-Gabrial House- Today on the blog I wanted to talk about HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting, and more specifically the differences between magnetic and digital ballasts. We are going to take a look at the pros and cons of both and why you would choose one piece of technology over the other. First we will want to look at what a ballast does for your lighting system. If we were to plug an HPS (High Pressure Sodium) bulb right into a wall socket (AC current) you would pop your bulb … [Read more...] about Digital vs. Magnetic Ballasts
Hydroponics
Product Review: Mammoth P – Get The Most From Your Grow
-Gabrial House- This week on the blog I wanted to talk about one of my favorite products on the market today, Mammoth P - the beneficial bacteria that packs a punch! Mammoth P is the only microbial inoculant that will help your plant uptake phosphorus, giving you a significant increase on your end harvest results. Mammoth P is a microbial inoculant that does exactly what it says it will do, and that’s organically increase your yields. It breaks down the phosphorus within your growing media, … [Read more...] about Product Review: Mammoth P – Get The Most From Your Grow
P-K Boost
-Gabrial House- During a plant’s life cycle it goes through several different phases of growth. At the beginning of its life, it wants a lot of nitrogen and a good amount of phosphorus. These nutrients allow the plant to grow in biomass, meaning the plant is creating a large root system and lots of leafy green material. As growers, we refer to this phase in a plant’s life as its vegetative stage. As the plant enters its reproductive stage, however, it shifts focus away from green, … [Read more...] about P-K Boost
Growing Microgreens Indoors – It’s Easier Than You Might Think!
-Mike Weeks- Growing food indoors might seem intimidating, but it is something that you can incorporate into any homestead. Using LED or even T5 fluorescent lighting, it is very easy to set up a small growing space that doesn’t require much energy to produce quality results. This single indoor space can serve several purposes: growing plant starts for the outdoor garden; keeping a few herbs around through winter; supplying supplemental lighting for a house plant or two; or growing my favorite … [Read more...] about Growing Microgreens Indoors – It’s Easier Than You Might Think!
The Ultimate Flush
-Gabrial House- On the blog this week I wanted to take a closer look at flushing our indoor crops before harvest. I often get asked if I flush my plants, what I use to flush my plants and for how long do I flush my crop? Flushing your indoor crop at the end of its life cycle is a critical step that should not be overlooked. To get the most out of our indoor crops, we tend to push our plants hard, using an array of fertilizers and supplements; however, when it comes time to harvest our … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Flush
Bucket Gardening!
-Chris Amaya- Hydroponic systems come in all shapes and sizes, but the few things they have in common tend to be the most important. Deep water culture in 3-5 gallon buckets generally proves to be the most exciting method for new hydroponic gardeners because it is easy to maintain and easy on the wallet. This will be a quick and easy rundown of how you can get started growing inside today! Before I talk equipment, it is important to think about location of your set up. First, you’ll … [Read more...] about Bucket Gardening!
Which Grow Light is Best for Me?
-Cole O'Donnell- Lighting is perhaps the most important consideration when moving a garden indoors. With so many options on the market today, choosing the right lighting setup for your indoor garden space can be daunting. Whether your intention is simply to keep plants in a state of dormancy, or extend the growing season in order to flower or fruit, there are a number of simple measures that can be taken to ensure success. When helping guide our customers, we always start with a few basic … [Read more...] about Which Grow Light is Best for Me?
You Can’t Lose with Grow Cubes!
-Gabrial House- This week on the blog I wanted to talk about loose fill Rockwool, also known as Grow Cubes. This hydroponic plant media has been around for quit some time but is far too often overlooked as a grower’s media of choice. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of Grow Cubes and how to use them to unlock their maximum potential. Rockwool is a growing media made of basalt, one of the most commonly-occurring minerals on the planet. Grodan, the makers of Rockwool, takes the … [Read more...] about You Can’t Lose with Grow Cubes!
Growing Thai Roselle in Hydro
-Luis Guerra- At the beginning of the Summer I was contemplating our next hydroponic display at the shop. Having grown Thai Roselle in my backyard in South Florida, I did some research into whether or not it would respond well to being grown hydroponically. I searched and searched, but it seemed no one had documented this trial. Well, I went ahead and germinated some seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange in some propagation plugs inside a 7” Mondi Dome and tray. A few days later, I … [Read more...] about Growing Thai Roselle in Hydro
The Ultimate Foliar Feed
-Gabrial House- This week on the blog I wanted to talk about foliar feeding. If you’re not foliar feeding, it could be the missing link in the chain of a strong vegetative cycle. The healthier the vegetative cycle you have, the larger, more bountiful your harvest will be. It’s simple, easy, and hardly takes anytime to mix up and foliar feed your garden. Foliar feeding is done when you mix up a diluted nutrient solution and mist it over the tops and, more importantly, the bottoms of the … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Foliar Feed
