Growlights for the Greenhouse

You may think that greenhouse lighting sounds like a very odd idea. Isn't the whole point of greenhouses that they let in plenty of light from the sun? Well, yes, but when the weather is gloomy or winter days are short sometimes the sun just isn't there as much as your plants would like. Those are the times when extra lighting can really come in handy, keeping your plants happy and healthy no matter what conditions are like outside.

Lighting accessories for greenhouses have improved a great deal over the past few years. No only have they come down in price, but they've diversified to meet a wider range of gardening needs. Traditional fluorescent grow lights are still an option, relatively cheap and easy to install.

They're good if you want to minimize heat output in a small greenhouse where it can be difficult to maintain temperature control. The newest grow lights to the market, the T5 fluorescent lights provide even more light intensity to your plants and use less energy!

Also available are high intensity discharge lights which concentrate their output in those regions of the spectrum which are most useful for photosynthesis. This means that it takes less power and fewer units of lighting to produce a comparable amount of growth.

There are grow lights designed to help your plants with vegetative growth or lights developed to aid with flowering. However, HID lights give off a lot more heat, so you should attach them high up in your greenhouse where they won't bake your plants.

The advent of more sophisticated greenhouse lighting accessories means that even under the worst conditions, it's possible to raise plants which look as if they've enjoyed full sunlight every day. However, it's important to remember that, even with these options available; plants still need a distinct day and night cycle.

This is essential to the way they respire and the way they get rid of waste - so don't be tempted to leave your greenhouse lights on too late into the night. Greenhouse lighting should not try to overcome nature - rather, it should complement it, to make the most of nature's bounty.

About the author

Michelle Torres has nearly 20 years experience using and designing greenhouses and is an avid gardener. You can find additional useful information about greenhouses and greenhouse gardening at http://www.greenhousecatalog.com

WHAT ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDROPONICS

Hydroponic systems are distinguished by their being active or passive. In an active hydroponics system the nutrients are provided to the plants by making use of a pump while in a passive hydroponics system the passing of the nutrients to the plant depend upon the growing medium.

However the passive Hydroponics system do not provide sufficient oxygen to the plant and hence the growth rate of the plants are not optimum. Hydroponic systems are also different on recovery and non recovery type. In recovery system the nutrients are recycled while in a non recovery system it is just the opposite. Here are some different types of hydroponics - 1. Wick system: wick system is passive as well as non recovery type. They are quite easy to handle and relatively inexpensive. However characteristically of a passive hydroponics system, it does not supply enough oxygen to the roots which in turn hampers the growth of the plant. Wick system is not much preferred way of Hydroponic gardening. 2. Ebb and flow system: ebb and flow is one of the most preferred ways of doing Hydroponics gardening.

This system is active as well as recovery type. Also known as flood and drain this system is quite easy to understand. The plant is kept in a reservoir containing nutrient solution. When the pump is started the nutrient are pumped in to the plant. After the water reaches the determined level, it is drained in to a river while the oxygen is sucked by the roots. 3. Nutrient film technique: nutrient technique is also a recovery type active Hydroponic system. In this kind of hydroponics system a submersible pump is used and the roots are suspended in a grow tube. The grow tube is in such an angle that the solution of the nutrients get recycled by flowing over the roots and then coming back to the reservoir. The oxygen requirement is solved by making use of air stones or air stones.

This system is highly effective and a bit difficult to build. A single mistake can cause the whole plant to dry. 4. Continuous drip: this system is also active type but it can be both recovery and non recovery type. In this kind of system a drip tray is kept under each and every row of plants and the solution is recycled to the reservoir. The dip emitter enables the gardener to adjust the amount of nutrient flow for each plant.

About the author

For more insights and further information on Hydroponics Systems and an understanding of Hydroponics Gardening as well as getting an online How to Hydroponics Guide please visit our web site at http://www.hydroponicsmadeeasy.com/

Tips for Hydroponics Gardening

Hydroponics gardening is better known as soiless gardening. Carrying its legacy right from the times of the Aztecs civilizations this type of gardening has always fascinated human kind. The famous hanging hardens of Babylonia are also based on the same technique of Hydroponics Gardening . Hydroponics gardening basically means gardening on false soil where the plant and the soil layer float on the water. With the help of Hydroponics you can have your favorite plants planted in your rooms. Generally, Hydroponics gardening is used for decoration purposes. With the help of Hydroponics you can also have flower plants which will fill your rooms with their faint fragrance. However, hydroponic plants also require a lot of care and nutrition.

There are various Hydroponics guide and tips through which you can give the plants the exact nutrition and care which they require. Following tips will help you in making your hydroponic gardening productive and healthy: - 1. Getting a good start: - The germination period of the seeds in case of hydroponics gardening is carried on a medium. Thus it is very important what sort of medium is used for this purpose. Well you can use peat moss, expanded clay, composted bark, gravel or sand. The ones to be avoided are oasis, vermiculite, perlite and rockwool. Thus the above mentioned favorable mediums will help the plants get a good start.

Now it is to be kept in mind each an every plant has a different requirement so the medium should be chosen accordingly. 2. Proper Light: - Another important requirement for Hydroponic plants is proper light. The light requirements depend upon the plant types and also the plant's different stages. For this purpose you can use Metal Halide as well High Pressure Sodium lights depending upon the stage of the plant. There are some LED lights which can be accordingly adjusted to feed the plants with lights in their different stages. 3. Giving the required Nutrition: - It is a well known fact that without proper nutrition the plants cannot grow. There are a total of sixteen nutrients which the plants require in order to grow properly. Some of them are macronutrients and some of them are micronutrients. 4. Disease Prevention: - In hydroponics gardening also you will face the same problem of insects and plant diseases. Thus you will have to battle it out. You can do this by selecting disease resistant plants, maintaining clean growing environment, temperature control, proper ventilation and constant monitoring of problems. Thus by following these tips you can have a pleasant experience of Hydroponics gardening.

About the author

For more insights and further information on Hydroponics Systems and an understanding of Hydroponics Gardening as well as getting an online How to Hydroponics Guide please visit our web site at http://www.hydroponicsmadeeasy.com/