By design alone, hydroponic gardens can use up to 90% less water than in traditional soil gardens.

How do we achieve such impressive conservation you ask? Well, my eco-friendly amigos, the nutrient rich water being supplied to your robust tomato plants, is stored in a reservoir, and while being constantly aerated, it re-circulates within your garden until the nutrients have been depleted (up to 2 weeks on average). All of which can later be pumped to your outside garden or lawn, therefore utilizing every ounce of that precious H20!

Atmosphere is vital variable in all hydroponic gardening. Temperature is a vital variable in your atmosphere and investing in a quality thermometer that has min/max, humidity, and a temperature probe is very important. You will want to place the probe right at the plant canopy so you get an accurate reading. If you are using CO2 keep your temperature at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity at 50%-60%. If you are not using CO2 keep your temperature around 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit 40%-50%.

Having problems getting the tubing for your hydro system to fit on the barbed elbows and tees? Try this simple solution –Spray down the fitting with a little streakless alcohol based window cleaner (Windex, etc.). The cleaner will act as a natural lubricant and since its alcohol based, it will evaporate quickly, leaving your connection clean and watertight!

I am going to compare and contrast the differences I have found over the years in using synthetic nutrients vs. organic nutrients. One of the benefits of using synthetics over organics is the ability to measure nutrient solution strength. I have much to say about the subject but I will keep it simple for now. When using organic nutrients with a meter that reads in TDS/PPM/EC you will get an inaccurate reading do to the fact that TDS, PPM and EC are measurement of salts and EC.  Another factor that comes into play with organics is the thickness of the solution; it can be different from a clean synthetic based mixture. All those natural components in your organic fertilizers can clog pumps, drip emitters, sprayers etc. I feel that synthetic fertilizers tend to push your plant to perform at its fullest capability, that is one reason I tend to use synthetic based nutrients in my programs, but this also can lead to over fertilization, salt build up and other issues if not used correctly.

I’m starting this blog as a means of not only helping other hobbyist growers, but also as a journal I can use for personal reference. A key ingredient in successfully growing tomatoes is to log down the parameters that you are adjusting/monitoring daily. I will keep a log daily of the temperature and humidity (minimums, maximums, and current). I will also keep a log of the pH and ppm of the nutrient solution I will be using. I take readings when I come in the garden and reference it to last night’s final numbers and adjust accordingly. For example, yesterday when I came in the pH had drifted up to 6.7 from 6.2, and the ppm had gone from 960 to 1040. The water level had also gone down as well. Notating these daily differences has helped me a lot in keeping track of trends, so that when something goes awry I can easily reference any changes that may have happened and allows me to readily address and hopefully fix the problem. I will be sharing with you my daily observations, tips, trials and tribulations I may come across and hopefully, this will not only be an aid to me but also of some assistance to you.

Hi… I’m Dave and I’ve been growing hydro since 1997. I really like hydro because of its fast growth rates, and high yields.  My favorite way of growing is DWC (Deep Water Culture), although I’m also fond of growing in coco.  For bubbler type systems, it’s hard to beat the Lucas 8-16 formula as a base for simplicity & reliability.  For supplements, I like to use Big Bud, Root Excelurator, and a touch of enzymes, usually Cannazyme, because it runs very clean in a hydro system.  Lately I’ve been experimenting w/Drip Clean, with nice results.

The weekly schedule for the BGH blog will be as follows:

Mondays – “One Hitters” – Anecdotes, Jokes, Stories and tid bits from the Hydro Industry.

Tuesdays – “How To” – Quick posts about how to do simple things in and around your indoor garden.

Wednesdays – “Being Green” – How to make your garden environmentally conscious.

Thursdays – “Vertical verses Horizontal” – We examine the benefits and downfalls of both vertical and horizontal hydroponic systems.

Fridays – “Verses” – We pit two similar products against each other.

Saturday – “Growing With” – A sales person will grow something and journal about their trials and tribulations.

Sunday – “Organic verses Synthetic” – We compare and contrast Organic and Chemical Nutrients, Enhancers and Pesticides.

So there you have it! The new and improved BGH blog, helping you Grow Better every day!

Interested in joining the BetterGrow Team? Our Company is expanding and we are in need of experienced Sales Associates and Store Managers with a passion to educate the community and the world about Hydroponic Gardening. We are looking for experienced retail people to help customers achieve their maximum growing experience. We require candidates to have a great attitude and excellent computer and math skills. Our interview process is subject to skills testing and background check. To be considered for the open positions please send your resume with salary history to jobs@bghydro.com.