You want to grow your own garden. You don’t, however, know what kind.
There’s a reason this decision trips up so many people…there are just so many places to start! Do you want to grow your very own herbs to sprinkle on your dinner or are you more of an herbal tea sort of person? Have you always dreamed of growing beautiful flowers or are you aching for some homegrown vegetables to pad out your shelf? Whichever you end up going with, trust you’ve already made the first step on a very fulfilling journey. Gardening is making a huge comeback lately and we’re going to take a look at why that is.
Here are five supplies no home garden should be without, whether you’re a tea guru in the making or someone who just wants a few pretty flowers to pad out their porch!
Find The Right Growing Lights
First things first…you need to make sure your plants have all the light needed to grow tall and strong. Before you get into your hydroponic gardening supplies consider figuring out which light system will benefit you the most. Back in 2016 the market value of fluorescent grow lights reached an impressive $50 million, with plasma grow lights following close behind at $30 million. Overall, the grow lights market is expected to reach $5 billion by 2022. A digital ballast is easy to install, though grow light hangars come in many different shapes and sizes.
Pick Out The Best Fertilizer
You eat a healthy and full diet to ensure you’re getting the calories and vitamins you need to live your best. Your plants are no different! Without good fertilizer you’re depriving your plants of what they need to grow tall. Fertilizer needs to have a healthy amount of vitamins and minerals, with certain formulations explicitly designed to grow vegetables, fruits or flowers. Some fertilizer also comes in different textures, with some providing further airflow with ‘gaps’ in the soil. Is that all you need to know about fertilizer, though?
Check Your Soil’s PH Balance
Another major detail you need to know is your soil’s pH balance. A common rule-of-thumb for your new green thumb is to maintain a pH balance of 6.5, though some plants can still grow full with a 6.0 and even a 7.0. Make sure to learn all you can about your garden’s unique needs, as what can work perfectly for a zinnia might not be perfect for a new batch of squash. According to a recent study provided by the National Center For Complementary And Alternative Medicine found herbal therapy was the most commonly used form of alternative medicine, ranging from tea to tablets.
Try Out Hydroponic Growing Methods
For those that want to take their gardening a step further, hydroponic gardening supplies are the way to go. This method uses less water and the same amount of space as old-fashioned methods to create better results, used by both hobbyists and professional farmers. It’s estimated you can plant as much as four times the amount of crops in the same space with hydroponic methods. Some farmers have even claimed hydroponic crops can use up to 90% less water than the same crops in traditional soil farming.
Embrace The Ups And Downs Of Gardening
Even as you buy cloning trays, organic fertilizer and hydroponic gardening supplies…it’s important to maintain the right mentality when you’re gardening. It’s all about the journey, after all, and enjoying every minute of getting down in the dirt and encouraging your very first sprout is the key to getting the most out of your hobby. Even if you find some of your plants wilting, learning from your gardening mistakes is just as much about building character as it is building a new tray of cherry tomatoes. It’s estimated over 40% of adults are using some form of complimentary and alternative medicine today, with fruit and flower gardens seeing an uptick due to their meditative qualities.
Your garden is an extension of yourself. Treat yourself right by investing in the right hydroponic gardening supplies and garden plant nutrient resources.
