The Spoon Boon Blog

What is hydroponics?

The word hydroponics come from the greek hydro and ponus meaing literally “water works” and true to it’s name hydroponics is growing with water only, no other growth medium.

There are many hydroponic systems all of which do the same job in a different way, that job is to completely control the enviroment in which your plants grow.

So how does it work?

Plants need food and light to survive and in nature the sun provides the light and nutrients in soil provide the elements it need s to grow. In hydroponics you have a nutrient solution to provide the basic elements to grow and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps to provide light.

This allows you to control the amount of food and light a plant gets so that it can grow at it’s optimum rate.

Conventionally grown plants the extract water nutrients and oxygen from soil however because of the physical characteristics of soil it is likely that one or all of these essential nutrients is in limited availability to the plant roots.

When plants are grown hydroponically, provided the system is set-up correctly the plants have access to an unlimited supply of water, containing exactly the right amount of nutrients along with a perfectly balanced pH enabling a grower to keep there plants growing at a much more vigorous rate throughout the crop and achieve maximum yield.

Contrary to some expectations, the roots of the plants grown hydroponically are not usually totally submerged in water. As having the root totaly submerged in water would be counter-productuive, the reason for this is oxygen is a key factor to all hydroponic systems.

The idea of hydroponics might still intimidate some people, most gardeners prefere and enjoy the simple, quick and eacy process of Hydroponics. It is no more complicated than traditional gardening mothods, and the same growing principles apply to the both. Althought slighty more technology is used in Hydroponics you should not be daunted by this.

Choosing the best method for you

There is often great debate about the best method of growing the truth is it depends on the grower, it is certainly true that advanced methods like aeroponics and hydroponics display rapid growth rates which astonish growers who have previously worked with soil this is due to the water having the perfect amount of oxygenated nutrients contained within it.

What the grower must understand where they previously had soil acting as a buffer as well as providing nutrient, in hydro & aeroponics it is down to the grower to ensure the pH and nutrient remain stable and accurate.

Many soil growers enjoy the low cost & low maintenance of working with soil despite the traditionally slower growth rates by adding air pumps porous air rings many growers report up to 50% increase in yield along with growth rates than can only been compared to aeroponics.

In conclusion it really depends on an individuals circumstances many growers use a combination, keeping stock or mother plants in soil, Using Aeroponics for rooting cuttings enabling rapid root and vegetative growth at very early stages and flowering in N.F.T or flood and drain.

S Dop is the webmaster of http://www.grotec.co.uk, one of the biggest hydroponics shops in the UK.

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in open spaces. And a hint of this primordial fear is present in all of us. Perhaps “fear” is too strong a word in this context. Let’s just say that for some reason or other, we all feel more at ease, more relaxed and more secure in enclosed areas - such as our homes, our porches, and our gardens.

Perhaps this predilection for enclosure can be attributed to ancestral memories. Memories formed when our mammalian precursors hid in burrows and dens, or when our hominid ancestors cowered in caves. then again, it may go back no farther than our own buried childhood memories, to the sense of safety conferred by cradle, crib or playpen.

In early times, enclosure provided protection against such threats as roving carnivores, Mongol hordes, marauding bands of seriously disgruntled peasants, and the not-to-be-lightly-dismissed possibility of dragons. It wasn’t until after the Renaissance that Europeans drained theor moats and let their guard down. But - significantly- they continued to maintain the artifacts of enclosure.

Whatever its etiology, the walls and fences that surround us engender a deep-rooted feeling of security, serenity and peace of mind. They’re an essential part of what makes a garden a garden. So, by all means, let us continue to create enclosure. And by so doing, maybe we’ll be able to keep all those dragons - real or imagined - at bay.

For professional landscape design information, free downloadable garden plans and many excellent garden articles visit http://www.landscape-design-garden-plans.com

For everything water features visit http://www.water-features-online.com

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(ARA) - Ever been to an outdoor concert where the sound quality was just perfect? You’d be amazed if you knew how much work went into getting ready for the show. Dozens of speakers have to be set up, hundreds of cables run, and what seems like an endless number of sound checks have to be done.

You don’t have to go through all that trouble to get quality sound in your own back yard. All you have to do is invest in the right outdoor speakers. There are dozens of models on the market, today, so how do you know which brand to choose?

A good starting point is to find speakers that are weather proof. “If you go to all the trouble of buying outdoor speakers, you don’t want to have to bring them in any time it rains or snows. Look for a brand that can stand up to the elements,” says Kevin Gabriel, director of marketing for Toronto based Audio Products International (API), which has been in the business of manufacturing high quality speakers since 1973. Gabriel points out that weatherproof means more than just being housed in a case that can stand up to the elements. He advises shoppers to also look for models that are equipped with stainless steel mounting brackets, gold plated terminal-connectors, and rubber covered terminals that prevent moisture from getting near the speaker terminals.

“Another important thing to look for is an equalization switch. It allows you to have more bass outside where you need it and less inside where you don’t,” says Gabriel.

A new line of outdoor speakers introduced by API has all the qualities Gabriel has mentioned. The Mirage Oasis speakers can handle temperatures ranging from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees below zero and still sound great.

“They have the same sort of quality you’ll find in some of our higher end speakers, but at a fraction of the cost,” says Gabriel. Mirage Oasis speakers retail for around $300 per pair. For more information about the Oasis, and other speakers by Mirage, log onto the company’s Web site: www.miragespeakers.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Courtesy of ARA Content

Whether you’re playing games in the garden or preparing for
winter bulbs, give a thought to decorating your outside space.
There are lots of fun and interesting things you can do without
spending tons of money…

1. Wind-Chimes - There are some beautiful wind chimes on
the market, and you should be able to find some that suit your
style and budget. However, you could go one step further and
make your own. Study how they are made, and get the kids to join
in! Wind chimes are soothing and very compatible with gardening,
so position your chimes well.

They must be in at least a slight draught, which you should be
able to find outside with ease. Also, they can scare the birds
away from your fruit bushes. Hang them on the patio and in the
vegetable garden.

2. Lights and Lanterns - For those smooth hot summer
nights. Choose candles for calm nights and opt for lanterns if
there’s a breeze about. Solar powered lights are a good choice
as there aren’t any cables, batteries or plugs to worry about.
They must be in sunlight during the day to re-charge though.
Large garden candles will burn for many hours and are available
in all sorts of aroma-therapeutic scents.

3. Garden Furniture - Invest in some comfy chairs for
the garden. We don’t spend half as much time as we should
outside, simply because we don’t feel comfortable. Look at
unique ways of furnishing your garden. Do you have a couple of
trees a hammock could be strung between? Or how about a
park-type bench with comfy cushions set under the shade of the
apple tree? Whatever the style or size of your garden, look for
relaxing furniture so you can fully enjoy your outside space.

4. Fake Flowers - Well, hey, we don’t all have mature
gardens and fresh flowers blooming all year round! If you have
to resort to a little ‘deception’ who cares if it looks good?
Hang some pretty silk flowers on a wall, or low roof or even in
a tree! If nothing else, you’ll keep your visitors guessing
5. Colour it up - If you still need a bit of colour
around the place, get the kids involved. No, I don’t mean let
them loose with a tin of paint and brushes… what they could do
is draw some great pictures of trees, flowers, animals etc, and
you can pin them around the patio area or ‘blu-tak’ them to a
tree or two. Remember to rescue them if it rains!

6. Cut down on Big Toys - Children’s outdoor toys, such
as swings, slides etc; can take up loads of room in the garden,
and they’re not always very attractive. Look for something a
little less permanent. Maybe separate items you can load away in
the shed at night, or go for something completely different and
build a giant chess set. Or if you really feel creative, what
about a tree-house? They can always go to the park for the
swings!

7. Containers - Collect large pots and grow plants you
can move around the garden, every day if you like! Grow herbs
and flowers and position sweet smelling plants on the patio or
round your seating area. Strawberries grow very well in
containers as do other useful plants. Make sure the pots aren’t
too heavy for you to move, or invest in a garden trolley if they
are. If you grow colour co-ordinated flowers, a wonderful
display can be created by positioning your pots well.

8. Wild Corner - I know this may be hard if you like a
neat and tidy garden, but leaving a wild patch can be very
entertaining and visually very pleasing. Nettles and other
wildflowers attract butterflies and bees, and it’s often
suprising how delicate and colourful wildflowers can be when
allowed to grow in their own space. If you’re still unsure, how
about building a little fence around the area and making a
wooden plaque declaring it a wildlife zone…well, it was just
an idea!

9. Water Features - are becoming more and more popular
and also more affordable. Create a water feature that will suit
your garden. Try not to be persuaded by an over-enthusiastic
sales assistant trying to sell you a system that will be far too
big or even too small for your outside space. Do some research
before you start. There could be a fair amount of physical work
involved and you should arrange some strong arm help. You could
go for a full waterfall and pond or perhaps a simple water
feature on your patio.

10. Rock Gardens - Rock gardens can take on different
themes and colour schemes throughout the year with a little
careful planning. There is again some heavy physical work
involved when you’re putting together your rock garden but well
worth it in the end. Make sure you can get to all areas for
weeding, watering etc; Try out different rock plants and flowers
until you feel happy with the overall view, and even then you
can change it. Nothing’s set in stone!

These are just a few ideas. Let your imagination free and
decorate your outside space with love. Read through the Garden
Decor and Garden Ideas pages on the Flower and Garden Tips
website for more ideas and resources.