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Your plants' growth is directly
in response to the nutrients available to them. Nutrient requirements
vary according to the type of plant, grow medium and the environmental
conditions. There are three basic classifications of fertilizers
available:
For Soil-based
Plants
These fertilizers are composed primarily of the macro-nutrients
(nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium) in a
water soluble form while drawing any micro-nutrients from the
minerals and organic material in the soil itself.
For Hydroponic-based
Plants
These fertilizers are composed of all the essential elements
necessary for growth and development. All nutrients are of a
highly soluble form
including the micro-nutrients (sulfur, iron, zinc, boron, molybdenum,
chlorine and others) that are not available from an inert growing
medium. Any element that is not needed is not included in the
mix.
Solar Hydroponics Supply is an official supplier of General Hydroponics,
the #1 selling liquid hydroponic nutrient in North America.
Organic
Fertilizers
These products are derived from a 'natural' source. They derive
primarily from a biological source (manure, animal meals, composted
vegetable matter) and are not very soluble in solution. These
large organic molecules require biological action (bacteria &
fungi) to break them down to their more soluble basic elements.
Due to the lack of a balance of nutrients available to the plants
at controlled amounts these fertilizers may do extremely well
in some situations and poorly in others.
Solar Hydroponics Supply also provides nutrients manufactured
by:
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Earth Juice |
the richest and most complete liquid
organic plant nutrient available; all formulas are derived entirely
from all natural sources |
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Eco Products |
manufacturer of quality powdered
and liquid nutrients |
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General Hydroponics |
bringing nature and technology together |
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Olivia's Solutions |
fertilizer and gels to increase
growth and productivity of cuttings |
Other manufacturers include Bumper
Crop, Peters Fertilizers, Green Air Genesis Solutions, Plant
Prod, Dyna-Gro and Welcome Harvest Farms.
Any questions regarding the most suitable fertilizer for your
gardening needs can be addressed easily by our friendly and helpful
staff. Or feel free to email us at info@solarhydroponics.com!
 
Plants are living solar collectors.
Plants absorb the blue and red spectrum of light and use water
and carbon dioxide to produce sugars, the energy source for plants.
Solar Hydroponics Supply offers three types of lighting:
High Intensity
Discharge (HID)
The most common source of lighting for plants, these lamps produce
light by passing electricity through an arc tube as opposed to
a semi-resistive filament. An electronic ballast is often needed
due to the extremely high voltages required to operate these
lamps. HID lighting comes in a variety of wattages - 150, 175,
250, 400, 600 and 1000. The easiest way to determine your lighting
requirements is to use the following formula: 20 watts/square
foot of gardening area.
Metal
Halide (MH)
This is the lamp of choice as a primary light source for plants.
The lamp is a series of bulbs composed of mercury and halogen
gases in an arc tube that produce a light high in the blue spectrum
necessary for photosynthesis and cellular division.
High Pressure
Sodium (HPS)
This is the lamp of choice to supplement natural light, enhance
flowering in short day plants or in conjunction with MH for best
development in long day flowering and fruiting plants. The light
bulbs are composed of sodium gas in a high pressure arc that
produce a light high in the orange and red spectrum necessary
for photosynthesis, hormone production and cellular elongation.
To get the most efficiency from
your lighting system, you should implement a good reflective
fixture. You can increase overall light levels by covering any
vertical surfaces with a reflective material such as mylar (reflective
polyester), black-backed white poly or reinforced mylar fabric.
In this way, light is re-directed back to the plants.
Solar Hydroponics Supply offers many varieties to suit your gardening
environment. Drop by our store or direct your inquiries by email
to info@solarhydroponics.com.
Solar Hydroponics Supply provides
a large selection of gardening products and hydroponic systems
to suit your gardening method. We have pre-fabricated systems
ready to grow by: General Hydroponics, Hydro Farms, HGS Pipe
Dreams
Many quality building supplies include ABS plastic trays, troughs,
bucket systems and all the plumbing hardware to design your own
watering system.
All the growing medium you need including Sunshine Mix soil-less
grow media, Grodan and Fibrex rockwool products and Hydroton
expanded clay media
Quality water pumps by Little Giant and Supreme to supply your
garden with the nutrient solution they need.
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Creating the ideal environment for your plants unfortunately
also creates the ideal environment for the pests that feed on
them. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the most effective
way of controlling these pests. Controlling the environmental
conditions, frequent monitoring and the combined use of biological
controls (predators and parasites) and pesticides are all integral
in keeping pests at bay.
Solar Hydroponics Supply has numerous biological, botanical,
organic and synthetic pest control products that are effective
at controlling pests but also safe for plants and the environment.
Pesticides that control insects, mites and fungi are sometimes
necessary and, when applied properly, safe to use.
Drop by our store to pick up your pest control solution or feel
to email us at info@solarhydroponic.com
with any questions!
Just as important to plants as light,
water and nutrients is FRESH AIR. Plants use the carbon dioxide
in the air to produce sugars, the energy source for all plants.
Fresh air exchange is equally important to help maintain proper
temperatures. An enclosed green house or grow-room with HID lights
can build up a lot of heat and regular fresh air exchanges can
help control heat and humidity build-ups.
CO2: increasing environmental carbon dioxide
levels has been proven to increase the productivity of plants
by as much as 50%. CO2 can be added to increase the environmental
levels from around 500 parts per million, ppm, to up to 2000
ppm quite efficiently using the proper equipment and controls.
CO2 is added to the room by discharge of compresses gas from
a tank or by propane and natural gas fueled generators. Each
method has its own pros and cons.
Controls:
we carry a large selection
of precise timing and control equipment. Everything from high
amperage timers and relays for operating lighting equipment to
precise monitors for controlling temperature, humidity, CO2 enrichment
and watering cycles.
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