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Ebb and Flow Watering System

Written by Grow Staff on October 22, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Ebb and flow is one of the many common hydroponic systems used by gardeners. It is also called the flood and drain method and is preferred by gardeners because of its ease of use, convenience and low beginning expenses. Ebb and flow designs could be used to cultivate a range of various flowers and be scaled up to accommodate bigger crop sizes.

The growing method consists of arranging tanks in pumps so they produce a closed system. A reservoir that contains solution is generally placed above a grow reservoir holding an inactive material and herbs. According to a timing system water is umped from the over head tank to soak the plants and cultivation material. Any solution that is not absorbed by the root systems or held in the medium is collected in a tank. When the water reaches a predetermined level in the lower reservoir it is pumped back to the over head tank and the process continues.

The ebb and flow system is simple to run due to there being just one container of solution has to be maintained. The nutrient water supplies all the food crops need for growth and the flooding and draining schedule determines how much oxygen it gets. The systems that growers use to keep a regular flooding schedule can be complicated relying on the dimensions and complexity of the cultivation design. For tiny indoor gardens easy single pump system should suffice.

The alternating access to fresh oxygen and nutrients that ebb and flow systems give is what makes herbs grow quickly and make large harvests. Exposure times depend on the volume of solution in the system, the growth material, and the cultivation tank dimensions. Depending on the irrigation requirements of the herbs being grown pumps could be set up to operate throughout the day or once a day.

For indoor gardeners who want like their own hydroponic set up ebb and flow systems are normally good choices. Ebb and flow designs are appropriate for small crop dimensions, are easy to function, have relatively little energy needs, and can make high quality flowers.

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Hydroponic Irrigation Systems

Written by Grow Staff on October 21, 2009 — Leave a Comment

The trick to operating a working hydroponic design is to deliver appropriate minerals at proper intervals. There are a few irrigation systems to help gardeners accomplish this such as static and continuous flow solutions and aeroponics. Hydroponics utilize mineral rich water to give nutrients for developing flowers. Because all the food plants require is in the solution and little if anything in the cultivation medium proper timing and ratios of solution delivery are vital. Systems has to be designed to expose root system to the correct volume of nutrients and gases for maximum development. Several different systems have been developed by growers are static solution culture, continuous flow solution culture, and aeroponics.

In hydroponic systems that utilize static solution culture the crops’ root systems are placed on a pool or tank of mineral rich solution. The solution should be constantly aerated or the level kept just below the root line to ensure the root system has enough access to oxygen. These systems has to be always monitored to ensure which mineral and chemical levels remain  consistent. The most common kind of static water growing is deep water culture cultivation. This system could utilize pumps and timers to regulate a number of the regular tasks and help improve quality.

By continuously flowing water over and around root systems constant flow systems make it simple to make sure they get enough air and mineral levels are uniform. These designs can normally use mixing feeder containers with suitably mixed mineral solution. This makes it easy to maintain the chemical levels and minerals being given to the plants. Ebb and flow technique utilize reservoirs and pumps thoughtfully located along with gravity to provide regular watering. Growers who focus concentrated mineral water along little irrigation gullys use the nutrient film technique. This method allows for an optimum mix of minerals and gases and can be one of the most effective soilless techniques

Aeroponics is the growing technique which utilizes only the mist or light spray of nutrient rich water feed herbs. roots are suspended often in an enclosed holder where they are consistently exposed to nutrients and oxygen. Hydroponic systems with solid growth materials either deliver minerals from below in sub watering or from above in top watering. Bottom irrigation depends on capillary action to draw water up from below. Top watering methods are normally utilized with material which drains well and should be maintained to prevent over watering.

There are many soilless irrigation techniques which could be used to cultivate many different herb species in hydroponic design. Systems for supplying mineral water to developing crops range from the simple to the intricate and could normally be customized for any need.

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Efficient Grow Lamps for Indoor Gardening

Written by Grow Staff on October 20, 2009 — Leave a Comment

The grow lights utilized in an indoor grow room will have a substantial influence on the quality of the plants grown. The more efficient a lamp the faster crops can grow. Fluorescent lamps and LED lamps have been utilized by many growers for grow room cultivation. LED bulbs are now popular with grow room gardeners; they use relatively little power, give off little heat, and can provide just the frequencies your herbs need to grow. Fluorescent grow lamps can efficiently make the light your plants require and are easy to set up almost anywhere.

LED bulbs, or light emitting diodes, have long had many display uses and they have now been adapted for grow room cultivation. LED’s are efficient as grow lights because they have a low energy usage, long lifetime, and tiny dimensions. They can also be manufactured to emit accurate frequencies of light so are useful for any plant you want to cultivation. This makes Light Emitting Diode’s more efficient because there is little wasted light as opposed to other lamps and you can be sure your herbs are receiving the light they need. LED lights can be found in high and short frequencies so can be utilized efficiently during the different growth phases of your flowers. Light Emitting Diode lights are especially suited for hydroponic systems constrained by size because LEDs do not require much space. Light Emitting Diode lights are recent advancements as cultivation lights and further research is still being done to learn how to utilize them.

Fluorescent lights can generate light across a wide range of the light spectrum and are prized for their efficiency and low energy usage. Compared to incandescent bulbs fluorescents are much more powerful, they produce twice as much light and last significantly longer. Fluorescent lights are so effective for grow room cultivation that several other cultivation specific bulbs have been created; high output fluorescents, compact fluorescents, and fluorescent/HID hybrid lamps.

High output fluorescents utilize similar parts as regular fluorescents however they are able to create double the energy. HO fixtures are often manufactured with very thin profiles, this makes them especially useful if utilized in small grow room spaces. Compact fluorescents are smaller versions that can be utilized in many different cultivation set ups. They normally utilize special reflectors that help to focus the light and power they generate. They can be used to assist seedlings start growing or during the growth cycle. High Output Fluorescent/HID mix lights combine the 2 light types for a well rounded lamp system.

Light Emitting Diode and fluorescent lamps are both effective lamp choices for a range of various crops and herbs. There are currently many efficient LED and fluorescent light models available to light your growing room. Developing technology appears it will enhance effectiveness in the future.

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Growing Medium for Indoor Plants

Written by Grow Staff on October 19, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Many growers prefer the use of inert cultivation material when planting indoors. Cultivation mediums could be any number of materials, as long as they promote root access to solution and air, are not degraded by moisture, do not hold bacteria, and could be utilized by root system for stability they should work. Development mediums could either be organic materials found in the nature or artificially manufactured. Some of the more widely used organic mediums include perlite, rock wool, diahydro, coir, and wood fiber although there are literally hundreds of mediums that could be used.

Perlite is one of the many widely used inert materials used in hydroponic gardening. It is volcanic rock which is transformed into lightweight pebbles through a heating process. Perlite could be utilized as the only cultivation medium for plants or mixed with soil to lower soil density. It is able to contain a big amount of oxygen and can be utilized for flowers with root systems that require fresh oxygen. Perlite is a combination of granite, obsidian, pumice, and basalt rocks which have been fused during volcanic activity in a process termed Fusionic Metamorphosis.

Rock wool is one of the most popular cultivation materials for soilless gardens. It is an inactive compound that is produced by molten nutrient substances. It is a fibrous material and exceedingly effective in moving nutrient solution to roots. Gardeners have used rock wool satisfactorily in drainage and recirculated methods.

Diahydro is a type of rock that exists organicly in the environment and is a result of the fossilized remains of diatom. Diahydro is particularly helpful efficient with species of herbs which require high ratios of silica. Diahydro can be up to 94% silica which is used by plants for developing strong cell walls and structures.

Coir, also called coco peat, is the material which remains after the fibers are removed from coconut shells. Coco peat is a totally organic material and does not undergo any manufacturing. It could be utilized by growers for a number of different crop types and indoor systems.

Wood fiber is a organic medium which could be used as a cultivation material. It is a extremely stable medium that keeps its structure for a long time. It is an organic substance and so care has to be taken that it is kept free of disease, pests, or fungus.

Irrigation is one of the most crucial design factor of any hydroponic system.No matter the cultivation medium used it is crucial that it supplies sufficient nutrient delivery and drainage for whatever herbs being planted. Mediums are often selected specifically for their ability to function with the watering system being utilized. It is a important that all mediums are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized prior to growing.

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Deep Water Culture Watering

Written by Grow Staff on October 19, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Deep water culture is a hydroponic method which necessitates suspending a herbs root system in nutrient rich water. The root systems do not contact anything but nutrients, solution, and air. If the solution is properly oxygenated root systems can stay submerged for long period of time, if not some of the root has to remain above the water line to maintain exposure to circulated oxygen. Deep water culture’s capability to expose flowers to big volumes of minerals and air makes it capable of creating both big and quick harvests.

Common systems of deep water culture use big buckets or reservoirs to contain mineral solution. Flowers are then located in nets or containers which allow the root systems free exposure to the solution below. Floating flower holders could be used to automatically make sure the flowers remain at a constant level relative to the water.

Upkeep of static solution cultures is an crucial feature to consider. Sitting water could fluctuate in chemical concentrations over time and needs to be mixed regularly. To solve this problem many gardeners have installed recirculating deep water culture systems. These designs include of reservoir systems that premix and regulate mineral ratios. These systems combine solution in one container prior to watering making it easier to maintain continuous nutrient volumes.

Electric pumps can be added to the system making the process even easier for indoor growers to operate. Recent innovations in pump system designs allows for much greater concentrations of oxygenated water in cultivation containers. Many deep water culture growing systems are now being used with comprehensive recirculation systems. Compared to traditional static water cultures which were not regularly mixed present recirculated systems are contributing to substantially faster and better plant development.

Deep water culture can hopefully be further developed with new advancements to come. It is now one of the most effective hydroponic systems for grow rooms and with the utilization of better automation and designs it should become more convenient to install and run.

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High Intensity Discharge Grow Lamps

Written by Grow Staff on October 18, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Gardening indoors affords gardeners a significant degree of control over their crops’ cultivation environment. Many gardeners want to make the optimal environment for their plants and that includes substantial amounts of light. To create enough light for growing herbs many hydroponic systems use high intensity discharge lamps. These extremely strong types of light includes high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps and are utilized for their intensity. Metal Halide bulbs generate a very intense light in the blue area of the spectrum and are most efficient throughout a flower’s growth cycle. High Pressure Sodium bulbs create low wave length light and are most efficient throughout the vegetative growth phase.

MH bulbs are HID lights and are used by gardeners because of their ability to generate very intense lighting. They emit light along the higher area of the wavelength spectrum. These longer wavelength of light are most often used by growers during the growth cycle. The blue light is helpful for herbs to develop a sturdy structure especially leafs and stalks. It is vital for herbs to develop a sturdy stem so they can support the large flowers generated by grow room methods.

High pressure sodium bulbs are a different type of high intensity discharge light and are widely utilized by gardeners and generate an extremely intense light along the orange end of the light spectrum. The smaller wavelength orange light is most efficiently used by flowers when budding. Gardeners often report substantially larger yields when they use high pressure sodium lamps throughout later growth. High pressure sodium lamps just produce orange light. If only high pressure sodium bulbs are utilized throughout a crops early life growth will be taller and quicker. These plants will unlikely be able to support the large flower growers prize. Lots of gardeners will just apply this kind of light throughout latter grow phases.

The two bulbs metal halide and high pressure sodium lamps are effective at creating a single and just one wavelength of light for hydroponic systems. Since flowers require different kinds of light throughout their lives these lights are normally utilized in combination. By using high intensity discharge lamps with lights of varying frequencies a more complete light profile is provide. By providing herbs proper lighting at appropriate intervals and intensities during their development exceptional spped and high quality yields can be achieved.

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Growing Mediums for Hydroponic Indoor Garden

Written by Grow Staff on October 18, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Many growers prefer the use of inactive cultivation material when plant inside. Cultivation materials could be any number of mediums, as long as they permit root exposure to solution and air, are not broken down by moisture, do not hold pests or bacteria, and could be utilized by root systems for stability they has to function. Development mediums could either be natural mediums found in nature or artificially manufactured. Some of the more popular processed or manufactured materials include vermiculite, clay pellets, gravel, brick shards, packing peanuts although there are literally hundreds of mediums that could be used.

Vermiculite is a organic mineral which is cooked until it expands to become a lightweight, porous pebble medium. It is normally manufactured in commercial heaters specially designed for the function. It is known to contain more water than air and has a wicking property which makes it suitable for transporting water in passive hydroponic irrigation systems. Vermiculite are so efficient at drawing water they could sometimes flood root system. If this happens gardeners can usually add perlite to balance out the mixture.

Clay pellets which are heated until they enlarge and become porous are known as LECA, or Light Expanded Clay Aggregate, and appropriate as cultivation medium. Baked clay pellets are helpful for growers who need to have clean medium which does not hold any nutrients. Clay is completely inert, has a neutral pH value, and gives nothing of consequence to crops. LECA pellets are super heated so that they become porous and able to transport water but also very strong so they can hold their shape and function for a long time. Some gardeners clean and sterilize pellets for reuse although other do not because root system growth from herbs and enter and stay in the pellets.

Gravel is used by many gardeners for their indoor growing material. Aquarium gravel is usually utilized because it is clean and an effective size although any gravel of suitable dimensions which is sterilized must work. Gravel medium systems can often employ electric pumps and overhead irrigation methods to ensure a steady supply of nutrients. Gravel drains exceedingly well, so well that if it is not continuously supplied with water roots could dry out rapidly.

Brick shards are known to be effective cultivation material for a number of varied crops. They have similar properties to gravel from a horticultural perspective although may alter chemical concentrations. Unlike gravel brick shards can change pH readings and should be thoroughly cleaned prior to every use.

Packing peanuts are extremely affordable and conveniently available medium for cultivation. They are light weight and give excellent drainage although there may be health concerns. Depending on the specific compounds used in production packing peanuts may breakdown in solution or provide flowers with chemicals.

No matter the cultivation material utilized in your indoor grow rooms it is important that it provides adequate nutrient delivery and drainage for whatever crops being grown. Mediums are normally selected specifically for their ability to function with the watering method being utilized. It is a crucial that all materials are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before growing. Any pests or bacteria that is present on a material can almost certainly infect the herbs being grown.

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Growing Mediums for Soilless Cultivation

Written by Grow Staff on October 18, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Hydroponic systems could suspend crop root systems in mineral water or utilize an inert cultivation medium to help facilitate solution movement and provide a foundation for development. True hydroponics uses only a mineral rich water as a growing material. This provides flower with the nourishment they need and is easy to maintain. There are some drawbacks however, depending on the watering technique used herbs may be denied adequate oxygen and do not have any support. Many growers have instead used. Variations on the hydroponic technique can utilize inert materials for cultivation or a nutrient mist as in aeroponics.

Setting up a hydroponic system that uses only nutrient water as a grow medium has the advantages of being able to precisely regulate which mineral concentrations your herbs get and when. Because there is nothing between the minerals and root systems crops are able to get the maximum nourishment possible. The lack of any other medium also decreases the potential for fungus to start.

Cultivating flowers in only the mist of a mineral water is known as aeroponics. This method is similar to standard hydroponics with the added benefit that the mist does not restrict the root systems’ access to oxygen. For a number of plants aeroponics supplies the ideal growing environment. Designing these types of cultivation systems can be difficult however, especially for huge species of plants.

One of the easiest methods for installing an indoor soilless design is to utilize an inert material as a growing medium. Using a solid material at the foundation of your growing provides your crop a firm base for cultivation. In some ways these designs are easier to install and do not require elaborate support for growing flowers. The best kind of medium to use are able to effectively move water and supply oxygen to root. Vermiculite and perlite are two of the most popular media used by gardeners. They are natural minerals which are super heated to become lightweight pebbles. Both are useful for providing precise ratios of minerals and air to root system.

There are thousands of mediums growers have used to satisfactorily grow plants inside. All that is required is material that is sterilized, not degraded by solution, and porous. Examples of inert growing mediums include expanded clay, rock wool, diahydro, sand, gravel, brick shards, and wood fiber.

Before picking a cultivation material for your hydroponic system it is crucial to know what types of plants you want to cultivate. The requirements of your plants along with the technical and size limitations of your cultivation room can dictate what kind of grow material to utilize.

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Passive Hydroponic Watering Systems and Designs

Written by Grow Staff on October 17, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Passive hydroponics is one of the simplest hydroponic designs for home gardeners. Also known as semi-hydroponics or passive sub irrigation, this system does not use any dirt but instead inert mediums are utilized as growing materials. These growing material provide all the nutrient flowers need from a tank below. Semihydroponic designs combine simple set up with convenient daily maintenance.

Semihydroponic designs use cultivation mediums only to give plants a platform for cultivation and to provide mineral water, many do not provide any minerals themselves. There are a few varied materials that could be utilized such as rock wool, coir, vermiculite, and perlite. These materials are able to transport solution upwards through capillary action. Depending on the absorption rate of different materials systems could be set up to run without much regular tasks.

Growing mediums has to not only provide water but also have to allow space for fresh oxygen to be moved around the roots. The mixture of minerals and fresh air is what assists crops grow and stay healthy. Different species of plants can have various mineral and air needs, growers often mix various mediums to make the suitable habitat.

Cleaning is vital for passive hydroponic designs to make sure that no bacteria or fungus develops. As primarily static systems nutrients can accumulate throughout the reservoirs and growing medium. Thoroughly rinsing out equipment between crops can help systems last longer and maintain the quality of plants grown.

Semihydroponic systems can be relatively simple designs and are excellent for small hydroponic systems or could be scaled up for large operations. Growers have reported satisfyingly growing a range of varied types of plants of exceedingly high quality with the method. For growers who desire a indoor hydroponic system without much regular maintenance and simple set up passive designs are excellent options.

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Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic Watering Method

Written by Grow Staff on October 16, 2009 — Leave a Comment

Nutrient film technique is a hydroponic method that focuses shallow streams over solution over crop root systems. This kind of design could be hard to install but if done correctly can produce rapid and huge cultivation. Nutrient film technique, or NFT, cultivation methods provide crops with enough nutrients through the solution constantly flowing past the root systems and gives them exposure to oxygen. Compared to other hydroponic systems NFT supplies plants with more air and so growth is quicker.

Nutrient film technique hydroponic systems direct shallow streams of nutrient solution down gullys which hold root. The shallow stream delivers all the minerals plants need for cultivation and by keeping the stream shallow the root systems have exposure to oxygen. This system is one of the most effective for supplying crops nutrients and fresh air, many other hydroponic systems require one to be favored more than the other.

One of the crucial design aspects of NFT systems is the flow rate which is largely dictated by the incline of the channels. For most crops a small incline which slowly transports solution around the roots permitting optimum access is ideal and slopes of 1:100 are ideal. In practice it can be hard to set up systems so level that a slope of 1:100 is adequate to avoid accumulation of solution in depressed spots. The solution lots of home gardeners utilize steeper slopes of approximately 1:50.

The amount of water a system could hold and the size of the watering channels also has a substantial influence on crop size and timing. If gullys are overly large or there are too many crops using the same water minerals could become depleted and plants at the far end of the gully could suffer. Every nutrient film technique design should be tested to make sure it is not overloaded. A general rule is 1 liter of solution for 60 seconds for each crop tank though this amount can change according to plants being cultivated and the gully design for the hydroponic system. Researchers have found that quality begins dropping on channels which exceed 15 meters in size.

NFT hydroponic cultivation methods are some of the most efficient irrigation systems. They could be difficult to set up and require accurate construction so slope and nutrient concentrations remain constant. If these disadvantages can be solved flowers of impressive magnitude and value can be quickly grown.

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