There is much debate around the issue of organic fertilizer vs. mineral based (inorganic, all natural) fertilizers and the preference of one or the other. Some folks will argue that inputs sourced from living things (organic) are better for the land while rock sourced (inorganic) counterparts are better for large scale commercial food production, but there are many conflicting opinions as to the proper route and both seem to have their faults, and both have their merits. Which one … Continue Reading →
Growing plants with LED grow lights is currently one of the hottest topics in indoor gardening. Gardening with LEDs is fairly new and only done by a handful of gardeners so there are many questions surrounding them that the indoor garden community wants to know. Do LED’s really save electricity compared to an HID? Is the high cost of an LED made up in electrical savings? Can you successfully flower summer crops under an LED grow light? Personally I’m very … Continue Reading →
Spring is here which means anyone with a garden is bound to do some type of transplanting. A well executed transplant is one key to having a bountiful harvest. Whether you garden in soil, soilless, or hydroponics, there are a few helpful hints that will make this transition nice and easy for you and your garden. The number one goal when transplanting any full grown plant or newly rooted cutting or seedling is to reduce or eliminate “transplant shock”. We … Continue Reading →
For over a decade BioBizz has been of the best selling organic nutrients worldwide. BioBizz has made the conscious effort to make a positive contribution with its commitment to ecological awareness. They produce natural nutrients, fertilizers, stimulants, and additive mixtures for plants. These products have been developed for every sensible gardener. Product innovation and quality control is the foundation of their success. Ecologically aware and socially responsible, BioBizz’s scientists and technicians use the very latest technology available for periodical and … Continue Reading →
A common pest to most outdoor and greenhouse gardens are caterpillars. These are ravenous feeders that, when left unchecked, do lots damage. There are a few precautions that you can take that will defeat these quickly and safely. First step is knowing what to look for to identify caterpillar activity. One sure way to tell is when you see your flowers partially eaten and small black specks are left around the area. Those are the droppings of the caterpillar and … Continue Reading →
Triple Layer Breathable Blackout Fabric If you grow plants that need extra beauty sleep, our blackout screens are double layered to provide more than 99.9% blackout (enough for the most sensitive plants). The Triple layer breathable blackout fabric is black on one side and white on the other to deflect excess heat from the sun. The fabric can be used inside the greenhouse with sliding and suspended systems for rolling applications, or it can go on the outside. Woven Black & White Non-Breathable … Continue Reading →
Cold Frame Basics The term “cold frame” typically refers to a low profile covered structure used to protect plants from the elements. Often cold weather, and excessive wetness or moisture can hinder the growth of small plants – so a cold frame can be a viable solution to nurture the plants to a size where they can withstand the elements. As far as greenhouses go, the term cold frame actually has more than one meaning. Basically, the different groups that … Continue Reading →
It’s greenhouse season, and many people are just beginning to consider what kind of structure they’d like, and what kind of materials they should use. When most of us think about greenhouses, we imagine those iconic Dutch glass structures. Glass lets in nearly 100% of the light (Light-transmission) and looks beautiful, but has many disadvantages compared to other greenhouse materials. Glass is expensive, heavy, fragile, and difficult to install. Single-pane glass is a terrible insulator, and can be very expensive to heat … Continue Reading →
Now that spring has sprung, folks are itching to get their plants started for the outdoor season. An important thing to remember is to make sure to protect your young seedlings from that last unexpected frost. If it is still winter by you, some of these tips might help! Frost protection can be achieved a number of ways. The first, and often times easiest option, is to simply move the plants to a warmer place, either inside or otherwise. If … Continue Reading →
Spider mites are one of the most common garden pests and can be found feeding on the leaves and stems of vegetables, plants, fruit trees, and vines. Spider mite control becomes increasingly difficult once the pest has been well established in the garden so early detection is very important. Although related to insects, mites are not insects but members of the arachnid class along with spiders and ticks. The spider mite also known as “web-spinning mite” is the most common … Continue Reading →
C.A.P. Extreme 1000 W Nano Ballast The Xtreme Nano is a premier addition to your custom lighting setup. This ballast comes in at an unbelievable size at just 9.65″ x 4.9″ x 2.3″ and weighing an amazing 2.9lbs. It allows for just the right amount of light, giving you the ability to customize light strength between 100%, 75% and 50% settings. Of course, C.A.P. had to MAKE IT COOL, with the unique vented case design and dual with the unique vented … Continue Reading →
Paul Stamets is one of the world’s leading mycologists (a.k.a. fungus scientist). One of his most recent books, Mycelium Running, encompasses the history and future of these amazing organisms. Mycelia act as a sort of fungal ‘root’, some of them forming underground networks that spread for thousands of acres. A single cubic inch of soil could have up to 8 miles of mycelia within it! These mycelium assist in decomposition and enrichment of our soils; reconstituting ecosystems, filtering toxic contaminants, … Continue Reading →
Automating a grow room will help keep a stable indoor growing environment reducing problems, saving time and increasing yields. Automation is defined as: the technique, method or system of operating or controlling a process by highly automatic means, as by electronic or mechanical devices, reducing human intervention to a minimum. Some examples of common “highly automatic means” in the grow room are timers, temperature and/or humidity controllers and CO2 monitors. The most fundamental means of automation that every indoor gardener … Continue Reading →
SIZE, OUTPUT and PERFORMANCE have finally met, birthing the Quantum T5 BadBoy! The T5 BadBoy produces color and light much closer to that of regular daylight than the leading competitors resulting in tighter internodal spacing, thicker stem-walls heartier foliage, and natural increases in extracts. All of these come together to create a much healthier plant while enhancing the natural characteristics of each specific plant. How do they do it, you ask? The Quantum Tri-phosphor bulbs are designed for optimum performance … Continue Reading →
T5 Lighting was originally designed in the 1950s and has grown to be the light choice of many indoor gardeners! In Hydroponics, T5 lights usually come in 2 foot and 4 foot lengths and appear in units ranging form single bulb to 16 bulb units. Fluorescent lighting is optimal for indoor gardening for a few reasons including kelvin rating (bulb spectrum) and lumens per watt output. Before we dive in and tell you what the best t5 out there is, … Continue Reading →
Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a head start on summer crops and a common practice for year round hydroponic gardeners. How a plant starts it’s life can have a big affect on how well the plant ultimately develops and matures. Improper care of a seedling or small plant can stall the plant’s growth and root development which can lead to slower growth, plant disease, pest infestations and poor harvests. The good news is starting seeds indoors … Continue Reading →
For the last number of years, expanded clay pellets have been one of the preferred hydroponic mediums on the market. It is an inert (contains no nutrients) medium, holds air, and is reusable. Gardeners like the fact that these pellets cannot be over watered and the roots are able to readily proliferate in the container. Unlike rockwool that you need to pre-treat and condition, with pellets, all you do is rinse the dust off and they are ready to use. … Continue Reading →
With the winter upon us, cool, humid night time temperatures are increasingly common. Aside from having good ventilation system, and adhering to a good preventative spray regiment, there is an often overlooked additive that can help to increase the health of your plant especially during these times. A lot of gardeners over the years have begun to incorporated silicate (Si) into their feeding programs. Silicate helps to increase the strength of the cell walls, increases stalk strength, and there is … Continue Reading →
When looking at spray options in relation to pest management, it is important to look at what you are trying to achieve. If you are growing fruits, vegetables, or greens; the least “toxic” approach is always best. Over the years a number of products have been developed to combat the various pests in the garden, with some having more successful than others. With all the choices these days on the shelf, here is a breakdown of some of the least … Continue Reading →
Here are a couple of “best practices” that can help any hydroponic garden thrive. The first suggestion is to check the parts-per-million (ppm) of the water you will be using. If your water is above 150 ppm, you should consider using a filter, specifically a reverse osmosis (RO) filter. If you are one of the lucky few that have a good water source, this is not for you. For the rest of us with hard water, some of the best … Continue Reading →
