Orchids have always been considered among the most beautiful plants you can cultivate, declined by nature in an incredible variety of shapes and colors.

The roots visible, thick and white, and the elongated shape of the leaves contribute to enrich the charm of beautiful flowers. Is surprising therefore the number of enthusiasts who grow orchids just for the pleasure of looking at them.

In the rain forest and in various tropical areas, these plants grow freely on trees or on rocks covered with moss: on these surfaces rainwater flows making a perfect level of water and oxygen, while the roots derive nourishment from decaying vegetation. There is no land, one in which grow many orchids can be called a hydroponic environment by nature.
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To understand how to grow better is helpful to have an idea of how indicative are made and how they perform vital functions in plants.

stoma on a tomato plant

Vascular system

This set of "pipes" allows the movement of nutrients and lymph through the plant.
E 'consists of two distinct parts:

The Xylem is a set of plant tissue that transports water and substances dissolved in it.
It contains blood vessels (called Tracheid and windpipe) through which water flows for a hundred meters (consider, for example the redwoods), using solar energy and evaporation during transpiration.

The phloem, also called tissue cribroso or book, is the tissue that carries the lifeblood of the area where it is produced to that in which the plant will serve the accumulation or Members.
The movement of lymph organs occurs through these molecular pumps at a rate ranging from 10 to 100 centimeters per hour.

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Whatever the technique of cultivation hygiene is always crucial.
Hydroponic systems special attention should be paid to the nutrient solution, which must be regularly replaced to avoid the accumulation of salts, dirt and any pathogens. Normally the discharge should be done about every two weeks, three if you work with water osmosis, in a case of brackish water.
The intense heat may necessitate more frequent replacement parts.
The emptying of the plant may be difficult, usually taking place according to these schemes:

-the tube that leads from the pump irrigation plant is equipped with a valve in line with the possibility of diverting the flow to third exhaust pipe.

-The tank has a sloping bottom after which is a drain valve. By opening the valve the water flows through the force of gravity.

-Using a "bilge pump", practical and light can be dipped when needed in the tank by connecting a hose ready for unloading. Unfortunately, this type of pumps always leave a stagnation of about an inch on the bottom, but can be used in combination with the previous method.

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Maintain a rigid table maintenance and cleaning is essential to achieve good results and avoid disease.
Other tricks to keep the plants in good health are:
-a 'moderate humidity, around 60-70%.
Safe-water source. If the water comes from a well or a lake to be sterilized before use. In any case, you should not keep more than a few days (store it in a cool, dark).
drain-substrate and attention to standing water
-maintaining constant environmental factors to prevent shock to the plant (temperature, humidity, ventilation, pH, EC, light, nutrients)
-sterile equipment. Seeds and cuttings must be from reliable source, bearing in mind that many pathogens have relatively long incubation period. E 'therefore essential thorough inspection of the parent plant.

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One of the most simple and popular for its plants is par cuttings.
The concept is to take a twig from a plant "donor" or "mother" and make the environment for this development because their roots and give rise to a new plant.
This technique allows to obtain plants with the same genetic characteristics of parent power and then flying into a choice for quality, size, profitability and type of plant you're going to grow.
Also the use of cuttings from plants growing advanced can save time and achieve faster crop.

The types of cuttings can vary from plant to plant (depending on the genre we're going to take hardwood cuttings, seeds, wood, grass, leaves, roots or succulent) but generally it is an apical twig with leaves, stem and at least one node.

Let's see how: you first need to sterilize the material.
After that soaked into the substrate (eg rockwool cubes or tablets of peat) with water pH and EC calibrated and squeezed slightly.
The temperature will be kept stable around 20-25 degrees and the humidity will have a stable value around 80%. To achieve this ideal propagation environment we can help with a heating pad and a plastic Serretta.

Cuttings should be from plants already in excellent health and growing, but not the stage of flowering.
The stem should be able to support the leaves without bending.

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In recirculating systems the pH value should be recorded on a daily basis, since changes in the nutrient solution made from the plants themselves can cause significant fluctuations.
In any case it has to be added each time the measurement of water or fertilizer.

To maintain stable acidity may resort to the use of nutrients that provide a "buffering effect" or buffer, and a temperature control (below 30 degrees) and humidity (above 50%) that would reduce 'excessive evaporation.

To make the measurement will proceed, as for the EC, to mix the solution well and take a sample in a clean container.
And 'better not make measurements immediately after the addition of fertilizers or regulators.

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Plants steal nutrients from the nutrient solution and water simultaneously, but not necessarily equally.

In a hot climate such as the plants tend to "drink" more, and together with high rates of evaporation that makes the concentration of nutrients is too high.
To maintain stable and under control the balance of the solution is necessary to monitor the EC or electrical conductivity.

This value is the only way we can determine exactly how many nutrients are still present in the water. Presence too high may irreversibly damage the plants, while too little will track deficiencies and development slowed.
To detect the EC using a special instrument that indicates the amount of salts (total, therefore, without distinction) dissolved. There are several models of portable or fixed gauges with probes of various price ranges.

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Fertilization is a key point in the cultivation, so the choice of a good brand of specific nutrients will already perceived as the difference.
Let's see what other tricks they will maximize their potential.

The dosage on the label must always be respected, taking care to use the fertilizer in the right quantity, according to the growth stage of the plant (roots, growth, flowering), the substrate used (coir, hydroponics, earth) and where products are very also according to the specific type of plant (eg peppers, or orchids)

Multicomponent fertilizers and additives are never mixed in the concentrated state or in a little water. These products are kept separate because direct contact with each other can be harmful residues.

First of all, then fill the tank, then pour one by one the fertilizer, then mix well to avoid a pH and an uneven distribution.

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Although there are excellent products on the market that provide a light spectrum suitable for the cultivation of plants, no lamp reproduces exactly the sunlight.
E 'therefore important to better equip themselves to maximize what the technology can offer.

What is?
A standard installation requires a ballast (power supply) that turn on and regulate the flow of current that powers the lights, a reflector to focus and enhance the beam (usually it is already equipped with a lamp), a timer for the timing of 'lighting, and of course one or more bulbs.

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The proper ventilation is essential to avoid accumulation of heat and humidity common in indoor growing.
But how is it made a good ventilation system?
First, a stripper with the volume of your Growroom, bearing in mind that the scope will allow the extraction of the air in 5 minutes.
You can do the math yourself or contact a specialist for the choice.
Make sure you have all the information necessary to help those responsible to advise the best product for you: room volume, length and diameter of the ventilation tubes, presence or absence of filters, wattage supported by your system.

Also remember to calculate the spaces to prevent condensation and damage arising from the extractor will mounted vertically, parallel to the wall.
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