Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2007
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/misc.html

Hydroponics Made Easy
April / May 2007 
Isaac Coronado, Johnson's East Nursery Manager and
    Kansas Certified Nursery Professional

    Hydroponic systems are slowly making their way into the homes of
gardeners everywhere. Hydro-systems offer a compact space to start
seedlings, grow indoor gardens, or grow and maintain tropical plants.
These systems provide a better method of supplying water and nutrients
to plant roots. They also contain no soil, eliminating the need for
weeding and cultivating. Instead of soil, these systems use a
non-absorbing aggregate that anchors plant roots.

    Here at Johnson's, we now carry two Hydrofarm Hydro Systems. Emily's
Garden contains six planters with a 2-gal. reservoir and pump. The
Mega-Garden consists of 15 planters on a 7.5-gal. reservoir with a pump
and timer. It also works by means of an Ebb and Flow watering method.
Both systems are complete with aggregate, seed starting cubes, a pH test
kit and water indicator.

    In my experience with hydroponic systems, they tend to work better
with supplemental lighting added. Natural room lighting, even close by a
window, is rarely a good enough. If you're starting seeds, the Hydrofarm
Jump Start Light System would work best. It contains a fluorescent
fixture on a mounting system that you can raise and lower as your plants
grow. However, for more established plants, a Hydrofarm High Intensity
Grow Light provides an optimum light source.

    Hydro-systems have been thought of as difficult and hard to
maintain. In recent years, gardeners who have turned to hydroponics have
learned that hydro-systems are one of the easiest forms of gardening.
With either of these two systems I'm sure you'll enjoy your indoor
garden for years to come.