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Grow Lights in hydroponics gardening – Metal Halide (MH) grow lights
Author:
• Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Generating between 65 to 115 lumens of light per each watt of consumed electricity, metal halide grow light lamps are considered to have high efficiency. MH lights produce light, which is very close to the natural sunlight with the rich blue spectrum. Due to this, MH lamps support vegetative growing in the most desired way – when plants have many leaves on the stem with short internodes.

Structurally, metal halide lamp is a vacuum glass tube. There is also an arc tube inside, filled with mercury and other metals in iodine form. Under the influence of electric current, those metals start to generate light and heat intensively. Though metal halide bulbs can be either transparent or coated with phosphorus, the first type is more preferred for the indoor gardening, since it produces very bright light.

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There are different sizes of metal halide lamps, starting from 70watts and finishing with 1500 watts. However 250w, 400w and 1000w are modifications, most commonly used in hydroponics systems gardening. In order to make MH light to work, it is necessary to use a ballast, designed for a particular bulb size. Ballast is, in fact, a transformer, which decreases voltage to some predefined amount.

The lamps can work only in the positions they were designed for. Those marked with BU or BD should be used only in vertical position; while those lamps, which carry HOR sign, are for horizontal application. Besides, there are also universal (U) lamps, which can operate in either position. 

There are also many different styles of metal halide lamps available on the market today. Along with typical or regular MH bulbs, there are also Super Bulbs, which can produce up to 10-12% more light than ordinary bulbs.

Regular metal halide bulbs should be replaced after about 18 months or 9500-10000 hours of use. Super bulbs are less durable and should be replaced more frequently – approximately after 12 months or 6500 hours of use. These recommendations apply if grow lights will work 18 hours daily.

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Choosing Grow Lights for Hydroponics Gardening – Grow lights Types
Author:
• Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Plants use light to convert it into energy during the process, called photosynthesis. Growth of the plant is directly dependant on the amount of light received. By the way, the amount and type of light depend on the particular plant and its stage of development. So, a good grow lamp is the one, which is chosen in accordance with the light requirements of the particular plant.

Light is essential for health of your indoor plants, but choosing a proper grow light may be challenging and always requires thorough considerations. Grow light fluorescent offers the benefits of high effectiveness, no heat generation and full spectrum of light. For comparison, incandescent bulbs also produce a lot of light, but at the same time they generate a lot of heat, which is not always beneficial for indoor plants.

Each stage of plant development requires a particular light. When the plant is in its growing stage during which stem, branches and leaves develop, it is the best timing to use metal halide lamps for they produce blue spectrum light. However, when plant forms flowers and fruits, it is better to use high-pressure sodium or HPS lamps, which provide red light spectrum. 

The only downside of MH and LPS lights is the heat generated by them. Heat is not good for plants and soil. To prevent overheating, special cooling fans may be required.

 diodes or LEDs, introduced in early 1920s, have debuted in hydroponic gardening as grow lights only recently. In comparison to metal vapor lights, LED lights offer a lot of benefits with the initial cost being their only disadvantage. However, these grow lights are more cost-effective in the long run, having the average life time of about 100 000 hours vs. 15 000 hours of other lights. Besides, LED lights consume less energy, providing energy saving up to 80% in comparison to fluorescents and metal vapor lamps. Furthermore, LED lights do not generate heat, and, therefore, they need no additional cooling and ventilation.

 In order to increase plant growth and productivity it may be necessary to use certain additional accessories, such as reflectors, which help to increase light intensity and make it more balanced, eliminating any “hot spots”.

 Another key component of the grow light system is ballast, which provides energy. While fluorescent light fixtures have built-in ballasts, the other types of grow lights, namely metal vapor and LED lights require remote or external ballasts. Digital ballasts are important components, so it’s better not to save money on them. It is recommended to choose domestically produced digital ballasts instead of old magnetic coil types or those imported from China. In addition to being more reliable, expensive digital ballasts are equipped with additional features, such as short circuit or defective bulb detection.

 Hydroponic gardening belongs to the most common techniques to grow plants and flowers with no land required. While building hydroponic system, sooner or later one faces the necessity to invest in high quality grow lights. A lot of people give their preferences to HID (high intensity discharge) lights equipped with digital ballast. These types of lamps provide the most natural light similar to sunlight, which is especially important for successful indoor plants growing. However, there are certain differences between HID lamps worthy to know.

 In general, five types of HID lights exist. They are mercury vapor, xenon short-arc lamps, metal halide, low-pressure sodium and high-pressure sodium lights. Among these metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights are the most preferred types.

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Grow Lights in hydroponics gardening – High Pressure Sodium (HPS) grow light
Author:
• Sunday, January 01st, 2012

 

Along with water, hydroponics plant nutrients, CO2 and oxygen, grow lights is the key basic component, required by plants to live. Providing additional light is necessary for indoor gardening. Furthermore, light should resemble the sunlight as much as possible. The major concern with other types of lights is that they do not produce light in the appropriate spectrum, required by plants.

Being the most efficient bulbs, HPS bulbs are commonly used by gardeners. Producing light in red and yellow spectrum, light generated by high pressure sodium lamps resembles the natural sunlight during autumn. Due to this peculiarity, HPS light is the best for promoting plants blooming. However, some plants may react negatively to this type of light, growing with oblong stem, etc. To address that issue, new HPS bulbs with color correction have been developed. For example, Son Argo feature properly balanced light spectrum, which suits perfectly for the needs of indoor gardening.

High pressure sodium grow lamps are made of a semi-transparent ceramic arc tube, filled with a mixture of sodium, mercury, and xenon. The arc tube is placed into the protective outer glass shield, similarly to metal halide bulbs. The power ranges of HPS bulbs vary from 35w to 1000w, while the most popular are 250w, 400w, 600w and 1000w.

HPS bulbs are more durable in comparison with MH bulbs: they can be replaced once every 24 months. Though HPS grow lights lose their brightness slowly, in order to keep the brightness at the steady level, it is still recommended to replace the bulb within the specified period.

Among the brand new types of grow lights are sulfur lights, which are said to feature extremely high brightness and effectiveness. However, these bulbs are still rare on the market in view of the high price, so it is early to evaluate their practical value for those gardeners, for whom indoor hydroponics growing remains a hobby.

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Basic Indoor hydroponics Gardening Guide – Indoor Grow Lights for Hydroponics Systems
Author:
• Monday, November 28th, 2011

A great indoor garden requires a good grow light. It could mean the difference between success and failure. Having the right hydroponic light is the single-most important and costly decision in setting up your garden.

 Hydroponic grow lights come in three main types:

 

Incandescent lights

These are the usual lights found in homes. They are generally a poor choice for garden grown lights because of their limited light spectrum and inefficiency.

HID (High Intensity Discharge) grow lights

Producing more light (up to 10x more lumens/watt than an incandescent light),are more efficient. Drawbacks would be, they produce more heat, generally more expensive than incandescent lights and requires the additional expense and maintenance with ballast. It takes around 100 hours before hydroponic HID grow lights reach their optimum working conditions, or until they reach light intensity and color stability. 

Natural Sunlight

Expense for acquiring artificial lights can be skipped by using sunlight. This is done with the use of solar room, greenhouse or large windows which allows plenty of sunlight. Or you can do this outdoors; hydroponics does not necessarily mean the cultivation of plants indoors but it growing plants without the use of soil.

Basic setup for an indoor garden is 1000w of lighting for and area of 16-25 square feet of plant area. Reflectors and/or light movers should also be considered as they improve efficiency of the indoor hydroponic gardening system. Ballast may also be needed as numerous hydroponic grow lighting require igniting.

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 Some Basic Facts

Before plugging in your grow light

Different plants require different levels or types of lighting, this paragraph would deal on some simple know-how on how to make an effective lighting setup. In setting up your garden, it is essential that you determine your growing area in order to determine the best lighting setup for you. Light is an essential factor in the growth of plants, it is important that the lighting solution you chose for your garden is adequate for its size. A poor or ill advised decision would certainly reflect on the quality of plants you produced. Inappropriate budgeting like cost cutting specially on lighting would just prove to be uneconomical and inefficient in the long run.

A general rule for lighting that area coverage is determined by a light wattage output. Reflectors might be used to increase the light area and reach corners but effectiveness is still determined by this formula.

Day and Night Cycles

The type of plant and its stage of growth generally determine the amount of light needed. A common cycle is that with 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness which is recommended for its vegetative growth phase.

For seedlings, a continuous light source is needed until the first real leaves appear. When the leaves appear, the regular 18/6 light cycle is used. Fluorescent or incandescent lights are best for seedling because of the low heat and soft light they generate. Automated timers maybe used to ensure consistent light cycles. Inexpensive timers are also available; this can be found any hardware or Home Depot/ Lowe’s type store.

Light and Photosynthesis

The plants exposure to light intensity, duration and light color directly affects the amount of energy needed for photosynthesis. The color of the light, Blue simulates the summer sun, Orange for autumn seem to stimulate photosynthesis best. The light spectrum produced by metal halide bulbs (Blue lights) and high pressure sodium bulbs (red/ orange lights) produce this effects. HID grow lights produce these effects owing to their popularity to hobbyist and professionals. Combination of metal halide and high pressure sodium bulbs provides the complete spectrum of light produced by the sun.

Use Caution When Working with Lights

The combination of water, electricity and chemicals in such a closed-in space makes the grow room one of the most dangerous places in your house. Keep in mind to separate your ballast by elevating it from the water-containing areas of your hydroponic growing system. 

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Grow Lights in hydroponics gardening
Author:
• Friday, November 25th, 2011

Along with water,  hydroponics plant nutrients, Co2 and oxygen, grow lights is the key basic component, required by plants to live. Providing additional light is necessary for indoor gardening. Furthermore, light should resemble the sunlight as much as possible. In order to achieve that goal several types of lights are used: incandescent, fluorescent, high intensity discharge or HID lamps and sulfur lights. While there are many other types of lighting, only the mentioned above are recommended for indoor gardening. The major concern with other types of lights is that they do not produce light in the appropriate spectrum, required by plants.

Though typical widely used incandescent lamps fit any ordinary light socket, this type of lighting is considered to be the least effective in lighting your garden in comparison with other types of lighting. Incandescent lights produce light in the red spectrum; that is why such lamps are commonly covered with a blue coating in order to increase the amount of blue spectrum in the produced light. In general, incandescent lights are considered to be poor options for indoor gardening needs.

In comparison with incandescent lamps, fluorescent lights produce more light with lower energy consumption. However, the light, produced by fluorescent lamps, is not intensive enough and cannot penetrate more than 6” – 8”. Light, produced by fluorescent lamps, is usually simply insufficient to provide normal growing of plants, vegetables and flowers. The only application, where it is possible to use fluorescent light, is growing seedlings, cuttings, or some particular plants with low light requirements, such as orchids.

High intensity discharge lights, also known as HID lights, are currently the most effective lights for indoor gardening. Metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) grow lamps are two major types of HID lights. Each type produces light in a particular range: for example, metal halide lights generate blue spectrum light similar to the full summer sun, and high pressure sodium lights produce light in red and yellow spectrum, resembling the autumn sunlight. 

Though high pressure sodium lamps usually are more expensive (by about 10%-20%) than metal halide lamps, they are more durable with extended lifecycle. Besides, HPS lights feature higher lumen output (97-150 lumens per watt consumed) and lose only about 5% of their brightness after one year of use (for comparison, MH bulbs produce about 70-115 lumens per watt and  lose up to 15-20% of their initial brightness within a year). 

Irrespectively to the particular type of lighting in use, it is recommended to replace lights on the timely manner: MH bulbs – after 12-18 months, and HPS bulbs – after 24 months of work. Basically, metal halide lamps is the more preferred type of lighting for plants, when they grow, and high pressure sodium lamps suit best for flowering plants. However, the discussion on which type of lighting is best is still open among gardeners. Each type of lights offers its own advantages, as well as disadvantages, so it is often a matter of personal choice, preferences, growing environment and needs. The scope of this article is to provide plain information on the available types of lighting for indoor hydroponic gardening, while leaving readers enough space for personal decisions on which product to prefer.  By the way, recently a new type of lights appeared. The so-called conversion systems allow switching between MH and HPS lights when it is necessary simply by changing the bulb. Though this type of lighting offers certain benefits, conversion systems are still pretty expensive. More information on particular types of HID grow lights used in hydroponics systems will be provided in the next set of hydroponics guides.

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Basic Indoor hydroponics Gardening Guide – Indoor Grow Lights Fluorescent tubes, Hps and MH
Author:
• Tuesday, November 08th, 2011

Fluorescent Grow Light

 Inexpensive and readily available in hardware stores and be utilized with regular light sockets. Producing less heat or none at all compared to full-size fluorescent grow lights.

Not just because of its small size and low heat output; compact fluorescent lights also produce the widest range of color spectrums to any type of lighting. It is ideal for shelf gardening due to their low heat output making the use of multiple shelves on top of each other possible. Compact fluorescent lights can be used with seedlings and small plants in a well designed hydroponic system indoor garden.

 Common Problems with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

 Problems with compact fluorescent light bulbs like inefficiency and poor light penetration are common.  Several compact fluorescent bulbs maybe used and consume energy as that of one HPS bulb, but do not produce the same useable light for the hydroponic indoor garden. 

Optimizing Fluorescent Grow Lights

 With the disadvantages of comparative inefficiency compared to HID lights, several things maybe done to counteract this.

Properly matching lights to the corresponding growth cycle.

Increasing Watt ratings increases light penetration

One cheap and easy way to maximize energy consumption is by the use of reflectors. Compact fluorescent lights have a 360 degree of distribution but only 90 degrees of it can be practically used. Reflectors direct the light to corners in order to maximize the light produced.

 High Intensity Discharge Lighting

 HID light bulbs are the most after lighting system by both hobbyist and professional growers. It has made possible all-year, all-season planting for thousands of indoor gardeners and industrial nursery growers. Due to their efficiency ( 10x more light produced than conventional incandescent bulbs) and color spectrums ideal for plants have resulted to better yields and plant quality all year round. Metal Halide (MH) light bulbs mainly produce blue lights, making them ideal for plants undergoing the vegetative phase of development.

Industrial cultivators the world over are the main users of HID grow lights. HID lamps provide numerous advantages that conventional Fluorescent and incandescent lights lack. Monetary benefits abound, it boosts overall plant production giving better harvests, and environmental factors are eliminated allowing all year-round production. HID lights operate stock 110 to 220 volts AC home currents and have a standard three prong adapter to link up. HID grow lights mostly come with a ballast resistor and reflective hood.

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Photosynshesis in plants allows plants them to produce their own energy. Chlorophyll in plants enables plants to convert CO2, water and energy from light to nutrients and sugars. When all this elements like CO2 and nutrients are readily and plenty in a desired surrounding, the potential for growth is bound only to the amount and quality of light available.

 High Pressure Sodium (HPS) light bulbs produce reddish light, it is ideal during the fruit phase of the plant cycle. Cooler (blue) and Warmer (orange) color spectrums raise chlorophyll production and fruit energy. The sun produces cooler lights when it is higher in the skyline, seen in the summer calendar months. It is essential for plant growth shape and keep it tight. Warmer light, experienced when the sun is lower in relative position to the skyline is important for blooming plants and during the fruit phase.

Choice of lights can also depend on the type of plants grown. Metal Halide growth lights are ideal for bushy harvests such as cabbage and vegetating herbaceous plants. Blossoming plants on the other hand is better suited by high pressure sodium growth lights. Conversion light bulbs are also available for different organizations. More expensive than other lights, conversion lamps give that extra advantage of starting your plants with a metal halide growth light giving taut, small development and being replaced by high pressure sodium light bulbs when the fruit stage of the plant is reached. Recent developments have introduced convertible ballast resistors for regular metal halide growth lights and high pressure sodium light bulbs.

HID grow lights main advantage is that it eliminates such factors as climate, temperature and time of day. Season dependent plants can be grown throughout the year; they provide an alternative to solar light. For those who are garden and flower hobbyists, this would be a plus.

Hydroponic growth lights also gives you control over light exposure. Allowing us to hasten a plants growth or that flower to bloom. Ideal light color, duration and concentration are the key factors in growing those choice plants.

 High Pressure Sodium Bulbs 

A clear ceramic arc tube suspended inside a glass bulb characterizes High Pressure Sodium Bulbs. Xenon gas is the main component inside the inner tube which is then ignited to produce an arc of light. Sizes range fro 35 watts up to 1000 watts. The most popular of which are the 250 watts, 400 watts and 1000 watts.

 Advantages of High Pressure Sodium Bulbs

 Efficiency is one of its advantages; they provide the best light penetration and have strong light spectrums necessary for plant growth. Mainly producing red and yellow lights or little or no blue lights, they mimic the autumn sun. Popularity for HPS lights are mainly attributed to their low energy to light ratio and is the most economical and efficient than any other type of lighting system. HPS lights work best during the flowering or fruit stage of the plant growth cycle.

 Disadvantages of hps High Pressure Sodium Bulbs

 High Pressure Sodium Bulbs produce great amounts of heat. Proper ventilation and good garden construction and planning help to offset this negative effect. Like all HID growth light systems price is the main drawback compared to fluorescent lights. HPS lights are currently more cost effective compared to other HID growth light systems.

High Pressure Sodium Light bulbs are replaced after 24 months to ensure their and your gardens efficiency.

 Metal Halide Bulbs

 Metal Halide bulbs are constructed by placing an inner arc tube inside vacuum-sealed glass tubing. Electric currents passed through the inner arc which in turn ignites mercury and iodide materials in the tube.

 Advantages of Metal Halide Bulbs

 Metal Halide Bulbs mimic sunlight during summertime. Producing a blue spectrum of light most ideal for plants in their vegetative growth phase. They are also a good choice for indoor hydroponic garden systems because of their efficiency in producing light.

 Other Metal Halide Bulb Information

 Available from 70 to 1500 watts, Metal Halide bulbs present a wide variety of choices. Most popular and commonly used are the 250, 400 and 1000 watts metal halide bulbs. Ballast specifically tailored for each bulb is also essential. Mounting positions depend on its specific bulb type (marks or guides are usually provided). HOR bulbs are mounted horizontally, BU/BD is vertically mounted and U (universal) bulbs could be mounted either way. The vertical position is the most ideal and provides utmost efficiency.

 

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Easy to grow scented flowers
Author:
• Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

The function of scent in flowers is usually to act as part of the reproductive process. A strong scent is essential as some flowers have a short life and it is vital that insects find them before they die. Scent tends to be more powerful at night when the air is damper. Night scented plants for example, give off a sweet perfume to guide moths to white or plain coloured flowers.

The flowers listed below generally require a full sun position and grow rapidly, that is they reach their full extent in a single season. They are all easy to grow in that they don’t need any special care such as protection from frost or any specialised care.

Swan river daisy
This hard annual is usually grown as a half-hardy annual in temperate areas where it creates a large, sweetly scented daisy like flowers throughout the summer. Colours range from white and pink to lilac and bluish-purple. It requires well-drained but moisture retentive fertile soil and a warm position sheltered from wind.

Evening primrose

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A popular biennial with pale primrose yellow flowers. The flowers have a sweet fragrance, especially during the evening as the name suggests. The seeds are used to produce evening primrose oil. Grow it in poor to moderately fertile well drained soil.

Grape Hyacinth
A hardy bulb that produces spring flowering deep blue flowers with white rims and a sweet scent. There are several varieties such as “heavenly blue” (bright blue) and “cantab” (pale blue). Thrives in soil that is fertile moist but well drained.

Royal lily (or regal lily)
A hardy stem rooting lily with strong, sweet, white funnel shaped flowers, that grow up to 13cm during mid summer. The centre of each flower is sulphur yellow and the backs are shaded rose-purple. Grow in most well drained soils apart from extremely alkaline ones.

Snowdrop
Ideal for a border or rock garden, they offer white flowers with green inner markings and a honey scent during the barren winter months. Grow in a moist but well-drained soil that will not dry out in a hot summer.

Mountain Clematis
A vigorous and well-known deciduous climber that flowers for about 4 weeks in late spring and early summer. Flowers are usually pure white with a sweet scent, but there are varieties in a range of other colours including pink. Plant it where the roots are shaded, in a soil that is fertile and well drained.

Sweet Pea
There is a wide range of sweet-pea scented varieties in pink, white, blue or purple. Flowers are produced from summer to autumn. Plants require support, to which their tendrils can cling and soil that is fertile and well drained.

“Buff beauty” Rose
During early summer and again later, this hybrid musk offers warm apricot yellow flowers with a bouquet of freshly opened packets of tea, combined with a slightly tarry scent. These are borne amid dark green leaves. It prefers fertile, moist well drained soil.

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Homegrown Hydroponics Plants Grow Fast
Author:
• Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Homegrown Hydroponics, Growing Plants Faster In Your Garden.

Hydroponic gardening is a system in which plants can be made to grow without soil.

Using hydroponics to grow plants can be beneficial for many growers since it allows plants to be grown at home much faster and many times with less problems.

Plants are grown in a solution which consists of water and dissolved nutrients required for the particular plant.

There are several home hydroponics techniques and systems that are used in producing thriving plants

The different types of hydroponics systems and techniques include the nutrient film technique (or NFT), aeroponics, and the aeration technique.

With the aeroponics technique, plants are secured using rigid pipes, screens, or films. The nutrients are dissolved into the plants’ water supply and the plants’ roots are suspended within the water.

The plant then obtains its food nutrients directly from the water or from an air mist which is sprayed directly onto the plant roots.

Hydroponic gardening requires the use growing media. Different mediums can be used which have to retain the food rich moisture. They must also be able to physically support the plant roots.

The following have been the most effective media so far in a homegrown hydroponics setup: expanded clay, perlite, styrofoam, sand, rockwool, vermiculite, pea gravel.

Many types plants that can be grown in a hydroponics system. Some plants will grow better in hydroponics system than others, but some of the most popular are lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, watercress, and various other edible plants.

Tree seedlings and flowers can also be grown using hydroponics. Hydroponic greenhouses have been producing millions of plant seedlings every year. These are then transplanted and grown at other locations where they are later planted into soil.

If you are just a beginner at homegrown hydroponics, you will no doubt be satisfied with the quality of your crops and the faster rate of growth.

Hydroponically grown plants will grow and mature faster and yield a much earlier harvest of vegetable crops.

There are many benefits to growing your own plants in a hydroponics system.

Hydroponic gardening doesn’t require a fertile farmland or a large water supply growing plants. Vegetable and plants can be grown year round.

Hydroponic vegetables and plants can be homegrown in almost any small space, a basement, or even on a balcony.

The hydroponic systems require less space because the plant roots don’t have to spread and search for food and water. The smaller space requirement makes a homegrown hydroponics garden perfect for limited spaces.

Hydroponic plants can also be grown in nurseries and greenhouses as well.

The benefit of growing these plants without soil in a sterile medium includes not having to remove weeds or dealing with soil-borne pests and diseases. And since all the nutrients necessary for the plant are readily avaliable to it, the plant is noticeably healthier than the plants grown in soil.

The greatest benefit to hydroponic gardening is the ability to automate the hydroponics system with timers and remote monitoring equipment. This reduces the time it takes to maintain the plants and the growing environment.

It allows the grower to leave their system for long periods of time without worrying about watering plants.

So may say that starting a homegrown hydoropnics garden is not simple, but with time it will become an easy routine.

Hydroponics offers the advantage of many techniques that can be beneficial to your plants and produce a richer and healthier plant.

For more information on starting your very own homegrown hydroponics garden, check out our new ebook at hydroponics garden info.

Good luck with your home growing.

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How to Grow Tropical Plants even if You Don’t Live in the Tropics
Author:
• Monday, October 03rd, 2011

Tropical Paradise.  We often see commercials of Tropical Vacations and dream of better days sitting under the sun with a drink in our hands.  What is it about the tropics we so enduring?  What lures us to these places?  In colder climates during the winter months plants have acclimated to the climate.  They can take freezing temperatures and months of snow and ice.  However tropical plants are not capable of surviving these climates.  But we still long for that Tropical fruit we buy in the store for outrageous prices.  What if we could go over to a tropical tree, select a ripe fruit and eat it right then and there, while outside a blizzard is taking place?  Our own tropical paradise, right inside out own home.  Many tropical plants will grow with the right care and conditions in areas that normally would not permit them.  These same plants that grow in abundance in Asia, South America, Africa, can grow right in your own living room, ready to pluck the ripe, sweet fruit grown specifically by you.

Potting

There are many different types of pots available and each has its benefits and drawbacks.  There is plastic with can heat up or freeze quickly, Metal, same as plastic,
Clay and wood dry quicker, ceramic that can be heavy and many others that you can buy at local garden centers.  For the most part all can be used quite successfully with tropical plants.  Choose one based on your own preferences.

These pots should have holes in the bottom for adequate drainage.  When you buy your pot, and before you put in soil, cover these holes with a mesh of some sort to help retain the soil, it is also good to put down an inch or two of gravel to insure good drainage.  With tropical plants drainage is essential to healthy plants.  

Potting soil from the local garden center will suffice; however a much better solution would be 1 part Perlite or Vermiculite, 1 part course sand, and 1 part Peat.  This gives good drainage as well as sufficient nutrients.  Make sure your soil is not packed down heavy to allow good drainage but not excessive drainage.

Remove your plant from its original container; look carefully at the root system.  It they are heavily packed in and there is more root then dirt, we want to prune these roots before we plant.  Take some of these roots and loosen them up and then carefully clip the ends to stimulate the plant to root more in its new container.  If pruning is not needed, then just loosen the root ball before planting.

Place the plant in the new container making sure you have filled it halve way with the new planting material.  You want to make sure that when you fill the rest of the container with soil, the soil line is the same as the original plant when you pulled it out.  The soil like should be about 1-4 inches below the rim of the pot when you are all finished.

Important key:  Make sure your fully grown plant will be proportional to your pot.  Don’t put an 8 foot tall tree in a 10 inch pot.  Allow the roots to be able to grow, the larger the pot the more fruit it will bear.
Light

Tropical plants usually require lots of sunlight, anywhere you can place them to receive full sunlight is beneficial to them.  Search on the internet for your species to find out their light requirements.  Some tropicals do well in partial shade however most need to receive the maximum sunlight available.
Tropical plants, when you receive them are most likely used to full sunlight, when you are going to bring them indoors, or for winter times, when bringing them indoors, you must acclimate them to your indoor area.  Make sure to put them near a good light source and if possible add additional light

Water

Tropical plants are used to lots of water, however they are also used to well drained soil, so their water requirements are different for potted plants.  These dependencies are based on size of the pot, size of the plant, type of plant, temperature where you keep the plant, the humidity and the type of soil you have.  You are usually safe to water, when the upper surface of the soil is dry before you water your plant.  Slowly fill the container watching for runoff at the bottom holes.  Remember that wood or clay pots dry faster, making watering more frequent, and cooler weather slows down the growth of the plant, thus reducing the need to water as much.

Temperature

This is probably the key ingredient to successful tropical plant keeping.  NO FREEZING WEATHER.  Tropical plants cannot take cold temperatures, so you will need to find a way to bring these indoors.  Cold temperatures will lead to root damage, and leave damage.  Again it depends on the species of tropical plant you have to the extent it can take cold weather.  Some plants you can just cover overnight and then remove each morning, others will need to be brought indoors.  If you bring them indoors make sure you keep them away from drafts from doors or windows to freeze, and out of the heating vent areas so not to dry out too fast.
Fertilizer

Too much fertilizer is very bad for tropical plants.  The best type of fertilizer to use are water soluble types, any local garden center can help you pick out a good fertilizer that will meet the plants requirements.  Read the directions completely.  After spending good money on a beautiful tropical plant, you would hate to kill it by over fertilizing it.  Usually with a tropical plant the mature foliage will show deep green indicating that you are fertilizing on the correct scale.  Make sure your fertilizer has a complete balanced diet of Nitrogen,     Phosphorus, Potassium, and Lesser amounts of Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, again Read the label.

Pruning
With most container tropical plants little or no pruning is needed.  However if the plant becomes “leggy” due to poor light conditions then cut it back greatly to force it to bush out.  If the top becomes too large for the root structure, again a large pruning spree is needed.  Also when you start to get leaf shed and twig die back this is an indication that the root structure is not large enough for the top foliage and pruning is needed.
Fruitfulness

Will I get fruit?  This is the question we all ask.  Is it worth the time and effort?  Ask anyone that has a fruit tree planted in a pot, as they pick tropical fruit on a blizzard day of 10 below zero, and they will always tell you “Yes!”  For the most part container tropic plants are dependant on the light source and size of the pot to how much fruit they will have.  Most fruit trees will fruit in pots as long as we keep all of the requirements alive in our head.  The larger the tree the larger the pot that is needed.  Fruit will bear proportional to the size of the pot and plant.  Please keep in mind that some fruit will need a presence of another cultivator to be able to fruit.  Again check the specifics of your plant before you decide to buy it.

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Flowering Perennial Plants to grow in your Garden from A is for Aster to Z is for Zantedeschia
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• Sunday, October 02nd, 2011

A is for Aster, which has daisy like flowers in colors from red to pink to purple to white

B is for Balloon Flower, or Platycodon grandiflorous, which have blue or white flowers shaped like small balloons.

C is for Chrysanthemums, also called mums, which are often the last flowers blooming in the autumn garden.

D is for Dahlia, which grow from tubers and can have huge flowers in a rainbow of colors.

E is for Echinacea, or Coneflower, which are a favorite of bees and herbalists alike.

F is for Flowers, plants with beautiful flowers is usually the goal of a perennial gardener.

G is for Geranium, the sturdy pink flowers that have long been a favorite choice for low maintenance gardens.

H is for Hemerocalis, or Daylilies, which are the dependable cornerstones of many perennial gardens.

I is for Iris, which is a huge genus of flowering perennials with graceful blooms each having three drooping sepals and three upright petals.

J is for Japanese iris, which is a part of the Iris genus with huge flowers that often do well in damp conditions.

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K is for Kniphofia, or red hot pokers, with flowers on upright stalks in red, orange, and yellow.

L is for Liatris, with bright pink or white spikes of flowers that is both easy to grow and a favorite of bees and other flying nectar seekers.

M is for Monarda, or bee balm, which has red to pink blooms and is a favorite of bees and butterflies alike.

N is for Nepeta, or Catmint, which has abundant small blue flowers and is a favorite of felines and humans alike.

O is for Oriental Poppy, or Papaver orientale, which started as the classic large red poppy but which has been bred to include pinks and whites.

P is for Peony, which have giant bulbous flowers in white, pink, and red and which often attract ants to the nectar on their flower buds.

Q is for Quality, as in always purchase high quality plants to have a healthy garden.

R is for Rudbeckia, which are several species of large daisy like flowers that include Rudbeckia hirta or black eyed Susan.

S is for Stokesia, or Cornflower aster, with big fringed daisy like flowers in pinks and purples.

T is for Tickseed, or Coreopsis, is a genus of perennials that usually have abundant cheerful little yellow flowers.

U is for Underground, as in a perennial plant has root underground.

V is for Variegation, which are white or yellow markings on green leaves, and many perennials have.

W is for Waldsteinia, which is a delicate little ground cover with yellow flowers.

X is for X, as in cross, where two perennials are bred together in hope of creating an even better plant.

Y is for Years, as in perennial flowers in your garden can bloom year after year looking better each season.

Z is for Zantedeschia, or calla lilies, which have large tropical looking flowers in whites, pinks and yellows.

See more resources for buying and growing Flowering Perennial Plants with listings of local garden centers and specialty mail order nurseries at http://www.GardeningWithLarry.com.

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