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Hydroponic Garden Supplies

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Gardening through the use of hydroponics can be an easy way to grow fresh produce without the need for soil or open space. A hydroponic set-up is ideal for those with limited space to work with, like apartment dwellers and small home owners. They are also a great way to keep fresh herbs growing in the kitchen, where they can be easily accessible while cooking. Hydroponic gardens are becoming more commonly seen in homes across the country.

Hydroponic garden supplies are a little more sophisticated than those for conventional gardening. Whereas traditional gardening only requires good soil, water, and some simple hand tools; hydroponics require additional chemical nutrients, pumps, tubing and growing mediums. Tools and chemicals to maintain the ph balance of the water are also required.

While there are many companies that sell hydroponic garden supplies, with a little bit of research and know-how it is possible to build your own garden using items commonly found in the average hardware store. A quick search of the internet can yield a plethora of do-it-yourself hydroponic designs. Most of these designs require a water reservoir (a five gallon bucket works well), a submergible water pump and some aerated tubing. With a little creativity it is possible to adapt any number of these designs to accommodate your particular situation.

There are two essential pieces of hydroponic garden supplies needed to operate any hydroponic garden; a nutrient rich water supply, and an effective lighting design. Because hydroponics do not use soil as a means of feeding the plant, nutrients must be added to the water used in these systems. The plants are suspended in some kind of growing medium (Rockwool is common for this) and the roots hang down into the water solution from which they feed. Improper ph balanced, nutrient starved water can have an adverse effect on plant growth.

Proper lighting is imperative to growing healthy plants. Most plants are photosynthetic, meaning they use sunlight as an energy supply. Insufficient lighting deprives the plant of the energy necessary for healthy growth. Many experts recommend using two different kinds of light, one for growth, and one for flowering. Dual spectrum lights are recommended for these applications. Hydroponic gardeners often use reflective ballasts to help distribute the light evenly over the plants.

Automatic timers are common accessories for hydroponic lighting systems. In nature, flowering is triggered by the cycle of sunlight. In a hyrdroponic garden, the same principle applies. A timer can be programmed to turn a light on and off to simulate the natural light patterns of nature, which tells the plant that it’s time to flower.

Many companies sell hydroponic garden supplies in pre-packaged units. These packages usually include the water reservoir, growing medium, and everything else needed to get started. The set-up requirements for these systems are generally minimal, often needing to do little more than plug it in and plant the seeds. While a hydroponic kit can be produced for very little money, these pre-packaged units offer a convenience that can’t be easily reproduced by the do-it-yourselfer.

Building a hydroponic garden in your home can be a satisfying project. Fresh herbs and produce are always preferred to frozen or processed items from the store. Your family and friends are sure to notice when you cook with produce from your own hydroponic garden.

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