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CC BY 4.0. In brief Ordinary white light can work well for a small growing set-up. Shine the light on the plants, keep the lighting schedule regular and watch how they grow. Plants use more colours than blue and red. Purple light is not essential. Start...

good south-facing window can help during the brighter part of the year, but active winter growing usually needs additional lighting. See the Icelandic pepper guide for more. Tomatoes need space Tomatoes can be a good indoor project if you have...

Some time ago I was deep in research—on YouTube—when I found a video of hydroponics without a pump. My first thought was that it could not possibly work. Surely someone was trying to fool people. But I watched the whole video, then several more by the...

There can be plenty of nutrients in the pot or tank, yet the plant may still struggle to access them. Acidity may be one reason. It affects whether the roots can take up nutrients, even when those nutrients are present. That is why adding more...

Practical growing advice for Icelandic conditions, from choosing indoor crops and caring for roots to nutrition, lighting and pump-free hydroponics. These guides bring Plantan’s Icelandic articles and first-hand growing experience to English-speaking...

It is hard to call stone wool soil. I therefore prefer the term growing medium for the different materials in which plant roots grow. Soil, coir, clay pebbles and pumice can all do the job, although their properties vary considerably. The growing...

Plants need the right nutrients in the right balance to develop roots, leaves, flowers, seeds and a crop. Fertiliser can make up for what is missing, but more is not always better. Too much of one element can damage roots or make it harder for the...

You cannot always see what is happening inside a pot. Roots support the plant and supply it with water and nutrients, but they themselves need air, moisture and a suitable temperature. When growth stalls, looking only at the leaves is not enough....

Water pumps come in many sizes and designs, but the key question is how much water must reach its destination at the required lift height. A large flow figure on the box does not, by itself, tell you whether a pump suits your system. Start with the...