Gardening Archives
The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. A pH less than 7.0 is acidic, and a pH greater than 7.0 is basic. Each whole pH value below 7.0 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. For example, a pH of 4.0 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 5.0 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than a pH of 6.0. The same holds true for pH values above 7.0, each of which is ten times more alkaline—another way to say basic—than the next lower whole value. For example, a pH of 10.0 is ten times more alkaline than a pH of 9.0.
The dry matter in a plant is made up of 90% carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The majority content, which is carbon, is taken into the plant through carbon dioxide (CO2) available from the air. The average air that we inhale contains 0.003-0.004% of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is an odorless, non-flammable, colorless gas. It is believed that the prehistoric plants that developed eons ago had environmental conditions with very high levels of carbon dioxide in it. In today’s plants, due to their evolution, these more modern incarnations have maintained their capacity to harness more CO2 than the current environment now has.
There are two forms of hydroponic systems – there are re-circulating and drain-to-waste systems. In a recirculating system, the runoff from the nutrient solution is collected, replenished and reapplied to the substrate. In a drain to waste system, the runoff is drained into the ground or routed to a holding reservoir. Many gardeners choose to use the drain to waste system because this method offers more control over the composition of the nutrient solution being applied. In a recirculating system the solution will gradually become unbalanced, unless the solution is tested for each nutrient. A rapidly growing vine crop such as tomato can remove a considerable amount of nutrients in a day. In a “drain to waste” system the grower can increase the feeding time and be confident a balanced solution is reaching the crop.
Fluorescent lights work by placing an anode and a cathode at opposite ends of a glass tube. Inside the tube are a partial vacuum and a small amount of mercury vapor. When energized, the mercury vapor is ionized and emits ultraviolet radiation. The inside of the tube is coated with a phosphor – a powder that “fluoresces” (gives off light) when stimulated by ultraviolet radiation, thus producing visible light. The chemical composition of the phosphor determines the spectrum or color of the emitted light.
Earthworm Castings are the excrement left behind by worms after they finish digesting the organic matter that makes up their diet. They are made in a container filled with moistened bedding and redworms. With food waste and with assistance from microorganisms, the worms will convert bedding and food waste into compost. Worm composting can be done year-round, indoors in schools, offices and homes. It is a natural method for recycling nutrients in food waste without odor. The resulting compost is a good soil conditioner for houseplants, gardens and patio containers.
One of the first choices you’ll have to make in your life as a gardener is settling in on the system that you’re going to use to grow your plants in. It can often be difficult to choose which type of system to use because there are so many different systems available. In this article we will take a look at various grow systems, including drip systems, ebb & flow, deep water culture (DWC), Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Aeroponics and Aquaponics. There are hundreds of variations on these basic types of systems, but all hydroponic methods are a variation (or combination) of these.
San Diego Hydroponics & Organics is excited to announce its partnership with Sanctuary Soil and Feed, Inc. Based in Central California, Sanctuary Soil provides premium quality earthworm castings, custom soils, potting mixes and soil amendments. With Sanctuary Soil products, you will always get the best soil mixes and earthworm castings in convenient, easy to manage bagged products. We [...]
Inorganic growing media is derived from natural sources, and through refinement become very valuable and often reusable products. Due to the ease of use, ease of reuse, and physical longevity of the substrate, inorganic growing media has a permanent place in both horticulture and hydroponics. Perlite One of the most common inorganic substrates is perlite. [...]
Deciding what type of soil to choose for your garden can be a little confusing. With so many blends to choose from this process may get technical, but with the proper knowledge, it can also be fun and exciting After all, your soil choice will determine the quality and yield of your harvest. To help [...]
Cloning is the process of taking a cutting from your plant and getting that cutting to grow into a new, full-grown plant that is a genetically identical to the original. Though it may sound intimidating, it’s actually a relatively easy process. Cloning simply requires some patience and understanding. In this article we will break down the process step by step so you can also reap the benefits of cloning…
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