-James Gordon- Good day all, and welcome to this week’s blog! Today we are going to tackle the basic principles of hydroponic growing. First, we’ll go over some of the common hydro systems. Then we’ll introduce the basic necessities your system of choice will use. So let's keep an open mind, maybe take some notes, and hopefully this will be a good tool to reference as you start growing hydroponically. So first things first. What is Hydroponics? Hydroponics is the act of growing plants … [Read more...] about Intro to Hydroponics
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Indoor Organic Gardening – Growing Sprouts and Microgreens
-Jonas Hall & Jess Pusch- As we move from summer into fall and our gardens shift to cold-loving crop varieties, we can see the end of the outdoor growing season on the horizon. Gearing up for final harvests as late as November, we’ll have fewer fresh vegetables to eat than we enjoyed during the summer, but we can still enjoy fresh sprouts and microgreens grown indoors! What are sprouts? Your familiarity with sprouts might be limited to their use in stir frys (mung bean sprouts) and … [Read more...] about Indoor Organic Gardening – Growing Sprouts and Microgreens
Mounting a Staghorn Fern
-Pam Scott- Of all the beautiful tropical houseplants we offer at Fifth Season Gardening, I find the Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) to be the most strikingly dramatic. When mounted and hung on a wall, the Staghorn Fern becomes more of a living sculpture than a houseplant. With Staghorns, as with all tropical plants, it is helpful to know how and where the plant grows in its natural habitat in order to maintain its optimal health. Staghorn Ferns are epiphytes, as are air plants and most … [Read more...] about Mounting a Staghorn Fern
My First Wine From A Kit
-Mike Weeks- I recently decided to venture into the world of winemaking because, like many of you, I enjoy pairing a nice glass of wine with dinner and had heard from folks that the kits we carry can make some really nice wine. A customer shared with me that she and her husband once made wine from one of our kits and when her wine connoisseur brother visited, they conducted a test and he named the kit wine as the most expensive and best one in the lineup! I have to say, I was surprised at how … [Read more...] about My First Wine From A Kit
Centurion Pro Tabletop Trimmer Assembly/Review
-Ryan Blankenship- Recently, I helped a customer put together their Centurion Pro Tabletop Wet/Dry Trimmer. The unit came in 5 separate boxes with some assembly required. This compact trimmer is only 24” L x 10” W x 21” H and weighs only 35 lbs. This unit is perfect for a small time grower up to a large greenhouse grower. This machine can trim 20 lbs. an hour wet, or 4 lbs. an hour dry using the same tumbler. Some other units require you to change the blades between wet and dry, but not … [Read more...] about Centurion Pro Tabletop Trimmer Assembly/Review
Ghosts on the Balcony: A Novice Grows Golden Ghost Peppers Organically
-Dan Toot- We’ve seen the labels in the grocery store, and maybe we’ve looked into the overall benefits of organic growing, but many of us have not put it into practice ourselves. This may be especially true for those of us living in an apartment. But as quarantine encourages us to lean into our hobbies and interests, even an apartment dweller like me can dip their toes into the soil of organic gardening and understand firsthand the allure and benefits of growing organically. I got my hands … [Read more...] about Ghosts on the Balcony: A Novice Grows Golden Ghost Peppers Organically
A Handful of Easy-Care Houseplant Suggestions
-Jordan Capps- Are you looking to create an indoor oasis that will make all the neighbors jealous? Has that table by the window been looking particularly dull and lifeless lately? Are you afraid of dying alone? Have no fear! There are many easy-to-grow plants that can thrive in an indoor environment, and while the debate rages on as to whether plants have a rudimentary “consciousness” or not, you can at least be sure that they’re excellent listeners! Below are a few of my favorites, but this … [Read more...] about A Handful of Easy-Care Houseplant Suggestions
Repotting Guide: Finding the Perfect Pot
-Ginny Shafer- You finally did it! You assessed the lighting conditions in your home, had an honest conversation with yourself about how often you’ll *actually* water your plants, and you’ve found your perfect houseplant! Now to find the perfect pot to show it off. Just like with lighting and soil, every plant has different needs with respect to planting, so it’s important to choose a pot that’s well suited to meet those needs. When Should I Repot? Houseplants can be repotted when … [Read more...] about Repotting Guide: Finding the Perfect Pot
Sanitation in Brewing and Why It’s Important
-Ryan Blankenship- When I attended beer school, the first lesson we were taught is sanitation is the key to happiness. The reason for this is microorganisms, bacteria, and fungi can start to grow in any little nook or cranny they can stuff themselves into. These bacteria will cause an infection in your brew and create an off-flavored brew or a completely undrinkable product. The first thing I do before I make any type of beer, is fill my kettle up to the top with water and add the … [Read more...] about Sanitation in Brewing and Why It’s Important
Make Your Own Soda at Home (despite the tank exchange shortage)
-Jonas Hill- Over the past few months, the home soda maker supply chain has taken a hit. Large, centralized processing facilities in populous areas have seen their home soda canister output drop as necessary measures are taken to ensure the safety of the workforce and general public. That said, folks love their soda, and it’s a great refresher during these hot summer months after a long day in the garden. Stay hydrated and ‘in bubbles’ with this helpful explainer on a simple DIY home soda tap … [Read more...] about Make Your Own Soda at Home (despite the tank exchange shortage)
