The urban gardener asked:


What is Hydroponic Gardening

These days, when the humanity faces many challenges, associated with natural resources depletion, bad ecology and many health problems, stemming out of the wrong food choices, it is, perhaps, the best time ever to return to natural ways of producing food for the sake of our own and our planet.

It was a common practice for our ancestors to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers for their own needs. Nowadays, the natural way of growing plants reappears with hydroponics as the particular technique, which makes plant cultivation possible even in urban areas without the use of soil. With more and more people involved, hydroponic gardening develops rapidly these days. Irrespectively to whether it is your hobby or professional activity, indoor gardening brings significant benefits for all.

Hydroponic and soil indoor gardening – The World of Gardening for the Future

If you are only making your first steps in mastering the art of hydroponic gardening, our site will become a valuable resource for you. Our hydroponic library is a source of theory on the basics of indoor plants growing, and our shop is a one-stop destination to find everything you need for your hydroponic needs, starting from vegetable seeds and wide variety of growing media to start growing your plants, and finishing with reliable equipment, such as growing lamps and climate control, to help you gather rich harvest.

The definition of hydroponics

Hydroponics most often refers to the science of growing plants (vegetables, herbs, flowers) without the use of soil. Plants are cultivated on a special growing medium, and all the nutrients, required for growing, are supplied via specially formulated nutrient solution. The primary task of any growing medium, used in hydroponic gardens, is to support plants’ roots along with retaining water. There are many books on hydroponic gardening, so if you would need to expand your knowledge in this field, please browse our Literature section or the online library for further information on hydroponics.

Indoor gardening is not an extremely difficult hobby, but it does require a small learning curve. Usually, with time and experience, one begins to learn from their mistakes and form a better understanding of the kind of delicate care and maintenance required when it comes to gardening indoors. But if you’d like some general advice to start you off on the right path, here is a list of invaluable tips that you can immediately use to improve the quality of your garden.

First of all, make sure that you purchase pots that are the correct size for the plants you plan on growing. Some plants grow to be very large in size, much larger than anticipated. When you only have seeds to go by, sometimes it’s easy to misjudge the actual size of the plant once it reaches full growth. It’s also a good practical tip to select pots that match the color and style of your home. You’ll find much more pleasure in an indoor garden that is aesthetically pleasing and blends in with the rest of its surroundings.

It is very important to place your plants directly in the sunlight. Otherwise, they might crane towards the source of light and grow crooked. It’s also recommended to turn and rotate your indoor gardening plants on occasion. This will guarantee that all sections of the plant receive the right amount of sunlight. Obviously, without sunlight, your plants will not be able to grow to their fullest potential.

If your home or apartment doesn’t get a lot of sun light, try placing your plants outside for several hours each morning.

Remember to regularly water your plants. It sounds obvious but it’s remarkably easy to forget to do this on a daily basis. Only give the plants as much water as they need – over-watering is just as bad as not watering them at all. Make sure that the water is not too cold or too hot ; room temperature is just right. Try watering them at the same time every day. Associate it with a common activity, like watering after breakfast or after your morning jog.

Another indoor gardening tip you might find useful is to keep your windows open as much as possible. The fresh air is important to the healthy development of your plants. In addition, make sure your home has clear ventilation and is not stuffy or dry, and that the temperature is kept at an average of 70 degrees during the daytime and 60 degrees during the night.

Utilizing all of these tips will ensure that your indoor gardening efforts pay off. A lot of people attempt indoor gardening only to be left a few months later with dried, withering plants and an ugly mess to clean up. It is not terribly difficult to grow healthy, strong fruits and vegetables indoors. I’m sure that with a bit of practice and common sense, you’ll become a pro in no time at all. Just remember: lots of sunlight, fresh water on a regular basis, fresh air, and the right temperature.

Mary Hanna asked:


Eventually we are all given a house plant either as a gift or a plant from someone who is moving and can’t take their plants with them, instantly giving you the basis for indoor gardening. Many times if you don’t know how to care for it the plant will wither and die. Other times people start to care for the plant and suddenly become avid gardeners.

Indoor gardens are similar to outdoor gardens, it’s just that you are caring for plants in your home instead of in your garden. A big plus to indoor gardening is that it can be enjoyed by people that live in the cities with no access to land. It is also a joyful hobby for people that are confined indoors. The real bonus is that they are healthy for us. Basically plants take in carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen (photosynthesis) thereby purifying the air that we breath. So you have attractive plants with added benefits.

Indoor gardens are ideal for people that live in hard, cold climates or for someone who lives in a climate that gets searingly hot. With an indoor garden the gardener can manipulate the environment so that their plants thrive. If it is dreary, cold and grey wouldn’t it be delightful to have gorgeous plants sprinkled around your home that not only add beauty but cheerfulness too?

After choosing the plants you wish to grow you must choose a container for it. You can opt for a small plant that can be placed on a counter or windowsill. Even a large evergreen in a big pot can be placed next to your door or in a sunny spot in the corner. You must make a plan for your indoor garden. Figure out where you want to place your indoor garden so you will know how much space you have for the plants. Once this is done you can choose the container and the plants you wish to grow. Don’t forget to research the plants needs, like watering, sunlight and food before you go to the nursery center.

Once you have gathered all of your material you can start planting and arranging your indoor garden in your home. When arranging your garden be sure to put plant that needs bright sun near a window. Plants that just need indirect light should be put in a more comfortable spot of low or indirect sun for them. If you get this wrong you will be throwing out your plants and buying new ones.

Don’t overlook planting an indoor herb garden especially if you like to cook. Herbs needs are four to six hours of sun per day and loose easily drained soil. They are pretty plants and will add zip to your meals.

If you have pets carefully choose your plants. Pets and plants must be able to cohabitate in your home peacefully. Some plants are toxic to animals. You have to be sure that your animal and the plant can live together. For instance, a tall plant may be seen as a scratching tool by cats or even a litter box. Cats have been known to wrap themselves around larger plants and snuggle in the warm dirt. Sometimes this can disturb the roots. One way to beat this is to put ornamental rocks or crushed seashells right on top of the soil.

You can have an indoor garden and enjoy all of the benefits of beautiful plants. Just do some research either at you local nursery or on the internet. What are you waiting for? Start planting.

Happy Indoor Garden!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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Garret asked:


I have an indoor garden with heirloom plants and hybrid plants. I know that I have to hand pollinate the heirloom varieties, but should I or shouldn’t I pollinate the hybrid varieties? Also, would I need to cross pollinate or self pollinate the plants? Any type of explanation would be appreciated.