Faqs
Here you will find a list of the most common kinds of questions that deal with hydroponics, indoor growing, cloning, nutrients, and more.
Below are a list of topics with information, links and answers pertaining to the topic
Lighting
How much energy will my light use?
What are the benefits of using T5 fluorescent lighting for plant growth?
How often do I need to change my light bulb?
How big of an area will my light cover?
What is the difference between Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps?
Hydroponics
Can hydroponics be done outside?
What are the advantages of hydroponics?
Is there anything I can't grow hydroponically?
Is hydroponics considered organic?
Hydroponic Fertilizers and Feeding
Why is pH important in hydroponics?
What is the difference between TDS/PPM/EC?
Can I use tap water or does it need to be purified?
Is hydroponics more nutritional than soil grown plants?
Hydroponic Substrates
Indoor Grow Envirnoment
What does Co2 do?
Is Co2 Safe?
Are pest an issue with gardening indoors?
What is the optimal temperature for indoor growing?
How do I control temperture for an indoor grow room?
Do I need ventilation?
How do I control odor?
Is using Ozone (O3) safe for humans?
About Lighting
What are the advantages of flourescents?
What are HID Lights?
How do I figure what wattage light I need?
How much power do these lights use?
What is the difference bewteen 120 volt power and 240 volt power?
Does the lighting produce a lot of heat?
About Cloning Plants
What is cloning?
What is the advantage of cloning plants?
How much energy will my light use?
An average lighting system will increase your electricity cost about $8 to $20 per month. The exact amount depends on the wattage of the system and the number of hours operated. To calculate your cost, multiply the bulb wattage X the number of hours of operation and divide by 1000. This figure is the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity used. (Example: a 400 watt lamp running for 18 hours will use 7.2 kilowatt-hours). Check your power bill for the cost of each kilowatt-hour. Then multiply the number of kilowatt-hours used by the cost of a kilowatt-hour (K/hr) to figure the cost to run your light for that many hours.
What is HID lighting?
HID lighting stands for High Intensity Discharge, which is a special type of lighting that is much more intense (brighter) than other type of lighting available. An HID lighting system consists of a ballast, reflector, socket and lamp (light bulb). The ballast acts like the engine, converting and driving energy to illuminate the lamp. HID lighting options include High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH), Mercury Vapor and Low Pressure Sodium. The two typically used for plant growth are HPS and MH systems.
What are the benefits of using T5 fluorescent lighting for plant growth?
T5 lamps provide the ideal spectrum for plant growth. Photosynthesis rates peak at 435 nm and 680 nm. A 6500K T5 lamp has a spectral distribution with relative intensity peaks at 435 nm and 615 nm. This equates to very little wasted light energy in terms of plant growth. T5 lamps promote incredible health and vigor of seedlings and cuttings. Root development is superior relative to other lighting sources. While T5 lighting is excellent for starting seeds and cuttings, it’s also able to produce enough light for full term growth. Because of their minimal heat output, T5 lamps can be placed 6" - 8" above the plant canopy which maximizes photosynthetic response. Unlike conventional fluorescents, plants grown under T5 lamps do not have to be rotated to the center of the lamp. T5's slim diameter enables better photo-optic control of the emitted light, increasing efficiency in the form of even light distribution.
- Environmental impacts of T5 (at a glance):
- T5 lamps have a diameter of 5/8" – smaller is better when it comes to manufacturing, transportation and disposal.
- Reduction in raw materials and components needed for manufacturing.
- Reduction in lamp and fixture packaging materials due to relative size.
- T5 are constructed of 40% less glass than T8.
- T5 contain 30% less phosphor than T8.
- T5 contain 3mg of mercury. 70% less than T8.
- Longer lamp life means reduced maintenance cost and less going to the landfill.
How often should I change my lamp?
Most lamp manufacturers rate their lamps by "Average Life Hours" and usually claim 10,000 to 24,000 hours. These ratings are based on when the lamp will completely fail to come on. They do not factor in loss of intensity or loss of color. HID lamps lose intensity and color through normal use. This is OK if you are lighting a warehouse, but when it comes to plant growth, these losses can mean wasted electricity and poor plant performance. Serious horticulturalists recommend that you replace your lamps after 6000 hours of use. This equates to using your light 16 hours a day for one year.
How big of an area will my light cover?
The size of the garden area will determine the wattage you need. If we assume that the plants will get no sunlight, a 1000 watt light will cover about 7 x 7 feet of growing area. A 600 watt will cover 6 x 6 feet, a 400 watt will cover 4 x 4 feet, and a 250 watt will cover 3 x 3 feet. These sized areas would be considered the "Primary Growing" areas. These lights will light-up larger areas, but plants placed outside of the Primary Growing area, will stretch and bend toward the light; a phenomenon called phototropism. Keep these areas of coverage in mind when using multiple fixtures. The best results occur when the areas of coverage overlap.
What is the difference between Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps?
Metal Halide (MH) is best for vegatative and general growth of the plant. It has a blue/white spectrum that is responsible for telling the plant which direction to grow, tightens nodal spacing (keeps plants from legging out), and increases photothynensis. High Pressure Sodium produces a red/orange spectrum, it increases flower yields by an average of 20%. High Pressure sodium bulbs produce more lumens (light) than Metal Halide but do not have as full of spectrum as the former.
About Hydroponics
What is Hydroponics
Hydroponic's is the method of growing plants with water. Hydro meaning water, ponics meaning work, the word hydroponics literally means working with water. Traditionally plants are grown in soil where the roots search through the soil and pick up nutrients as they grow and expand. In hydroponics the nutrients are fed directly do the root system by adding fertilizers to the water, making the plant use less energy towards find nutrients and more energy towards growth.
Can hydroponics be done outside?
Hydroponic's can in some temperate climates be done outdoors. The trick is to keep the water insulated to keep the temperatures between 65° and 75 ° Ferenheit. You can insulate the water by adding heaters or chillers to the reservoir or by methods such as putting the reservoir of water for the hydroponic system buried in the ground.
What are the advantages of hydroponics?
Hydroponics allows the user to have much more control. It allows users to manipulate the nutrients fed to the plants for optimum growth and consistantly. In hydroponics, the root mass will stay more compact, users can have a lot more plants placed in a small area. Hydroponics is more more water efficient than soil gardening, and the yields are larger and maturity time may be reduced.
Is there anything I can't grow hydroponically?
You can grow nearly almost all plants hydroponically, however there are things that would just not be practical to grow hydroponically, like plants that don't need regular watering like cactus or large forest trees. Any plant can really be done hydroponically its just a matter of setting up the right parameters for a particular species of plant.
Is hydroponics considered organic?
Hydroponics in its self is not considered organic but it can be done with organic nutrients methods. Hydroponics however allows growers to have total control what goes into the plant and can therefore avoid pesticides, herbacides, harsh chemical fertilziers, and instead use compost teas, organic based hydroponic fertilizers, and even organic plant seeds. Organics in soil a lot of times require bacterias and fungi to help make soluble plant food in the soil. In hydroponics there are safe rhizospheric innoculants you can add to the system to create soil like organic growth with all the benefits of hydroponics.
About Hydroponic Fertilizers and Feeding
Why is pH important in hydroponics?
The pH of your solution effects the availability of elements your plant will be able to absorb correctly. Plants grown in pH levels that are in correct may take up an excess of one element such as Iron and hinder the absorbtion of other elements such as Phosphorous. The pH of your solution is best kept at a level around 5.5 and 6.2.
What is the difference between TDS/PPM/EC
TDS stands for total dissolved solids, PPM is parts per million, and EC is electric conductivity.
Can I use tap water or does it need to be purified?
Reverse Osmosis water is the best. Depending on where you live your tap water may have many unwanted elements that can inhibit growth. Using purified water has zero elements, sediment, chlorine, or nasty impurities that you maybe feeding your plants giving you total control of what they will be taking up. It is recommended however that you use a calcium supplement, especially in flowering becuase when using purified water. Water softeners should never be used however. This processing of the water purification adds free radical Potassium to your water that will bond and lockout your added nutrients.
What does N-P-K stand for?
N-P-K is the agricultural standard listed on ferilizers for the ratio of Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium. A bottle listed with an N-P-K value of 3-2-6 signifies the ratio of 3 parts N to 2 parts P to 6 parts K.
Is hydroponics more nutritional than soil grown plants?
Hydroponics will have the same nutritional value as soil grown plants.
What is foliar feeding?
The method of feeding plants through thier leaves with fine nutrient rich mist. It is the fastest way to deliver nutrients to a plant.
About Hydroponic Substrates
What is rockwool?
Rockwool is a natural substrate that is extremely sterile. It is made from silicate volcanic rock that is melted down to a fine fiborous material. It is used internationally and is the most popular grow substrate for commercial greenhouse growers, and hobbiest hydroponic gardeners.