Hydroponic gardening is not only popular, but is growing in popularity and if you are interested in this type of gardening there are a few points of basic information that you should be aware of.  As you are here because you are interested in container gardening, we suspect that you may find this of interest as well.

Hydroponics is an interesting choice for home container gardeners. Because there is no soil, there are no weeds, no digging, no soil-borne diseases nor any need to rotate crops. For flat dwellers this is ideal, and all that carrying soil materials up in the lift etc, can be dispensed with – in hydroponic systems you simply don’t need soil.

Hydroponic gardening has been around since the days of the hanging gardens of Babylon, and the science is now well developed . Today, the techniques for growing in a soil-less environment allows anyone to create an indoor garden with ease.

This particular method of gardening is considered to be suitable for novices with some guidance,  and many teachers use this method of gardening with their students when working on science projects. It is also an easy, clean, and effective method for growing plants. This type of gardening provides a number of advantages over soil grown plants.

Soil-less gardening lets plant take up nutrient faster which means a quicker growing, more compact and more nutritious plant in a smaller space. Plants can grow in many different substances. Soil-less culture is a broader term than hydroponics; it only requires that no soils with clay or silt are used.

However, in hydroponic culture there are some things that must be prevented and the main one is that plant roots use too much of the oxygen which is dissolved in water and when the oxygen is not replaced, the root system becomes damaged to the point of killing the plant. For example, in overwatered soil-grown plants, water fills the airspaces between the soil particles and as the plant uses the available oxygen dissolved in that water, and is without access to more oxygen, the root system dies.

Plant the seeds or plug plants of your choice and watch them grow. Virtually any plant that can be grown in soil can be grown in a hydroponic culture. But, for obvious reasons large plants like trees won’t fare well.
Plants expend a great deal of energy growing root systems so they can search the soil for the water and nutrients they need to survive. By providing constant and readily available nutrition, hydroponics allows plants to grow up to 50% faster than they do in soil.

Systems vary but for example in some systems the plant nutrients are transferred from a reservoir of water using a simple candlewick that comes in contact with the root system of each plant. Although this is not the most efficient process, this approach is often a good option for a home garden where the desire is to produce a few hydroponic tomatoes and similar fruits and vegetables.

Nutrients like sulfur, magnesium, cobalt, calcium, iron, boron, zinc, manganese and copper are needed in trace concentrations in the water for maximum yield and are available commercially to be added.

Another important thing that requires consideration is the PH balance of the plants when the nutrient enriched water is provided to the roots of the plants within the fluid circulation system.

Hydroponic culture is one of the most exacting and intensive methods of crop production used in agriculture today, but the reward success are great and we do encourage you to experiment.

 By the Magaziner

Here is a selection of the messages I have received, showing what container gardeners are actually growing in their pots, and saying about it:-

HG: “I’ve got some cool-weather greens growing in plastic boxes (with drainage holes) up on our second-story window sills. Arugula, spinach, chard, French breakfast radish, and lettuces.

JI: In containers, I plant (1 type per container): several types lettuce, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, peppermint (for iced tea). For annual color, I arrange flower plants in 1/3 barrels as well, around the front patio and end of driveway by porch.

BB: We grow tomatoes, peppers, swiss chard, romaine, sugar snap peas, pole beans, basil, oregano, green onions, parsley, basil, sage, lemon balm. I do also try to have a pot or two of a bee/butterfly attracting plant so it will help with pollination.

KJH: If you want a container garden for tomatoes or peppers, western exposure is a must.

GHR; I have successfully grown beetroot, peppers and many herbs in my window boxes, I have also tried onions although these have not faired too well. The complete book of container gardening suggests Tomato (bush Variety, Lycopersicon ), salad onion, radishes, lettuce and even rhubarb for window boxes.

KOP: I have two pots, I put a tomato plant in one and a chili pepper plant in the other. The plants seem to be doing well so far.

Kat Hone: Parsley, sage, rosemary, peppermint, thyme, lavender and dill are all growing like crazy. But I’m taking the good with the bad and unfortunately my basil plants are struggling.

Sally M: I have grown lemon cucumbers, all kinds of peppers, many varieties of tomatoes, onions, herbs and lettuce. Strawberries can also be grown given the right container.

By Garden Magaziner 

Hi! I am “Garden Magaziner”!

I am looking forward to the pleasure of introducing “container gardening ” to as many people as I can, and by starting this new “magazine” (or blog!), I hope to introduce many more. There really is no bigger delight than showing people how to grow crops in different kinds of containers (pots, plastic or PET bottles, yoghourt pots, plastic bags etc.).

Anyone can do it, and even the most humble apartment dweller will normally have a few square feet of balcony or windowsill upon which to start a few containers.

It is surprising how many people just have not grown things before, and using the web like this is s great way to guide their involvement for their simple enjoyment of living things, and the reward of watching a flower blossom as a result of your own handiwork, or your container grown vegetables ripen to provide a tasty dish.

Very popular models are wood or wood tone materials that look organic in nature. Also very popular are containers made of stone which give a very earthy feel to any area of your home or even outside your home. If such a thing is possible, then people who live in urban environments can also enjoy the benefits of organic gardening. As a result of this experiment, I have learned that a dozen flowerpots are more than enough to produce a quarter of my vegetable needs. It is an art which deals with conscious arrangement or organization of outdoor space for human satisfaction and enjoyment.

If you are an organic gardener, and you are using worm castings or some other form of compost that is rich, this will help lighten the load as this material is light and fluffy in the beginning. Although you can grow plants of almost any type in your worm compost, it is better to mix it with regular soil or potting soil which will add density and weight to the container that you are placing it in. Few of us have a plot the size of Jamie Oliver’s, but the idea is that you don’t need a lot of space to grow fresh, organic vegetables. Windowsills, balconies and tiny front gardens can all be pressed into service.

It has the fantastic ability to transmute your desires into physical counterparts and create a new reality for you. You can do anything that your mind can conceive, as long as you have the belief and will power to back it up. You can get very creative with container gardening. Containers don’t necessarily need to cost a lot of money either.

For more great information on container and general gardening we recommend a visit to The Container Gardening Magazine web site.

By Steve Evans

You can grow everything from flowers to herbs to vegetables in container deck gardens, and the more you get into it the more you’ll realize you can take this style of gardening as far you like. Follow your imagination and innovate and you will be amazed at the abundance of plants grown in containers, and where better to display them than on a deck garden?

I’m lucky in that I have a large back yard and I have a flower garden, a herb garden and a vegetable garden. Plus, lots of containers on my back deck too. Guess where I spend most of my time and gain most enjoyment? Yes, on my back deck, attending my container grown collection.

I love the little bonsai trees, and I recommend you try the technique. Rosemary, scented geraniums, the thymes, and many other easily grown herbs are ideal for bonsai growing in containers. Again, we say be innovative in your technique, but read up on the requirements for each plant, an take advice on choosing the appropriate herbs for the kinds of bonsai you wish to create.

Don’t worry if your plants suffer attach or infection, just set about finding a cure. It happens to the best gardeners at times. Garden centers carry a full array of top quality insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and repellents that control virtually all major garden disease problems, so don’t be put off if your plants do suffer from infection. Wetting agents and polymers can be useful, and can be non-toxic, safe and economical to use.

In addition to standard hanging baskets there are attractive, brightly painted clay pots and French bucket planters made to hang on decking and lattice, which will add interest to your container garden and by raising them above the deck, take up very little space. How ever you are planting your patio or deck, do remember to vary the heights of your plantings, even if just to break up the line for interest.

A pleasantly decorated living room pleasing to the eye depends on drawing the eye to various levels: to floor level and attractive floor coverings or shiny, glowing wood floors, to a bright, well lit ceiling

Elegant and functional, fiberglass planters are a great choice, make a point of looking for them to use as garden planters particularly for rooftop, balcony, container gardening where if areas prone to frost clay pots may tend to crack due to freezing and expansion if the pore water in clay fired pots. Large commercial planter, tree planters and large fiberglass planters have become a favorite in landscape design, so why not also use them on your decking. Use large containers grouped in layers with plantings that incorporate height, texture and color. All the elements you would work with in a normal garden.

The advantages of side planting are many. In a matter of weeks, instead of months, you get lush, fully covered containers and impressive floral displays.

Even a vine will grow in a good sized container, select the soil medium carefully though. I had one that grew so rapidly in a container that it had a tendency to double back on itself and use itself as a support (it will climb itself). The result was a tangled looking plant unless I trained it. Having become entagled upon itself last year I cut it back. It took no more than a couple of weeks to see good new top growth, and it soon grew to the newly erected supports I made up for it.

Herbs work very well in container deck gardens, as long as there are plenty of flowers as well. The smell is so close when you site on the decking beside them that you will gain the best effect from their wonderful smells.

Recent studies in France have confirmed that the scent of certain herbs does have a physical effect on brain chemistry. Rosemary gives mental energy and enhances thought retention.

Why not use Caladium? Caladium grows 12-24” tall and 12” wide and makes a good container plant because caladiums need well-drained soil. Caladium plants are tropical bulbs grown for their beautiful foliage and come in many pattern designs in green, white, and red.

Most plants you will choose start blooming in early summer and produce an abundance of flowers for months and months. These varieties with fully double flowers are very effective in the front of borders. The easy-to-grow plants will provide abundant color from their containers, and will also add a nice fragrance.

I have at times have also planed some edible nasturtiums in among the anise-hyssop, allowing them to spill over the sides, thus adding some lovely color to the sitting area on my back deck.

So there you have it. My ideas for growing everything from flowers to herbs to vegetables in container gardens.

There is always something you can do in a container deck garden even when it is too wet to venture on to the lawn, and being directly to the back of the house the decking needs almost no walking to get to it. As we commented earlier, the more you get into container deck gardening the more you will realize the joys it provide. You don’t need much space to create one, and once you start you will soon realize as I did, that you can take this style of gardening as far you like.

Some gardeners love their plants so much that they love being able to feel their plants. That’s really all good and fine. However, gardening involves a great deal of caution. Garden gloves are a necessity for any gardener worth his salt. Garden gloves are more of a protective gear than an attempt to rob you of the joy of being able to touch your plants. There are several reasons why you will need to own and use a pair of garden gloves. Some of them are:

• Cleanliness: When you are in the process of applying compost to your garden plants, wearing a pair of garden gloves can easily help to keep your hands clean. Soil preparation can leave you with a pair of grimy hands and dirt filled nails. A pair of garden gloves can prevent both.

• Protection: You may get bitten by insects or spiders in your garden while working. If you have a pair of garden gloves on, the chances of that happening is drastically reduced. If you especially have allergies that can be fatal, wearing a pair of garden gloves while working is an excellent protective measure.  

• Cuts: Gardening gloves can protect you against cuts that are bound to happen if you aren’t careful. You can cut yourself when you are working with shears or other gardening tools. Wearing garden gloves also prevents you from getting an infection through any cut.

• Skin irritation: in the course of applying fertilizers to your garden plants, you can use garden gloves to protect your hands. Some people are especially allergic to fertilizers and wearing gloves can help to prevent such allergies.

Don’t neglect garden gloves no matter what you do. It could save your life.