#grow room

Indoorgardening can be the ideal way to grow a wide variety of plants without having to depend upon the whims of the weather and other conditions affecting growth. The grow rooms can be just the right way to go about building an indoor garden which has the perfect growth conditions for specific plants irrespective of the conditions prevailing outdoors. It is possible to build grow rooms at virtually every part of the household, but the trick lies in going about it in a methodical manner. The gardeners ought to know the basic requirements for making a grow room conducive to the growth of the plants, as well as, highly efficient in the consumption of various resources. The following few factors are something that the indoor gardeners will discover to be indispensable for the successful growth of their plants.

·      The dimension of the grow room from vary from that of a small cupboard to an entire room. Therefore, it depends really on the vision of the gardener and can suit people growing various types of plants as per their requirements. People can either use an entire room to create a grow room or they can cordon off a part of the room by using grow tents. The most important thing that they have to ensure is that the grow room must be inaccessible to the outside agents that can alter the growth conditions prevailing inside. Thus, it becomes essential to make the grow rooms impervious to light, moisture, and various biotic agents trying to find their way into the growing area.

·      Growers must also consider whether area of the household they have chosen to set up the grow room enjoy convenient and steady supply of water and electricity. Different plants require different quantity of water, and the grow room ought to have water supply to meet their requirements. Moreover, the water supply ought to be free from contamination because any outbreak of disease can spread like wildfire in a confined space such as the grow room. Thus, it is better to opt for clean tap water than rainwater that contains various disease causing agents.

·      The same consideration for easy availability stands in case of electricity as well. Growing plants inside grow rooms makes it essential to maintain a steady supply of light from an artificial source. Having a normal double socket on the wall of room is going to suffice for light setups having one or two bulbs. However, for setups requiring intensive use of power, an extension for the main power source can be the way.

·      Indoor gardeners can use advanced grow room sheeting on the walls because of the higher reflective index of these materials makes for more efficient diffusion of light through the entire space. Thus, making the room light tight, and increasing the reflective index of the walls makes the perfect condition to enhance the growth rate of plants.

Indoor gardeners who take care of these aspects in a systematic and methodical manner will find it extremely convenient to come up with grow on their own.

Fungal disease is one of the biggest threats to an otherwise health garden. Regardless as to how much time you spend preening and pruning your plants, there’s simply no way you can effectively protect them against all forms of fungal disease. And to make matters worse, diseases are typically infectious, meaning just one sick plant can infect an entire garden.

Some of the most common fungal disease in plants include alternaria blight, powdery mildew, nectria canker, cytospora canker, bacterial blight, root rot, asparagus rust, septoria, anthracnose and fruit rot. Symptoms vary depending on the exact strain of fungi, but many of them result in patches of discoloration, wilting, and dead areas on leaves.

Keep Your Garden Clean

While there’s no way to completely protect your plants against all forms of fungal disease, there are some simple steps gardeners can take to reduce their plants’ risk. For starters, make sure your all plant debris is removed from your garden, such as weeds, branches, plant trimmings, etc Allowing these items to linger in your garden will promote the growth of bacteria and fungi, which could result in your plants becoming infected.

Don’t Crowd Plants

Plants are more likely to succumb to a fungal disease if they are crowded together. When plants are forced to grow side-by-side in confined spaces, there’s a greater risk of multiple plants becoming infected.

Of course, spacing your plants apart is important for a number of reasons; it allows them to absorb appropriate amounts of water and nutrients, promotes healthier soil, and encourages bigger plant growth.

Remove Diseased Plant Matter

If you notice any leaves, stems or shoots exhibiting symptoms of a fungal disease, take immediate action to remove it. Pruning away diseased plant matter in a timely manner will nip the problem in the bud before it progresses.

Note: it’s important to note that gardening shears or pruners should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol after being used on a diseased plant. Trimming a diseased plant and then using the same pruners on a healthy plant could result in the disease spreading.

Control Garden Insects

Aphids, white flies, beetles, and even ants can all bring fungal spores into a garden; therefore, you should keep these insects at bay by using insecticides and/or organic pest control solutions. Neem oil is a highly effective, all-natural insecticide that’s safe to use on and around plants.

Powdery mildew fungal disease.

Does your garden turn into a pile of mush with puddles of standing water after it rains? It’s next-to-impossible to grow plants in these conditions, as the excess water will restrict the absorption of oxygen while promoting mold and diseases like root rot.

Some people immediately throw in the towel and stop gardening at the first signs of waterlog. However, most cases of waterlogged gardens can be treated with a little work. So if you’re struggling to overcome a severely washed out, waterlogged garden, keep reading to learn some simple techniques that will drastically improve the performance of your soil.

What Causes a Waterlogged Garden?

Waterlogged gardens care caused by water resting on the surface of the soil. In a healthy garden, the water drains rapidly through the soil where it’s dispersed, and subsequently absorbed by plants and root structures. Waterlogged gardens differ, however, in the sense that a significant portion of the water remains on the top layer of soil rather than draining through.

Waterlog is a problem that’s more common in clay soil due to its composition. Clay soil is hard and well-compacted, restricting the normal flow of water. Of course, any type of soil can suffer from this problem, so don’t assume that your garden is safe just because it doesn’t contain soil.

How To Treat and Prevent Waterlog

The first step in treating a waterlogged garden is to aerate the soil. Nine out of ten times, the greatest contributing factor to this problem is a lack of aeration. If the soil is too dense, the water won’t be able to pass through it; thus, it builds up on the top layer to create pools of standing water. Run over you garden with lawn aerator to dig small holes that help the water flow more naturally.

Applying Calcium Sulfate to your garden’s soil may also improve its condition. You can find this stuff available at most plant nurseries as well as some home improvement stores. A 50 lb. bag should cover about 1,000 square feet. Just sprinkle it out like you would fertilizer and let it sit for a couple of days.

Weeds, overgrowth, and debris can increase the risk of a waterlogged garden. If you haven’t done so already, go through your garden and clean out any debris such as this. Keeping your garden clean and tidy is essential to preventing waterlog.

For our monthly product spotlight, we’re going to talk about the ultra powerful and equally versatile Oasis 4 x 8 Grow Tent. Whether this is your first attempt to start an indoor garden, or if you’ve been doing it for years, you can’t go wrong with this brilliant grow tent. It’s made with professional-grade materials to achieve a look and feel that’s superior to similarly prices grow tents.

Oasis is a brand that’s still relatively new to the market, but don’t assume they are just another fly-by-night company that’s here today and gone tomorrow. They’ve already established themselves as a leading figure in this ever-growing market, due in part to the quality of their products.

The Oasis 4 x 8 Grow Tent features pro-grade reflective material coating the entire interior to prevent any and all light from escaping. It’s no secret that more light translates into bigger plants. And when you have bigger plants, you get a larger yield. This is why it’s important for indoor gardeners to take full advantage of their light by trapping it inside the grow tent.

The Oasis 4 x 8 Grow Tent is designed to do just that: it uses highly reflective material covering the sides, top and bottom to provide ideal growing conditions for any fruit, vegetable, herb, or plant you choose to grow.

One of the problems that plaque many grow tents is the potential for air and light escaping through the openings. Even if it appears to be sealed, it’s not uncommon for small amounts of light and air to escape through the seals. Thankfully, this isn’t a problem with the Oasis 4 x 8 Grow Tent as it uses oversized airtight and light-proof zippers. Once the openings are zipped up, no air or light will be able to escape.

The Oasis 4 x 8 grow tent is constructed with stainless steel poles,  so you don’t have to worry about it collapsing or caving in. These poles provide a superior level of strength and durability, which is just one more reasons why Oasis is the fasting growing name in the grow tent biz.

So, how much will a high-end grow tent such as this set you back? GrowTentStore.com is currently selling the Oasis 4 x 8 Grow Tent for the incredibly low price of just $485.00 – a fraction of the cost of similar-sized grow tents. And in case you were wondering, all grow tent orders are shipped free at no additional charge.

Most people choose to start a produce garden for the simple fact that it allows them to grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs. Rather than making a special trip to the grocery store each time you need a piece of produce, you can walk out to your garden and pick it fresh. However, there are other benefits of gardening as well, some of which may surprise you.

It’s Organic

Starting your own produce garden allows you to grow plants without the use of harsh pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Even if you can’t see it, most produce sold in grocery stores and supermarkets is covered in pesticide. A 1996 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found pesticide on 70% of store-bought produce, and that was after the produce was washed.

Opting to grow your own produce means you have full control over what pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals are used. Instead of using chemical fertilizer, perhaps you could use organic compost. And there are dozens of organic pest control solutions that don’t involve harsh chemical-based pesticides.

Saves You Money

Fresh produce isn’t cheap, and with gas prices on the rise, it will likely become more expensive in the months to come. You can free yourself from the clutches of your local supermarket, however, by opting to grow your own produce. Doing so can put hundreds of dollars back into your pocket each year.

Regulates Weight

Obesity remains a serious problem in the U.S., with some estimates suggesting that as many as 1 in 3 adults are obese. Gardening helps individuals regulate their weight in a couple different ways. For starters, eating fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs is a healthier alternative to processed food.

Gardening also gets you up on your feet, moving around and burning calories. Just a short 20-minute session in the garden can burn calories and build muscle.

It’s Calming

Another surprising benefit of starting a produce garden is the calming, stress-reducing effect it has on the mind. When you’re pruning leaves and/or picking vegetables, your stresses will naturally float away.

“When you sit at a desk all day, there’s something about literally putting your hands in the dirt, digging and actually creating something that’s really beautiful,” says Aldrich, 42, a magazine editor in Maplewood, New Jersey. “There’s something about just being out there that feels kind of elemental,” she added

These are just a few of the many benefits associated with starting a produce garden.

Gardening photo courtesy The Marmot via Flickr Creative Commons 2.0.

Growing a vegetable garden is a fun and rewarding experience that frees you from the clutches of your grocery store. Rather than making a special trip to purchase lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, etc., you can step into your garden and pick it fresh. Of course, this is just one of the many reasons why so many people prefer to grow their own veggies.

Vegetables, like most other plants rely heavily on nourished soil to grow. Failing to provide your vegetables with the proper soil may result in slow growth while leaving them susceptible to disease and illness.

#1) Check The pH Level

When was the last time you checked your vegetable garden’s pH level? The truth is that most gardeners overlook this critical step, assuming their soil is safe and suitable for healthy plant growth.

Use either an electric or disposable strip test to measure the pH level in your vegetable garden. If it’s too acidic or too alkaline, add the appropriate fertilizer to adjust it.

#2) Compost

Composting is another simple yet highly effective way to improve the soil in a vegetable garden. What exactly is compost? In short, it’s nutrient-rich organic matter that adds valuable minerals, vitamins and other beneficial nutrients to the soil. 

You can read our previous blog post here for more details on how to start a home compost bin.

#3) Fertilize

We can’t talk about ways to improve soil health without mentioning fertilizing. While there are dozens of different brand and varities available, nearly all of them focus on three essential nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) – the three nutrients required for healthy, sustainable plant growth. Adding fertilizer to your vegetable garden boosts the soil’s nutritional value, which in turn leads to bigger, healthier vegetable plants

#4) Water

A vegetable garden’s soil should consist of approximately 25% water. The water seeps down into the soil where plants gradually absorb it through their root systems. If the soil in your vegetable garden feels arid and dry, however, it may lack the necessary moisture content for healthy plant growth. This problem is easily fixed by watering both the plant and surrounding soil.

#5) Clean It Up

A fifth tip for improving the health of soil in a vegetable garden is to clean it up. Get your gardening boots on and go through the first 4" or so of soil, removing any large stones, branches or decaying plant matter you find. It’s okay to leave small pebbles mixed in the soil, but you should pull out large ones that may hinder your plant’s root development.

Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is a relatively common infectious disease that targets roses, pear trees, and apple trees. Early symptoms of the disease typically include brown-colored cuts and lesions – where the bacterium entered. If left untreated, the fire blight can kill its host while spreading to other nearby plants.

Whether your roses are currently suffering from fire blight or not, it’s important for gardeners to familiarize themselves with this disease. While fire blight can prove deadly if left untreated, taking immediate action at the first signs of infection will drastically increase your chances of a positive outcome.

Symptoms of Fire Blight In Roses:

• Shriveled, wilting blossom clusters
• Twigs and shoots begin to blacken
• Brown/dark-colored cuts and lesions
• Reddish-brown steaks running down stems
• Infected shoots bend at the tip; a condition referred to as “Shepherd’s Crook”

Risk Factors of Fire Blight

According to a report published by researchers at the University of Arizona, Fire Blight forms in mild-to-moderate temperatures ranging between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 60% and above.

Under this formula, many regions are safe from Fire Blight with the exception of a few “peak” months during the summer. The report notes, however, the higher elevation, such as mountainous regions, may increase the prevalence of Fire Blight. 

How To Treat Fire Blight In Roses

As with most infectious disease, timing is crucial to saving an infected plant’s life. Failure to take immediate action may result in the plant dying, or even worse, the disease spreading to other nearby plants. So, what’s the best approach to treating Fire Blight in roses?

Begin by pruning away any dead, dying and/or infected tissue. Even if your rose bush is not currently suffering from Fire Blight, you should still get into the habit of pruning away dead shoots and leaves. The bacterium responsible for this disease loves to thrive in decaying plant matter, so trimming it away in a timely manner will discourage the disease in your plants.

There are also chemical-based treatment products which have proven to be effective in combating Fire Blight. One particularly effective product is an antibiotic known as Streptomycin sulfate. Agri-Strep and Agri-Mycin 17 both contain this powerful Fire Blight-fighting antibiotic. Applying this chemical to your plants will kill the infection, allowing your plants to revert back to their normal, healthy state.

Healthy orange rose following a chemical treatment for Fire Blight.

A pair of premium gardening shears is one of the most important tools at a gardener’s disposal. From trimming ripened fruits and vegetables, to cutting away unnecessary shoots and overgrowth, the average garden will use them on a regular basis. Allowing your gardening shears to develop dirt, however, can negatively impact its effectiveness or even cause permanent damage in some cases.

Do I Really Need To Clean My Gardening Shears?

Yes, gardening shears should be cleaned on a regular basis. There are a few different reasons for this, including the following:

1. Cleaning your gardening shears helps reduce the risk of spreading contagious disease between your plants.
2. Cleaning your gardening shears will discourage rust.
3. Cleaning your garden shears will improve their effectiveness and cutting ability.

Keep Them Dry!

Water and gardening shears do not go together. If your shears happen to get wet (which is bound to happen at some point), take a minute to dry them off with a washcloth, tag, towel, etc. If water is left on the blades, it will promote the formation of rust, which can ruin an otherwise perfect pair of gardening shears.

Dealing With Rust

Don’t toss your rusted gardening shears in the trash just yet, because you might be able to salvage them with a little bit of work. As long as the rust is only on the surface of the blades, you  should be able to clean it off using steel wool. Take a bundle of steel wool and scrub the rusted area of the shears until it’s fully removed. If necessary, wet the shears to encourage the rust to fall off – just remember to dry them afterwards to prevent further rusting.

How To Clean Gardening Shears

The easiest way to clean a pair of gardening shears is by using a solution of warm water and dish soap. There’s no need to spend $10-$20 on some overpriced cleaning product, as good old fashioned dish soap will suffice.

To clean your gardening shears using this method, fill up a bowl with warm water and mild dish soap. Next, soak a sponge or washcloth in the solution and scrub down the gardening shears, paying close attention to the blades. The blades typically hold the greatest amount of dirt, so this is the area you’ll want to focus your efforts on.

Photo of gardening shears courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Hydroponics is an advances method of gardening centered around the use of a water-based growing medium instead of a traditional soil-based medium. We discuss some of the benefits of hydroponics in a previous blog post here, but the general consensus is that hydroponics – when performed correctly – yields bigger, healthier plants.

But there are actually two different types of hydroponic gardens: organicandinorganic, both of which have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you’re thinking about creating your own hydroponic garden, you should familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of each method. Only then will you be able to make the best decision regarding which method is right for your plants.

Inorganic Hydroponics

Inorganic hydroponics, as its name suggests, focuses on the use of chemical-based inorganic nutrients. Plants grown in a hydroponics garden require nutrients to sustain their development and health.

Without soil, however, gardeners must add these nutrients in liquid form to the water medium; thus, flushing the plants’ roots with vital nutrients. Inorganic hydroponics refers to the use of inorganic nutrient substances to nourish plants.

Inorganic nutrient solutions are typically stronger and more concentrated, possessing only the key nutrients which are required for healthy plant growth and development.

Organic Hydroponics

Organic hydroponics differs from its counterpart in a few different ways, one of which is its use of organic nutrients to nourish plants. Bacteria and microorganisms are used to break down nutrients so plants can absorb them more easily.

Another nuance between organic and inorganic hydroponics is pesticide. Inorganic hydroponics typically relies on the use of chemical-based insecticides to keep pests at bay, whereas organic hydroponics relies on the use of insects and organic products to ward off potentially harmful pests.

So, what constitutes an “organic” pest control solution? Lady bugs are often added to organic hydroponic gardens to kill aphids and other problematic insects. And neem oil is popular organic pest control solution that’s frequently applied to plants. The key thing to remember is that you want to choose products which are all-natural and not synthesized with harsh chemicals.

The main benefit of organic hydroponics is its nutrient value. Organic substances are generally viewed as safer and better for both plant health and human health. If you’re growing plants for the purpose of consumption, you may want to grow them organically for this reason alone.

Strawberries growing in an organic hydroponics photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Offered here at GrowTentStore.com, the Magic Trimmer is a revolutionary new gardening tool that makes trimming your buds and shoots a breeze. Its patent pending design allows gardeners to extract buds safely and efficiently, without being forced to use the archaic method of gardening sheers. If you’re still on the fence about investing in a the Magic Trimmer, keep reading for a closer look this product and its unique benefits.

Bud trimming machines aren’t a new concept by any means. In fact, they’ve been around for decades, offering gardeners an alternative means of extracting buds; however, the Magic Trimmer stands in a class above the rest, as it features an ultra-powerful motorized extracting blade packed in a small, handheld frame. Whether you have a single plant or one hundred, the Magic Trimmer will get the job done in a fast and efficient manner.

The makers of Magic Trimmer stand by their product, offering an iron-clad 1-year warranty on the motor. In the rare event that the motor ever goes out or stops working as it should, you send the Magic Trimmer back to the manufacturer to have it either fixed or replaced. Warranties are typically few and far between in this industry, but the Magic Trimmer has a long-standing reputation for being the best of the best, which is why the motor is backed with a 1-year warranty.

Here are some of the specs for the Magic Trimmer:

• 110 volts
• 50.60 Hz
• 115 Watts
• No-Load Speed: 33000 r/min

Is the Magic Trimmer the right product for you? I guess it depends on your current gardening needs and expectations. Gardeners who are frequently faced with the task of pruning and extracting buds will certainly benefit from owning this device, as it allows for a fast, efficient, and more importantly safe harvesting of buds.

Some of the more expensive bud trimmers on the market are more time-consuming and labor-intensive – not to mention their lack of safety features. But the Magic Trimmer brings all of the right elements together to offer a ground-breaking gardening tool.

The truth is that most people fail to realize just how useful the Magic Trimmer is until they see and use it first-hand. Granted, you can always trim your buds the old fashioned way, using nothing more than a pair of gardening sheers or scissors, but this is an archaic method that’s time-consuming. Investing in the Magic Trimmer opens up a whole new world of possibilities for indoor and outdoor gardeners.

Do you struggle to keep your houseplants alive and healthy? When you’re busy monitoring pH levels, choosing a well-lit area, and feeding your houseplants the right fertilizer, it’s easy to overlook something as simple as air quality. But poor air quality can take its toll on houseplants in several different ways, restricting their intake of oxygen while exposing them to the potentially harmful the bacteria, mold and other microbes.

Is It Really a Problem?

The short answer is yes, poor indoor air quality is a serious problem. Not only will it negatively impact your houseplants, but it can also impact you and your family’s health.

TheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently listed indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 environmental dangers, saying the average home’s air it’s typically 5-100 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Some of the most common indoor air pollutants include:

• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Bacteria
• Mold
• Radon
• Carbon monoxide
• Carbon dioxide
• Chemical fumes

How To Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

If you believe poor air quality is to blame for the slow growth and/or negative health of your houseplants, you should take immediate action to remedy the situation. Allowing your air to remain pollutant will only further harm you, your family, and your houseplants.

Change The Air Filter

Assuming you have a standard heating, ventilation and cooling system (HVAC), you should get into the habit of changing the air filter at least once a month. This will keep promote clean, fresh air by filtering significantly more pollutants. And being that a typical air filter only costs about $5-$10 bucks, this is a cheap way to create cleaner air in your home.

Install a Water Fountain

How can a water fountain improve  your home’s air quality? Water fountains work as natural filters, catching and holding dust, bacteria, mold and other pollutants. When these pollutants blow into fountain, they remain stuck here until the water is emptied and replaced with fresh water.

Indoor water fountains also double as humidifiers. The soothing sound of water trickling down the fountain means that some of the water vapor is entering the air, raising the humidify to a more respectable level.

Add More Houseplants

Of course, adding more houseplants will also improve your home’s air quality. Plants absorb pollutants while releasing fresh oxygen back into the surrounding atmosphere. Generally speaking, the larger the plant, the more pollutants it filters.

Fern houseplant photo courtesy of Gail Fredrick via Flickr Creative Commons.

Are you struggling to create a flourishing garden due to poor soil conditions? Healthy soil is the backbone of any successful garden. Without the proper balance of acid/alkalinity and the right concentration of nutrients and moisture, plants will cease to grow.

Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common problem that gardeners face. While you can always solve this problem by tilling and fertilizing your soil, doing so a tedium, time-consuming process. And to make matters worse, there’s no guarantee that your soil will be healthy enough for a garden. A smarter solution is to create a raised bed garden.

What Is a Raised Bed Garden?

A raised bed garden is exactly what it sounds like: a garden that’s raised just slightly off the ground. A typical raised bed garden rests about 6-8" off the ground (see image below), and consists of boxed-in containers that hold the soil and the plants. It’s an otherwise simple concept that yields some big benefits when used in conditions of poor soil.

Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening:

• Simple and easy to make (based raised bed gardens feature nothing more than 4 pieces of wood nailed together).
• Offers greater control and freedom over the soil nutrients.
• The soil inside raised bed garden is completely different from the “natural” soil in its surroundings.
• Great way to separate different plants in a garden.
• Retains moisture content better.
• Requires minimal space to create a raised bed garden.
• Raised bed gardens are easier to maintain.
• Less weeds and brush to deal with.

The main benefit associated with raised bed gardens is their independence from the ground soil. Once the container is complete, you can create your own soil/fertilizer mixture, tailoring it to meet the needs of your plants. So even if you have poor ground soil in your garden, you can create raised beds with new, healthy soil.

How To Create a Raised Bed Garden

The first step in creating a raised bed garden is to construct the framework. Granted, the example depicted above features a wooden framework, you can also use concrete blocks, stones or similar materials – as long as it retains the soil without allowing it to fall or escape through the sides.

Once your framework is complete, you should then fill it with a mixture of soil and fertilizer. The exact ratio and type of soil varies depending on the plants you intend to grow, your region, and the time of year. With that said, you can ask for assistance at your local plant nursery for advice. After filling it up with soil, you can then add seeds, seedlings or plants to your new raised bed garden!

Raised bed gardens.

Trying to garden with poor soil is a losing battle. Some plants may initially emerge from the surface, but their growth and health will ultimately be stunted. Soil is responsible for holding vital nutrients, organic matter and moisture that plants need to thrive. Without a healthy concentration of these elements, plants won’t be able to properly grow and develop.

Signs of Unhealthy Garden Soil:

• Feeds dry and arid to the touch.
• Top layer of soil visibly blows off during strong gusts of wind.
• Lack of plant life on or around the soil.
• Natural obstructions, such as rocks and/or trees, prevent water from flowing to the soil.
• Soil is either too acidic or too alkaline.
• Filled with rocks, pebbles or other debris.

Test Your Soil

Before we dive into the different ways to improve soil health, you should first test its pH. Pick up either an electronic or disposable pH tester from your local plat nursery and place it down inside your soil. This will reveal whether or not your soil contains a balanced acidic/alkaline content. If it’s not balanced, you may need to add some fertilizer or other ingredients to achieve a more desirable level.

So, what’s a good pH for garden soil? It really depends on the type of plants you are growing, but Clemson University recommends a pH of 5.8 to 6.5 for most vegetables, grasses and ornamentals. This seems to be a happy medium that works for most types of plants. Going below or above the 5.8-6.5 range, however, can create poor conditions that makes it difficult for plants to thrive.

Tips To Improve Soil Health

• Create a compost bin to recycle glass clippings, egg shells, fruit and vegetable peelings, etc.
• Set up a sprinkler system to supply with your soil with regular amounts of water (assuming you aren’t under a outdoor water ban).
• Use a pitch fork to till up your soil, allowing the moist content to reach the surface.
• Avoid crowding your soil with too many plants, as this will leach the nutrients from it.
• Try to avoid compacting the soil. The more “loose” your soil is, the more air and water can travel through it.
• Trim away excess brush or tree branches that are blocking sunlight from reaching your soil.
• Add compost tea to your soil for a nutritional boost.

Healthy soil in a vegetable garden.

Square foot gardening refers to a space-friendly method of planning and growing plants in a grid-like fashion. Each individual cell in the grid houses a different plant, making it easy for beginners to start and maintain their own gardens. And being that plants are given their own separate cell, there’s less risk of crowding and nutrient leaching.

The Origins of Square Foot Gardening

The term “square foot gardening” was first coined in the early 1980s by Mel Bartholomew in a magazine publication Rodale Press. Bartholomew’s original design consisted of nothing more than a four-sided box – without a top or bottom – with string dividing it into sections.

Bartholomew went on to say that while certain plants require a full cell in the square foot gardening grid, others require just a fraction of a cell. Strawberries, for instance, could be planted four plants per square, whereas radishes could be planted in groups of sixteen per square.

Benefits of Square Foot Gardening:

• Inexpensive (requires just a few basic materials)
• Easy to set up and maintain
• Reduces the risk of plant overcrowding
• Organized way to grow vegetables, fruits and herbs
• Visually appealing
• Simplifies the process of trying to space out plants

How To Start Your Own Square Foot Garden

The first step in creating your own square foot garden is to build the container (see image below). This can be something as simple as four 2x4s nailed together in a square shape, or it can be more complete, such as a plywood-based boxed with a bottom. The key thing to remember is that you want to keep it relatively close to the ground; otherwise, you’ll have a hard time maintaining it.

You can now proceed to fill the container with top soil. Most square foot gardeners prefer to use a light, airy soil that’s fertilized with organic compost. This seems to work well for most square foot gardens because of the lack of tension and pressure placed on it. When adding soil, refrain from going beyond the height of the container. A good rule of thumb is to stop about 2" from the top of the container.

Once the container is complete, create a grid system using string and a staple gun. Run the string vertically and horizontally so each cell is approximately 1 foot, at which point you can staple the string ends to the container. Pull the strings back beforehand to ensure there’s no ‘wiggle’ room.

Square foot gardening box courtesy of Serenne Vannoy via Flickr Creative Commons.

Growing your own medical marijuana is a fun and rewarding hobby that allows you to break away from the clutches of overpriced dispensaries. With the cost of cannabis ranging upwards of $15-$20/gram at most dispensaries, more and more patients are looking to grow their own medicine in an effort to save money. If you’re going to take the plunge into this hobby, however, there are some common myths about growing marijuana you should know.

Myth #1) Males Are Beneficial and Should Be Kept

Contrary to what some people may believe, male cannabis plants are not beneficial and should be removed immediately after you notice them. Yes, it’s true that some males produce trace amounts of THC, but they may also pollinate nearby female plants; thus, lowering the THC production of your female plants and potentially even turning them into males (yikes!)

Click here to learn the difference between male and female cannabis plants.

Myth #2) Cloning Is Too Hard For Beginners

Cloning is arguably one of the easiest ways to expand your medical marijuana garden. It involves taking a clipping and partially burying it into a new container where it grows into a completely new plant. There are plenty of complicated, high-tech methods for cloning medical marijuana plants, but you can also clone your plants simply by burying clippings into the soil.

Myth #3) Adding Fruit Juice Improves Cannabis’ Flavor

I’m not sure who came up with the idea of adding fruit juice to their cannabis plants, but it has to go. Whether it’s orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice, etc., all fruit juices should be kept in the kitchen and out of your medical marijuana garden.

Fruit juice may improve your cannabis plant’s odor (temporarily), but it’s not going to have any beneficial impact on its flavors.

Myth #4) Growing Cannabis Requires a Lot of Space

Space is always a plus when you’re growing any type of plant, including cannabis, but there are plenty of ways to grow your own marijuana in tight and confined quarters. A small 5 foot by 5 foot closet offers more than enough space to grow a couple marijuana plants. And if you’re really feeling adventurous, you can even set up a grow tent here to regulate the temperature, humidity and air.

Myth #5) Growing Cannabis Is Expensive

Cannabis actually requires a very minimal budget to grow. Large-scale operations tend to rack up a hefty electric bill, but assuming you are growing just a couple plants for your personal use, you shouldn’t see a significant change in your monthly power bill.

Medical marijuana growing in potted containers photo courtesy of aeroSoul.

Best Coco Coir Hydroponics Nutrients for Weed – How To Grow Indoor Cannabis mediums Coco Hydro Soil

https://420GowLife.com for The Latest News on Everything Cannabis Related! Trippy.Tube

https://KahliBudsTea.com
Organic | Cannabis | Tea Shop
New Tea Blends Available!

Visit our YouTube Channel & Subscribe!
TELL US! What is your favorite KahliBuds Cannabis Tea? Please let us know what you think about this video in the comments…

View On WordPress

PEST CONTROL FOR BEGINNER GARDENERS: Prevent Unwanted Bugs

=======NOTHING FOR SALE=======18/21+ Adult Information and Entertainment
This channel and its content are 18+ intended for adult users under Bill C-45. I do not condone any illegal activities or encourage use and this video was filmed for educational and documentary purposes only.

My one and only guide to the best pest prevention…

View On WordPress

Cheap Grow Lights bring Joy to Indoor Gardens

Can you grow plants indoors for cheap? I grew some hydroponic basil with two small grow light options, a compact fluorescent and LED bulb.

The LED Bulb is a free sample:
http://amzn.to/2psbLR4

Sansi is having a Father’s Day Giveaway! See details from them below:
“Light Up Father’s House Sweeps – Win Great Sansi Bulbs
On behalf of…

View On WordPress