The Basics of Hydroponic Cultivation

Gardening hydroponically isn’t anything like cultivating a traditional garden outside. The truth is, you’re making use of an entirely different medium than traditional soil, so it’s critical that you learn the proper techniques to provide the essentials of life to your plants. Read on for some tips on hydroponic cultivation that will reward you with flourishing plants.

When it comes to hydroponic gardening, water is likely the key factor in the success of a garden, because it is the carrier of nutrients along with the medium wherein your plants develop. You will have to ensure that your garden has ample amounts of water supplied to it daily, otherwise the roots will dry out and your plants will die.

But plain old water won’t be enough. You have to maintain the proper balance between salinity, alkalinity and nutrient content. This can be accomplished through using nutrient mixes that are specifically formulated for gardening hydroponically. The nutrients you choose will be dependent upon the varieties of plants you’re growing in addition to their stage in the growth cycle. You might have to experiment with the ratios and feeding times so as to get optimal results.

Additionally, remember that some plants can alter the water quality, which may result in fungal and bacterial infectivity. You may have to make use of filtration and chlorination to eliminate the risk of plant infection.

Another essential aspect of hydroponic cultivation is ample lighting. Plants need light so as to flourish, for the production of chlorophyll and for protection from the cold. There are a couple of fundamental ways in which light may be supplied to the plants – natural daylight and artificial lights. As a rule plants require 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight in order to thrive. However, if providing natural daylight to the plants isn’t practical, you may have to set up artificial lights. There are several different types of lights you can choose from, such as HID, incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen.

Moreover, you will want to make certain that your plants are getting enough oxygen, particularly if you are growing plants in an indoor location. In this case, you can provide oxygen to your plants by bubbling air through the water solution.

It’s also important to keep an eye on the temperature. Your plants need an environment that is maintained at approximately 75 degrees F, however this might be lower or higher based on the variety of plants being cultivated along with the time of year.

Even though there’s a good deal to know about hydroponic cultivation, the rewards will be fabulous if you take pleasure in growing flowers, vegetables and other plants throughout the year.

More and More People Taking Up Vegetable Gardening

The number of home gardeners is on the rise. Households growing plants jumped 19% from 2008-2009 to 43 million households, according to the 2009 Impact of Home and Community Gardening In America study that was conducted by Harris Interactive for the National Gardening Association. At first glance, one might expect people to cite the recession as a motivating factor for their decision to garden. While a third said the recession affected their interest in gardening, another third said it had no impact whatsoever. In fact, the chief motivating factor of cultivating home-grown vegetables is “for better-tasting food.”

So just who are all these new gardeners? “The demographics of today’s food gardening households include a broad cross-section of the U.S. population. There are few other outdoor activities where virtually every demographic group is so well represented, no matter what their age, education, income, marital status, household size, gender, or regional location,” concludes the NGA report.

The food gardening experience is enjoyed primarily by women (54%), those ages 45+ (68%), college students (43%) and married couples with no children at home (67%). The gardeners are pretty evenly spread across the South, Midwest, West and Northeast. Those making $35,000 – $49,999 in household income are the most common gardening group (24%), although many who make over $75,000 (22%), under $35,000 (21%) and between $50,000 and $74,999 (16%) are also represented.

To get started, most households spent about $70 on seeds, garden supplies and gardening tools. The study of home gardeners found that the average, well-maintained 600-square-foot garden yielded 300 pounds of produce worth $600 in market value, which saved households $530 a year. The ten most popular vegetables grown included the following: tomatoes (86%), cucumbers (47%), sweet peppers (46%), beans (39%), carrots (34%), summer squash (32%), onions (32%), hot peppers (31%), lettuce (28%), and peas (24%). A number of people also grew corn, radishes, potatoes, salad greens, pumpkins, watermelons, spinach, broccoli, melons, cabbage, beets, winter squash, asparagus, collards, cauliflower, celery, Brussels sprouts, leeks, kale, parsnips, Chinese cabbage and rutabagas.

When asked why home gardeners are participating in the gardening experience, the overwhelming majority (58%) said they want “better-tasting food.” Over half of the participants (54%) say they want to save money on food bills; 51% say they want “better quality food” and 48% say they want “to grow food they know is safe.” About 34% of gardeners say the economic downturn has motivated them to grow food this year. Perhaps it’s the growing concerns over what is organic and what is sprayed with potentially harmful pesticides, which makes the average American consumer more skeptical of grocery store produce. Or perhaps it’s the recent scares we’ve had with tomatoes, peppers and peanuts this year. The National Gardening Association study revealed the underlying suspicions of the average consumer, but also this wave of frugality and earth stewardship that seems to be brewing as well.

It’s Not Hard to Create an Attractive Bonsai Garden

If you already have a bonsai tree and think you may want to add to your collection, there are a few steps you can take towards planting your own bonsai garden. This is the way to quickly start a garden created especially with your plants and personal style in mind.

The choice of a rock garden is a popular and visually appealing style in bonsai gardening. The plants are secured underneath beautiful rocks, and the amount of water and care you give your trees will determine how long the garden will last. In these conditions, it is best to select botanical specimens with hardy roots as well as tiny foliage. To start the rock bonsai garden, most people choose a Ficus or an Oriental Bittersweet, which you can find at most nurseries.

After choosing your desired botanical specimen, begin incorporating rocks into the dirt. Construction areas are a great source for rocks, or they may be bought in sacks at home and garden outlets. The rocks you choose should be hard and strong, to ensure your tree gets the proper shape. Try to select rocks that have cracks, so you can introduce soil and water into them. This provides the idea that the tree has really sprouted from a rock, and may provide a very good look to your house garden or any where else you may happen to live.

It’s possible to construct a bonsai garden with the botanical specimens you own now. Adding features to the garden like a rock fountain, or standing your plants up on decorative pillars will definitely make the bonsai garden stand out. If you’ve got enough room, you might even want to design an artificial pool in the garden’s center.

It is also ideal to have several types of trees in the garden. Choose a tiny fir as an element of your layout, along with a fruit-bearing cherry tree. With a bonsai garden, you can grow plants together that normally would not be able to thrive in the same environment, so use this to your advantage when you’re decorating.