One of the most cultivated mushrooms in the world is the the Button mushroom, or Agaricus Bisporus. When it appears in fields, this wild mushroom has a darker, brownish cap with darker gills and is know as a Field mushroom. When commercially sold, they are labeled as Button mushrooms or Portobello mushrooms, which are usually larger in size.

Now Mushroom Growing Kits are becoming increasingly popular as public opinion and perceptions towards fungi seems to have relaxed a little. People are no longer scared of mushrooms and instead are prepared to try growing their own at home.

Although mushroom grow kits are limited in fungi species currently, the button mushroom is by far the most widely available. Many gardening stores and online garden sites sell mushroom growing kits and they seem to focus on the most well known, considered as being “safer” mushrooms, the Button mushroom.

Do you know about Lemongrass? It is a tall, hardy plant which grows in clumps up to a height of about three feet.  It is known for its fragrant flavor that makes it a popular herb in Asian cooking. It is also an effective remedy for various ailments including fever, stomach cramps and arthritic pain. I heard about someone who saved the life of a seriously ill street cat with juice extracted from lemongrass.

This popular tropical grass is very easy to grow and a novice gardener can grow lemongrass without much problem. It is perfect for a kitchen garden and can also be planted in pot or tub in semi-shade conditions. Generally the plants prefer full sunlight so this make it ideal for growing in hydroponics.

The easiest way to propagate the plant is to cut a few stalks of fresh lemongrass and put the slips in water for about 10 days. Prune off the long leaves but make sure that a short stump of the rhizome remains at the end of the slip. Roots will emerge and then the slips can be planted right away.

Who knew that planning a garden was a much better idea than just planting wherever the fancy takes you?  This was my system for a long time but now I’m growing vegetables and want to get the most out of my small patch, I’ve become a ‘planner’.

One of the first thing to do when planning your vegetable garden is to decide how big an area you have to work with and how much space you can allocate to each vegetable. I’ve had really good luck with growing in raised beds.  They seem to yield a much bigger harvest.

Make your selection of seeds based on what you like to eat.  It’s no good growing vegetables that you don’t like, except to make compost with. Then you should consider how much space the plant needs to fully mature. The easiest way to do this is often by reading directions on the seed packet; they should indicate how much space is required between plants and rows. It will also tell you how to propagate the plants.

Definitely one of the most enjoyable things for a gardener is planting seeds and watching new plants grow. It’s such a joy when one of your plants you grew from seed or cutting starts to flourish and  then flowers for the first time.

However, there’s always the problem of getting to many. We quickly fill up  our garden  space, trying to tuck in as many as possible and even end up throwing some out. Don’t stop growing new plants. The solution is to sell some. Put a notice up in your local shopping centre and in your community newspaper.  You’re sure to get lots of calls, especially if you grow what’s popular.  Apparently, petunias are always a favourite.  You could end up financing your whole summer gardening.

Cloning can be a difficult and tricky procedure; however this little guide should help eliminate some of your hurdles. To start, take a clone from a mother plant while still in the vegetative phase. Use a sharp knife or razor blade and cut a 3inch or so branch from the base of the mother plant at a 45 degree angle. Make sure there are a few leaves on the new clone so it can absorb enough light to take root.

Now at this point, you can take the cut end of your new clone or stick it directly into the 2inch neoprene plug so that the stem of the plant fits snuggly in the small hole in the middle and is deep enough that the cut portion of the stem is at least ½ ways down the length of the netpot. Make sure the hydroponic fogger unit is on and the area under the netpot is filled with a heavy fog. This will aid in faster root development.

The most fulfilling part of gardening indoors is when you see your seeds start to grow. Once you see the  first shoot pop up from the seed you planted you will feel great happiness and excitement.

There are a number of things to think about, though, before this can happen.  You need to choose the growing medium carefully.  Soilless growing media gives you better transplants compared to mineral soils.

Next, the container. Whether it’s a peat pot, fiber block, plastic pots, trays, or any other planting container, make sure it provides drainage of excess water to keep your medium from staying too wet when watered.

The amount and source of light is next on the list. Six to eight hours is usually the ideal timeframe for direct sunlight. As for the source of sunlight, windowsills and basements don’t usually provide sufficient light. LED grow lights are now proving to be an ideal light source and a great investment.

The temperature to germinate the seeds depends on the type of plants you’re growing.  The seed packet is has all the information you need on that subject and should be read carefully.

Misting systems allow plant propagators to keep the cuttings moist, but not overly wet, and save considerable time. Cuttings are usually placed out in the open or an open enclosure, not under a sealed enclosure, which allows the circulation of fresh air.  The plants require this for respiration, cooling, drying, and watering requirements. Because of the automation, many more cuttings can be done at one time.

Mist kits for plant propagaton have the same basic components:

* A timer to turn the system on and off daily.
* A timer to control the misting duration and frequency.
* A transformer to reduce the voltage to the voltage the solenoid requires. Please note that transformers and solenoids are AC voltage and others are DC voltage! Voltage for the solenoid and transformer MUST be the same!
* A solenoid valve that controls the flow of the water to the mist heads.
* A reliable water supply.
* A reliable electrical supply.
* A manifold to carry the water to the misting heads
* Mist heads to spray a fine mist over the cuttings