Q:

Hi, please could you advise me what might be the best nutrients to use with my 16 pot Amazon system. Thanks Pete

A:

The important thing to remember when choosing a nutrient for use in aeroponic systems is that any clogs in the fine tubing or spray heads will hurt your plants. The nutrients you choose should therefore be pure mineral solutions, never with a high organic content. This goes for the supplements as well, even a few drops of Superthrive or Carboload would not be advisable.Canna Aqua, B'cuzz Hydro or Advanced Nutrients Sensi are all suitable high quality nutrients.Don't force the EC (or CF, the concentration of nutrient in the water) too high as this may also lead to mineral deposits. The extra efficiency of root performance in aeroponic systems means you don't need as high a concentration as lower tech systems do to get ideal results.If you use any supplements that do not dissolve fully (such as Cha Ching and Mineral Magic), it is best to mix these in a bucket and allow them to settle out before transferring the mixture to the Amazon reservoir.Remember you can still use foliar feeds until the flowers open, from the cheap and useful Formulex to the finest foliar supplements such as Bio Heaven, Rhizotonic, Vitalink Foliar. Some supplements can be sprayed on even up to harvest, such as Umph Power from GET.

Q:

Your square pots come in sizes of 6.5L, 10T, 11T etc.. I don't understand what the T represents. How many gallons is a 10T??

A:

The T represents the brand Teku, a very nice range of little square pots. The number is the width of the pot in centimetres. The largest of this range, the 15T, is 15 centimetres square and contains 3.5 litres, just over 6 pints or three-quarters of an imperial gallon. The others are;10T containing 0.7 litre, 1 and a quarter pints.11T containing 1 litre, 1 and three quarter pints.13T containing 1.5 litres, 2 and two thirds pints.

Q:

which is best for a 1st timer grower- kit1 or kit 4 and why? also what else is needed to get started,many thanks

A:

I would suggest the Kit 4 for a beginner as it is less technical and can give just as good results. Whether you want organic produce or not there is the benefit of not having to check pH levels (nor nutrient concentration for the more advanced grower). The 250W lamp with the Kit 1 is sufficient for the slightly smaller system, it uses less electricity than the 400W lamp with the Kit 4. You will be able to keep much larger (or the same size but more numerous) plants happy with the 400W lamp. Hydroponic Kit 1 has a clone kit included for raising seedlings or cuttings. This can be bought separately for £14.95. Organic Kit 4 has a one-way power controller that is not included in Hydroponic Kit 1. This can be bought separately for £30.95. The Kit 4 will need to be watered by hand whenever the plants need watering, rather than changing the nutrient tank once a week with Kit 1.

Q:

do you sell advanced nutrients connoisseur nutrient.prices please.thanks eric.

A:

We do sell Connoisseur bloom nutrient from Advanced Nutrients. The prices are £47.50 for 1 litre (A & B) or £85.99 for 4 litres. The latter is a special introductory offer and comes with a moneyback guarantee from the manufacturer. We have an even larger range in our shop that we cannot keep up with on the website. I will add this category to the website now, though there will be no pretty pictures yet, I am afraid.

Q:

I. am having trouble finding a guide on the aeroponic amazon prop and grow. I'm not sure on how frequently to feed and what strengths in correlation to this specific system. Would I use 15 on 15 off ? Or would a constand 2 hour on then off system be viable.

A:

The manufacturers of the Amazon system recommend using nutrients at the strength the nutrient makers recommend for any hydroponic system. Constant sprinkling is best as the roots are kept in optimum conditions permanently.Visit the Nutriculture website for pictures of plants growing in the Amazon system: http://www.nutriculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=48

Q:

hi could you please tell me how many plants you can fit in your xl grow tent thanks.

A:

It all depends on how large you want to grow your plants! It could be anything up to 25 plants depending on the type of plant and how you want to grow them. The tent is 1.2 metres wide by 1.2 metres long.

Q:

how many liters can fit an O2XS NET POT what diameter of bucket will i need for it to fit,and do you have them?

A:

The O2XS is about one litre in capacity. We have 5 litre buckets (10" diameter) and 20 litre buckets (12.5" diameter), either of which could take the net pot (just under 6" diameter, 15cm) if you cut a neat hole in the lid.

Q:

Why is it taking so long for my questions to be answered?

A:

We have only just started getting the website fully functional and manpower has been distracted from your valued and fascinating questions. A thousand apologies to those who have been forced to wait.

Q:

do u sell duel spectrum cfls or envirolites>?

A:

I am afraid we don't sell dual spectrum cfls, all that we have been offered have been much more expensive than buying two separate lamps of the same size.

Q:

i have a grobox 2x2x4ft (LxWxH) and am interetested in a 250w cfl light as opposed to HPS/MH due too heat in such a confined space, any recomendations? and can cfl's be hung just by the cord or do they need mounting?

A:

A compact fluorescent lamp of 250W is about right for that size of growing area. You might also want to ensure that the fresh air coming in to the space comes from outside, so the air is cooler to start with. Though CFLs can be hung by the electrical cord the 250W lamps are very heavy and it might be best to use a proper reflector or more solid mounting.

Q:

Witch started kit is best for consealing heat?

A:

None of the starter kits have any heat-reducing devices included. Options you could consider include:Heat Containment Foil can be used to enclose the growing chamber or the room, this reflects most of the radiant heat back into the room.Cool Tubes can be used to reduce the heat buildup in the chamber.Fluorescent lamps such as Envirolites can be cooler in an enclosed space.Ensure you have plenty of fresh air being dragged through the room by an extractor fan.

Q:

hi am looking to grow 5 motherplants and 5 cuttings , am looking at the home box 1m x 1m x 2m , would this be big enought and what lighting / ventilation and things would i need for it

A:

Mother plants can be kept quite small by constant pruning, you could have 5 quite big mothers in the 1 metre squared of the Homebox and still enough room for many cuttings.A 100mm RVK extraction fan (HVS3816) with carbon filter (TWL7537) will be quite enough for that size of box. Two 150W Blue Envirogrow lamps (TBS6629) are quite enough to keep the mothers happily producing healthy growth. You may get away with two 125W Blue Envirolites (MTX3832). These can be used in the Two-Way Envirolite Reflector (JBW9370) or hung from Envirolite Hangers (RVB5533). Alternatively a 400W (HGW4881 + CRT5146) or 250W (HGW4879 + CRT5144) metal halide system can be used, though this may result in more heat problems.The cuttings will either need their own source of light or their propagator will have to be supported at just under the top of the mother plants. Were you thinking of using pots or an automatic system for growing the plants? 

Q:

very interested in the vertical growing chamber.. will it grow from seeds or cuttings only.. if only cuttings what and when do you recomend ie . bloom cuttings or any cutting can you give me more info please

A:

The Ecosystem vertical growing system can be used with already sprouted seedlings but this is not recommended due to the variability in growth rates among seedlings, cuttings are much easier to plan with properly.Start with cuttings that are well rooted and only one week of vegetation should be sufficient.

Q:

Hello, Iam new,I have no knowledge, could you tell if I can use Hydroponic system in the Greenhouse and if so once the plants are big enough I can plant them in the Garden.Many Thanks.

A:

You can transplant the plants into soil but they often suffer transplant shock because the type of roots they produce is different in hydroponic systems than in soil. The younger the plant the better for moving it into soil, once they have produced a large mat of roots that are used to hydroponic systems they will lose a lot of growth while the plant regrows new roots. What type of hydroponic system is it you are using?

Q:

I was just wondering if it is safe to foliar feed with roots excelurator. The cuttings are 2 weeks old. Thank you!

A:

House and Garden Roots Excelurator is designed purely for adding to the feed water, not as a foliar feed at all. It would probably be safe but it would be better to use one of the products designed for application to the leaf in young cuttings. Foliar feeds such as Formulex, Bio Heaven, Nitrozyme, Rhizotonic and Vitalink Foliar are perfect for feeding the little plants while they make up for their time without roots.

Q:

hi. i need a little advice on a power pack i bought. when it kicks in it is extremely noisy. like a buzzing vibrating noise. i am not sure if this is normal or maybe their is a fault with it.

A:

A good ballast should never be noisy, even a magnetic ballast should only hum gently. Lots of buzzing noise indicates that something has not been manufactured or fitted well. If you got it from us then bring it in and we will have a listen. If it is faulty we will be happy to swap it for a good one.

Q:

hi if i use the ionic soil on cutting which i have couple opf times would that hurt my cuttings i used 10ml in every 2 litre .thank you

A:

I certainly would not recommend that you use Ionic nutrients on cuttings, especially at 5ml per litre. The top concentration they give is 7ml per litre for totally mature plants so you risk damaging the little ones with more concentration than their roots can handle.What medium are the cuttings in? If there is already fertiliser added, such as in Allmix or Batmix, you definitely will cause nutrient burn on the cuttings. Cuttings only need weak feeds and we have sevceral formulated for the task. Formulex, Vitalink Foliar and Bio Heaven are excellent foliar feeds for cuttings that can be allowed to soak the medium as well.

Q:

Hello, I want to come to Holland to study hydroponic herbs , can you please suggest me some good university.

A:

The University of Wageningen has contributed greatly to the development of hydroponics and the life sciences generally. They are one of the best-respected agricultural universities in Europe. I don't know if they have a course just in hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture but they do cover everything you might need to know. http://www.wageningenuniversiteit.nl/UK/

Q:

my vents vk 125 keeps stopping every 5 min and i only brought the system on the 26th of feb but it was fine for the first nite and now it stops and struggles to start again it it a fault and wot shud i do????

A:

It sounds as though it could be shaky wiring - try going over the wiring again and make sure all the connections are firmly screwed in. If the fan still does not work then bring it back to the shop you got it from with your receipt. We will test it and replace it with a new one if necessary.

Q:

hi i grow toms and cues peppers etc,my greenhouse is 8x6 which system would you advise me to purchase

A:

The Autopot System is an excellent passive feeding system for the greenhouse. It is very streamlined and the reservoir very neat. It does not use electricity, when the plant has drunk the water in the tray the valve opens and more water (with nutrients added) fills the tray. This is a very effective growing method that the plants adore, perfect for tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. See http://www.hydroponics.co.uk/Autopot-2-Pot-System-Product-782.html We don't have much on our website about them but please visit http://www.autopot.co.uk/ We have many of their products in stock and can order any of the others, just ask if you see anything you need.

Q:

im looking for a cheap 50 pot system.. whats the best one to go for?

A:

There are several choices for the best cheap 50ish pot system. You can make up your own dripper system with all the irrigation pieces we sell (best to come into the shop to go through the intricacies of designing those) or buy one of the ready made or modular systems such as the IWS, Multiflow or Autopot.The IWS 48 pot system is an ebb and flood which gives excellent results and costs £830. The Multiflow is a similar ebb and flood system with similarly excellent results, their 48 pot costs £799. With these all you need to buy on top are the medium (clay pebbles are recommended) and the nutrients.The Autopot system is modular so you would need 25 x 2 Pot Add-On Kits £549.75, 25 x X-connectors 62.50, a 220 litre water butt £36.50 with stand £18.95, Click-fit filter £10.35 and as much flexipipe as you need to arrange it round the room at £1 per metre.

Q:

hi i have been getting dark brown spots on some leafs and tips browning. i think it is a deficencey but not sure. this is my first hydro. had no trouble in soil with same plant. please can you help

A:

The first thing would be to check the plant and its surroundings for any signs of insects or infestations as this could be causing the symptoms you described. It could be that your plant is suffering from deficiency. Firstly, check your PH levels in the water. After this, you will need to flush your system with PH balanced water for 72 hours. This will clean the salt and nutrient build-up out of the resevoir which will benefit your plants. Once this has been done, you should resume your feed prgramme as usual. If the problem persists do not hesitate to give us a call.

Q:

i have bean reading about usingpotasium andphosphorus,humic,fumicallthrough a grow any chance ov some advice onnutrient supplements +feedingscheduel

A:

Using all of the above additives is certainly a good idea.  Each have specific qualities which will improve plant health and vitality which in turn will aid production and overall quality of your produce.Phosphorus (P) helps with root zone health/growth and also aids flowering whilst Potassium (K) gives strength to the plant and prompts the flowering process.  These two are usually added during the flowering cycle through product such as Canna PK13/14 (in week 5) or Advanced Nutrients Hammerhead PK9/18 (week 2 onwards).  However there are single mineral additives available through other manufacturers too.Humic acids are usually applied during all growth and flowering stages.  They are known to convert trace elements into more available forms for the plant to uptake, stimulate enzymes and increase vitamin content.  This will promote a stronger, more able root zone which will in turn improve plant health and productivity.Fulvic acids help with the transfer of minerals and vitamins withing the structure of the plant cells.  This increases the metabolic rate and therefore the nutrient uptake and flowering capacity.   They also assist in limiting stress for the plant.  It can be applied through the root zone as part of the nutrient feed or as a foliar spray.  It may be used throughout the entire cycle however some companies suggest it is mainly usefull through flower.We stock a range of different humic and fulvic acids from a number of companies.  For a comprehensive range I would personally recommend having a look into the Advanced Nutrients products.  They supply everything needed for soil, coco and hydroponic growing.I hope this has helped.  If you have any more questions or queries feel free to get back in touch.  Many thanks, Andy

Q:

Hi, we are keen to buy a water chiller. Who can I contact as I have a few questions that need answers before placing an order. Thank you. Val.

A:

We have both the 300 litre capacity and 600 litre capacity water chillers in stock. If you call our shop on 0845 872 0570 we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Q:

have you got any 125 blue sec envirolites in stock

A:

Yes, we have several in stock at the moment.

Q:

hello my cuttings were in flower when i first got them and seem to have slowed down growing can i still grow these up taller before iflower them

A:

Hi Kelvin....Firstly, did your cuttings come off a plant that was already in flower?!  If so, I'm afraid your not going to be best pleased.  A plant can not provide cuttings when it is already in flower.  This is due to an alteration in the hormonal structure of the plant.  It will quite simply not root properly and will virtually stop growing entirely.  It will certainly stop flowering therefore yielding very little.  However, if they came from a plant in vegetative growth then there may be some ways to help.  How long into flower are the cuttings?  If they are only a couple of days into flower (at the very most 1 week) you can simply revert the light cycle back to 18 hours on and 6 hours off.  This will not affect your plant too adversly and then you can carry on vegging them as long as you like.  If they are beyond the very early stages of flower then the only way that you can increase their height is by slowly raising the height of your lamps.  Do not do this too dramatically otherwise you will end up with extremely stringy plants that can not support any heavy flowers.  I hope this is of some help.... Andy

Q:

dear sirs,please could you tell me if there is any difference between an electronic ballast and a digital ballast.if so what is the difference.kind regards trevor.

A:

Hi Trevor,  A magnetic ballast uses a transformer to change the AC current into DC current and regulate it, which then powers your light. This is why, if you look at one, it is slightly flickering, as it switching itself on and off at 50 times per second.  An electronic ballast uses transistors to change the AC current into DC current using a rectifer, which utilises both the positive side and the negative side of the AC wave. This is why they are more efficient on electricity consumption and give a higher lamp output.  If you require any more infomation do not hesitate to email again or ring the shop.

Q:

What do the values given for NPK, stand for? Do higher values mean better nutrition?

A:

NPK is the name for the ratio of the three major plant nutrient elements:N is NitrogenP is PhosphorusK is for Kalium, which we call Potassium in EnglishThere are many other plant nutrients, at least 10 more elements that are vital to plant health.  Higher values do not mean better nutrition. Each type of plant has a different requirement for nutrition, different pH, different strength of feed, different levels of N, P and K and different levels of the other elements. These also change during the plant's life.

Q:

Could you suggest the amounts of perlite to vermiculite I could use given that my plants will be grown from seed in Riot cubes, vegged for 10 - 14 days on 400w hps and the nutes I'll be using are BN Hydro? (In 10lt pots)

A:

A very popular mixture is two thirds perlite with one third vermiculite. To improve the water-holding capacity without reducing air access to the root zone you could use a 1;1 mixture of perlite to vermiculite in the bottom third of the pot.

Q:

How come your products are so cheap compared to garden centres? You wouldn't believe how much that BnQ etc charge for big pots and perlite! Your 100lt Perlit/Vermiculite bags are a proper bargain.

A:

B&Q doesn't even mention perlite or vermiculite on their website. They see perlite and vermiculite as low volume products so they charge more because they don't sell as much of them as bedding plants.

Q:

Am using a Perlite/Vermiculite mix in 10lt pots, and have been practicing on a Peace Lilly. I have read another person using this method, and they are watering/feeding every other day, but when I feed my plant the nutes just drop straight through! As I'm using a hps I'm sure the roots would dry out in no time, and if I block the holes in the pots the plants I grow don't like having their roots in still water, can you tell me how to prep my pots for this technique? Thank you, dave

A:

If the medium is not holding enough water increase the percentage of vermiculite in the mix. This will help the nutrient solution spread sideways in the medium and retains water better than a high perlite mix. A black and white or silver plastic cover over the pots helps a lot against drying out of the medium by strong lights. The plastic will also stop the nasty build up of green slime from alga that are eating the nutrients that your plants should be getting. Make sure there is a gap between the edge of the plastic and the stems of the plants so you don't get condensation and possible mould promotion on the stems.

Q:

Can I germinate seeds in compost and then pot up into a pure Perlite medium? Thanks,dave

A:

You can, the question is do you want to? While most of the soil will stay in place it can move and clog drippers in recirculating systems. It will also get much wetter than the surrounding perlite/vermiculite and may cause root problems. Rockwool plugs are an ideal starting medium for transplanting into perlite/vermiculite mixes. Not only are they sterile and relatively pH neutral (once washed with buffered water or a little dilute nutrient) but the cushioning effect of the rockwool around the roots avoids damage when moving the delicate young plant into its new medium.

Q:

Hello, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on a good variety of lettuce that would grow in a mediterranean climate. Im looking for a lettuce that has small leaves, has a quick growth rate, has a sweet taste and grows in temperatures around 15-25'C If you could help me at all or point me in the right direction i would really appreciate it. Thank-you Miss Abrar Hammuda

A:

I am afraid we don't have anyone here with experience with Mediterranean gardening with lettuces. Perhaps you might find some help at http://www.seedsofitaly.com/ or http://www.originaltouch.co.uk/ . The variety Attrazione looks promising - tasty and heat-resistant.

Q:

Is there a difference in the amount of electricity used between CFLs and HPS, of the same wattage?

A:

Some CFLs declare the wattage as the equivalent that the lamp would be using if it were an HPS to produce the same amount of light. The Envirolite brand do this, other brands such as Envirogrow declare the actual wattage, and hence electricity usage, of the lamp. Anything that draws the same amount of watts from the mains will use the same amount of electricity overall.