Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without dirt-based mediums and is one of the most popular alternative growing methods used today. There are several different types of hydroponic systems and the Nutrient Film Technique is…
Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and its importance to all living things cannot be understated. Plants need nitrogen to grow and thrive, and without it, they would quickly perish. There are…
Lime, or calcium oxide as it is sometimes known as, is a natural material that comes from limestone. There is some debate on whether it should be considered an organic material and it is often misconstrued…
If you are looking for the best way to fertilize your garden and improve your soil then manure and compost are two of the most common options that you can use. But what are the key…
If you’re a gardener, you know that using fresh, quality fertilizer is key to keeping your plants healthy and thriving. But what happens when your fertilizer expires? Does it go bad? Because of the nature of…
Urea is an agricultural by-product that is widely used in fertilizers, as a soil additive, and in the production of explosives. Urea can also be used as a plant fertilizer or added to compost. Urea is…
Hydrophobic (water-repelling) soils are a common issue in many parts of the world and are notoriously difficult to treat and manage, as they tend to repel water and nutrients. However, there are simple steps you can…
If you are new to caring for indoor plants then it might at first thought seem obvious to use outdoor or garden soil for your planting. This, however, is generally a mistake as often outdoor soil…
If you looking for a way to keep your pot plants healthy and looking great and avoid common problems such as fungus gnats and overwatering then LECA balls (lightweight expandable clay aggregate) may be the answer…
LECA are small round clay balls or pebbles and are sometimes referred to as hydroton balls. These balls have become a popular soil alternative or substrate for potted and containerized plants and can be used in…
LECA is an acronym for lightweight expanded clay aggregate, which can also be referred to as hydroton stones or clay pebbles. They are balls/pebbles ranging in size from 0.3″ to 0.6″ and are made from clay…
Drainage is a control mechanism for maintaining moisture at the right levels of your growing medium to enable plants to thrive. For plants to prosper they need the right level of moisture and thus adequate drainage…
Potting soil is a sterilized material made up of both organic and inorganic matter. It has few nutrients with a sterilization process eradicating seeds, pathogens, and fungi, but also removing beneficial microorganisms. It contains a percentage…
Mushroom compost sometimes referred to as mushroom soil, is a popular soil amendment widely used by gardeners. It is derived from the used soil from mushroom farms, which provides it with a unique combination of nutrients…
There are a number of key differences between mushroom compost and conventional compost. The main distinctions relate to performance, availability, and cost. Mushroom compost has different properties in terms of nutrient values of salts and nitrogen…
