Ballast for Hydroponics Growing

Hydroponics uses several different types of lights for optimum plant growth. While using different grow lights, it is important to invest in a specialized digital ballast, which is a necessary component of any lighting circuit. Simply put, a ballast is an electronic component in a lighting system that controls the amount of current in a circuit. Without it, a grow light would fail to work.

Why Digital Ballasts
Earlier ballasts consisted of resistors, which is an inefficient way to control current, as it leads to loss of electricity. Modern digital ballasts limit current flow without wasting electricity. They also help to extend the lifespan of grow lights. Moreover, they help to reduce flickering, a common feature in older ballasts. Also, the performance of most conventional magnetic ballasts worsens after few years of operation, while digital ballasts provide a consistent lumen output and efficiency over its lifetime. As a bonus, digital ballasts offer noise-free operation and less startup time, or the time required to achieve full brightness.

Factors to Consider While Buying a Digital Ballast
The most important factor to consider is efficacy, which is measured in Watts / Light output. Another important factor in hydroponics is heating. A ballast that emits a lot of heat will affect the temperature of your growing environment. Some ballasts may include a fan for cooling, but these are known to have a high failure rate. A good ballast should also switch off automatically in case of a short circuit. For best performance, always opt for known and tested products for your indoor growing environment.

Ballasts for Indoor Gardening
If you are growing plants the hydroponic way, you will often use either metal halide (MH) or high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps or both. Consider buying a ballast that is versatile enough to power both types, such as the Dual ballast by Lumatek. Lumatek digital ballasts are well-known in the hydroponics industry for their efficient performance. Other well-known brands include Maverick and Xtrasun

How to Install a Carbon Filter

Hydroponics is all about growing plants without using soil. In hydroponic gardening, plants are grown in alternative media like coir, rockwool, water-based media, etc. Air filtration is another important part of hydroponics. Growing plants need a regular supply of fresh air to prepare their food. Since most hydroponic gardens are in an indoor setting, providing a regular supply of fresh air becomes an important aspect to consider.

Carbon Filters

Carbon filters are the ideal air filtration solution for hydroponics gardens. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and effective. Along with filtering air, carbon filters also trap odor molecules, mainly produced by vegetable plants. Thus, carbon filters serve a dual purpose of improving air circulation and keeping it odor-free.

Charcoal carbon filters are the most popular air filters available, especially the IGS Goblin and PHAT Hydro filters. They contain activated charcoal, which is a form of processed carbon. This type of carbon has many minute pores in it and a vast surface area to participate in chemical reactions. When air passes through the filter, contaminant particles are trapped in the pores and neutralized by the activated carbon.

Installing a Carbon Filter

Installing a carbon filter is quite easy and only takes a matter of minutes. IGS and PHAT filters simply need to be hung over the plants or placed on the floor next to them. These filters are especially popular with people looking for a HydroHut grow room compatible filter.

If you have already installed an exhaust fan for your garden, you can just install your carbon filter over it. These filters are available as charcoal fiber scrubbers and can be used in front of any exhaust fan. The filter is attached to the input side of the fan. You can attach the filter using tape, hooks, or clamps. Alternatively, you can create a small duct joining the filter to the fan. The only precaution to take with this method is to check that the filter is placed at a sufficient distance over the plants. This allows air to circulate around the plants before it is filtered.

Replacing the Filter
Over time, the pores in the carbon filter are filled with contaminants and the filter has no space for further contaminant molecules. When this happens, you will need to replace your filter with a new one. Most carbon filters need to be replaced around 12 – 18 months after they are installed.

How to Set-Up and Use Filtration Kits

Proper air quality management is vital in hydroponics. Even if you have a small garden, ensure that your plants receive their required air supply. Plants utilize the carbon dioxide present in air to prepare their food. Inadequate air supply deprives your plants of nourishment and makes them droop and wilt. Improper air supply can also leave your plants vulnerable to many diseases.

Air quality management involves using well-designed and efficient equipment. The most common option is known as a filtration kit. The filtration kit is a combination of devices that promote air circulation and remove unpleasant odors.

Components of a Filtration Kit

The type of filtration kit you select will depend on the size of your garden and any budgetary constraints you might have. A basic filtration kit will consist of a blower or fan, a carbon filter, and some ducting. Each component serves a purpose as described below:

Fans: The fan promotes air exchange. There are many different types of fans available such as centrifugal fans and oscillating fans. They come in many sizes depending on your garden’s needs. If fans are not to your liking, you can use Active Air blowers instead.

Carbon filters: Carbon filters purify the air and keep it odor-free. Carbon filters contain activated charcoal, which acts like a sponge and absorbs contaminant particles and odor molecules. The Deau Passe filters function in tandem with the attached fan.

Ducting: Ducts perform the important function of bringing in fresh air and removing stale air. Ducts are usually made of metal and come in elbow, T, and Y shapes for added flexibility.

Installing a Filtration Kit

Before you install your filtration apparatus, you must decide where you want to put it. For maximum effectiveness, it is recommended that the filter be close to the ceiling. Stale air is warmer than fresh air and will naturally rise upwards. While fans may be suspended from the ceiling, mounting it on a wall near the ceiling is a better option. Most fans come with wall mounting brackets for attachment to walls.

Carbon filters need not be directly attached to a fan. Maximum efficiency can be obtained by having a small length of ducting between the two, allowing them to work properly. Ducts are attached to appliances using duct clips, which attach the ducts firmly without causing any damage.

Best Nutrient Solutions for Summer Growing

Summer means heat. If you live in a warm place, excessive heat can affect your plants, especially those grown indoors. Some plants thrive in plenty of sunlight while others will require shade. Because of the summer heat, plants often do not get the water they require. This leads to stress, causing nutritional deficiency. Hence, the most important summer tip is to use water wisely and ensure that your plants receive adequate nutrition.

The quality of nutrient solutions that you use directly affects the growth and health of your plants. Improper plant nutrient can lead to poor yields, or worse, diseases. Hence, it is important to use tried-and-tested nutrient solutions that provide the necessary nutrients.

Here is a look at the important factors that are involved in choosing nutrient solutions for summer growing:

Indoor Gardening in Summer

Hydroponics enthusiasts avoid the summer heat by growing plants indoors. However, you will need to ensure that indoor plants absorb adequate amounts of light by using a nutrient solution such as Liquid Light, which improves light absorption.

Stages of Growth

Plants have different nutritional needs in the vegetative and flowering stages. Depending on the stage of growth and plant type, it is important to vary the nutrient solutions. Several hydroponics hobbyists use ESU Greenleaves Grow Juice for vegetative growth and Bloom Juice before fruiting and flowering. Similarly, pHAT Hydro offers products for the vegetative and blooming stages that are extremely popular with amateur as well as professional growers who use hydroponics.

Growing Mediums

Nutrition depends on the growing medium you use, as each growing medium has different amounts of trace nutrients and micronutrients. Inexperienced growers and professional growers can simply use ready-to-use nutrient solutions from Canna, which have been scientifically tested on specific growing mediums such as coco, soil, and rockwool.

pH Levels

Adding nutrients to the reservoir is bound to affect its pH level, which affects the uptake of nutrients and increases the chances of plant diseases. Technoflora provides a range of products such as B.C. Boost, B.C. Bloom, and B.C. Grow for different stages of plant growth. The balanced formula allows you to maintain pH levels of the nutrient reservoir, eliminating the need for frequent pH adjustment.

Chelation

A good nutrient solution should contain quality chelates, which aid the transfer of nutrients from fertilizers to plants. Nutrient solutions from Advanced Nutrients are known for their high chelate to micronutrient ratio, which ensures bio-availability for a longer duration.

Hydro-Organic Nutrients and Growth Supplements

Most nutrient solutions used in hydroponics are “hydro-organic” which means that they are organic materials that are readily soluble in water. One of the well-known brands in highly soluble nutrient solutions is General Hydroponics. General Hydroponics offers a range of growth supplements to enhance the development of both flowering and fruiting plants. Another trusted name, FoxFarm offers hydroponic nutrients that work by providing an extra boost of nitrogen and important trace minerals.

Finding the Right Hydroponic Nutrients for Your Plants

Hydroponics is a great way to maintain your own indoor garden without having to worry about what type of soil to use for different plants, how to obtain it, how much space the garden will occupy, etc. In the hydroponic method of gardening, a plant is grown in a water solution or a specially designed growing medium like rockwool, peat moss, vermiculite, etc. The plant’s roots remain submerged in the solution or growing medium and the rest of the plant is suspended above it.

Role of Hydroponic Nutrients

All plants need certain nutrients and plants grown in a hydroponic garden are no different. Generally, plants get their nutrients from soil. In hydroponics, this happens differently. Hydroponic nutrients are directly given to the plant. The primary constituents of most nutrient mixtures are phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. Other components include vitamins, hormones, and inorganic materials like minerals.

Finding the Best Hydroponic Nutrients

Making your own hydroponic nutrients may seem like a cost-effective solution. However, you will need to go through a large phase of trial-and-error before you find the right mix of nutrients. In the meantime, your plants will suffer due to lack of nutrients. It is better to invest in a commercially prepared nutrient solution that undergoes years of research and testing, and is designed to cater to your plants’ growth needs.

Available Hydroponic Nutrient Choices

Many companies manufacture hydroponic nutrients. The choice you make will depend on the growth phase of the plant, the type of growing medium, and the precise nutrients the plant requires. Here are some examples of hydroponic nutrients.

FloraNova has two main products: FloraNova Grow and FloraNova Bloom. Both these nutrient solutions are organic compounds, thus bringing a natural approach to hydroponic gardening. Both these solutions are suitable for all types of plants.

If you are looking to boost the vegetative capacity of your plants, then Earth Juice is for you. Earth Juice has a variety of hydroponic nutrient solutions to improve the growth of plants—right from seedlings to maturity. These products also boast the distinction of being approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute.

Budswel and Super Tea are two varieties of organic plant food. Budswel is a liquid concentrate that is high in phosphorous, which makes it ideal for increasing fruit production in cantaloupe, grape, and squash plants. It also serves as an excellent base for flowerbeds, most notably roses. Super Tea is a dry plant food with high nitrogen content. It can be used as a general fertilizer.

The Age Old range of products is specially formulated to fulfil your plants’ every need. The Age Old Grow and Bloom solutions are organic fertilizers with a 2:1 ratio of nitrogen to phosphorous. Age Old’s dry guano products are phosphorous-rich nutrients targeted specifically at fruit-bearing plants while the liquid kelp solution is a natural bio-stimulant.

Pure Blend manufactures nutrient solutions that enhance the effectiveness of hydroponic nutrient solutions. Pure Blend products are hydro-organic in nature and are available as a tea solution, which is easy to add to any hydroponic nutrient solution.

Choosing Hydroponic Nutrients for Your Garden

In hydroponics, plants do not grow in soil. Instead, the plants are grown in a water-based medium or other growing mediums like coir, rockwool, etc. Growing plants using hydroponics is advantageous in urban areas, where space is at a premium. It also benefits those regions where the soil is not conducive to gardening.

Role of Hydroponic Nutrients

All plants need the same conditions to grow i.e. sufficient amount of light, water, and materials to make their own food. For plants growing in soil, food is obtained by uptake in nutrients from the soil. Since soil is absent in hydroponics, food needs to be provided to the plant using a different route. This is where hydroponic nutrients come in. These nutrients are specially formulated to cater to your plants’ every need. An added bonus is that most nutrients only need to be dissolved in water and then supplied to the plants.

Choosing Hydroponic Nutrients

Many companies manufacture hydroponic nutrients. Some nutrients can be used for overall plant growth while others focus on achieving specific results like better flowers, fruits, etc. You can choose to make your own nutrient solution but it is unlikely to be as effective as commercially available ones that are scientifically prepared and undergo stringent tests. Here is a guide to some of the hydroponic nutrients available.

B.C Grow is a range of products manufactured by Technaflora Nutrients. The B.C. Grow hydroponic nutrient solution is derived from many inorganic substances like potassium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, boric acid, etc. that are essential to healthy plant growth.

pHat Hydro provides quality hydroponic nutrients for your plants. A specialty of pHat products is they are available as two-part solutions. The solutions are designed to be used at specific growth stages of a plant life cycle to maximize the effectiveness of the nutrients.

FoxFarm specializes in hydroponic nutrients aimed at growth of fruits and flowers in plants. FoxFarm products are completely organic and promote intense growth of the vegetative areas of plants. Nitrogen is the primary nutrient provided by these solutions, along with limited amounts of trace minerals.

Grow Juice and Bloom Juice from ESU Greenleaves are other nutrient solutions aimed at growth of fruits and flowers. Grow Juice promotes growth of leaves while Bloom Juice is formulated to act during flowering and fruiting stages. An added benefit of these nutrient solutions is their color-based ability to test the pH of the solution when mixed with water.

Canna’s range of hydroponic nutrients is designed specially for specific growing mediums. While regular nutrients are also available, Canna has a line of nutrients for different substrates like grow rocks, rockwool, etc.

Enhance the efficacy of hydroponic nutrients by providing growth supplements at certain stages of plant growth. General Hydro has growth supplements with vitamins and hormones to give plants an extra boost during crucial stages of growth.

Passive Hydroponics

Passive hydroponics, also known as hydroculture, is one of the techniques of hydroponics. Hydroponics refers to the method of growing plants without soil. Instead of soil, hydroponics depends on a special substrate, known as a hydroponic growing medium.
Passive hydroponics does away with the need for water or air pumps, by depending on the capillary action of the plant’s own roots to transport water and nutrients to it. It essentially involves growing the plant in a porous container with a reservoir containing water and hydroponic nutrients. This system allows the plant to take in only the specific amount of nutrition it needs. The most basic passive hydroponics system consists of a pot placed in a nutrient solution or a capillary mat saturated with nutrient solution.

Passive hydroponics, and other hydroponic techniques, offer many advantages over traditional methods of horticulture. Firstly, since a sterile medium is used instead of soil, the plant is protected against soil-borne diseases. Secondly, plants grown using hydroponics take up much less space than those grown in soil, which makes hydroponics the perfect choice for hobby horticulturists.

Hydroponic Growing Mediums

These are some common hydroponic growing mediums:

Perlite: Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass. It is a popular growing medium.

Vermiculite: Vermiculite is a natural mineral that resembles mica rock in appearance. It retains moisture well. Vermiculite is often used along with perlite as the two materials complement each other.

Diatomite: Diatomite is a naturally occurring, soft sedimentary rock. It contains elemental minerals, required for the growth of plants, which makes it an excellent hydroponic growing medium.

Charcoal: Charcoal is a residue of impure carbon. It is often used in combination with other growing mediums.

Rockwool: Rockwool is a manmade mineral fiber. Because it is chemically and biologically inert, it makes an ideal hydroponic growing medium.

Information on passive hydroponics is readily available. Besides the technique requires little expense or care. Because of this, even enthusiasts who are beginners with passive hydroponics beginners often enjoy successful results with relatively little effort.

Springtime Indoor Gardening

Spring is the season of growth and new life for plants. It is also the busiest time of the year for gardeners. From sowing seeds to controlling pests, the passing of winter can mean a lot of work. The results, however, make it worth it. If you grow your plants indoors using hydroponics, read this guide to understand the various factors involved in springtime indoor gardening.

Selecting Grow Lights

In spring, plants thrive in sunlight. But for indoor gardening, opt for grow lights that simulate sunlight. If you use the right grow lights for your indoor plants, you need not even wait for springtime to get results. The most important factor to consider is the spectrum of light emitted by the grow light.

Here are some tips on different types of grow lights that you can use during springtime:

* To stimulate flowering, use grow lights that emit red light for better blooms. For thicker bushy growth, blue light is more suitable. Many hydroponics enthusiasts combine two or more types of grow lights to get the best results.

* T-5 fluorescent grow lights work best with seedlings and cuttings, as they emit little heat. Hydroponic growers often prefer full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs for their seedlings.

* Metal halide (MH) bulbs are a good choice if your indoor plants require light similar to that emitted by the sun in summer.

* To simulate autumn for your indoor gardening plants, opt for high pressure sodium (HPS) bulbs. HPS lights are ideal for inducing fruiting and flowering.

In addition, invest in a grow light control system with a timer, rotator, light mover, reflector, and hood that ensure your indoor plants get the right amount of light for 14 to 18 hours a day. Remember to consider the initial cost, lifespan, and operating costs of your grow lights. A cheaper grow light may actually be more expensive to operate in the long run.

Using the Right Hydroponic Nutrients

Plants in spring are still in the initial growth stage and require the best nutrients for maximum yield. Ensure that you do not supply too much or too little to your indoor plants. For your indoor garden, use hydro-organic nutrients, which are simply nutrients that dissolve in water. Use readymade, easy-to-use products instead of creating your own hydroponic nutrients. This is because it can be difficult to understand what nutrients work best for different plants during springtime. Commercial products from pHat, General Hydroponics, Canna, Foxfarm, etc. have been rigorously tested for several years on different plants, ensuring maximum yield during spring.

Pest Control

Springtime is not only a boom time for plants but also for bacteria, mites, aphids, fruit flies, weeds, and other pests that wreak havoc on your plants. For successful indoor gardening, invest in pest control mechanisms such as insecticides, sticky traps, fungicides, etc. that destroy pests without harming the plants.

Hobby Hydroponics

Gardening remains a common hobby. A new offshoot, hydroponic gardening is also gaining popularity today. Hydroponics, a family of techniques that allows plants to grow in any medium other than soil, is a relatively expensive hobby. The initial setup, necessary equipment, and regular upkeep of a hydroponic garden are substantial compared to other regular hobbies. Regular care and dedication is required to pursue this hobby, but the results make it worth the effort.
Hydroponics for Hobbyists

For the novice hobbyist, hydroponics allows him or her to grow plants in an environment that would otherwise be unfavorable. A wide variety of plants—flowers, vegetables, and decorative plants—can be cultivated out-of-season with the help of hydroponics.
Hydroponics does away with the requirement of good soil quality for plant cultivation, since it does not use soil. These techniques make plant nutrition easier to monitor. For such an expensive hobby, the level of control is what makes hydroponic gardening more fruitful.

The exacting nature of hydroponics makes the connection between the cause and effect very direct. If the adequate amounts of nutrients, light, warmth, etc. are supplied, the yield will be good. This predictability in results is quite encouraging for the novice hobbyist.

Advantages of Hydroponic Gardening

• The yield is better in terms of quality and quantity.

• It eliminates the threat of soil-borne pests or plant diseases.

• You have a flourishing garden irrespective of the season.

• Moving plants is easier and less messy than in soil gardens.

• It is easier to monitor nutrition levels.

• Hydroponic gardening allows you to automate a lot of basic tasks, thus saving a lot of time and effort.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Follow proper fertilizing schedules. Since the plants are not in a medium where nutrients can be found on their own, the supply has to be continuous.

• Quality of the available water is vital to the yield. Use only water with the proper pH level and a low-salt and metal content. Rainwater is ideal. Avoid hard water.

• Use materials such as non-metal, plastic pipes, pumps, etc. that do not leach any possible toxic matter into the plant-growth medium.

• Aerate the water using oxygen pumps or porous air stones.

Growing Mediums in a Hydroponic System

A growing medium is simply a medium in which the plant grows. Most people believe that soil is the only growing medium for plants. But that is not true. In a hydroponic system, a growing medium, other than soil, nourishes the plant and provides support and stability.

An important principle behind hydroponics is that plants take in only the required nutrients at the right time. This is only possible when you use a growing medium such as coconut fiber and rockwool, for example. A growing medium allows you to add the correct amount of nutrients and also monitor the pH in a hydroponic system. In addition, using a growing medium other than soil has several advantages that include:

• Prevention of root infestations

• Retention of adequate oxygen and water

• Increased aeration and draining

Choosing the right growing medium for your hydroponic system can be tricky. It depends on a variety of factors such as the plant type, the environment, size of hydroponic garden, etc. Before deciding on the growing medium, understand what your purpose is, and then evaluate different growing mediums to see if they meet your needs.

There is a huge variety of growing mediums available for a hydroponic garden. Some are natural in origin while others are artificially prepared. Often, hydroponic enthusiasts combine two or more growing mediums for added benefit. Here are the most popular growing mediums.

Coco coir fiber

Also known as coconut fiber, coco coir fiber is a popular growing medium for hydroponic systems. It is prepared from the husk of coconuts. It has good oxygen and water retention.

Rockwool

Rockwool is an artificial mineral fiber made by spinning melted rock into fibers of different shapes and sizes. Rockwool helps in retaining the right amount of water and also has good drainage properties.

Perlite

Hydroponics experts throughout the world use perlite as a growing medium in their hydroponic systems. Perlite is a volcanic glass that holds sufficient levels of oxygen and water.

Vermiculite

Like perlite, vermiculite is another material that expands when heated. The problem with vermiculite is that it holds too much water, which may not be good for certain plants in your hydroponic garden. Vermiculite is often used in combination with other growing mediums in a hydroponic system.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is a common growing medium used in indoor hydroponic systems. The water holding capacity of expanded clay is low but it provides excellent aeration to the plant.