Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Urban Windowsill Gardens Better When Using Hydroponic Supplies

By Marquita Barrett


Living in an apartment or having little or no yard space does not prevent a person from growing fresh vegetables or flowers. Using hydroponic supplies that are easily made or found in local stores can supply a family with fresh produce year round. Anyone can cut down on their grocery bill and enjoy homegrown produce.

One of the vital things that the plants will need are nutrients. There are mixtures available for purchase on the internet and at garden centers made specifically for hydroponic gardens. Those are actually the best choice for a beginner. After the first harvest, a person might want to try mixing their own nutrients or just stick with what has already worked.

The seeds or plants can be grown in anything available. Old planters or plastic bottles will work. In addition, any plastic or glass containers found at a garden center will also work.

A fluorescent grow light can be used in the garden. However, it has should be situated right above the plants and will need to be raised as they grow. Another option is to use a cool white bulb until the plants have developed. Then a warm white bulb can be used instead. A regular incandescent bulb gives off too much heat and will also waste energy and increase the utility bill.

Dirt can be used as the medium but it does not work well as all the nutrients leach or wash out. Most everything else can be used if it meets some basic requirements. The medium needs to be dense enough to provide something for the plant to anchor to. It must be clean or sterile to prevent the spread of disease and pest. It should also have a neutral PH and be easy to work with.

Clay pellets and pea stone is used most often. Both are cheap, clean and easy to work with. A person can also make their own medium by mixing together rocks, sand, perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, sawdust, paper, and cardboard, anything they can think of.

More people are growing their own produce in their home or windowsill. To start and maintain an urban garden does not mean spending a lot of money. Hydroponic supplies are available at garden centers, on the internet, or they can be made easily by anyone. Read more about: Hydroponic Supplies




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment