Homily Magazine

You have your grow box set up and now it’s to time to begin life; for your seeds that is. Germination is the process in which a plant begins growth. In the grow box environment the indoor gardener has complete control over temperature, water and oxygen which are the three most important environmental factors for successful germination. By following the steps in this article you should get your valuable seeds off to a great start in their wonderful life!

The first step in successful germination is finding seeds that are good quality and clean from a reputable nursery or seed bank. Just by doing a little research on the internet you can find reviews and recommendations about which seed banks and nurseries other indoor gardeners have used as their seed vendor of choice. The next step is to prepare your rockwool cubes for germination. Soak your cubes in a water solution with pH of 5.5. If you have a pH meter use the meter according to the directions included with the meter to attain the proper reading of your solution. If you have purchased a pH kit with pH Up and pH Down solution you will be able to adjust your ph down with the ph Down solution by adding a little at a time. Use the ph test indicator solution to effectively get your solution to the 5.5 color range on the chart. Most tap water ph is between ph 6.8 and 7.8 After you have soaked your rockwool cubes for at least an hour remove them and get them ready for the next step which is inserting your seed into your rockwool starter cubes into your grow box. Typically starter cubes are 1.5 inches and have a small hole in the top of the cube. You want to place your seed with the pointiest side down inside the starter cube about a ½ inch below the top of the surface. Either pinch the hole closed or put an extra piece of rockwool over the top of the hole to cover the seed. Now place the starter cube in an environment where the temperature is between 75-85 degrees and where the humidity is above 70%. An easy way to increase the humidity for an individual cube is to put the starter cube in a plastic Ziploc bag and open about a 2″ hole or gap in the top of the bag. Wait between 4-14 days until you see the hypocotyl or “baby shoot” emerge from the top of the rockwool cube. DO NOT pour additional water on your cubes. You should not have to add more water. If notice that at least half of the cube or more has dried out then lightly mist the cubes with a spray bottle filled with water pH of 5.5.

If you are germinating more than a couple of seeds at a time, it is recommended that you use a seed germination/propagation kit. A germination/propagation kit can increase the success of your efforts to 80-90%. These kits contain a seedling dome, seedling tray, seedling heat mat, and seedling thermometer to regulate the temperature of the mat. Follow all the directions above except use your seed mat to keep the temperature between 80-85°. Place the dome over your prepared cubes to keep the humidity elevated in the germinating environment. When you see the hypocotyls or “baby shoot” appear remove the dome partially until all shoots have appeared on all the cubes. Expose these germinated sprouts to indirect light initially and then direct light for at least 18 hours a day. Once you introduce them to light the germination phase is complete and now your tiny plants move into the next phase. What a great feeling it is to start life in your hydroponic grow box!
erik@supercloset.com
http://www.supercloset.com

SuperCloset takes the guesswork out of growing through manufacturing the most innovative and customer friendly hydroponic systems and turn-key grow box units. After 10 years and over 10,000 customers, SuperCloset continues to lead the horizontal and vertical growing industry with its commitment to excellent products and world-class customer service.

Installing a septic system requires putting in a septic drain field. A drain field is the part of a septic system where the wastewater is dispersed into the soil for absorption and filtration. Installing a drain field may seem difficult for the novice; however, when you have the knowledge and tools to do the job correctly, it is actually a fairly easy task.

The following is a general guide on how to install a drain field:

1. The process for installing a drain field will vary from region to region, so the first thing you need to do is learn about the applicable building codes and obtain a permit. As well, you will also have to learn about the necessary inspections. You should also talk to the zoning department in your area. You will have to present your plans to the proper local government department to get your permit. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Home and business security systems can be a very effective crime fighting tool. However, a security system that is constantly sending in false burglar alarm signals is a problem for both law enforcement and the homeowner. Many areas charge fines for excess false alarms, so it can also be an expensive problem.

Unfortunately, the majority of alarm dispatches are false alarms. In addition, the majority of false alarms are by 1-2% of burglar alarm owners who are repeat offenders. This problem with false alarms is that it is like crying “wolf”. Repeated calls to a site causes the police to develop a complacent attitude when dealing with these false alarms.

But you as a responsible alarm operator can take proactive measures to reduce the risk of having a false alarm. The following tips will help you reduce the occurrence of false burglar alarms at your home or business. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Mold is a living organism. It is a type of fungus that lives off organic matter. While mold exists in the air and in most of our environments, we only become aware of mold when it forms a colony inside our home. Molds thrive in moist, warm environments, but can also survive in very cold temperatures.

A colony of mold can be seen most often on walls or ceilings in bathrooms, attics, or crawl spaces. When we find mold living in our walls we are presented with a very unhappy situation: we must tear that wall down. Once mold infests itself in any item, that item must be eliminated.

After you recognize the presence of mold in your wall, these are helpful steps to take. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Top Ten Alternative Ways To Build A Greenhouse:

1: Shipping containers are piling up unused around the country, and the cost of recycling them is substantial. So why not pick one up? You can have them delivered and plopped on your land for around 1000.00 to 2000.00 bucks depending on quality of container you want. I have seen some full size ones (8×40) in not as good of shape for 400.00 bucks. But they can easily be converted to hold windows and lots of linear space for tiers for your plants and veggies. You could build off the sides and even the roof of it to accommodate for more growing space and keep the delicate crops inside of the container. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Like any fruit and vegetables, growing your own seed potatoes is both fun and exciting and most definitely rewarding.  Not only this; it is also easy and simple to do and is a great start to growing your way to 5 a day!

Step 1: Choosing

There are many Varieties of seed potatoes out there so you have to choose the right one for you and for the right time of year. Seed potatoes are divided into the 4 following categories regarding their harvest and sowing time: [Read the rest of this entry...]

Remodeling your kitchen or thinking of selling you house and looking for ways to update the kitchen? Check out these quick and easy tips.

1. Log onto sites like ebay.com. You can find 10% and 20% off Home Depot coupons. Buy as many as you need, but check the seller’s feedback first.

2. If you are looking for contractors, try looking in your local listings for craigslist.org; you can also post a job listing and get quotes. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Window tint, which is also sometimes referred to as solar control film, can be affixed to the interior of any window in order to reflect sunshine. Some types of window film have been dyed in order to absorb UV light, while other types have metal or special ceramics in their content that works to reflect UV rays.

There are several advantages to tinting your windows, the most obvious being that it will save energy and reduce your costs for heating and cooling. Tinted windows also protect your valuable furniture from the fading that is bound to occur from exposure from ultraviolet rays. Tint also reduces the glare on the window, allowing you to pull your curtains or blinds back to take in the view outside. Installing your own window tints yourself can be a very cost-effective and simple process that saves you money over professional installation. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Installing drainage piping requires some small degree of knowledge about how to determine slopes and grades. Drainage piping in order to function, must run or slope downhill to allow water to flow. If you are able to use a builders level it will make your installation that much easier. You must first determine the size of the pipe you are going to need to carry the amount of water in a storm and then add approximately 50% more capacity for 100 year storms. If you can get by with a four inch pipe, use a six inch pipe to assure the pipe is capable of carrying just about any amount it needs to handle. We will use a six inch diameter pipe for this discussion. If you are starting your pipe at a catch basin or other collection point, you will need to determine the height of the outlet of the basin relative to the height of the point where you want the pipe to exit or end. Using a builder’s level, it is done in this manner. Set up the level and tripod in a position where you can see both the starting point and the opposite end of the pipe.

You want to pick something in the work area that cannot move and set this as your bench mark height. A very large rock with a place you can mark and return to over and over to measure. A side lug on a fire hydrant works as well. Do the use the top nut as these move when the hydrant is opened. Once the level is itself leveled, your helper will place a rod or tape measure on the rock measuring from the rock upwards. Looking through the builders level, you can see where the cross hairs in the level hit the tape measure. Lets say the forty inch mark. Write down the number 40 and that is called the HI or instrument height. Now using the tape measure again, measure from the bottom of the hole in the basin, read the tape again and get a measurement. Lets say this time it is fifty inches. Write that down as well and this is called your front sight. Deduct the HI from the front sight and you will get 10 inches of course. Now using the tape, take another reading or sight at the exit point of the pipe albeit a free air point or a hole in another basin. This measurement is sixty inches. Deduct this measurement from the HI and you get twenty inches. That means there is a ten inch difference in height between the two basin openings. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Lighting your gas fireplace is crucial in order to experience the warmth and magnificence they can provide. Contrary to a conventional lumber burning up fireplace, a gas fireplace is commonly self-starting. Unlike an electric fire place, a gas fire place demands the use of a pilot light in order to light, similar to a gas stove or water heater.

1. Look in your fireplace to find a small flame, which is known as the pilot light. If you don’t notice this flame, then you need to first light up the pilot before you can fire up your gas fireplace. Instructions for lighting the pilot light are as follows:
2. In case you have a decorative front panel or grill on your gas fireplace, always take it off before lighting your pilot. [Read the rest of this entry...]