Tag: hydroponics

Plant Growth Enhancers for Your Indoor Garden

Written by Web Hydroponics on March 1, 2016. Posted in Blog.

Hydroponic gardening can prove difficult when it comes to accelerated plant growth and maximized yields. There are many different ways for a grower to increase their plant yields and harvest a healthier crop by use of a few simple plant growing tips. A high quality plant growth enhancer is just one of the many options that hydroponic gardeners must take into consideration to maximize their returns.

The Immune System Booster for Hydroponic Gardens

A plant growth enhancer can significantly improve your hydroponic garden in more ways than one. Apart from the obvious stimulation of plant growth, effective plant growth enhancers often involve chemicals or solutions that combat or prevent pathogens and other harmful diseases which can halt plant growth. Growth enhancers that contain Salicylic acid are known in gardening as immune system boosters. They work by improving the plants overall health and by guarding against unwanted exposure to diseases that can devastate crops, and neutralize all gardening efforts.

Root Enhancers and Hydroponic Gardens

Growing strong and healthy roots throughout the entire cycle of vegetative growth and bloom is a critical issue in optimized indoor gardening. Hydroponic crops that have a restricted or unhealthy root system will not produce the results required to ensure maximum productivity and profitability; even when proper lighting, watering, and feeding is done. A quality root enhancer or powerful indoor gardening root stimulant can be highly beneficial, with effects that trigger significantly larger plants and better quality harvests. A root stimulating plant growth enhancer generally works by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, which strengthen the root system while facilitating the absorption of plant nutrients.

Web Hydroponics Recommendation: If you have read any previous blog posts, you know how much we love Regen-a-Root by CX Hydroponics. It is our favorite root stimulator on the market. It does what the big brands do and more, at a much better price point. Try it today!

Foliar Feeding: The Plant Growth Enhancer That Can Improve Crops

Foliar feeding a quality plant growth enhancer is another essential method of improving your crop yields for a larger and higher quality harvest. Foliar feeding works by simply spraying a growth enhancing nutrient mist on the leaves of your plants. Because of their special epidermal structure, leaves absorb supercharged plant nutrients and additives, inducing maximized hydroponic crop yields (improved by up to 50%). For optimized plant growth and health, it is said that a good surfactant and a high quality humic acid or fulvic acid should be used in foliar feeding.

Web Hydroponics Recommendation: Our favorite foliar spray is Organic Rescue Mist. We use other nutrients for base/additives, but for foliar, nothing beats Organic Rescue Mist. Effective, concentrated (31% fulvic acid!!!), affordable, and it comes in a slick, durable Ready-To-Use aluminum bottle for easy foliar feeding when it’s needed. Pick up a bottle and leave it in your grow room for future foliar feeds! Original Formula through Veg, Rapid Flower for transition into flower. It’s that easy!

Hydroponic Growth Maximized by Basic Pruning

Pruning your plants can also help to improve and increase plant growth in a hydroponic garden. Withering, under-performing, or old leaves and branches (when connected to plants), can draw the nutrients and energy away from the healthy section of the plant; resulting in fewer nutrients that can be absorbed. Pruning dead or dying leaves or branches can drastically help to improve growth rates because the nutrients will no longer be drawn away from the healthy section of the plant. This method is one of the easiest and most cost effective plant growth enhancing options available to indoor gardeners. These tips and tricks are sure to improve your garden health and productivity.

Web Hydroponics Recommendation: We have a couple different options for pruning. We use Giros orange curved scissors. Pretty standard, yet highly effective.

-Web Hydroponics

Nutrient Notes: CX Hydroponics Regenaroot

Written by Web Hydroponics on December 10, 2015. Posted in Blog.

The above video is Mike Biggs, Agronomist at CX Hydroponics, explaining the benefits of Regenaroot. Plant roots are the foundation of a healthy plant and a high yield. Without a solid root system you will never maximize your plants’ potential. But of all the processes in your indoor grow room, the root systems are often the most overlooked because they’re not something you regularly see. Reasons such as this are why it’s crucial to use CX Hydroponics Regen-a-Root, a one-of-a-kind root stimulator and the best selling CX Hydroponics additive that has been on the market for 16 years.

Root Care is Key…

A number of organisms can completely wreck your root system to the point where you don’t get a yield. Diseases like Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophtora will feast on your plants root, changing the colors of your leaves as they begin to wilt. Even if your yield remains intact you might unknowingly have a subpar root system that will result in a mediocre yield. Regen-a-root is a root stimulator that will produce a root system that can easily support big yields in your indoor garden.

How Does Regenaroot Work?

Regenaroot works by inducing the plant to produce its own hormones that will produce roots. It’s important to use Regenaroot through every stage in your indoor gardening grow because you’ll wind up with a massive root system that otherwise would have been impossible. Typically, during the bloom cycle, the plants stop growing roots. This slows the nutrient uptake and allows root disease to gain entry. If you use Regenaroot throughout the bloom cycle you’ll have plants that are healthy, vigorous and strong. While this will not guarantee a massive yield, you are guaranteed not to have a massive yield if you don’t treat your roots properly with Regenaroot.

History of Regenaroot…

CX Hydroponics Regenaroot came on the market 16 years ago in response to problems growers were having in keeping their root systems healthy when plants were flowering. Developed by the CX Hydroponics Agronomist with 30 years of horticultural experience in production and consultation, it is the key to a healthy root system throughout your plants life cycle. It’s helped thousands of growers maintain healthy root systems on their plants. A healthy root system absorbs the maximum plant nutrients which allows for maximum growth. If you want to keep your roots growing and keep stop root disease from gaining entry, Regen-a-Root is the best value root stimulator on the market.

Regenaroot comes in 1 liter bottles, but it’s more cost efficient to purchase the 5 liter bottle for your indoor gardening needs. Regen-a-Root is non-biological, clean and a must have product for your indoor grow room.

Regenaroot is easily one of the best root stimulators we’ve ever used. We recommend using it as instructed, throughout the entire life of the plant to produce and maintain a healthy, disease-free root system.

-Web Hydroponics

Nutri Plus Nutrients: The Essentials

Written by Web Hydroponics on November 29, 2015. Posted in Blog.

Nutri-Plus Grow/Bloom: The most Concentrated Two-Part Hydroponic Plant Nutrient on the Market!

As an enthusiastic hydroponic gardener, it would be amazing if I could snap my fingers or wave a magic wand and create the most concentrated and well balanced plant nutrient program to feed my crops. This magic formula would contain the perfect balance of macro and micro nutrients; it would be rich in calcium and provide hundreds of essential minerals; all in a form that is super clean and pure – with RO water – in order to be easily absorbed by my plants. If this plant nutrient program could guarantee outstanding results at a minimum cost and was developed by a team of distinguished chemists and agronomists from Quebec, this formula would be known as Nutri-Plus.

Nutri-Plus is a Complete and Effective Hydroponic Plant Nutrition Program

Nutri-Plus is widely recognized as the most trusted hydroponic plant nutrient fertilizer in Eastern Canada for the past 20 years. This program includes a variety of unique and powerful foliar additives, the highest grade humic and fulvic acid available today and several super-charged bloom boosters in addition to the most concentrated, two-part, plant-specific recipe on the market. The team at Biofloral (North American distributors of Nutri-Plus) recommends using 4 ml per gallon of the Grow A and B and 8 ml per gallon of the Bloom A and B, but they caution that less is more and all new users should start with a lower dose until they get a feel for what Nutri-Plus can do for their plants. The base nutrients from Nutri-Plus are made from reverse osmosis water assuring a reliable and quality product. By respecting rigorous manufacturing standards, their fertilizers contain fewer contaminants than the competitive brands. It is a fertilizer without electroconductivity that is chlorine free. The formula used in Grow/Bloom by Nutri-Plus is rich in calcium and magnesium, which are necessary for the production of healthy roots, the enhancement of the immune system and the production of chlorophyll.

Start with Nutri-Plus Grow AB, Bloom AB, and Thrive

In addition to using the highly concentrated Nutri-Plus ABs as the foundation of your plant nutrient solution, the team of experts at Biofloral recommends use of 12 ml per gallon of Nutri-Plus Thrive (1-1-2) through all of grow and reduced dosages through early bloom. Thrive is an advanced plant nutrient with B1 vitamins and powerful high-quality seaweed extracts. This product is outstanding for reducing shock that is common in transplant of young cuttings from propagation to grow and it is essential in alleviating the plant stress that is inevitable in transition from grow to flower. The powerful seaweed extract in Thrive delivers a highly concentrated dose of rich deep-sea minerals, organic acids and hormones that work wonders on your crops. In conjunction with Nutri-Plus ABs complete and balanced formula, Thrive increases plant resistance to stress, stimulates root development and strengthens the plants immune system.

Nutri-Plus is as good as any nutrient line on the market. We’ve used it for a long time and love it. It’s been used by our friends in Eastern Canada for over 20 years. If you want a nutrient that’s been around for a while and kept a solid reputation for being effective and available at an affordable price, then the answer is Nutri-Plus. Big name brands equal big prices. Save your money and get big results using Nutri-Plus.

-Web Hydroponics

CX Hydroponics Head Masta Higher Quality Yields

Written by Web Hydroponics on September 24, 2015. Posted in Blog.

A high yield is important in indoor gardening, but you also want high quality no matter how much you yield. CX Hydroponics Head Masta can deliver that need. A high quality yield can be very elusive and when a yield is increased by mediocre products your plants will have higher water content, larger cells, thinner cell walls and lower desirable solids, diluting the quality of your plant and giving you a lower quality end product. Various environmental and physical ailments can reduce the quality of your grow. Many growers get high quality at the expense of high yields or vice versa and it’s uncommon to get both a high yield and high quality. Head Masta, the most popular and best-selling bloom booster and enhancer in the UK, can solve your problem and give you both.

What is in CX Hydroponics Head Masta?

It contains essential organic acids, silicates, proteins and naturally occurring plant hormones for your indoor garden. Head Masta stimulates plants to produce more essential resins and oils and at the same time produce an increase in yield. Head Masta does not contain PGRs! It just works so well that people think it contains PGRs. In fact, Head Masta is an unregistered organic product. From what we hear, CX Hydroponics is planning on registering Head Masta as an organic product in 2017.

How does CX Hydroponics Head Masta work?

Head Masta increases the quality of your yield by stressing the plant to think it’s going to die. When a plant thinks its dying it throws its energy into production increasing resins and oils. Don’t worry, this is done slowly over time so your plant isn’t too stressed. You’ll want use Head Masta early in your indoor gardening process so it accumulates around the roots and causes the plant to go into a stress situation. You’ll notice an increased yield but you’ll really see a real difference in the quality of your yield.

How does Temperature Differential affect Head Masta?

Temperature differential is essential for a high quality yield. Night temperature should typically be 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit lower than your day temperature. If your indoor garden has the same temperature during the day (when the lights are on) and at night (when the lights are off), or night temperatures are higher than day temperatures, your quality will falter. Head Masta stimulates your plant so it overcomes this problem. It provides the balance that otherwise isn’t naturally occurring.

What should I know about CX Hydroponics Head Masta and my water?

If you’re a grower you should know that the right water balance is essential for your plants. While a water shortage is much dangerous than excess water, excess water upsets the plants internal osmotic balance which damages the quality of your end product. Head Masta can overcome this and restore the proper ratio of solids to water.

Here’s another video by CX Hydroponics explaining Head Masta…

Head Masta is one of the best selling supplements from the CX Hydroponics line, and that’s because the science behind it is sound and it works really well. No bells and whistles, just a quality bloom booster that will give you a noticeable difference. Bloom Enhancers are one of the most popular additives used by growers, and Head Masta definitely deserves a go on one of your plants in your next cycle.

-Web Hydroponics

Seaweed Nutrients for Hydroponics

Written by Web Hydroponics on September 17, 2015. Posted in Blog.

Although it is commonly recognized as fish-food or the black wrapping paper that keeps our sushi together in Japanese restaurants (personally I love seaweed salad…nomnomnom), seaweed is a magical renewable ocean resource. It is one of the world’s most important producers of oxygen, through photosynthesis, and it is overwhelmingly rich in iron, zinc, copper, manganese and boron, as well as more than 60 other macro and micro-nutrients. This rootless, free floating ocean plant contains all the wealth of nutrients from the sea as well as an abundance of powerful hormones that trigger massive plant growth and condition soil for maximum productivity. Seaweed has been used in conventional gardening for centuries; because of its highly malleable constitution, seaweed and seaweed extracts are now being incorporated into a wide range of liquid plant nutrients and additives for hydroponic gardening.

Seaweed Nutrients Provide Record Yields and Immediate Relief to Stressed Hydroponic Plants

Long ago it was discovered that fresh seaweed required time to break down in the garden in order to release all the vitamins, minerals, organic acids and hormones that supercharge plant growth and vitality. By first composting and liquefying the seaweed extract, gardeners have discovered that a foliar spray of this extract can make the all the richness of seaweed immediately available to your plants. Studies conclusively show that generous doses of seaweed extract – through regular feeding or by foliar spray – can quickly reverse nutrient deficiencies, reduce the impact of environmental stress (frost and drought) while generating plant yield and vitality that is unobtainable with only conventional fertilizer.

Seaweed Nutrients bring all the Richness of the Ocean to Your Indoor Garden

The richness of seaweed stems from the fact that it floats on the surface of the ocean photosynthesizing sunlight all day, while absorbing nutrients from the sea. Since the ocean is a giant receptacle for runoff from the entire planet, it contains all known trace elements and minerals. As such, it contains over 60 recognized minerals and various plant hormones, but it is not a complete plant nutrient. Although it contains a good amount of nitrogen and potassium, it is known to be low in phosphorus – a macro-nutrient required for plant growth. As such, seaweed extracts have found a place in indoor gardening as an essential source of vital trace elements and hormones to be used in conjunction with a complete and balanced plant nutrient.

Enhanced Hydroponic Plant Growth with Seaweed

In order to recognize the survival abilities of seaweed and the supernatural properties that it makes available to your plants, it is essential to observe that seaweed is constantly washed up by invincible ocean tides and eaten by fish. In order to survive seaweed must grow rapidly. Studies have shown that seaweed can grow up to a foot per day! The same growth hormones that enable this extraordinary growth in seaweed can increase the elongation and the speed of cellular division in plants.

When applied to the roots of plants, these hormones can trigger increased root mass as well as larger and faster plant growth. A recent university study in outdoor (soil-based) gardening concluded that crops treated with seaweed extract exhibited increased root growth (between 67% to 175% greater than untreated plants). Roots soaked in seaweed extract provided evidence of reduced transplant shock and studies on seedlings demonstrated faster rates of germination and greater survival rates. Further studies revealed that foliar spraying of seaweed extracts promoted earlier flowering and fruit set in addition to stronger and faster stem and leaf development.

Seaweed Conditions Soil and other Grow Media in Hydroponic Gardens

It was recently discovered that mannitol compounds in seaweed enable increased efficiency of nutrient absorption in soil and other media. Other studies revealed that seaweed enables speedy breakdown of sugars and carbohydrates while stimulating the growth of nitrogen-fixing beneficial bacteria. By promoting the development of these beneficial bacteria, seaweed is indirectly responsible for increased absorption of nitrogen and other nutrients.

Seaweed Nutrients increase the Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables and Fends off Pest in the Indoor Garden

The benefits of seaweed and seaweed extracts on conventional hydroponic gardens continue to multiply as every new study reveals another advantage of this miraculous resource. Current studies suggest that antitoxins in seaweed products (for indoor gardening) can have a powerful impact on common garden pests. It is reported that these powerful chemicals can repel certain insects, mildew and bacteria in much the same way it fends off bacteria and virus in the ocean.

Another university study determined that foliar seaweed extracts can increase the shell life of fruits and vegetables by preventing mold growth. Based on this and all the other compelling evidence, it is easy to conclude that any plant nutrition program that excludes seaweed supplements is surely incomplete. pure ocean seaweeds

Ok, now that you understand how important seaweed nutrients are for your garden, which nutrient is the best?

We carry Nutri-Plus Pure Ocean Seaweed Extracts, imported from Holland, and containing over 60 naturally occurring macro and micro elements; extensive amino acid compounds; Vitamins A,C,F, B-12; Gibberellic acid, Auxins and Cytokinins. It is also USDA and WSDA certified Organic. If you are not familiar with the Nutri-Plus line of nutrients, you’re missing out on a quality nutrient line that has been around for a long time providing excellent products at affordable prices. Low priced nutes do not mean lower quality! We can’t recommend Nutri-Plus products enough. We grow with them and love them! It’s a line that doesn’t get a lot of hype but they make a solid line of nutes that are easy to use and work really well!

We also recommend Bloom Seaweed Yellow Bottles! This is a super concentrated Seaweed extract (1ml/1L) that will surely be worth every liter. It is very popular and is a big seller for us!

If you made it to the end of this blog post, enjoy this coupon code for 15% off Seaweed Products from Web Hydroponics…”seaweed15“. Enter the code at check out to get 15% off any seaweed product from our site!

Thanks for reading!

-Web Hydroponics

Only Trust Grozone CO2 Generators and Climate Controllers for Indoor Gardening

Written by Web Hydroponics on August 13, 2015. Posted in Blog.

Don’t get me wrong, I love saving money on inexpensive products, but there are too many variables in indoor gardening to take chances with cheap, unreliable products; it’s not the right way to become a successful indoor grower. With this in mind, it doesn’t matter whether I’m dealing with odor control, climate control or water control, I purchase reliable controllers that may cost more than their imported counterparts at first, but they will repay dividends because they will last many years and cycles of growing. And if something happens, I want a product that has a long-term reliable warranty.

CO2 Enrichment is Essential in Optimizing Green Houses and Grow Rooms, but it Can be Dangerous

Almost all school children know from science class that CO2 is an essential ingredient in the equation of photosynthesis; all experienced indoor growers know that a key way to increase yield in an optimized grow room is to increase availability of CO2. This statement is perfectly logical. The only curveball associated with CO2 enrichment is the fact that it can be downright dangerous if a grower is careless. Many inexperienced growers are quick to pick up cheaper, more-affordable CO2 propane burners in order to “save” a few dollars. We often end up hearing about these growers on the late night news or in the local papers under the heading “Investigation of Grow House Explosion Underway” or “Explosion Blows Lid off Local Grow House”.

North American Made and ETL Certified Grozone CO2 Burners are the Ultimate in Reliability and Safety

On the other hand using safe and reliable propane burners for CO2 enrichment can provide huge benefits: increase yields by 10 to 30% while reducing growing times by 10 to 30%. For CO2 burners, I recommend the Grozone LP5 (15 000 BTU/hour propane burner) or LP10 (30 000 BTU/hour propane burner). These Canadian-made units feature an electronic smart valve which lights the gas nozzle only when necessary; this smart valve is monitored by built-in Honeywell components that reduce waste of propane and generate a shutdown if ignition fails or when required. Grozone CO2 Burners are built with unique collapsible enclosures which are protected by a high temperature coating. With all these safety mechanisms in place, Grozone CO2 Burners are among the only ETL Certified propane burners available on the market and they come with a Grozone 1-year, no hassle warranty.

Let’s look at the specs of their CO2 Generators…

Grozone LP5 CO2 Generator

The LP5 generator is a 15 000 BTU/hour propane burner activated via a 120Vac power cord. The electronic smart valve lights the gas nozzle only when necessary reducing waste of propane as regular standing pilot. The unique collapsible enclosure design enables space and shipping cost savings and is protected by a high temperature coating. The unit can either rest on the floor or be suspended to ceiling. The LP5 model will generate about 17 cubic feet of pure CO2 every hour of operation. ETL Listed. The accessory kit includes a 10-ft hose and gas regulator assembly, two “S” hooks, Two 3-ft chain sections and one replacement fuse (1A 250V Slow Blow) tied to the power cord

Grozone LP10 CO2 Generator

The LP10 generator is a 30 000 BTU/hour propane burner activated via a 120Vac power cord. The electronic smart valve lights the gas nozzle only when necessary reducing waste of propane as regular standing pilot. The unique collapsible enclosure design enables space and shipping cost savings and is protected by a high temperature coating. The unit can either rest on the floor or be suspended to ceiling. The LP10 model will generate about 35 cubic feet of pure CO2 every hour of operation. ETL Listed. The accessory kit includes a 10-ft hose and gas regulator assembly, two “S” hooks, two 3-ft chain sections and one replacement fuse (1A 250V Slow Blow) tied to the power cord.

Thanks for Reading!

-Web Hydroponics

Back to Basics: Hydroponics and Indoor Gardening

Written by Web Hydroponics on March 5, 2015. Posted in Blog.

So what does hydroponics mean anyway? Does hydroponic gardening imply more water consumption than traditional gardening? Is hydroponics only for the purpose of growing controversial crops? These and many other questions arise when uninformed people first consider the idea of indoor gardening and hydroponics.
In simple terms, hydroponics is the growing of plants in a rich, mineral nutrient solution with water and no soil.

Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants without soil. It is traditionally practiced indoors or in a greenhouse, but many commercial growers are learning to incorporate hydroponic practices in their outdoor crops because of huge gains in reduced water consumption and enhanced control of nutrient delivery. There was a time when we believed that soil was essential for plant growth – today we know that plants do not need soil at all; what they need is the mineral nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes and beneficial bacteria for plants that exist in healthy top soil (the rhizosphere).

Benefits to Hydroponic Gardening

Hydroponics has many benefits. The first benefit is that while you only use water to grow plants, you still use way less than traditional soil gardening. Hydroponics uses about 10% of the amount of water that would be required for growing in soil. The only water loss in a hydroponics system is from evaporation and occasional changes to your nutrient solution mix. The second benefit is that because you’re delivering precise amounts of nutrients in an efficient way, less fertilizer is required. When you garden in soil, you can lose nutrients to settling or crystallizing in the soil. This does not happen in hydroponics. A third benefit is hydroponics requires less space to grow…up to 50% less land to grow the same amount of food compared to traditional gardening. Imagine 50% of the land used to farm right now being designated as wildlife preserves or natural areas…sounds pretty great! A fourth benefit is reduced fossil fuel consumption because food often travels from far away places to get to cities and ecosystems where food growth is not easy or prevalent. Hydroponics would allow you to have warehouse full of fresh food in the heart of a city center for residents to enjoy. Finally, another great benefit of hydroponics is reduced pesticide use. Is organic hydroponics a thing? Not all of Hydroponics is organic, but since you control the environmental inputs, you never need to use toxic pesticides while growing your plants. It’s an extremely healthy way to grow your food.

Indoor Gardening and Hydroponics requires attention to all the elements of a plant growth environment

Apart from mineral and organic plant nutrients, healthy plants require optimal amounts of water, oxygen, CO2 and abundant light (in the right wavelength and intensity). While working without soil, successful indoor gardening operators have learned to deliver a balance of all these elements while closely controlling the PH and conductivity of the nutrient solution as well as the temperature and relative humidity (RH) of the grow room or greenhouse. They have learned to optimize all the grow elements while reducing garden pests in grow operations. The reward has been spectacular – up to six harvests per year with crop yields that dwarf traditional gardening practices in both size and quality.

Types of Hydroponic Systems for Indoor Gardening

Hydroponic gardening opened the door to a new era of growing. Indoor gardening thrived because of enhanced control of the elements and supercharged nutrient solutions – specially formulated for every stage of a plants growth and flowering. In traditional ebb & flow systems, hydroponic growers deliver precise amounts of nutrient solution while exercising almost complete control of oxygen levels in the grow medium. Other hydroponic systems, such as NFT (Nutrient Film Technique), DWC (deep water culture) and even aeroponics also supply the benefit of enhanced growth element management while maximizing yields in a record-breaking time.

Methods of hydroponics vary depending on whether the plant roots are embedded in a solid inert grow medium (such as expanded clay, rock wool, coco peat, perlite, etc. – medium culture) or just openly exposed to regular doses of nutrient solution and oxygen (solution culture). Methods of medium culture may vary by way of top irrigation and sub-irrigation systems, while approaches include continuous-flow solution culture, static solution culture and aeroponics.

Hydroponic Gardening Systems Offer complete Control of all the Element in the Growing Environment

Without getting into the specifics of all these methods, it is important to note that the only clear disadvantage to growing in hydroponics is the absence of the buffering effect that soil supplies in a garden. In hydroponics, plants can outperform any conventional gardening system, but they are completely dependent on growers to supply the right amount of nutrients at precise intervals and with the appropriate PH and conductivity levels. These systems are extremely unforgiving; any failure can lead to rapid death. On the other hand, growers who are attentive to their plants and hydroponic systems – diligent about checking their PH and PPMs and obsessed with maintaining optimal plant lighting, ventilation, nutrient levels and pest control – will benefit from harvests that go way beyond any expectations.

So what are you waiting for? Get growing!

Thanks for reading!

-Web Hydroponics

One of the Best PH Meter and PPM Meters Available: Nutradip!

Written by Web Hydroponics on November 10, 2014. Posted in Blog.

Beginners in Hydroponic gardening tend to make the common mistake of underestimating the accuracy, reliability and high quality in pH meters and nutrient meters. Many growers warn of the dangers of unchecked acidity levels and unbalanced nutrient concentrations that can lead to plant nutrient deficiencies. These plant nutrient deficiencies generally result in a weakened immune system that can’t fight against pests and diseases; inevitably this leads to a non-exist or diminished yield when it’s time to harvest.

Best PH Meter: Nutradip is my winner!

The use of pH meters and ppm meters in monitoring plant nutrient solutions has become standard practice and widely used in most hydroponic gardening communities around the globe. The latest pH meters and nutrient meters by Nutradip are manufactured by Future Harvest Development – a well-known and trusted brand that is a first choice for many hydroponic growers. The well-known Nutradip Tri-meter is a 3-in-1 hydroponic meter that features automatic temperature compensation and no batteries, and is classed as a reliable way to measure nutrient strength, temperature and pH levels all in one.

Best Nutrient Meter: Again, Nutradip!!!

Developed by Future Harvest Development the Nutradip Nutrient Meter provides an accurate and reliable way of measuring conductivity (EC) and nutrient strength (ppm) in hydroponic gardens. Made by growers for growers, this hydroponic nutrient meter comes with splash resistant properties, a lightweight design; a temperature compensated nutrient probe, a Nutradip calibration solution, and a replaceable 9V battery with dual power options for performing as a wall mounted or hand-held unit.

Measuring Acidity Levels with The Nutradip pH Meter

The Future Harvest Development Nutradip pH Meter is another essential hydroponic gardening tool which provides any grower with the ability to monitor nutrient pH with a portable or wall mounted unit. This meter features the same splash resistant and lightweight case as the Nutradip nutrient meter. It also includes the dual power option, and the same people-friendly and plant friendly display as the Nutrient Meter. The Nutradip pH meter also offers a 9V battery, a 1 year warranty, a Nutradip pH4/pH7, and a high quality pH probe.

Why Nutradip?

The bottom line is that most of the deficiencies and setbacks with disappointing hydroponic yields and poor plant health are the result of failure to monitor pH levels and nutrient strength. Experienced growers know that reliable meters and regular attention are directly related to optimized plant nutrient uptake and exceptional harvests. As such, Nutradip has become synonymous with reliability and quality in monitoring pH and nutrient strength in hydroponic gardening. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that your nutrient solution is optimized, confirm it with Nutradip.

-Web Hydroponics

High Pressure Sodium vs. Metal Halide: Plant Lighting Uncovered!

Written by Web Hydroponics on November 7, 2014. Posted in Blog.

Hydroponic gardening is a method of indoor growing that requires the right combination of techniques and equipment to increase growth rate and maximize crop yield for a larger harvest. Adequate plant lighting is one of the most critical elements to consider for maximum plant growth and healthy indoor gardens. In hydroponic gardening there are a variety of light options such as High Pressure Sodium plant lights (HPS), Metal Halide plant lights (MH), incandescent lights and fluorescent plant light to choose from. So, which should you use? We’ll focus on two of the more popular options, High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) bulbs…

High Pressure Sodium Bulbs (HPS)

The High Pressure Sodium Bulb (HPS) is the top choice for a high powered indoor gardening plant light. The 1000W high pressure sodium bulb is able to offer around 24,000 hours of use with an average 140,000 lumen output. Although there is very little color change over time, the HPS bulb is limited because it doesn’t offer optimal PAR output (PAR = ‘Photosynthetically Active Radiation.’ Higher PAR values equal more efficient bulbs). As such, HPS light works in mostly the wrong frequency range for growing plants. The light spectrum that is emitted from the high pressure sodium bulb is mostly within the orange spectrum and emits little blue and red light. Despite its PAR limitations, this bulb is very powerful and the spillover of light emission in the most desirable PAR Spectrum is still more than adequate to supply the plant with enough light to maintain a healthy growth pattern.

Which HPS Bulb to Choose?

When buying HPS bulbs for indoor gardening it is imperative to choose one with output of 430-460 nm blue light and 680-700 nm red light. Bulbs that emit only orange and green spectrums offer little significant impact on the PAR value, and are virtually useless for plant growth.

Metal Halide (MH) Bulbs

Metal Halide Bulbs are another popular option for hydroponic indoor gardening. Coated with phosphor the MH bulb delivers a photon blue light output of 430-460nm – ideal for increasing plant growth in the vegetative growth stage. As a metal halide bulb ages, more red light develops. This can be beneficial for plant lighting during the bloom stage of plant growth; since more red light is required. The only drawback is that lumen output also drops-off as aging sets in. Metal Halide bulbs are rated for up to 10,000 hours of light (significantly less than HPS).

More about Metal Halide Bulbs

Also, metal halide output is approximately 30% less than that of the HPS bulb, although many metal halide bulbs offer more of the valuable 700nm red spectrum light than high pressure sodium bulbs. In comparing HPS and MH, many indoor gardeners tend to favor the HPS bulbs over MH bulbs because of the lumen drop-off and the short life span of the MH bulb. Compromising with one HPS to one MH can provide dual benefits. Choosing lamps with high levels of PAR values such as 460nm, 680nm, and 700nm can help to boost your plant growth, while reducing harvest cycles (by up to 50%).

Overall, combining different types of plant lights in hydroponic gardens can provide a good balance of light intensity with an optimized PAR spectrum and deliver maximum plant growth throughout a plants’ life-cycle. Of course this generally translates into greater yields and more profitable harvests.

-Web Hydroponics

Advanced Hydroponic Systems and Modern Grow Room Equipment

Written by Web Hydroponics on November 5, 2014. Posted in Blog.

These days, it seems like hydroponics projects are everywhere. From innovative large-scale, greenhouse gardening to classic residential grow rooms in home basements or grow tents in the guest bedroom; many gardeners and hobbyists are pursuing window farming, hanging gardens and other types of hydroponic gardening. But, it’s not clear to everyone just why this new kind of gardening is so beneficial. Here are some of the major advantages of hydroponics that are causing this industry to take off so quickly.

Advanced Hydroponic Systems provide Complete Control of the Grow Room

In many respects, hydroponic gardening is the consummation of modern science in agriculture. Hydroponics doesn’t just save us from the labor involved in “plowing the fields”; it provides a technology for complete control of sunlight, temperature, humidity, CO2, water and nutrient delivery, and pest control (to a certain extent). Systems such as ebb and flow, deep water culture and NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) generate outstanding crop yields with equipment that delivers complete climate control as well as water and fertilizer management. Modern climate controllers can run customized day and night schedules that automate your hydroponic lights, ventilation systems, CO2 burners, and grow room air conditioning units. Meanwhile, cutting edge cycle timers control the delivery of plant nutrients and water at precise intervals. Parameters can be programmed to handle grow room temperature, humidity and other variables. Modern green thumbs who learn to use advanced hydroponic systems and equipment get hooked on the fact that they have complete control of the grow environment for their plants and they can deliver consistent, impressive yields, all year round, with minimal investment in time and labor.

Hydroponic Gardening and Better Plants

In many cases, advanced hydroponic nutrient programs and techniques lead to healthier and more vibrant plants. Some of the latest research in horticulture and food production shows that advanced hydroponic plant nutrient programs and systems have evolved to the point that gardeners can provide the optimal mix of macro and micro nutrients, in doses that consistently produce record-breaking crops, from their smart phones! By contrast, many traditional farmers are still plagued by natural environmental phenomena that cause stunted plant growth or otherwise interfere with optimal plant development and yield.

Hydroponic Indoor Gardening Eliminates Seasons and Allows for Growing All Year Round

Another obvious advantage of hydroponics is that farmers can grow all year round. Forget seasons and weather conditions, indoor gardeners can decide when to grow and when to bloom. Spring sunlight is available (on-tap) any time of year and many growers pack in 5 to 6 harvests a year.

If you are pondering the best ways to grow your favorite fruits and vegetables take a closer look at how modern hydroponics can deliver growth and gardens that consistently exceed all your expectations. Traditional outdoor gardening is fun, but exhausting and unpredictable. Indoor hydroponic gardening is the only way to grow for results.

Get growing!

-Web Hydroponics

Tag: hydroponics

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