Q: Discovering growing for profit has been a real blessing in my life. Finally, I have an outlet where I can be creative, learn new things and reap some very nice rewards. What I have found is that I always get my best crops when I put the most time in. However, I want to be able to get away from the garden once in a while to enjoy some other things in life that I am now financially able to pursue, and for more than just a few hours.
In the previous article in this series on hydroponics coco coir, we talked about how coir is made, and discussed details of how coir is used in hydroponics. Unfortunately, there are few controls or regulations that ensure the quality and performance of hydroponics coco coir. This is a matter of concern for you.
In the previous outdoor growing article in this series, we talked about site security and plant security. You found out how to use security cameras, fences, predator repellent, sprays, foggers and other tactics so you protect your valuable outdoor plants.
The last time we talked about hydroponics soil mixes and hydroponics soil nutrients, we discussed the differing opinions people have about using soil mixes and hydroponics nutrients together. We also looked at the fact that some soil growers believe that soil mixes produce tastier, kinder flowers than hydroponics nutrients and sterile root zone media. I shared my experience on this topic, which is that properly grown and flushed hydroponics sterile media crops seem to taste and smell just as good as crops grown in rich soil without hydroponics nutrients. I also noted that healthy hydroponics root zones are important for nutrients uptake and plant performance.
Hydroponics indoor gardeners have a few enemies to worry about, and one of the most disgusting of these enemies is Botrytis Cinerea, otherwise known as gray mold. Interesting to note that this “mold” is caused by a fungus. But whatever you call it, the sight of your beautiful flowers rotting from inside is one of the truly horrific nightmares that I hope you never experience as a hydroponics grower. How can you make sure to be stopping gray mold before it starts, and what can you do if it shows up in your hydroponics grow room?
Several years ago I was talking with hydroponics pioneer Michael “Big Mike” Straumietis, the co-founder of Advanced Nutrients. More precisely, he was talking to me, and I was listening. That’s the smartest thing you can do when you’re with Big Mike. He’s a guy whose brain paces like a champion racehorse. He articulates more useful ideas per minute than anybody else I’ve ever met.
Hydroponics cost me my marriage, but it saved my life. Take a look at my story and you might see it has something to do with your life.
The last time I took clones, I gave one to my neighbor who refuses to grow his plants in a hydroponics garden. He’s like a lot of people I see posting on hydroponics cultivation forums. The kind who think that you don’t need hydroponics nutrients, HID lights, or a controlled environment to produce big, fat harvests. The kind who say all you have to do is use Miracle Gro or a similarly generic plant food.
You know water is essential to your hydroponics plants, but you may not realize that most tap water and well water in North America is polluted and bad for you to use when you grow your hydroponics plants.
Bad water poisons your plants, kills beneficial root zone microbes, makes your crops taste and smell bad, interferes with your nutrient absorption and gums up your hydroponics irrigation systems.