Botanic Garden » time

Hydroponic

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:13:09 +0000

Home gardeners also use hydroponics to grow vegetables year round. Oftentimes, people who live in apartments practice hydroponics because it saves space.

Plants do not need soil to grow. Plants can grow in many different media, including nutrient-rich water, peat- or bark-based growing mixes.

Hydroponics knowledge is ancient (think of the hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Floating Gardens of China), but there is a resurgence of interest today for hobbyists and commercial growers alike. It is a fun hobby for some, but the economic impact hydroponics can make is of greatest importance.
Reasons many choose hydroponic gardening:

* No weeds
* Fewer pests
* Fewer plant diseases
* Healthy, vigorous plants
* Faster maturing plants
* Yield earlier harvests
* Can grow plants year round
* Can grow indoors
* No fertilizer or pesticide runoff
* Conserves land, space, and water. Hydroponics also conserves greenhouse space for those who use greenhouses.
* Can be used in areas otherwise inhospitable to most plants, such as a hot, dry desert

Plant requirements are nutrients, water, air and sunlight (or some sort of light – see below for indoor gardening). When plants grow in the soil, they obtain nutrients and water through the soil. When plants grow in water or a soil less medium, you must add the nutrients in a steady diet to the plants.
You can even automate your hydroponics system with timers, further reducing the time spent on gardening. Today, hydroponic gardening kits and supplies are available online, with the systems ranging from small to elaborate.

The advantages of hydroponics for challenged land areas can be readily apparent: Through the use of hydroponic systems, a desert can produce as much food as any other place since precise water and nutrient application directly to the roots of plants conserves water and still allows the plants to thrive.

Indoor hydroponic gardening: You must provide adequate light and good air circulation for indoor gardening. Indoor hydroponics units often incorporate a small fan to circulate the air. Good air circulation allows photosynthesis to occur and also prevents fungus.
Indoor light sources:

* metal halide lamps
* sodium vapor lamps
* gro-lights
* fluorescent lights and incandescent light bulbs
* Natural sunlight from a South-facing window

About nutrient solutions:

There are 13 elements necessary for plant growth (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, molybdenum and chlorine).

You will need a fertilizer or solution that is specially formulated for hydroponic gardening. You cannot use the fertilizers that are geared to amending the soil because they do not contain all the necessary nutrients. Ready-made solutions are easily purchased at hydroponics or organic gardening supply stores.

Greenhouse

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:08:42 +0000

There are some distinct advantages to using a greenhouse for overwintering. In many areas rodents can be a significant source of damage to plants during the winter months when other food is scarce. Another major cause of damage and loss of plants during winter is caused by freezing and fluctuations in soil temperature, and this is an even bigger problem for plants in containers. Plants out in the open also often sustain tissue burn from the moisture loss caused by cold dry air. Proper overwintering in a greenhouse makes it much easier to protect against these and other winter hazards to plants.

It is possible to keep many plants from one year to the next. They will not continue to bloom profusely and grow over winter as they did during the summer, but in many cases they will have better production than they did in year one and will give the gardener a great head start on the next season.
Depending upon the climate, late August (Hardness zones 3-6) to late September (Hardness zones 7-8) is generally the window for beginning the overwintering process. In most areas it is practically impossible to keep plants thriving and producing outside past October. The low sun and shorter days tend to induce ’semi-dormancy’, a period of reduced functioning in the plants. For this reason the beginning of the overwintering program will start by gradually tapering off watering and fertilization in October. In the winter the soil should not become bone dry or dusty, but should be watered only occasionally during the plant’s dormancy.

It is best to hold off on moving plants into the greenhouse until just before the first freeze of winter sets in. Moving the plants inside too early will slow down the hardening off process and may result in undesirable out of season growth.

Tips for Success – Once plants are in the greenhouse temperature control is very important to overwintering success. Temperatures of 45°-55°F are ideal. The higher the temperatures above this range, the more likely the plants will produce weak growth out of season which can make them susceptible to various infestations. Greenhouse temperatures can generally be controlled using ventilation during the day to keep the greenhouse from overheating. In very cold climates a heat source may be necessary to keep the temperature close to the ideal range, particularly at night.

Most plants will benefit from some pruning back in mid-March in preparation for the vigorous growth during the new season. This is also a good time to consider transplanting plants that grew a lot during the past summer into the garden or larger containers. Plants adjust best to gradual change. At this time, the greenhouse can be allowed to reach slightly warmer temperatures (65°F days, 55°F nights). Resume fertilizing with balanced blend mixed half-strength. When all danger of frost is past, the plants can be moved outside again for the summer, and the greenhouse temperatures can be raised for plants that will remain in the greenhouse or for germination of new plants for the growing season.

For successful overwintering in the greenhouse keep these tips in mind:

* Begin overwintering by reducing water and fertilizer in late August to late October, depending on Hardiness Zone.
* Take care not to allow soil or air to become overly dry.
* Wait until just before the first freezing weather of the season to move plants into the greenhouse.
* During the winter dormant period maintain greenhouse temperatures as close to 45°-55°F as possible.
* Prune plants back in mid-March in preparation for the new growing season.
* After pruning, increase greenhouse temperature to 65°F days, 55°F nights and resume fertilizing with balanced blend mixed ½-strength.
* Move plants to desired outdoor locations when all danger of frost has passed.

Herb Garden?

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:06:02 +0000

herb gardens has been around for centuries and people continue to practise this activity until this day. A herb garden has a specific purpose – to grow herbal plants that can be then used for cooking or medicinal purposes. Many herbs are grown and used in alternative medicine for their healing properties while others grow them purely for ornamental and decorative reasons.
Getting Started

The most economical and fastest way to access information on starting your own herb garden is by using the Internet. Thousands of websites are dedicated to the ins and outs of cultivating herbs in your garden. They offer invaluable insights into the characteristics of each type of herb, how to avoid certain pitfalls, how to treat certain diseases, the optimum weather conditions and soil mixture to yield a good crop and how to fend off garden pests such as snails, slugs and insects that impact the health of these plants.

You can also invest in a create-your-own-herb-garden kit. They are widely available at garden centers, all ready to be used both indoors and outdoors. All the compost is mixed for you and all you need to do is follow the instructions, sow the seeds and watch the herb grow, simple and easy. Some herbs grow all year round while others thrive during certain months of the year and require constant sunshine and watering. When the herbs have hardened in the pot or container you can then transfer them into your garden.

It is worthwhile reading up on the different herbs on things such as their growth rate, their maximum height and spread and the type of soil that is needed to promote growth prior to creating your herb garden. Some mature herbs can grow into a large tall bush which means you will need to allocate enough space for it to grow in while others such as mint leaves spread like wild fire and would benefit from growing in a pot rather than letting it run free in the garden and overtaking patches that are reserved for other herbs. No longer are herbs home grown just to add extra flavor to cooking, they are also popular in alternative medicinal purposes. Many now swear by the benefits and healing powers of herbs to treat illnesses such as the cold, headaches and pains.

Do not rush it, take your time to research the plethora of herbs and find those that are suitable to grow in your garden and use the Internet to exchange tips with other fellow herb garden enthusiasts.