Water Quality for Hydroponics
Water makes up as much as 90% of the mass of a plant- even more in some crops, such as lettuce. To get to that level our crops will “drink”…
Soil Conditioning 101, Better growing through chemistry
At the beginning of every planting season many gardeners begin the ritual of tilling up soil and preparing both new and old garden beds. Before hauling out the old pickaxe…
How to acclimatize (harden off) rooted plant cuttings in 7 days
REDUCE HUMIDITY A) Humidity dome with vent: Open vent for 2 days then remove dome on 3rd day. B) Humidity dome with no vent: Remove dome for a couple hours…
PHOTOPERIODISM
Photoperiodism is the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night. EQUINOX: EQUAL DAY AND NIGHT There are two distinct dates called equinoxes, vernal (spring) and autumnal…
Organics and Minerals: Do you Really Understand What’s Going into your Garden?
Many growers give themselves labels based on the types of inputs they use in their gardens, often referring to “strict organic practices” or “sterile, mineral-based hydro”. Perhaps you’re the type…
The Unseen World of Microbes in Grow Media
In one tablespoon of healthy soil there are as many organisms as there are people on the Earth. Soil microbes perform many functions in maintaining fertile plant grow medias including;…
Selectivity of Plant Nutrient Ion Uptake
The interactions between mineral cations and anions are well understood by chemists, but often overlooked by horticulturists when applying fertilizers to tailor the growth of a specific plant variety. You…
Silica In Hydroponics
Silica is the second most abundant element on earth and plays a vital role in optimizing plant health and yield. Nutrient products are often defined by their N-P-K rating, and…
Cutting 101
A cutting, also called a clone, is a genetically identical plant produced asexually from a parent plant. Identifying a plant with a desirable trait that you would like to reproduce…
Auxins’ role in plant propagation
Auxins are a class of plant hormones that are involved in all phases of plant growth and development, but are most commonly associated with the stimulation of roots from plant…
