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.

Charcoal Carbon Filters

Hydroponics does away with the need for soil to grow plants in, thus allowing indoor cultivation of plants. An essential requirement for indoor green rooms and nurseries is an efficient air filtration system to ensure that the growing plants have access to adequate fresh air. Carbon filters are ideal for this purpose.

Odor management is an important issue associated with indoor vegetable production. Vegetables, especially certain varieties such as cabbage, have a distinctive pungent smell. This is especially a problem with green rooms or nurseries since the enclosed space does not allow free circulation of air. Besides, the hot and humid conditions inside the green house that are ideal for plant growth, also promote the vigorous growth of odor producing compounds like benzene. The result is an overpowering smell in and around the area of the green house or indoor nursery.

Charcoal carbon filters are the best air purifiers for use in hydroponic green houses. They have activated carbon, which has absorbent qualities that allow it to filter out even minute contaminants in air. Activated carbon resembles a sponge with holes of different diameters. When air is passed through it, the pores filter the air by trapping and absorbing molecules of contaminant compounds. Charcoal carbon filters are usually hung on walls or placed on the floor of the nursery.

These are some popular charcoal carbon filters used in hydroponics:

IGS Goblin Filter: This is a lightweight filter that weighs only about 10 pounds. It is especially suitable for use in the Hydrohut Original & Deluxe models. It uses 100% virgin coconut charcoal. This filter may need to be replaced every 6-8 months.

PHAT Hydro Filter: This is a popular little filter. It is ideal for small spaces where the filter needs to be directly attached to the exhaust fan. It uses virgin coconut charcoal.

Can 50 [420 CFM and 6" collar]: This activated charcoal filter has a capacity of 420 CFM. It comes with a 6-inch collar. It can purify large volumes of air and is ideal for use in hydroponics gardens.

Can Fans – High-Humidity In-line Fans

Can Fans are in-line ventilation fans designed to work in tandem with Can Filters, for temperature and odor control in hydroponic nurseries and greenhouses. They are a perfect example of the marriage between cutting edge exhaust design and technology that promises efficiency and performance. They are ideal for transferring stale air quickly and noiselessly from gardening areas. The area of application is never a constraint as the fans are used in both, commercial and residential set-ups and are well known for continuous operation.

Can Fans can function in high-humidity environments. Engineered in Germany, they are quality centrifugal fans that are built to last. Light-weight, compact and easy-to-install, they adhere to certifications standards of CSA and UL, and hence the 5-year warranty is a norm. They are available in regular and high-output models. The power cord can be acquired separately.

Advantages

These are some of the other pluses for Can Fans:

• They are designed to maintain high cubic feet per minute (CFM) ratings, even while operating under tremendous load.

• Used with Can Filters they guarantee a remarkable filtration system.

• They are designed to decrease power consumption and hence are eco-friendly.

• They use long-lasting metal casing or plastic casing that is UV-resistant.

• They can be assembled ‘in-line’ with the existing duct system, with minimal modification.

• They can also be used as booster fans to extend long duct runs when the other fan is not enough.

Variety of Can Fans

If you are looking for robust exhaust fans that are ideal for hydroponic gardens, you could consider Can Fans 6″. For ventilating performance and power, look at Can Fans 8″. These fans may be adequate for ventilating a medium-sized hydroponic garden.

Can Fan 10″ should be your ideal choice when you have a hydroponic greenhouse. It has a special reversed-curve blade design that yields high ventilation output. The 10″ Can Max Fan, biggest of all the Can Fans, is the most efficient and powerful.

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.

Inexpensive Hydroponic Resources

Hydroponics is the growth of plants in an inert water medium using a blend of correct nutrients based on plant needs. Hydroponics can very rightly be called the gardening technique of the future since it helps us grow desired plants just about anywhere, even indoors. This method of gardening involves the use of inexpensive hydroponic resources to raise all types of plants such as tomatoes, peppers, etc. Using minimum resources, a hydroponic system provides us the benefit of the best of the desired produce all year long without having to deal with hassles associated with weather, soil, pesticides, etc.

Inexpensive hydroponic resources to run this system are simply a reservoir to hold nutrients, a pump to circulate the nutrients, and growing trays and pots to hold the plants. This system can be adjusted according to the space available. Inexpensive additional equipment is available to boost growth at hydroponic stores, especially if one intends to set up a system indoors. Available inexpensive resources for hydroponic gardening are as follows.

Growth Mediums

Inexpensive hydroponic resources in the category of growth mediums are varied, namely rockwool, perlite, vermiculite, light expanded clay aggregate (grow rocks), and soil-less potting mixes. The growth medium helps build a necessary balance between air and water for optimum plant growth.

• Rockwool, made by curing volcanic basaltic rock and a chalk binder, provides 90–95 percent air space between its fibers and therefore, capable of holding more nutrient solution and air than any other medium.

• Grow rocks are made by heating clay pellets to extremely high temperatures, causing them to become porous and hence, better equipped to retain moisture, drain properly, and circulate air.

• Perlite is a naturally occurring siliceous rock, which when heated to over 1600°F (871°C), pops like popcorn to form porous pellets having free draining and aerating properties.

• Vermiculite consists of mica-like flecks, which are extremely absorbent and have the ability to attract nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.

• A combination of perlite and vermiculite in a 3:1 ratio makes an excellent and inexpensive hydroponic growth medium. Perlite provides proper drainage and root aeration while vermiculite provides good water absorption and nutrient retention.

Light

Indoor gardening requires proper lighting to make up for sunlight. Artificial lighting with the correct spectrum and intensity is a very effective way to meet this requirement. High intensity discharge (HID) lights, such as metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, are inexpensive hydroponic resources in this category covering different areas of the light spectrum; therefore, they are used alternatively during different stages of growth. Fluorescent bulbs, mainly T5 and T8 lights, are usually used for the germination process. The benefits of artificial lighting are that they are fairly inexpensive, energy efficient, and emit very little heat.

Nutrients

It is important to provide the right blend of nutrients to plants for optimum growth; required minerals are dissolved in water and absorbed into the plant through the root system. The pH level, the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, is regularly monitored, as it affects absorption and is very important to the maintenance of the plant. Inexpensive hydroponic resources available in the market are nutrient solutions such as Ionic and B.C. Ionic, etc.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is necessary to remove excess heat and humidity and provide plants with the necessary supply of carbon dioxide. Fans and blowers are some inexpensive resources to deal with aeration in hydroponic systems.

Temperature Control

An air conditioner is an answer to excess heat from grow lights being used for indoor hydroponic gardening. An additional heat source may be required in the winter.