Indoor Soil Gardening Basics

Indoor Soil Gardening 101

Choose a Potting Mix

Potting Mixes are typically peat-based mixes with perlite and other materials that unlike soil, are light weight and have great air/water holding properties
Sphagnum Peat Moss is naturally acidic and often used with dolomite lime to raise pH
Perlite is a coarse substrate derived from volcanic rock and used to improve drainage/aeration
Coco is made from the husks of a coconut, is pH stable, and provides moisture retention/aeration
Worm Castings and Composted Waste add beneficial biology that help plants access nutrients in the soil

The Right Environment

Key components include relative humidity, temperature, CO2, and air circulation/exchange
Ideal humidity is between 40%-60%
Some plants like higher humidity, but that can lead to problems with fungus and disease
Ideal temperature is between 68-75F
Plants need CO2 to grow - with good air circulation and exchange, a room will naturally have between 300-400 PPM without supplemental CO2

Start With Good Water

Water quality is essential to plant growth
PPM (parts per million) or EC (electrical conductivity) measures salts in a solution
Start off with a low PPM or EC and add nutrients specific to your plant variety requirements
A Reverse Osmosis system can reduce PPM/EC
pH (potential hydrogen) measures acidity or alkalinity in a solution on a scale of 0-14
pH should range 5.8-6.2 in hydro and 6.0-6.8 in soil
Nutrient "lockout" occurs in too high or low pH levels

Nutrients/ Fertilizers

Liquid/Dry nutrients can be organic or synthetic
Over or under fertilizing can cause burning, curling, or yellowing of plants
Most nutrient bottles are labeled with N-P-K (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium)
Additives/supplements can bolster microbial activity at the root zone, strengthen plant cell walls, increase flower sites, shorten length to harvest, increase size, flavor and aroma of fruits and flowers and more
When used together, nutrients and supplements will help you achieve maximum results

Grow Lighting

MH (Metal Halide) and HPS (High Pressure Sodium) are types of HID lights used in grow rooms
MH lamps = Blue spectrum for vegetative
HPS lamps = Orange/Red spectrum for flowering
T5 lamps are high-output fluorescents with low heat/energy consumption ideal for cuttings, mother plants, and short growth cycles
DE (Double Ended) lighting is a full spectrum HID lamp with a higher par reading than single ended
Plants in vegetative stage need 15-18 hrs. of light
Plants in bloom stage need 10-12 hrs. of light

Testing Equipment

There are many meters available for testing solution pH, PPM, and EC
Environmental controllers and meters are available to automate and more accurately control and maintain the temperature, humidity, CO2 and lights
Testing equipment for the water-nutrient solution, light, room temperature and humidity, CO2, and air circulation is the key to providing optimal conditions for a bountiful garden

Optional Accessories

Grow/Garden room accessories are essential for optimized growth and harvest
Atmosphere drive devices such as fans, blowers, CO2 emitters, and integrated timers are a grow rooms greatest accessory
Trellising, stakes, supports, shears, and labels are useful when growing fruiting/flowering crops
Pest and disease control may be needed and there are many organic options available