All about hydroponic gardening and indoor gardening

Hydroponic gardening, (from the Greek words hydro, water and ponos, labor) is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, or coconut husk.

In the 19th century, researchers discovered that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponic gardening is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching.

Hydroponic gardening is often defined as "the cultivation of plants in water." Research has since determined that many different aggregates or media will support plant growth; therefore, the definition of hydroponic gardening has been broadened to read "the cultivation of plants without soil." Growers all over the world are using hydroponic gardening techniques due to the lack of a large water supply or fertile farmland. Home gardeners have used hydroponic gardening on a smaller scale to grow fresh vegetables year round and to grow plants in smaller spaces, such as an apartment or balcony.

Greenhouses and nurseries grow their plants in a soilless, peat or bark-based growing mix. The nutrients are then applied to the growing mix through the water supply. Therefore, this is also a type of hydroponic gardening. Soilless gardening offers many advantages to the home gardener. Since a sterile medium is used for hydroponic gardening, there are no weeds to remove, and soil-borne pests and diseases are minimized, if not eliminated completely.

Properly grown hydroponic plants also are healthier and more vigorous because all of the necessary growth elements are readily available. The plants can mature faster, yielding an earlier harvest of vegetable and flower crops. Hydroponic gardening uses less space since the roots do not have to spread out in search of food and water. This small space requirement makes hydroponic gardening ideal for home gardeners, and it makes better use of greenhouse space.

The big advantage to hydroponic gardening is the ability to automate the entire system with a timer. Automation reduces the actual time it takes to maintain plant growth requirements. Automation also provides flexibility to the gardener as one can be gone for long periods of time without having to worry about watering the plants.

Hydroponic gardening offers many advantages for commercial agriculture. Cultivating plants without soil eliminates the need for vast farmland and allows crops to be produced in greenhouses or even in the desert sands. Hydroponic gardening techniques also allow for precise water and nutrient application directly to the roots of each plant. Water is reused in these systems and less is lost through evaporation and run-off. Therefore, arid lands, such as deserts, can be transformed into productive lands using limited amounts of water.

Growing plants with hydroponic gardening is not difficult if one understands the basic principles. As long as plant growth requirements are met, there are numerous hydroponic systems that can be used-Hydroponic Gardening

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Grow a garden in your apartment

We practically live in a box called apartment, such is the constraint of space in most big cities of the world. One look around and all you'll see are lofty cemented towers or dusty construction sites. Amidst the dust, grime and lifeless surroundings, it's good to crop up something 'green'.

Not many have the luxury of a lawn facing cottage or a bungalow with a private garden at the back. However, that should not be a reason to avert the idea of growing some greens in your humble little apartment. Surf through your home carefully - the window next to your kitchen sink, the balcony, the corners of your living room, and the terrace (if you have one), all of these serve to be ideal places for your urban garden.

For Mumbai based multi-disciplinary design consultant, Shweta Kaushik, cacti and succulents make for ideal house plants. "If you are looking for hassle free no nonsense green within your household, cacti and succulents are your best option. They do not need to be watered that often as their natural tendency is to survive in harsh conditions. You can leave them out on your balcony or a window sill and pretty much forget about them until you remember you were trying to cultivate a green thumb. I have personally grown some Aloe Vera, and
For Mumbai based multi-disciplinary design consultant, Shweta Kaushik, cacti and succulents make for ideal house plants. "If you are looking for hassle free no nonsense green within your household, cacti and succulents are your best option. They do not need to be watered that often as their natural tendency is to survive in harsh conditions. You can leave them out on your balcony or a window sill and pretty much forget about them until you remember you were trying to cultivate a green thumb. I have personally grown some Aloe Vera, and if you have the right conditions, it even blooms!" she says.

Another kind of container plant that features in her list of apartment greens is tropical palms. She says, "They are very easy to maintain and do not die on you unless you ignore them for too long. They come in a variety of sizes and will be easily available at your local nursery. They can grow up to 4 feet in height and look quite elegant when placed in the balcony."

Besides this, people with culinary inclinations can try growing herbs. "Herbs aren't difficult to maintain at all and the thought of plucking fresh leaves from your makeshift garden while cooking can be quite exciting," adds Shweta.

6 herbs you can grow in your apartment

Lemongrass: When you buy a stalk of lemongrass at your local market, pick a stem that has a firm base. Simply, trim the top of the herb and place it water. Don't submerge it; just ensure that the base is 2-3 inches deep in water. The stalk will start producing roots and news shoots in a few days.

Mint: Out of spearmint and peppermint, the latter is an easier option when it comes to growing herbs in an apartment because this herb has a tendency to grow like a weed. Spread the peppermint seeds in a small pot full of soil and keep it in the shade but near the sun.

Curry leaf: A flavoursome herb with beautiful aroma, curry leaves are found in most South Indian homes. Plant the sapling in a flower pot and support it with a stick as it will grow vertically and would need some support. Make sure it gets enough sunlight and water it at least once a day.

Parsley: Simply spread the seeds in a pot full of soil and wait for the seeds to germinate. Parsley grows very slowly and it may take 2-3 weeks for the herb to grow fully. Place it in an airy, shady corner.

Rosemary: Rosemary doesn't need to be watered frequently and therefore can be easily maintained in an apartment. Out of the many varieties of the herb, it's wise to pick the one that grows upright, making it easier for you to care for it in compact spaces-Times of India

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Gardening Hints for New Gardeners

Gardening is an activity that every person can do. Even if you are convinced that you have a "black thumb" you can learn how to grow a garden. Give yourself time and eventually you'll learn how to grow everything from flowers to food to trees! People fail at gardening because they assume that growing a garden is easy. While you should eventually find gardening quite simple, when you first start out there is quite a lot to learn. Planting and watering are only two parts of growing a successful garden. Here are a few tricks to that you can use to improve the quality of your first garden.

Decide which flowers and foods you want to grow before you begin the planting process. Do you love the idea of having your own rose garden? Have you been toying with the idea of growing your own herbs? Learn what you can about your plants before planting so that you can make sure to set up your garden correctly. Different plants require different types of care. You can easily avoid mistakes (like watering too often) if you learn everything you can about the plants you want to grow before you actually plants them. Other mistakes that can be avoided include putting the wrong nutrients into your soil Basically, making sure that you grow a great garden means that you have to do some research ahead of time.

Bell peppers make great additions to any garden. You can put these plants in direct sunlight (they love the sun) and they'll grow in both containers and the ground. You won't need to water them very often. Because these plants originated in arid places that did not get a lot of rainfall bell peppers actually seem to prefer dry soil. People who like to grown their own veggies and fruits love the bell peppers because there are so many different kinds to choose from. These are fruits that ripen quickly-usually between two and three months after they are planted-which is another reason they are so popular amongst beginning gardeners. These plants are incredibly low maintenance: make sure they get enough bright light, put some nutrients into their soil patches and water them once in a while and they will grow like gangbusters!

Composting is a great way to keep your garden healthy. Compost can be made at home without having to make any special purchases.

Beginning your own compost pile is easy. It can be made from fruit and vegetable scraps from your meals, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, old flowers that have died (the cuttings you've had in vases around your house are great for a compost pile), grass clippings, bedding from hamster, rabbits and guinea pig cages and even used paper! Just leave the meat out of it and your compost pile will be just fine. You have now grown your own fertilizer to use in your very own garden!

Gardening does not have to be difficult. If you have the right gardening hints handy you can grow a wonderful garden. Sometimes all you need is a little bit of time and knowledge to become a first rate gardener. It also can't hurt to practice. Just be vigilant and eventually you will grow a wonderful garden. Nobody was born knowing instinctively how to create a successful garden-even experts had to start somewhere. Not one single gardener grew a perfect plant the first time he or she tried gardening - Fascha Oleyenkorvaiz

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