. Experiment. Hydroponics is supposed to be fun!

At the lowest end of the scale some kits offer little more than someone could make for themselves by gathering common household items. But they do implicitly package a little knowledge needed to get started. By including seeds, a tray, some nutrient and maybe even some pH testing strips, they suggest what hydroponic setup is needed to get started. They may include a useful booklet, too.

The next level up usually costs a hundred dollars or so, but the materials are generally much higher quality. A tray that is specifically designed for hydroponics makes it easy to hold seeds in pre-drilled rockwool blocks that come with the kit. A small watering system might be included.

They also usually contain the right nutrients made of quality chemicals. That helps the novice hydroponic gardener get started in the right direction. Nutrient control is a little more difficult in hydroponic gardens and having a pre-mixed solution and clear directions gives your plants the best possible start.

Higher-end kits will include some lights. Which lights, and how many, will depend on price and other factors. A few incandescent bulbs cost very little. A few fluorescent fixtures and bulbs are a little more but still relatively modest in price. Metal halide and sodium lamps kits may run to a few hundred dollars.

Those same higher-end kits will include a more elaborate watering system. Moisture control in a hydroponic garden is more difficult since everpresent water will tend to increase mildew and other fungi. Having a professional watering system will keep water always at the right level and clean of organisms and keep algae levels low.

Since plants are not placed in soil, they will quickly deplete any dissolved oxygen in the water medium. That opens the need for pumping air into the water. Most higher end kits will include a pump and tubing that is designed specifically for hydroponic gardens. Standard aquarium pump setups may work, but the amount and rate of air pumped is different for fish than for hydroponic gardens. Some kits even include a CO2 injector to give plants that extra boost of a compound that is so vital to their growth.

Most kits will include a pH testing kit, and the higher-priced ones will have a digital meter rather than simple strips. They also include pH control powders or solutions as part of the overall package. Some will even include a nutrient meter which can measure levels of needed calcium, iron and other compounds.

Since temperature control is also more difficult in hydroponic gardens, good kits will include a water heater. Heat lamps can warm water and plants, but often too much so. A calibrated water heater will keep the temperature at the appropriate level automatically.

Along with all the needed solutions, tubing, trays and more kits will include any connectors needed for assembly. They also include hanging chains, strings for supporting plants and other useful items. In other words, the kits are just what they advertise themselves as: a complete hydroponics solution.

I find, personally, that it is better to look at a garden in small bursts.  Sure there are many things that I will need to do throughout the summer when it comes to keeping my garden healthy and eventually getting ready to bed it down for the winter but when there are only a few jobs to do at each period of time, the amount of work put into a garden seems almost insignificant to the amount of enjoyment you get out of it.

So here is a list of a few garden tasks that you should do in early summer:

The Flower Garden:

• Place supports in the garden for any perennials that need it.
• Fertilize the plants
• Remove all the deadheads from the plants
• Water regularly
• Prune any plants that need to be pruned.  Most will only need to be pruned after flowering, depending on the plant.
• Deal with any pests if they are present in the garden.
• With any shrubs and perennials, you can take softwood cuttings.
• Thin out the annuals
• Weed the beds.

The Vegetable Garden

This depends on what plants you have in your garden.

• Weed the garden.
• Thin out any plants that need to be.
• Provide supports for plants that require them such as beans, and tomatoes.
• fertilize the vegetable garden.
• Place up screens to protect vegetables from pests.
• Water regularly
• Sow any plants that require sowing

And these are just a few jobs to make summer gardening a little easier and you will find that you spend more time enjoying your garden then struggling to keep up with its care.

Sirena Van Schaik

It wasn’t that the planter was particularly beautiful with a black plastic that looked like several small tires stacked on top of each other but it was the original idea behind it.  I had actually gone on the sole purpose of finally buying the impatients in the hanging bag, something that I had wanted for several years but kept forgetting to buy, and it ended up that for another year I was missing out on the impatients.  The newest container was done in a similar style to those of the impatients except it was a hard plastic tube like container that had holes cut out of it and a white pipe running down the center of it.  Shooting out of the holes in black plastic was streptocarpella, also known as Lady Slippers, in a deep blue.  It was a beautiful contrast of blue, green and black and made an excellent addition to my patio.

The white tube was perforated and you watered the container by pouring the water down the tube; the water then dispersed throughout the soil for complete saturation.

My garden center offers new plantings each year as long as I drop off the planter in the fall and pick it up in the spring.  Unfortunately, fall is a busy time of year for me and I missed the deadline for the drop off.  I also forgot to plant my own seeds in the spring (I know I was on the ball this year) so when I realized that I had this unique planter to play with, I was at the garden center picking out some annuals for the new season.

This is when I had a stroke of genius.  The garden center didn’t have any Lady Slippers so I decided to buy some Lobelia and some miniature pansies.  I filled the planter myself with the Lobelia coming out of the holes and the pansies finishing off the top.  I was very happy with what I had finished with that I wanted to share.

If you would like to make one yourself, find a tube like container, or make one yourself and cut wholes around the width and up the length of it.  Fill it potting soil until the lowest hole, put in a young plant of your choice,  and secure it with more potting soil. When you get about 2 or 3 inches of soil, plant a white tube with holes drilled into it, in the center of the planter.  Make sure you duct tape the bottom so it doesn’t fill up with soil.  Continue to do fill in with soil and plants until all the holes are filled.  Top it off with the same plant or another one.

After a while, the plant should spread out to cover the entire planter.  The pictures that I took of mine are after only two weeks and they are starting to cover very nicely.  Next year I will try to get it in in time or at the very least try for the Lady Slippers again since the effect was wonderful.

Happy Gardening

Sirena Van Schaik

Necessary Components

In the tabletop hydroponic garden, a planting bed is installed. This can be of any size which is suitable to place according to your convenience. The plants of tabletop hydroponic gardens grow in the growing medium, which is an inert pH balanced solution helpful for providing the necessary odorless support to the plants, especially the roots. This growing medium can preserve moisture with an outstanding capacity. The entire planting system along with the growing system is covered with the help of a transparent and well-vented greenhouse cover.

Moreover, typically a 600ml reservoir bottle is installed in the tabletop hydroponic garden. This aids in automated dispensing of the nutrient solution. When you buy the tabletop hydroponic garden system, you will be supplied nutrient balanced formula specifically formulated for hydroponic system. This is an essential ingredient for the healthy growth of the plants. This formulation contains all the necessary trace elements and minerals in their most untainted form, which is easily soluble in the water.

Selecting the Plants

Although hydroponic plants are healthier than traditionally grown plants, not all plants can be cultivated using hydroponic systems. The same is true when you are using a tabletop hydroponic garden. A wide numbers of people actually prefer to grow flowers in their tabletop hydroponic gardens. If you want to do the same, you may try to cultivate asters, forget-me-nots, California poppies, chrysanthemums, dwarf zinnias, ageratum, candy tuft, and dianthus. Otherwise, if you are interested to grow herbs, fruits or vegetables, you may plow chives, dill, sage, fennel, thyme, parsley, tarragon, rosemary, sweet basil, chili peppers, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots and strawberries

Fundamental Environmental Factors

Similar to any other hydroponic system, the tabletop hydroponic garden depends on fundamental environmental factors like water solution pH balanced nutrition, appropriate light in addition to sunlight, humidity, and temperature. Typically it should be placed in light for 10 to 18 hours a day. The ideal temperature must vary between 65°F and 76°F. A certain amount of humidity is very essential for healthy growth and development of the seedlings. Additionally, general care is also important such as pinching off and discarding all the dead leaves, removing any sort of fallen leaves as well as debris from the planting bed.

It was beautiful and it got me thinking about elements that I would like to see in my garden.  That in turn made me think about sharing those ideas with you, the readers of Savvy Gardening.  So what exactly am I getting at?  It’s simple, when you are designing your own garden, take a few minutes to take some things from nature.

Okay, I probably lost you there since nature is abundant in a garden but I mean it in a more inspirational way.  Have you ever taken a photograph of a forest path?  When you stop and look at the pictures you can look at it and find a haphazard mess with trees leaning everywhere and plants growing wherever there is space and sunlight.  It might not be the exact image that you have for a garden but if you stop and take a closer look you can find so many points that you could incorporate into your garden.

Forest ferns may provide the perfect shade of green in one corner of your garden.  The path that gently meanders around trees that are hundreds of years old may provide you with a layout for your own garden path.  The carefree sprinkling of wild flowers can give you an array of colors to pull out of the picture and into your own garden.  There are a million ways to be inspired from nature around us an it is very easy to start using the nature in your yard to build up flower beds and ponds.

For me, I have already decided on incorporating a few more ferns, adding a few more trees and I have plotted out a patch in my yard where I would like to plant wildflowers.  The hike has given me endless inspiration and that is really what you should pull from nature; the inspiration to create a garden of untold delights.

Happy Gardening,

Sirena Van Schaik

Greentrees Hydroponics Company

One of the best options when it comes to a multi flow hydroponic system is the one offered by the Greentrees Hydroponics Company. This is basically an ebb and flow type hydroponic system that uses gravity as its major source of moving water through the system.

The main part of this system is a controller unit assembly, and this consists of a 3.5 gallon container and it also has a timer and relay box that is mounted on the side. There are two gallon pots that are used in this multi flow hydroponic system and the two gallon growing containers actually sit inside of the other two gallon pots which serve as the watering cells.  That sounds really cool, huh?

Hydroponics Wholesale Company

Anyone who is interested in buying their own multi flow hydroponic system should know that there are a few companies in particular that they should go to check out. One is the Hydroponics Wholesale Company, which features one multi flow hydroponic system in particular that is a best seller.

Moving parts from one bucket to another with this system is very easy and all that the person needs to pull out the inner pot and set it at a new site. All of the multi flow hydroponic systems offered by this company come with a built in timer, 55 gallon reservoir, level controller, 24 pots, tubing, pump, and the original multi flow hydroponic system itself.

There are many other great companies as well that one can go to if they are looking to purchase multi flow hydroponic systems, but those mentioned here are definitely two of the very best. It is important when shopping for an item such as a hydroponic system to take time and put serious consideration in because this is a very important item and one that most likely will come with a hefty price tag.

Benefits Over Traditional Gardening

There are several benefits of hydroponic vegetable gardening, both indoors and outdoors. Although the entire technique stands on water-based nutrition supply, the requirement of water is much lesser in hydroponic vegetable gardening, both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, when you do not have sufficient fertile land for cultivation, this technique is ideally fit to meet your needs. Hydroponic vegetable gardening indoors facilitates the growers and enthusiasts to grow vegetables like tomatoes and carrots inside their room, which is virtually impossible in traditional systems.

Reason To Choose This System

You do not need to weed or dig. You can do it wherever you want. Only a limited amount of pesticides are used. Virtually, hydroponic plants are at lesser risk for any sort of diseases. When you will be gardening hydroponic vegetables indoors or outdoors, you will be surprised to see the higher quality and health of those plants, compared to those one cultivated using a traditional system. Since the entire system is independent of soil and you are able to control the temperature and humidity of the system, you can use it to cultivate your vegetables throughout the year.

The Essential Requirements

No matter what outdoors or indoors, hydroponic vegetable gardening requires skill and knowledge. At the initial phases, it is always advised to take suggestion from the professionals or standard guidebooks. The essential requirements for hydroponic vegetable gardening, both indoors and outdoors are water, air, nutrient supply and sunlight. However, for indoor hydroponic vegetable gardening, you need to install few different light sources such as metal halide lamps, Gro-lights, sunlight coming from a south facing door or window, luminescent light bulbs, sodium vapor lamp, or fluorescent lights.

About Nutrient Solutions

Both outdoors and indoors hydroponic vegetable gardening needs a fertilizer or solution which is particularly formulated for using in the hydroponic system. This solution used in hydroponic system is not the same as used in traditional soiling system. The ready-made nutrient solution is available in the local organic or hydroponic gardening supply stores. You can also buy it online via different online hydroponic gardening stores as well.

In a world dominated by red geraniums, pink begonias and yellow marigolds, wildflowers possess a simple grace and elegance that will enhance any garden or landscape. Wildflowers can magically transform a bare patch of soil into a glorious garden. They constantly color your landscape all season long. No matter your soil or sunshine, wildflowers are the answer to beautiful, bountiful blooms that keep the garden alive with a continual dazzling display of color.

Wildflower gardens are gaining popularity for a variety of reasons:

* They require little maintenance. Native plants are already well suited to your location.

* Wildflowers offer a diversity of unusual foliage shapes and sizes and colorful blooms.

* They can be grown in hard-to-maintain areas — corners, along fences, slopes that are difficult to mow or water.

* Wildflowers attract a number of garden-friendly visitors, such as birds and butterflies.

Wherever you live, choose a location that gets six to eight hours of full sun and has good drainage. Most wildflowers can grow in heavy clay or less than fertile soils. The key to growing a hearty wildflower patch is to start with a good seedbed.

* Remove any existing weeds or grasses.

* Till the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. Tilling deeper than that will stir up thousands of dormant weed seeds and the wildflowers will struggle to get established.

* When planting wildflower seeds in a new garden area, don’t fertilize unless your soil is extremely sandy; wildflowers don’t need fertilizer. They are used to growing in average soils.

If you’d like to try your hand at growing wildflowers, you need to start with good seeds and the right mix for your geographical location. Outsidepride.com has done all the work for you offering a wide variety of wildflower seed mixes created specifically for your geographical region: Remember, a good wildflower mix contains both annuals and perennials. This gives the garden a wider variety of colors, heights and season-long blooms.

The Gulf Coast areas have special environmental conditions that makes this blend especially well suited for its conditions. This mix consists of perennials and annuals that adapt to moist conditions and tolerate rainfall as well as sunny conditions and extreme temperatures.

Midwestern Wildflower Mix is made up of 26 species chosen for their lasting blooms as well as their rugged ability to withstand the extreme temperatures of the Midwestern climates. The mix is approximately 50 percent annual and 50 percent perennial wildflowers.

Northeastern Wildflower Mix is designed specifically for the special needs of the Northeast. This attractive wildflower mix is made up of 19 species of which one third are annuals and the remaining are biennials or perennials.

Southwest Wildflower Mix is specifically designed for areas which have special needs, such as long, hot, dry summers or other similar conditions. This mix will do very well if planted in early to late spring, or as a dormant seeding in fall. The mix consists of annual and perennials.

Most people know a gardening guru-type, but the majority of gardeners are admittedly shy to try new plants, or blame themselves for less than stellar results. Wildflowers will change that and give gardeners fabulous flowers that get great results with minimum maintenance or fuss. This spring is the time to go “wild” right in your own back yard.

For additional information on OutsidePride’s unique wild flower mixtures that are specially formulated on the basis of climatic conditions (rainfall, temperature range, humidity) and elevation; blended to give the widest possible range of colors and periods of bloom, visit www.OutsidePride.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Environmental Control System

Photosynthesis is the leading factor of optimum growth and high level of production. It is so vital to the overall production, that only one percent of decline in the light can lead to one percent decline in the production. If the degree of photosynthesis is declined as a result of cloudy weather, it may result in pale tomato leaves low in sugary content. However, when a hydroponic growing system is used in the greenhouse environment, an additional source of artificial light is supplemented to complement the requirement of light used in the photosynthesis process.

Temperatures

The lights available both day and night influence the plant vitality, size of the leaf, expansion rate of the leaf, as well as fruit development time. When the plant is subject to low temperatures at night, the growth rate of the plant is declined along with a reduced leaf size. Hence, the temperature needs to be closely monitored and maintained at an optimum level, which is virtually impossible in traditional setups. However, for the production of hydroponic tomatoes it can be set 70° to 79°F for the day time and 61° to 65° for night time throughout the year.

Seeding

A wide variety of tomatoes are developed for the purpose of hydroponic production. All of these hydroponic tomatoes have indefinite morphology, which means the vegetative growth rate of these tomato plants is not limited to its flowering. Apollo, Dombito, Belmondo, Trend, Caruso, Perfecto, Trust and Lama are few varieties of hydroponic tomatoes. The seeds of hydroponic tomatoes are quite costly. This influences some newcomers to consider developing seeds from the adult plants; however, those successive plants may not necessarily inherit these qualities.

Propagation Media

The propagation media needs to be carefully infused before sowing of the seeds in order to ensure consistent and homogeneous sharing of moisturizer. Tomato seeds are to be sown by keeping a gap of ¼ to 3/8 inches. Seeding can be done in an inert medium like rockwool blocks, which are available in a wide variety of sizes. Overhead watering is the fundamental requirement for germination of seeds. Under any circumstances, the temperature during irrigation should be set at 64°F and the span of available light per day should be around 14 hours to 18 hours.

I have to admit, like most gardeners, that many of the plants that I find are either found in a nursery, garden center or on the pages of a gardening magazine or book.  The Knock Out Rose is one that I saw in a Fine Gardening magazine and after seeing the plant, it has been put on my must have list.  This is surprising in itself since I am not a big rose fan.  I mean, I love them in a garden but since they are not my favorite flower, I tend to move away from them and move towards flowers and plants that I love.

The reason why I love the Knock Out Rose is simple.  It is a “Knock Out” with its dark foliage providing a breathtaking backdrop of deep green, which deepens to a dark purple in fall, for this fast growing shrub rose.  The flowers themselves are brilliant colors and you can find this rose in red, pink, blush and rainbow (pink with a yellow center) and sunny (white with a yellow center).  The rose comes in single or double blooms.

Although the color and shrubbery is wonderful, the main draw for me over this flower is the fact that it is fairly hardy and requires very little care.  Generally, you only need to prune in the spring, provide it with proper care, i.e. water, fertilizer, and that is it.  The plant does the rest right down to the deadheads.  This rose is also very resistant to black spots.  The bush itself is very hardy and can survive in Zones 4 to 10.

I honestly do not believe that you can find a rose that requires such a low amount of fuss and have as much glory with a full shrub filled with brilliant blooms.  There is nothing that I find that would deter me from purchasing this rose for my garden, well except space but I can always make more of that.

Sirena Van Schaik

For this reason, I have found ways to alleviate some of the cost of my happy growers finger when I am at the garden center and thought that I would share them with you.

1. Timing:  Although I am usually chafing at the bit to get growing sometime around mid-April (I know way to early) I will force myself to wait until the planting season is almost over.  This can mean that the plants you are getting are not as great in quality but if you find a good garden center, you probably won’t have this problem.  If you wait until early June, you will still have lots of time to get your flowers in and you will also be able to cash in on some deals.  One of my favorite growers offers half off the second annual, the last week of May.  This can usually equate to less cost but usually for me it equates to more flowers. (Hey, I never said my method was solid.)
2. Starting Small:  I know that perennials can really add a lot to gardens and it is often very hard to wait for a small plant to grow large and lush.  Many gardeners will purchase the larger plant so they have more coverage right from the start but plants grow very quickly and there really is no need to start with a 60 dollar plant when the exact same plant, although smaller, starts at 14 dollars.  You will find that you can save money or as in my case, add more.
3. Return Trips:  Go to the garden center, see what they have to offer and then leave.  If you find a great deal, as I did with a braided Hibiscus this year, pick it up but if the prices still seem high or there isn’t anything that catches your eye, don’t bother shopping. You might drive the garden center crazy but it will give you time to plan, decide how many plants you need and what you want exactly.  When you are ready to buy, usually when that sale is on, you can go back, fill your wagon and leave without overspending.

I know that I should probably have a few more tips on saving money at the garden center but it really only comes down to the last three.  To stay on budget, you could bring cash so you don’t over dip into the bank account but it is up to you.  Another money saving tip is to never bring kids with you to the garden center.  This is the one advice tip that I never follow and I can usually add on a good dozen plants that the kids just had to have.

Happy Gardening!

Sirena Van Schaik

Growing Systems

The essential and major sale items of all hydroponic retail stores are hydroponic systems. These include the structure of the hydroponic greenhouse (the planters) along with components required to connect it with sources of supplying nutrition (reservoirs, pumps etc.) and other accessories. The price of a particular system varies according to its size, material, and the number and quality of its accessories.

Lighting Sources

Artificial lighting is a vital component of hydroponic production. Every hydroponic retail store has a variety of lighting sources like High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, conversion bulbs, and fluorescent lamps. Also available are components that are used in directing and controlling artificial light incident on the hydroponic plants, e.g. light reflectors, hoods, and light cooling kits.

Hydroponic Nutrients

One thing that a hydroponic cultivator will repeatedly need to get from a hydroponic retail store is one or more kinds of hydroponic nutrients that provide nitrogen and other vital elements to plants. Most of the hydroponic nutrients are in the form of liquid solutions.

The general hydroponic nutrients available at retail stores can be used by all horticulturalists to enrich the quality of their production. In addition, hydroponic retail stores provide beneficial microbes that increase productivity by preventing roots from rotting and enhancing root mass.

Pest Controls

Hydroponic plants are not entirely free of diseases and pests, and hydroponic retail stores sell specially prepared pest-controlling formulas, mostly sold as non-toxic sprays. Natural pesticides comprising biodegradable substances are also available for preventing hydroponic plants from rotting.

Informative Material

A number of hydroponic retail stores sell magazines and books that provide useful information on the techniques of growing hydroponic plants, news about progress in hydroponics, reviews of useful hydroponic products, and tips on better hydroponic production.

Some hydroponic retails stores also offer online sales of products and information about various issues related to hydroponic cultivation. They have an FAQ section that answers commonly asked questions of customers and a person who needs guidance on basic hydroponic matters can consult this information at any online hydroponic retail store.

I didn’t think much about gardening at that point, really at 17-18 the big draw are the patio parties, but I did wonder if it would be okay to plant a few flowers in the planters available.  I didn’t though partly because I wasn’t sure what plants to use, partly because I was a young and poor and partly because I wasnt’ sure if it was okay to do so. 

Since then, I have found that planting a garden in a rental property is something that many renters wonder about.  I have met many avid gardeners that are just waiting to sign the dotted line on their own mortgages so they can get out into the yard to start setting up the garden they have been dreaming about.  This very same gardeners that have been keeping flowers to a minimum, mostly in planters, and are always in despair at how sparse their rented yard looks.

When it comes to a rented house, there really is no reason why you should avoid the joys of having a rented garden.  Most rental boards have a policy that property should be enjoyed as though it is yours and not a rental, barring major redesigning however.  Most rental properties have flower beds already dug into them and some even come with an assortment of perennials already in place.  There is nothing hindering a renter from moving into those flower beds and creating a whole new theme.

About 10 years ago, I moved into another beautiful 3 bedroom house, I preferred 3 bedrooms for some reason.  Anyway, this house was set in an older Italian neighborhood and every yard had full gardens, fruit trees, flower beds and grass to make even the most cared for golf course envious.  I jumped into the fact that I now had places to plant flowers, fruit trees to tend to and an assortment of other ideas to put into place.  I was still very hesitant about starting new projects but I enjoyed the rose bushes that were already in place and the space that was provided.  As I became more comfortable in my rented space, I began adding flower beds to the yard and quickly started designing a garden I could enjoy completely.

And that is what every gardener who rents should know.  It is okay to add flower beds and other garden areas.  If it is a big project, such as a pond or walkway, I would strongly suggest speaking to the home owner before you do.  More than likely, they won’t have a problem but in the off chance that they do, you won’t risk eviction by talking to them first.

When you decide to plant your rented garden, I would recommend a few things to alleviate any worries or potential problems.

• Ask the landlord:  I already mentioned this but if you are adding anything, it doesn’t hurt to ask or even just to mention that you are planning to expand the flower beds.
• Plan for leaving:  As with all rented spaces, there will be a time when you will move.  This may not always be in the summer so if you don’t want to loose money on perennials, stick to annuals instead.  You can have very nice gardens with only annuals and although it can cost you more money in the grand scheme of gardening, you won’t have to worry about losing an $80 perennial.  If your lease runs from summer to summer, plan to use perennials that can handle being transported.
• Make the garden easy to use:  Although we all have ideas of what we want in a garden, it is important to create a garden that can be up-kept with relative ease.  The next renters may not have any interest in gardening and if it can be taken care of with very little effort, the landlord will appreciate you all the more and will send out great references if you are renting again.
• Don’t think of it as rented:  Don’t spend all your time thinking about the garden as rented. Simply enjoy it now and put in the things that you want in it.  Sure you may leave it behind but you can always look forward to a new blank canvas to try new ideas.
• Make use of containers:  Yes, I know that not everyone wants to stick with containers but it can minimize the amount of money you are putting into a rental.  When you move, if you have cared for your containers, you can gather up your pots and keep a piece of your investment when you leave.

So these are only a few tips but the main point that I am trying to get across is that you do not need to feel stuck with no gardening enjoyment if you rent.  Maybe you won’t be able to do as much as home owners but you can still have magnificent gardens that have guests and passer-byers whispering, “I wish my garden was like that.”

Sirena Van Schaik

No Special Equipment Needed

Hydroponic gardening pioneers have used all sorts of media for growing hydroponic potatoes.  Straw is one of the earliest types of medium used, but with the advancement of hydroponic technology the trend has shifted toward using sand, wood chips, or perlite. These media are particularly effective for growing hydroponic potatoes and other tubers because of tubers’ need for low moisture and low nitrogen.

If you would like to get started growing hydroponic potatoes without a complicated hydroponic garden setup or a lot of specialized equipment, it’s very simple to do.  Your first step will be to obtain a few “seed” potatoes.  While you can grow hydroponic potatoes from the eyes of potatoes you buy in the grocery store, these potatoes are often engineered to not bear any new potatoes.

Once you have your seed potatoes, cut each in half and leave them out on a plate to dry for about a week.  When your seed potatoes are dried out, plant them about 2-3 inches down in the growing media.  Your hydroponic potatoes will begin to sprout within a few days.

As your new hydroponic potatoes grow, it’s important to keep the base of the plants and any new potatoes in the dark.  Covering the entire vine with straw is a cheap and easy way to achieve this.  The other important point to remember is that growing potatoes like to stay cool.  If you allow your hydroponic potatoes setup to exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit at any time, they will not produce new potatoes.

When your hydroponic potatoes are producing a crop, harvesting is very simple.  Just reach into the growing medium and feel around for the largest potato.  Pluck this one from the vine, and continue picking the biggest potato whenever you need one.  This ensures that the other potatoes have plenty of room to grow.

Potatoes in general are a somewhat fickle plant, and your plants may or may not continue to reproduce.  If not, don’t worry – simply try again with new root potatoes.  Experimenting with different growing media may help your hydroponic potatoes grow faster and produce more.

Nutrition

In order to grow healthily, plants need adequate amount of minerals as well as trace elements in appropriate proportions, no matter where they are growing, whether it is a soil based production or hydroponic system. Hydroponic plants get the facility to obtain much higher levels of nutritional benefit. For hydroponic plants, since water delivers the nutrient mix to the plants, the maximum possible delivery of the nutrients can be ensured. Additionally, the accurate measurement of nutrient supplies can be established for hydroponic plants. This helps in eliminating or preventing undesired nutrient compounds.

Light

The hydroponic plants use the light energy available within the hydroponic system in order to grow, to stay healthy and to reproduce. You can place your hydroponic system anywhere and allow it to receive profuse sunlight. However, during summertime, it is better to avoid placing the hydroponic plants directly under the sunlight.

Additionally, almost all the hydroponic systems use artificial light systems, which promote growth. In order to have an automated lighting system for your hydroponic plants, you may suspend one or more fluorescent lights or install lights over the head of the hydroponic plants (but keep a safe distance of at least one foot over them). You may also connect the lighting system to a timer, giving 10-18 hours of light per day.

Humidity And Temperature

Humidity is an essential component of the development of seedlings. This is why the humid tropical zones of the world are so rich with vegetation. When you care to grow hydroponic plants, you must design the environment of the hydroponic system in such a fashion that it is able to preserve certain amount of humidity inside the system. The temperature of an ideal hydroponic system may vary between 65°F and 76°F. Additionally, it needs to set up in such a manner that the nighttime temperature must not go above the daytime temperature. Perfect temperature and humidity conditions help the plants to grow strong and healthy.

Ordinary plants are grown using soil combined with appropriate nutrients, but hydroponic nutrients make it possible to grow plants without the usual soil.  Researchers have studied the necessities and processes for growing plants for a very long time.  In ordinary plants, the soil is used to hold the nutrients necessary for the growth of the plants.  The soil is only necessary as a receptacle to hold the nutrients.  Hydroponic nutrients dissolve in water so the roots of plants can absorb them like they do with the nutrients captured in soil.

Hydroponic Nutrients Can Feed Many Plant Types

Hydroponic nutrients can be used to grow many different types of plants in very ordinary containers or jars.  This makes it possible to grow these plants in confined spaces such as a small balcony in an apartment or a bathroom shelf.  Some scientists have developed methods to use hydroponic nutrients to grow commercial amounts of plants.  These systems are used to grow tomatoes, peppers and other crops.  These commercial crops are grown with different combinations of hydroponic nutrients.

Saving water is one of the great advantages of using hydroponic nutrients.  Water can be scarce in some areas of the world, yet the population in these areas needs to have food to survive.  Crops grown with these special nutrients save the growers incredible amounts of water which saves the growers money.  There is some evidence that vegetables grown with these nutrients retain more nutritional value than the same vegetable grown in ordinary circumstances.  There are several advantages to hydroponic growing including the absence of weeds and some common plant diseases.  These plants can also be grown without the use of pesticides which makes them better for the consumer.  The use of these nutrients has shown great promise so growers will probably continue to increase the use of these nutrients.

There are various types of artificial hydroponic lighting that is used by small-scale hydroponic cultivators for nurturing their plants. More important of these lighting types include high intensity discharge lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, conversion bulbs, and fluorescent lighting.

High Intensity Discharge Lamps

High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps produce a greater amount of light than standard halogen bulbs. They are of three main kinds: mercury vapor lamps, metal halide (MH) lamps, and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. MH and HPS lamps are the preferred kinds of artificial hydroponic lighting because they are spectrum selective.

Spectrum selective means that they emit light in a range of wavelengths that support optimum growth and production of hydroponic plants. When natural sunlight is absent, or very little of it is available, MH lamps are the best source of artificial light for plants. HPS lamps are more useful when used as an adjunct to natural sunlight.

Conversion Bulbs

Conversion bulbs are more specialized sources of hydroponic lighting since the intensity of their output can be adjusted by changing lamps, according to the growth-dependent needs of plants. These bulbs are designed in such a way that they run off one kind of ballast and emit light spectrum of another kind.

Thus, there are high-pressure sodium conversion (HPSC) bulbs that burn in a metal halide ballast, and metal halide conversion (MHC) bulbs that burn in an HPS ballast. The metal halide conversion bulb mostly emits blue light, used in the growing stages of hydroponic plants while the red light emitted by HPS conversion bulbs is useful in the later stages of fruiting and flowering.

Fluorescent Lamps       

Fluorescent lamps are another kind of artificial hydroponic lighting that is particularly useful in the initial stages of growing plants hydroponically, i.e. in the early stages of sprouting seedlings and developing roots. Fluorescent lamps produce a little amount of light and are usually placed close to hydroponic plants.

The main advantages of using florescent lamps include their lower cost, efficiency in energy conservation, and low production (and hence low dissipation) of heat. However, compared with the HID lamps, fluorescent lamps are not a very effective source of artificial hydroponic lighting.

Choosing The Right Kit

Before you can choose from the many hydroponic kits on the market today, you should decide which hydroponic system is best for your beginning needs. For the most part, the water culture and the wick method are the easiest to understand and set-up, particularly on a small scale. However, you are just as likely to find uncomplicated ebb and flow or nutrient film kit options as well.

Price may well be a deciding factor and both the system as well as the size will dictate how much the hydroponic kits will cost. Simple kits will start near $100 and climb up to hundreds of dollars based on the amount of extra equipment as well as the number of plants you plan to cultivate at one time.

One of the most popular types of hydroponic kits involves growing different types of herbs in a deep water culture hydroponic environment. Herbs are among the easiest to grow hydroponically because they are hardy and recover well should you over or under-water them. Plus, when you are successful with your first hydroponic herbs, you can use them right away in cooking and other uses.

You may decide you want to try your hand at growing vegetables that grow on a vine like beans, squash or tomatoes. In this instance, the hydroponic kits you want to look for should have a plastic rack to allow for plant vine growth and climbing. The nutrient film technique is the most popular system to use when it comes to growing these types of plants.

Gaining Experience

You may end up trying several hydroponic kits, experimenting with different systems such as the drip, ebb and flow or nutrient film technique before finding one that you are most comfortable with. However, once you do, you can start to branch out beyond the pre-made hydroponic kits and start adding on to your existing system. This is what budding hydroponic gardeners end up doing once they understand the process along with the nuances of proper water control, temperature, lighting and more.

Now that “The Future” is here, what happened to all of our hydroponic gardens?  It was predicted in the 1980s that all of our food would be grown hydroponically by now, yet it’s still a challenge to find even one hydroponic farm in a traditional agricultural setting.  So what happened?

Stories And Examples

Hydroponic history actually extends much further back than the 1970s.  In fact, hydroponic history studies tell us that the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon (dating all the way back to 600 B.C.E.) may have been the first successful hydroponic gardening story.

There is a very interesting story in the hydroponic history books that tells about the Central American Aztecs in the 11th century.  This hydroponic history story tells us that the Aztecs lived in an area where there was no land to grow crops.  Rather than starve, the Aztecs improvised a hydroponic solution.  They wove rafts out of reeds and other plant material, then placed soil from the bottom of a lake and placed it on the rafts.  The rafts were left to float on the river, and plants were rooted in the soil.  When the plants grew, their roots penetrated through to the lake below.

Many centuries later, an American scientist named William F. Gericke became the father of modern hydroponics, even inventing the term “hydroponic” itself.  It was the 1930s and the first time that the general public really got excited about the possibilities of hydroponic growing.  While Gericke’s advancements did go down in hydroponic history, his method didn’t gain a mainstream following.

During WWII, American and British armed forces took up the cause of hydroponic farming to feed soldiers who might otherwise have not had access to fresh produce.  This interesting bit of hydroponic history is all but lost amid other tales of the war, but many soldiers had hydroponic farming to thank for their health during this time.

Later, the 1970s brought about a renewed interest in environmental causes and healthy foods, two things that are now associated with hydroponic farming.  If hydroponic history had taught us anything by this time, it was that this growing method could be extremely successful if applied in a sensible way.  Unfortunately, hydroponics again failed to gain a successful mainstream following.

Recently, worries of global warming and soil exhaustion have driven farmers, casual gardeners, and many others to examine the possibility of hydroponics again.  Although we can’t say what the future will bring, we can tell from these hydroponic history stories that a soil-less farming future is definitely within our grasp if we should choose to explore it.

A hydroponic herb garden can be grown with the techniques of these brilliant scientists in extra space on the kitchen counter or the family basement.  Herbs and other plants are usually grown in the soil, but this soil is really just a place to put the necessary nutrients.  If the herbs and other plants can get these nutrients without the soil, they will grow.  Some of the plants grown with hydroponic techniques will grow faster and stronger than the plants grown with traditional techniques.  The techniques developed for hydroponic growing can help individuals grow a hydroponic herb garden that will yield these wonderful ingredients for use in preparing meals.

A Hydroponic Herb Garden Can Be Ready Through The Year

The good news about a hydroponic herb garden is that it can be ready in the dead of winter or the sunshine of the summer months.  The tools prepared for a hydroponic herb garden can be placed in any available space.  A gardener does not have to get down on their knees in the dirt to grow a hydroponic herb garden.  There are no weeds that need to be pulled from a hydroponic herb garden and pesticides are not necessary to grow wonderful plants.  There are many possibilities for the contents of a hydroponic herb garden.

Fresh basil sprinkled on a leg of lamb or some fresh oregano on a favorite dish can be grown and cooked in the same kitchen by the same person.  Experts have designed the tools for hydroponic growing, but they have provided tools that anyone can easily use.  School children can grow a great herb garden in their classroom after reading and following some simple directions.  Those people who would like to grow an herb garden can find ready made units that will be appropriate for use at home.  These units can be small enough to grow a few plants on the kitchen table or larger units that will accommodate many plants.

As we know, a hydroponic growing system is much more efficient compared to the traditional soil growing system. Since a hydroponic growing system gives the gardeners the flexibility of taking a great control over all the influential factors essential for healthy growth of the plants, it offers more benefits over the traditional system, which is inevitable dependent on various environmental factors like life cycle and availability of soil nutrients.

Benefits Of Water Absorption

In the hydroponic growing system, plants absorb nutrients from water-based solutions. Hence, it is virtually impossible to feed the plants more than it can actually handle since the roots can not absorb after saturation point. However, the condition is significantly different when it comes about feeding from soil nutrients; since odds are there that soil may damage the root due to water clogging. Still, be careful while mixing the solution, so that excessively concentrated hydroponic solution that may damage the roots does not occur.

Higher Level Of Productivity

A hydroponic growing system is much more productive compared to the traditional growing system. Not only for plants, but for you also the system is proven to be productive, since it occupies much lesser time and labor. Since the nutrients are water soluble, it is easily available to the roots of the plants. On the other hand, since the nutrients mix so easily, you do not need to waste your time and energy by spreading the nutrients in the soil or looking for soil rich in nutrients. You do not need to invest your time in weeding or digging as well.

More Environmentally Friendly

Cultivating with the help of hydroponic growing system is more environmentally friendly, since almost all the time fertilizers are reused within this system and there is no specific need for pesticide or other chemical weed killers. This certainly offers beneficial support to the environment by minimizing the risk of chemical residue. This is why hydroponic plants are much healthier than traditionally grown plants and they are richer with essential vitamins, minerals and other useful nutrients.

Hydroponic growing is not new, but it is increasing in popularity.  Scientists have studied the use of hydroponic growing, and their work has improved the use of this method for larger crops than in the past.  Hydroponic growing uses the nutrients necessary for the growth of plants, but unlike traditional methods, the necessary nutrients are not contained in soil.  Traditional growing requires the soil to hold the necessary nutrients.  These nutrients can be dissolved in water for the growth of a plant rather than in soil.  The popular plants that have been grown with traditional methods can also be cultivated with hydroponic growing.

Hydroponic Growing Has Many Benefits  

Water is scarce in many places and expensive in most places.  Growing crops and plants with traditional methods requires water.  Hydroponic growing uses water, but in much smaller quantities than traditional methods.  Plant experts study the appropriate and necessary nutrients for different types of plants.  The growers can then use these nutrients without soil to grow the plants.  After obtaining the information available from the study of hydroponic growing, even amateurs can grow with these techniques.  Many people spoil their plants by giving too much or too little water.  This will not be a problem with this type of growing.

Hydroponic growing can be done in ordinary jars in limited space.  This means that a person can grow a plant on the balcony of a small apartment or a classroom shelf.  These methods can also be used on acres of land.  There are different methods of hydroponic growing, but these methods all use the hydroponic nutrients without soil to grow plants.  This type of growing can produce tomatoes, peppers and other types of plants.  These techniques are used in many different countries including Israel, the United States, Nicaragua and Europe.  Growers who are able to avoid the use of pesticides can produce plants which are very attractive to many consumers.

It is great to be invited to write on Savy Gardening and to meet all of you. 

I guess I should start with a little bit about myself.  I am a mother of two boys and have found that having two boys has taken me into top soil and mud more often than I can remember.  I have truly learned more about gardening in my six years of motherhood then at any other time in my life.  Not because I was doing more of it but because I suddenly had to answer questions.  My kids weren’t happy with the simple explanations and would need a full report on why ladybugs are good for gardens or what exactly worms were doing in the soil.  I have also learned how to add a green thumb to a potential disaster after a child is let loose with a garden hose.

I won’t say that I am an expert gardener, although I can hold my own with a watering can, I still have a lot to learn and many more gardens to grow.  I constantly look for new ways to add a nice touch to my garden, much to the dispair of my husband, and I enjoy bringing that garden in. 

So over the next few months, please feel free to contact me if I happen to get a fact wrong, or I haven’t covered a topic that you are interested in.  Hopefully though, I will provide you with amazing content, helpful tips and some new ideas that you may want to incorporate into your garden.

Now that we have introductions taken care of.  Look for a new article in the next day or two. 

All the best,

Sirena Van Schaik

Since soil is nothing but the container of nutrients and a holder which grips the plant roots by offering the essential structure to stand straight. When you remove the requirement of soil, you are practically reducing the risk of soil borne diseases, while gaining an accurate control over the essential nutritional diet of the plants.

Benefits Compared To Soil-Based Growing

Since there is no soil, there is no risk for soil borne diseases. When hydroponic growers use this system, they can easily deliver exact amount of nutrients for the plants require in specifically the accurate proportion so that the plants can be grown faster with possible highest quality. Since the nutrients are water soluble, hydroponic growers in particular invest lesser amount of energy and effort during cultivation process as compared to the traditional growers. They even do not need to spread the nutrients in the soil or do not have to put effort in searching for highly fertile land for their cultivation purpose. In general, hydroponic growers enjoy the benefit of minimum space occupancy with this excellent system.

Variety Of Plants

Virtually hydroponic growers can grow a wide variety of plants such as tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, cucumbers and different herbs. These are, in fact, commercially valuable crops. Hydroponic growers, who are more interested in commercial benefits, choose what to cultivate depending on the market condition and potential profits.

Apart from that, many hobbyists, enthusiasts and professional hydroponic growers cultivate different types of flowers or fruit plants such as strawberries, carrots, asters, forget-me-nots, California poppies, chrysanthemums, dwarf zinnias, ageratum, candy tuft, and dianthus.

Significance As Business

The market of hydroponics is rising. If you would like to find your name as one of best known professional hydroponic growers in near future, you have to invest in purchasing equipment, and proper designing plans. Additionally, you should have outstanding management and marketing expertise. In general, consumers are becoming increasingly interested in purchasing healthy food. Needless to say, hydroponic produces probably have no better alternative. So if you are an enthusiast hydroponic growers with excellent marketing skills, you may further develop your passion to a successful business.