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| Humidity, Temperature, and Your Plants |
| When it comes to indoor growing, temperature and humidity are inextricably linked. If temperatures and humidity are too high or too low, your plants can suffer. Humidity that is too high can attract insects and can contribute to the growth of mold, mildew, and disease. On the other hand, if humidity is too low, your plants may lose moisture faster than their roots can replace it. |
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| Suggested pH & PPM levels |
| For great results, consult the following pH and ppm tables for assorted fruits, veggies, herbs, and tropicals. Keeping your nutrient solution at the right concentraction and pH is important for maintaining optimum growth! |
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| Safeguarding Against Pythium, More |
| Whether grown indoors or out, your plants are always susceptible to opportunistic fungi. Pythium, powdery mildew, and downy mildew are among the most common culprits; fortunately, we can take some simple steps to prevent their spread. |
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| Boost Your Growth with CO2 |
| Who said you can’t improve Mother Nature? Commercial growers have long used carbon dioxide to increase plant health and crop yields and now so can you. Provided you’ve got all other conditions such as light, temperature, nutrient levels, and humidity just right, increasing carbon dioxide levels will greatly accelerate photosynthesis. |
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| Giving Bugs the Big Brush-off |
| Because the nearly tropical conditions in our grow rooms are just right for aphids, mealy bugs, and other tiny troublemakers, it’s important to examine our plants for insect pests regularly—every few days if you’re a particularly devoted indoor gardener or, if you like to live on the edge, at least a few times per month. |
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| Odor Control: Getting Funky Fresh |
| The right mixture of high humidity and hydroponic nutrients can turn an otherwise pleasant spot musty in a hurry. Fortunately, there are odor control methods available to eliminate even the funkiest of funks. |
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| Making the Most of Meters and Monitors |
| From simple thermometers and light meters to the most advanced refractometer, there are a variety of hand-held meters and monitors to ensure optimal growing conditions for your plants. Typically, though, indoor gardeners pay closest attention to the pH and nutrient levels of their hydroponics solutions so we’ll start with those. |
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| Most hydroponic gardeners know that algae growth is very common and harmless. Building up on the top of rockwool cubes, around the edges of grow rocks, and generally wherever it can get a hold, algae is a sign of healthy water and robust life—not a sign of contamination or problems. Algae growth only becomes a problem when it grows so thick as to cut off oxygen to the plants beneath. Oddly enough, a weekly rinse with city tap water is usually all that is needed to control algae. |
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