Medicinal Plants And The Thorny Issue Of Mold
We’re all familiar with the blight of thrips, mites, aphids, green flies, black flies, whiteflies, and even caterpillars. Still, an equally effective, sometimes devastating, adversary of your crop is the humble entity that we call mold. Mould is an umbrella term for many different species – there are upwards of a hundred thousand and counting […]
Garden Therapy: Stop And Smell The Roses For Better Mental Health
I am always on the prowl for new ways to reduce the level of anxiety coursing through my veins. A lifetime of hard living has given the nerves a little shot. The Doc says I need exercise and nature to calm the monkey on my back. My inner Italian took that as a cue to […]
Garden Gadgets Perfect For Growing in A Controlled Environment And Outdoors
The world of urban gardening is packed with the most innovative and technologically advanced equipment. A day spent strolling through any industry trade shows like Feed Yourself or Spannabis is guaranteed to fill your head with information that would take months to research if you decided to start from scratch. Specialists from all fields, from […]
Fantastic Fungi: Grow Your Own Mushrooms
Fungi are incapable of photosynthesis and feed on organic matter, forming a kingdom quite distinct from plants. Most fungi are made up of an underground system called mycelium and sporophores and usually emerge from the ground with a stalk and a cap. Apart from truffles and a few other species with underground sporophores, we most […]
5 Cool Ways To Jumpstart The Growing Season
Spring has arrived, and many of us are excited to get into the outdoor garden! But even though the winter is behind us, temperatures are still cool and the sun isn’t quite as warm as our plants need it to be. The good news is there are some simple, low-tech ways to help your garden […]
Growing Advice: Is pH impHortant?
There are very few hot button topics that get indoor gardeners more riled up than the concept of “perfect pH”. Some gardeners are religious zealots regarding nutrient pH; others check levels both night and day. What if I told you pH rarely, if ever, matters for indoor gardens? Would you think I’ve lost my mind? […]
The Catalyst for My Botanical Obsession
Soil vs Substrates: How One Difference Changes Everything
Plants evolved over 600 million years ago into a microbial world. Their roots extended into soils teeming with microbial life. As early civilizations evolved and started cultivating crops around 11,000 years ago, societies relied heavily on natural soil life to support their crop success. Healthy soils supported agriculture since the beginning. This remained relatively unchanged […]
Satisfy Your Plants And Rebellious Side With Super Cropping
Super cropping is a high-stress plant training technique. It is used for several reasons, including reducing height, repositioning branches, encouraging fuller growth, and increasing flowering/fruiting sites. Super cropping involves pinching the stem to soften its internal core and make it pliable without damaging the outer fibers. After this, you can manipulate the plant at the […]
Understanding Substrate Chemistry in Hydroponics Leads To Better Grows
In the field of hydroponics, much is made of your choice of system, your lamps, and nutrient solution. Thousands of articles have been written on the subjects, but a component of your indoor grow space that’s often overlooked is the growing media or substrate. Understanding the chemistry of substrates and how it affects plant growth […]
How To Choose The Right Containers For Growing Food
More people than ever are learning to grow edible gardens, especially in small urban areas. With limited space, container gardens are an obvious solution. However, selecting the right container can be confusing with so many options available. There are some factors to consider that can make the decision easier and avoid potential problems. Drainage All […]
Coco Coir A Sustainable And Eco-Friendly Choice For Growers
There has not been a steeper increase in substrate sales than with coco coir over the last few years. It has rapidly become one of the top sellers of the current time, but why? Rich Hamilton investigates. Why Retailers and Distributors Love It Price and Shelf Life Retailers and distributors have helped push coco to […]
Growing Pains: A Dutch Grower Takes On Giant Pumpkins
Wezep is a small village in the Veluwe area of the Netherlands. And while it may not be a big place, the vegetables grown there are gigantic! Gerjan, a 21-year-old plant science student, took part in the Dutch Pumpkin Growing Championship at the end of September. In sharing his experience with us, we learned that […]
Dear Diary: The Summer My Gardens Failed
I enter every growing season with high hopes and visions of gorgeous gardens overflowing with colorful flowers and delicious fruit and vegetable harvests. I diligently research throughout the winter months and start my organic seeds indoors weeks before the last frost. So much time, effort, and love go into my gardens that it can be […]
What To Do And Not To Do When Growing In A Greenhouse
I’ve been doing a lot of walking around my neighborhood this past year, and in that time, I’ve seen several greenhouses pop up in my neighbors’ yards. I’ll admit, I’ve been itching to pull the trigger on one as well. There are a few things to consider for all of us looking to get into the […]
Growing A Garden For Health and Well-Being
…and wildlife—a place to escape, explore and play. I didn’t value the health benefits of this opportunity as a child, but I do now. Health Benefits of Gardening A review…
How To Be A Plant Whisperer
Sometimes we spend too much time and money on activities for little reward. One thing we should all be doing more of is spending time with our plants.
Plants have an incredible knack of giving back what you have put in. Spend as little time with your plants as you can, and they will present you with pest, disease, and deficiency issues throughout their lives.
Illinois Valley Hemp: The Final Stretch – Part 3
This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine US30. The previous installment of the Illinois Valley Hemp series left you in mid-August when our plants were developing flowers. As the days passed by, the skies became darker earlier. Cannabis, including hemp varieties, is traditionally a short day (long night) plant, meaning it requires long periods […]
Growing Hydroponics Lettuce: Cheap DIY
A few weeks ago I started an experimental grow without any fancy equipment; no discount storage boxes or bins. I’m using recycled coffee tubs! This is a cheap hydroponics DIY setup that anyone can handle making. Aside from the seed, I think I have about $1 invested per plant. No, I’m not using a grow […]