The nutrient film technique or NFT is a tried and tested hydroponics system. Though old, this method is still very popular for indoor horticulturists. The reason for its popularity is that the method is relatively inexpensive and very easy to set up. NFTs are very popular amongst the lettuce farmers of New Zealand and Australia. This system is well suited for tomatoes and herbs.
Plants are grown above a nutrient tank reservoir. This system works by having a nutrient solution being constantly pumped using a submersible pump from the tank to the plant.. The nutrients flow via a tube or tray over the roots of the plant, what ever is not absorbed is then returned to the tank. There is no additional growing medium apart from the basic medium that is used to grow the plant from its seed. The two most common mediums are blocks of rock wool and pots of perlite. The flow of nutrients is usually a very slow stream that trickles through the medium and the roots of the plant is only submerged in one to three millimeter of solution. It is the slow flow of nutrients combined with the depth that ensure that no damage occurs to the fragile root systems.
The advantage of using a NFT system is that it has a low start up cost and is very easy to use. Since no additional growing medium is required, the cost of constant replacement is non existent. However the plant is dependant on the functioning of the pump and will dry up easily if the pump fails to pump its nutrients. Care should be taken to ensure that there are no blockages.
Monday, January 21, 2008
How to choose plants for Indoor Gardening
There are a number of plants that can be used indoors to beautify the house’s interiors. Plants such as Money Plant, Palm and Peperomia require very little sunlight and easily flourish indoors. Money plants come in three different varieties – golden, green and philodendron. Palm plants should be grown in small pots in order to control the height of the plant. Over grown leaves should be cut or trimmed as well.
Bamboo plants are very popular as indoor plants. Known as the ‘lucky bamboo’ this plant is widely available in Asia and is considered to attract prosperity to a house according to Feng Shui principles. This plant is easy to maintain as it requires only water. They do not require a large amount of sunlight and are found to even grow in dark conditions.
If gardening for a practical purpose is more appealing to you, think of growing vegetables or herbs. Eating vegetables from plants that are homegrown can be a very fruitful experience for you and your family. Cherry tomatoes can easily be grown out of pots. These plants continue to grow over a long span of time and are a pretty addition to your garden. Herbs such as mint, rosemary, chives and cilantro are known for their fragrances and are easy to grow out of small containers.
Angel Ivy Ring is a fast growing ivy that thrives well at temperatures ranging from 65F and 80F. This ivy is ideal for areas that has bright or indirect light and grows to provide dense green leafage up to a height of 12 inches.
Braided Ficus is a plant that is known for its adaptability and is a very popular plant found in most indoor gardens. The plants braided stems along with the variegated dark green foliage ensures that is an eye catching addition to any garden. These plants require a moist environment as leaf drop occurs due to lack of moisture. These plants can grow to heights ranging from 24 inches to 6 feet.
Select a plant according to the lighting requirements and space constraints that you face. The aesthetic value and the ease of maintenance are also deciding factors when choosing plants that are appropriate for indoor gardening.
Bamboo plants are very popular as indoor plants. Known as the ‘lucky bamboo’ this plant is widely available in Asia and is considered to attract prosperity to a house according to Feng Shui principles. This plant is easy to maintain as it requires only water. They do not require a large amount of sunlight and are found to even grow in dark conditions.
If gardening for a practical purpose is more appealing to you, think of growing vegetables or herbs. Eating vegetables from plants that are homegrown can be a very fruitful experience for you and your family. Cherry tomatoes can easily be grown out of pots. These plants continue to grow over a long span of time and are a pretty addition to your garden. Herbs such as mint, rosemary, chives and cilantro are known for their fragrances and are easy to grow out of small containers.
Angel Ivy Ring is a fast growing ivy that thrives well at temperatures ranging from 65F and 80F. This ivy is ideal for areas that has bright or indirect light and grows to provide dense green leafage up to a height of 12 inches.
Braided Ficus is a plant that is known for its adaptability and is a very popular plant found in most indoor gardens. The plants braided stems along with the variegated dark green foliage ensures that is an eye catching addition to any garden. These plants require a moist environment as leaf drop occurs due to lack of moisture. These plants can grow to heights ranging from 24 inches to 6 feet.
Select a plant according to the lighting requirements and space constraints that you face. The aesthetic value and the ease of maintenance are also deciding factors when choosing plants that are appropriate for indoor gardening.
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