The Bubbler method is a easy way to step into hydroponics, it is very cheap to set up but requires constant monitoring.

The plant roots are feed via a nutrient solution which is mixed by bubbling air through it with the use of an air pump and air stone. The water nutrient solution should be at a level which is high enough to wet the air stone. Once the plant has developed a good root system the water level can be lowered enabling some of the roots to hang in the air between the net and the bucket. Air needs to get to the submerged roots constantly meaning that the air pump will need to left on constantly, otherwise the plants will be starved of oxygen.

Generally you will need a separated bucket for each plants otherwise the root system will cover the air stone preventing it from aerating the water and the plant will die.

The Bubbler system needs constant attention as plants take different amounts of water and nutrients from the mixture resulting a ratio that could poison your plants and dry them out. Constant checking of CF and PH of this water is essential for healthy plants.

Plants grown by using the Blubber system will need support and this system is not very suitable to growing large plants.

Indoor gardening and grow lamps are closely associated. Indoor rearing of plants always need external lamps source for normal growth of the plants and grow lamps are the ones that supply lamps to plants. In fact, grow lamps are the expensive investment equipment of your indoor cultivation of plants. Nevertheless, they are an invaluable asset to your new gardening venture. They are as good and as safe as your normal household lamps. Here are the types of grow lamps that are used in the gardening sector.

1) The HID Lamps or the High-Intensity Discharge Lamps: These comprise of the high-pressure sodium lamps and the metal halide grow lamps). While the non-fruiting stage calls for the metal halide grow lamps, for the fruiting stage high-pressure sodium grow lamps are the best. In deed these days high-pressure sodium lamps have features to be used during both stages.

2) Mercury Vapor Lamps: In these we get the phosphorus-coated grow lamps that are suitable for vegetative and fruiting stages of a plant. Replacement once in a while is the issue with these lamps and they are expensive choice as well.

3) Fluorescent Grow Lamps: These indeed are the best during the tender stages as the lamps emitted is soft and non-damaging to the young plants. They are best to raise a small nursery and establish the same.

4) Ballasts: The aforementioned lamps use the ballast system for instance the fluorescent lamps which have in-built ballasts where there is initial time lapse before the energy is built up within and then the lamps is emitted.

The high-pressure sodium and the metal halide grow lamps are operated from what is called remote ballasts. Quite the contrary mercury vapor lamps do not call for additional ballast. They can be just fastened into lamps holder.

Hydroponics is a way of growing plants totally without soil. When plants are grown by traditional methods the soil delivers water and nutrients to the plant. Plants grown by hydroponic methods have nutrients and water feed directly into the roots removing the need for soil.

There are many different types of hydroponic system, these can be read about on here on my blog.

Hydroponic gardening could have a huge impact on the environment. It enables plants to grow quicker and larger as they can put their energy into growing up instead of developing a complex system of roots, more food production in less space.

Because plants grown hydroponically are grown in self contained systems, there is less need to add pollutents to our natural soil.

In hydroponic growing the environment is very controlled so pests are far less likely reducing the effects of pesticides.

Hydroponics is also a fantastic hobby allowing you to grow plants that aren’t accustomed to our natural climate, such as orchids.

Or making it feasible to grow your own vegetables in a confined space, and you’d know exactly what went into making that food. It’s also brilliant for children to watch plants that are grown hydroponically as there is less time for them to wait to see the results.

If growing hydroponically indoors you will also need grow lamps so the plants can get all the light they need. There are various versions of lights that can be chosen for this function such as High Pressure Sodium lights which require a ballast to operate, or LEDs as well as fluorescents.

The two different types of Hydroponics are the solution and the medium cultures. In a solution culture there is no solid medium other than a nutrient solution to supply nourishment to the plants. The medium culture calls for presence of a solid medium though.

There are 3 types of solution culture, the static (nutrient solution is not agitated) solution culture, continuous flow culture and aeroponics solution culture. The different types of medium used in medium culture include sand, gravel and the mineral wool or rockwool. Sub irrigation method and top irrigation methods are used to supply nutrients and water for plants growing in medium culture.

Aeroponics is a method that allows growing of plants in a system that enables the root systems to be in an environment concentrated with atomized droplets of nutrients. It calls for no substrate and plants receive lavish aeration in this method.