Introduction to Hydroponics

Hydroponics Is Simple

Hydroponics basically is growing plants without soil. It is simply a more efficient way to provide food and water to your plants. Soil's function is to provide nutrients and to anchor the plants' roots. In a hydroponic garden, you provide your plants with a complete nutrient formula and an inert growing
medium to anchor your plants' roots.

Hydrofarm Brings Productive Commercial Technology to Home Hydroponics

Commercial growers have been using efficient hydroponic methods for years. There's no worry about soil-born diseases or pests, and there's no weeding. For professional growers, quicker harvests and higher yields are good reasons to use hydroponics.

At Hydrofarm we've adapted these proven techniques to convenient home gardening systems. We have incorporated high performance technology with quality professional-grade materials, and designed a full range of systems for your personal use.

Hydrofarm Makes Hydroponics Easy

Our garden systems give you all the advantages of commercial hydroponics in an easy to use package. Each system we offer is complete: there's nothing extra to buy or build - all you need are seeds and water.

High Intensity Light Gardening

Depending on where you live, the time of year, and where you want your garden, the sun may not always be available to you. Now, with Hydrofarm's sun-like high intensity lighting, you can grow any plant, anywhere, anytime you choose!

Fluorescent Grow Lights are fine for some situations, and in fact, we recommend them for seedlings and low-light plants. Unfortunately, fluorescents just can't deliver the strong light you need to grow plants taller than 6 - 8".

A Hydrofarm High Intensity Grow Light puts out strong light to grow big beautiful plants and flowers. It's like bringing the sun indoors!

Hydrofarm High Intensity Lights are Easy to Use

One of Hydrofarm's most important innovations has been to take the effective but cumbersome commercial greenhouse lights and make them easy for home gardeners to use. A Hydrofarm High Intensity Grow Light can be hung from a simple ceiling hook and plugged in as easily as a home table lamp.

The systems are completely pre-wired, UL listed (with lens), and ready to plug in. Everything is rated at 120 volts (your normal home current) and plugs into any standard home outlet.

What do seeds need to germinate?
Most seeds don't require light to germinate, but all require the proper soil·temperature. The temperatures listed on seed packets refer to soil temperature, not air temperature. If the soil temperature is too low, the seeds will germinate slowly, or not at all.

How do I use a humidity dome?
Seeds require consistent moisture. The soil needs to be moist but not soggy to prevent the seeds from rotting. A humipity dome is an easy way to retain moisture as your seeds germinate.

How much light do my seedlings need to grow
For best results, seedlings need 14 to 18 hours of light each day, When using full spectrum fluorescents, the light source should be kept 24" away from the seedlings.

How do I know my houseplants are getting enough light?
Plants grow "leggy" when they don't get enough light. A light meter can help assure proper light level and proper place.ment of plants in your growing area.

What types of plants can I grow indoors?
Virtually any plant can be grown indoors.

What is hydroponics? .
From Latin "working water", hydroponics simply means growing plants without soil by supplying all needed nutrients in the plant's water supply.

How much space is required to have an imtoor garden?
Virtually any space can be converted into a garden. Check with your local Hydroponics store for specific setup information and equipment requirements for your garden space.
If this is your first time gardening indoors, you may want to try a couple of different sized plants on the first cycle. This will help you find the proper size and height of plant to fruit '!r flower.

What is a cutting?
A cutting is an exact genetic duplicate of the donor plant. It will grow almost exactly the same way as the plant you took the cutting from. Cuttings from the tops of the plants seem to root faster and grow hardier than cuttings from the bottoms of plants. A cutting develops and begins to grow much faster than a seedling.

Can I grow vegetables in my basement in December?
Yes, you can as long as you have good light for your garden area and maintain reasonable temperatures for growing.

Why do plants require such powerful lights to grow indoors?
Plants have ~volved over billions of years into very efficient factories for converting sunlight and nutrients into food. To help your plants thrive indoors you need to provide them with light of sufficient.quality and.duration to enable them to accomplish this. Natural outdoor sunlight can be up to one hundred times brighter than artificial indoor light.
Although the human eye may easily adjust between indoor and outdoor lighting conditions "in the
blink of an eye" it is an entirely different matter for plants. They still require light energy similar to what they have evolved under.

What is the difference between Fluorescent and HID?
Fluorescent lamps are good for starting seedlings and rooting cuttings, but do not have ehough intensity to sustain aggressive growth in plants in the later stages of life. Sodium and halide High Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs emit a very bright, intense light with a full color spectrum for optimal plant growth. If you plan to grow, vegetables or fruits to harvest indoors, these are the choice for you. Halides have a more well roundectspectrum while sodiums are used more for supplementing halides or natural light.

What is the difference between Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lighting system?
AIthough both types of lighting systems appear very similar, the main difference becomes readily apparent when you turn them on. A Halide system emits a balanced white light similar to the spectrum of sunlight. This type of light promotes vegetative growth. A Sodium system emits a light that is weighted more heavily in the red range of the light spectrum and gives off a warmer colored light. This type of light helps stimulate a plant to produce flowers and fruit.

What wattage high intensity bulb should I use?
Several factors will determine the wattage needed. These include: area to be lighted, hanging height and ceiling clearance and plant light requirements.

What's my HID light cost to run?
You can calculate the approximate cost by using the following: kWh (Kilowatt/Hour rate in your area) x kW (bulb wattage) x H (hous in use per Day) x D (days used per month) = approximate monthly cost.