Tag Archives: organic gardening

How to Choose Nutrients and Supplements for Your Plants

nutrients and supplements plant foodPlants require more than just water to function and thrive.

They also need a wide variety of nutrients that can help them overcome stressful growth conditions, increase their nutrient absorption and become more resistant to diseases, among other benefits.

With so many nutrient and supplement options available, selecting the right option for your plants and your garden may seem overwhelming.

Without belaboring the finer details, this general explanation of the basic options you have when it comes to nutrients and supplements should help point you in the right direction for boosting your plant health and growth.

Regardless of the size of your garden—from a container up to a commercial greenhouse—you can choose either synthetic or organic nutrient and supplement options.

Your synthetic options can be further broken down into water-soluble or controlled-release options. As their name suggests, water-soluble foods completely dissolve in water and release their nutrients immediately. In comparison, controlled-release foods take considerably longer for their nutrients to be released.

Water-soluble nutrient options have several advantages. They may provide a quick solution to a problem, and nursery growers may find them ideal for use in drip irrigation systems. However, because their impact is short-lived, this will require more frequent application.

More serious concerns for using water-soluble foods include leaching and burn. Frequent watering or application can lead to excessive nutrient loss. Burn, or dehydration, can be the result of too much fertilizer or too much or too little water—both of which could be related to your nutrient and supplement use.

Getting back to your basic options, the second option you have is organic nutrients and supplements. Unlike synthetic options, these are derived from plants, animals or minerals that contain one or more nutrients essential for plant growth.

Though it takes longer for organic foods to nourish plants, this option has quite a few advantages. This process takes longer because soil microorganisms digest the natural organic foods, then release the nutrients in a form that is available to plants.

During this process, humus, a spongy material that improves soil structure, is produced. Improving soil structure helps plants better absorb needed nutrients, but they also develop larger root systems that support growth, make them resistant to drought, diseases and insects.

Organic foods also possess a low salt index, which means that there is little risk of dehydrating or burning plants, even if too much nutrient is applied or climate conditions are overly dry.

Gothic Arch Greenhouses carries an extensive line of nutrients and supplements suitable for any size gardening application. To learn even more about which options are best for you, call us at 1-800-531-4769 to speak with one of our friendly representatives or visit our website www.GothicArchGreenhouses.com.

4 Benefits of Greenhouse Gardening

greenhouse gardening benefitsTaking your gardening efforts to the next level and investing in a greenhouse does more than extend the growing season.

Providing a controlled environment in which to grow various plants, vegetables and fruits is the major benefit of greenhouse gardening. But it goes well beyond that.

Greenhouse gardening carries multiple advantages—not just for your plants, but also for the gardener. Here are four of them:

Protected Environment: Unlike backyard gardens exposed to changing weather conditions and the threat of pests, a greenhouse creates a safe haven for plants—from fragile ornamentals to hardier vegetables. In this consistent environment, not only are plants protected, but also gardeners don’t have to make emergency preparations for blizzards, high winds, heavy rains and the like. This isolation also limits exposure to insects and animals that may harm or destroy your gardening efforts.

Multipurpose Environment: Under the roof of your greenhouse, you can tend to a variety of plants—vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and more. Because they aren’t planted directly into the soil, this assortment can be combined in one place without much restriction. An added bonus is that a greenhouse can function as a storage space, as well as gardening space. Tools, implements and accessories can be organized close to where you’ll be using them.

Save on Grocery Bills: Growing your own fruits and vegetables—in a backyard garden or in a greenhouse—will help you reduce your food bills. Prices of fresh produce are affected by weather and transportation costs that often fluctuate. But opting to do your food gardening in a greenhouse gives you more control over the costs, as well as the control to grow your favorite types year round.

Control of Produce: Greenhouse gardening isn’t just good for your budget; it’s also good for your health. Growing your own in a greenhouse means you have complete control over the growing environment. Unlike commercial farms, you don’t have to use pesticides and toxic chemicals to improve growing conditions and increase production. Greenhouses give gardeners the option to cultivate fresh, delicious produce without adding pesticides that could harm them or their families.

To experience these greenhouse gardening benefits for yourself, call us today toll-free at 1-800-531-4769 to talk with one of our representatives or visit our website at www.GothicArchGreenhouses.com to learn more.