Defsl Prem

Starting hydroponics at home is easier than you think! I began with one small system 3 years ago and now have multiple setups. Here's how to get started:

Choose your first system wisely - for beginners, I recommend the Kratky method (passive) or Deep Water Culture (DWC). Both are simple and inexpensive. You'll need: a container, net pots, growing medium (like clay pebbles or rockwool), nutrients, and pH adjustment supplies.

Start with easy plants like lettuce, basil, or kale - they're very forgiving. Use balanced hydroponic nutrients (not regular fertilizer!) and maintain pH between 5.5-6.5. Lighting depends on what you're growing - leafy greens need 12-16 hours of light daily.

The most common beginner mistake: overcomplicating things! Start small, master the basics, then expand.

Epic Gardening's beginner guide is fantastic for getting started right!

Growing black-eyed peas in containers is quite easy and productive! I've grown them on my patio for several seasons:

Choose a large container - at least 12-15 inches deep and wide. These plants develop substantial root systems. Use well-draining potting mix with extra compost for nutrients.

Sow seeds directly after danger of frost has passed, when soil is warm. Plant 1 inch deep, 4-6 inches apart. They need full sun (6+ hours daily) for best production. Water consistently, especially when flowers and pods are forming.

They're relatively drought tolerant once established. Harvest when pods are well-filled but before they dry completely if eating fresh. For dried beans, allow pods to dry on plants.

You'll get a surprising yield from just a few plants! The flowers are pretty too.

Almanac's black-eyed pea guide has variety-specific advice!

Propagating sycamore trees from cuttings can be challenging but possible with the right technique! I've had success with this method:

Take hardwood cuttings in late winter from young, vigorous trees. Select pencil-thick branches from previous season's growth, 8-12 inches long with several buds. Make bottom cut just below a node, top cut just above.

Use rooting hormone containing IBA and plant in well-draining mix of sand and peat. Maintain high humidity and bottom heat around 70-75°F. Rooting can take 8-12 weeks and success rates are often low.

Softwood cuttings in early summer can also work but require careful humidity management. Sycamores root more reliably from seed, but cuttings preserve specific characteristics.

Be patient - even successful cuttings may grow slowly initially. The Royal Horticultural Society propagation guide has general techniques that apply!

G'day from Sydney! I've got a collection of 50+ cymbidiums that bloom spectacularly every year. Here's my approach:

I grow mine in terracotta pots with extra drainage holes. The mix is 80% medium orchid bark, 10% perlite, 10% charcoal. They're under 50% shade cloth year-round - our Australian sun is too intense otherwise.

The key to flowering is the winter temperature drop - I actually look forward to cold nights! I stop fertilizing in autumn and reduce watering. The flower spikes emerge in late winter, and I stake them early.

In spring, I move them to a more protected spot to protect the flowers from hot winds. After flowering, I divide any overcrowded plants and repot. They're such rewarding plants - some of my specimens are 20+ years old!

The flowers last for months and make fantastic cut flowers too.