Sunday, February 15, 2015

A Local Hydroponics Store Helps Indoor Gardeners Get Started

By Katina Brady


Having a traditional garden in an open, sunlit outdoor space is impossible for most city dwellers. People living in high rises or apartment buildings who want to grow herbs and vegetables indoors increasingly turn to hydroponics, a method of gardening successful in nearly any type of non-traditional setting. Residents of Seattle, WA rely on a hydroponics store not only for the latest supplies, but also for advice and information.

While the name given to this type of production is associated with water, the term is loosely associated with any form of plant cultivation that does not rely on the use of natural soil. The process relies on a wide variety of substitute plant anchors that include porous sands, bits of shredded wood, gravel, and vermiculite. These materials lack nutrients, and growth is maintained by carefully applying liquid nutrition.

Commercial hydroponic farms often rely on greenhouses, but individual gardeners often use similar methods in small kitchen spaces, or even in closets. In many countries growers produce not only vegetables, but are increasingly supplying the commercial flower industry. In states where cannabis can now be legally grown for individual use, the process is ideal for producing plants of reliable quality.

Traditional gardening often includes an ongoing battle with insect pests, which may involve chemical pesticides. A hydroponic growth system greatly reduces the type of damage soil-borne insects produce, as well as limiting the effects of rapidly spreading plant diseases and fungal infections. Indoor systems eliminate the losses caused by hungry rabbits or rodents, and make climate control simpler.

For novices, getting started with hydroponic indoor gardening is not complicated or difficult. The equipment can be as simple or complex as needed, and is available both online and in traditional stores. Beginners need a prepared space suitable for growth, including a frame that is able to hold both soil substitutes and liquid nutrients without becoming hazardous. Systems can be as basic as a grow light and stacked trays.

Growth methods include drip systems that provide steady levels of nutrients and water, operations featuring ebb-and-flow nutrient film techniques, as well as wick and aeroponic methods. While starter kits are available, many people design their own systems in order to fit a particular space. The nutrients needed differ from traditional soil fertilizers, and most beginners choose a proven formula.

The medium used to anchor plants varies, and there is really no single material superior to the others. Successful growth is also dependent upon individual location and circumstance, and requires both a water and nutrient circulation that does not stagnate. Some growers use pumps to aerate the growth solution, and all systems require an artificial light source.

Stores featuring hydroponic kits and accessories offer consumers more than the latest merchandise. In many cases they can offer useful tips on growing plants that are considered nutritionally equal to those raised in soil, and can recommend solutions for nearly any indoor growing problem. The only limits for horticultural hobbyists are related to space and the amount of time available for gardening.




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