Alternating Current (AC) -
an electric current that reverses its direction at regularity occurring
intervals. Homes have A.C.
Adobe - heavy clay soil, not
suitable for container gardening or hydroponics.
Aeration - supplying growing
mediums and roots with air or oxygen.
Aeroponic - growing plants by
misting roots suspended in air. No medium is needed with this method and usually
only small plants that need no support are grown this way.
Aggregate - medium usually grow
rocks, gavel, or lava rocks that is all nearly the same size, and used for an
inert hydroponic medium.
Alkaline - refers to soil or
hydroponic nutrient solution with a high pH : Any pH over 7 is considered
alkaline.
All-purpose (General-purpose) fertilizer
- A balanced blend of N-P-K; all purpose fertilizer for soil and is used by most
growers in the vegetative growth stage. Miracle-Gro and Peters is an example.
They are not recommended for hydroponics.
Ampere (amp) - the unit used to
measure the strength of an electric current; A 20-amp circuit is overloaded when
drawing more than 17amps,
Annual - a plant that normally
completes its entire life cycle in one year or less: Marigolds and tomatoes are
examples of annual plants.
Arc - luminous discharge of
electricity (light) between two electrodes.
Arc tube - container for
luminous gases; also houses the arc.
Auxin - classification of plant
hormones; Auxins are responsible for foliage and root elongation.
Bacteria -
very small, one-celled organisms that have no chlorophyll.
Beneficial insect - a good
insect that eats bad insects that attack your plants.
Biodegradable - able to
decompose or break down through natural bacterial action; Substances made of
organic matter are biodegradable.
Bleach - Ordinary laundry
bleach is used in a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution as a garden
fungicide. Use this solution to clean all your equipment between harvests to rid
of any lingering contamination.
Bolt - term used to describe a
plant that has run to seed prematurely which means that it bloomed because of
heat or other reasons.
Bonsai - a very short or
dwarfed plant.
Breaker box - electrical
circuit box having on/off switches rather than fuses.
Breath - Roots draw in and
breath oxygen, stomata draw in and breathe CO2.
Bud blight - a withering
condition that attacks flower buds.
Buffering - the ability of a
substance to reduce shock and cushion against pH fluctuations. Many soil
fertilizers contain buffering agents but it is much more critical to maintain
the correct pH with hydroponics than with soil growing..
Bulb - 1. the outer glass
envelope or jacket that protects the arc tube of an HID lamp 2. clove or bulb of
garlic.
Calyx - the
pod harboring female ovule and two protruding pistils, seed pod.
Carbon dioxide (CO;) - a
colorless, odorless, taste less gas in the air necessary for plant life.
Carbohydrate - neutral compound
of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; Sugar, starch and cellulose are carbohydrates.
Caustic - capable of
destroying, killing or eating away by chemical activity
Cell - the base structural unit
that plants are made of: Cells contain a nucleus, membrane, and chloroplasts.
Cellulose - a complex
carbohydrate that stiffens a plant: Tough stems contain stiff cellulose.
CFM - Cubic feel per minute.
Chelate - combining nutrients
in an atomic ring that is easy for plants to absorb.
Chlorophyll - the green
photosynthetic matter of plants: Chlorophyll is found in the chloroplasts of a
cell.
Chlorine - chemical used lo
purify water.
Cbloroplast - containing
chlorophyll.
Chlorosis - the condition of a
sick plant with yellowing leaves due to inadequate formation of chlorophyll;
Chlorosis is caused by a nutrient deficiency, usually iron or imbalanced pH.
Circuit - a circular route
traveled by electricity.
Clay - soil made of very tine
organic and mineral particles: Clay is not suitable for container gardening.
Climate - the average condition
of the weather in a grow room or outdoors.
Color spectrum
- the band of colors (measured in nm) emitted by a light source.
Color tracer - a coloring agent
that is added to many commercial fertilizers so the horticulturist knows there
is fertilizer in the solution. Peters has a blue color tracer.
Compaction - soil condition
that results from lightly packed soil: Compacted soil allows for only marginal
aeration and root penetration.
Companion planting - planting
garlic, marigolds, etc. along with other plants to discourage insect
infestations.
Compost - a mixture of decayed
organic matter, high in nutrients; Compost must be at least one year old. When
to young, decomposition uses nitrogen; after sufficient decomposition, compost
releases nitrogen.
Core - the transformer in the
ballast is referred to as a core.
Cotyledon - seed leaves first
leaves that appear on a plant.
Cross-pollinate - pollinate two
plants having different ancestry.
Cubic foot - volume measurement
in feet: Width times length times height equals cubic feet.
Cutting - 1. growing tip cut
from a parent plant for asexual propagation 2. clone
Damping-off -
fungus disease that attacks young seedlings and cuttings causing them to rot at
the base: Over-watering is the main cause of damping-off.
Direct Current (DC) - an
electric current that flows in only one direction.
Deplete - exhaust soil of
nutrients, making in infertile: Once a soil is used it is depleted.
Desiccate - cause to dry up.
Safari's Insecticidal Soap desiccates its victims.
Detergent - liquid soap
concentrate used as a: 1. wetting agent for sprays and water 2. pesticide. Note:
Detergent must be totally organic to be safe for plants.
Dioecious - having distinct
male and female flowers.
Dome - the part of the HID
outer bulb opposite the neck and threads.
Dome support - the spring-like
brackets that mount the arc tube within the outer envelope.
Drainage - way to empty soil of
excess water: with good drainage, water passes through soil evenly, promoting
plant growth; with bad drainage water stands in soil, drowning roots.
Drip line - a line around a
plant directly under its outermost blanch tips: Roots seldom grow beyond the
drip line.
Drip system - a very efficient
watering system that employs a main hose with small water emitters. Water is
metered out of the emitters, one drop at a time.
Dry ice - a cold, white
substance formed when CO2; is compressed and cooled: Dry ice changes into CO2;
gas at room temperatures. For small garden rooms this my be an easy way to add
CO2.
Dry well - drain hole, filled
with rocks.
Electrode - a
conductor used to establish electrical arc or contact with non-metallic part of
circuit.
Elongate - grow in length.
Envelope - outer protective
bulb or jacket of a lamp.
Equinox - the point at which
the sun crosses the equator and day and night are each 12 hours long: The
equinox happens twice a year.
Extension cord - extra
electrical cord that must be 14-gauge or larger (i.e. 12-or IO-gauge).
Feed -
fertilize.
Female - pistillate, ovule,
seed-producing.
Fertilizer burn -
over-fertilization: First leaf tips bum (turn brown) then leaves curl.
Fixture - electrical fitting
used lo hold electric components.
Flat - shallow (three-inch)
deep container, often 18 by 24 inches with good drainage, used to start
seedlings or cuttings.
Flat white - very reflective,
whitest white paint available.
Fluorescent lamp - electric
lamp using a tube coated with fluorescent material, which has low lumen and heat
output; A fluorescent lamp is excellent for rooting cuttings.
Foliage - the leaves, or more
generally, the green part of a plant.
Foliar feeding - misting
fertilizer solution which is absorbed by the foliage.
Fritted - fused or embedded in
glass, Fritted trace elements (FTE) are long-lasting and do not leach out
easily.
Fungicide - a product that
destroys or inhibits fungus.
Fungistat - a product that
inhibits fungus keeping in check.
Fungus - a lower plant lacking
chlorophyll which may attack green plants; Mold, rust, mildew, mushrooms and
bacteria are fungi.
Fuse - electrical safety device
consisting of a metal that melts and interrupts the circuit when circuit is
overloaded.
Fuse box - box containing fuses
that control electric circuits.
GPM - Gallons
per minute.
General purpose fertilizer -
See ALL-PURPOSE FERTILIZER.
Gene - part of a chromosome
that influences the development and potency of a plant; Genes are inherited
through sexual propagation.
Genetic make-up - the genes
inherited from parent plants: Genetic make-up is the most important factor
dictating vigor and potency.
Halide -
binary compound of a halogen(s) with an electropositive elements.
Halogen - any of the elements
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine existing in a free state:
Halogens arc in the arc tube of a halide lamp.
Hermaphrodite - one plant
having both male and female flowers: The breeding of hermaphrodites is hard to
control.
Hertz (Hz) - a unit of a
frequency that cycles one time each second: A home with a 60 hertz AC current
cycles 60 times per second.
HID - High Intensity Discharge.
Honeydew - a sticky, honey-like
substance secreted onto foliage by aphids, scale and mealy bugs.
Hood - reflective cover of a
HID lamp; A large, while hood is very reflective.
HOR - The abbreviation stamped
on some HID bulbs meaning they may be burned in a horizontal position.
Horizontal - parallel to the
horizon, ground or floor.
Hormone - chemical substance
that controls the growth and development of a plant. Root-inducing hormones help
cuttings root.
Hose bib - water outlet
containing an on/off valve.
Humidity (relative) - ratio
between the amount of moisture in the air and the greatest amount of moisture
the air could hold at the same temperature.
Humus - dark, fertile,
partially decomposed plant or animal matter: Humus forms the organic portion of
the soil.
Hybrid - an offspring from two
plants of different breeds, variety or genetic make-up.
Hydrated lime - instantly
soluble lime, used to raise or lower pH.
Hydrogen - light, colorless,
odorless gas: Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water.
Hygrometer - instrument for
measuring relative humidity in the atmosphere A hygrometer will save time,
frustration and money.
Inbred - (true
breed) offspring of plants of the same breed or ancestry.
Inert - chemically
non-reactive; inert growing mediums make it easy to control the chemistry of the
nutrient solution.
Intensity - the magnitude of
light energy per unit: Intensity diminishes the farther away from the source.
Jacket -
protective outer bulb or envelope of lamp.
Jiffy 7 pellet - compressed
peat moss wrapped in an expandable plastic casing; When moistened, a Jiffy 7
pellet expands into a small pot that is used to start seeds or cuttings.
Kilowatt-hour
- measure of electricity used per hour; A 1000- watt HID uses one kilowatt per
hour.
Leach -
dissolve or wash out soluble components of soil by heavy watering but can be
beneficial to hydroponics systems to flush out excess fertilizer salts.
Leader - See Meristem
Leaf curl - leaf malformation
due lo over-watering, over fertilization, lack of magnesium, insect or fungus
damage or negative tropism.
Leaflet - small immature leaf.
Leggy - abnormally tall, with
sparse foliage: Legginess of a plant is usually caused by lack of light.
Life cycle - a series of growth
stages through which plant must pass in Its natural lifetime: The stages for an
annual plant arc seed, seedling, vegetative and floral.
Light mover - a device that
moves a lamp back and forth across the ceiling of a grow room to provide more
even distribution of light.
Lime - used in the form of
DOLOMITE or HYDRATED LIME to raise and stabilize soil pH.
Litmus paper - chemically
sensitive paper used for testing pH.
Loam - organic soil mixture of
crumbly clay, silt and sand.
Lumen - measurement of light
output: One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that
falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.
Macro-nutrient
- one or all of the primary nutrients N-P-K or the secondary nutrients magnesium
and calcium.
Mean - average throughout life;
HID's are rated in mean lumens.
Meristem - lip of plant growth,
branch lip.
Micro-nutrients - also referred
to as TRACE ELEMENTS, including S, Fe, Mn, B, Mb, An and Cu.
Millimeter - thousandth of a
meter; approximately .04 inch.
Moisture meter - a fantastic
electronic device that measures the exact moisture content of soil at any given
point.
Monochromatic - producing only
one color; LP sodium lamps are monochromatic.
Mulch - a protective covering
of organic compost, old leaves, etc.: Indoors, mulch keeps soil too moist, and
possible fungus could result.
Nanometer -
.000 000 001 meter, nm is used as a scale to measure electromagnetic wave
lengths of light: Color and light spectrums are expressed in nanometers (nm).
Necrosis - localized death of a
plant part.
Neck - tubular glass end of the
HID bulb, attached to the threads.
Nutrient
- plant food, essential elements N-P-K, secondary and trace
elements fundamental to plant life.
Ohm's Power Law
- a law that expresses the strength of an electric current: Volts times Amperes
equals watts.
Organic - made of, derived from
or related to living organisms.
Outbred - see hybrid.
Overload - load to excess; A
20-amp circuit drawing 17 amps is overloaded.
Ovule - a plant's egg; found
within the calyx, it contains all the female genes; When fertilized, an ovule
will grow into a seed.
Oxygen - tasteless, colorless
element, necessary in soil to sustain plant life.
Parasite -
organism that lives on or in another host organism: Fungus is a parasite.
Peat - partially decomposed
vegetation (usually moss) with slow decay due to extreme moisture and cold.
Perennial - a plant, such as a
tree or shrub, that completes its life cycle over several years.
pH - a scale from I to 14 that
measures the acid-lo-alkaline balance a growing medium (or anything): In general
plants grow best in a range of 6 to 6.8 pH in soil and 5 to 6.5 for hydroponics.
pH tester - electronic
instrument or chemical used to find where soil or water is on the pH scale.
Phosphor coating - internal
bulb coating that diffuses light and is responsible for various color outputs.
Photoperiod - the relationship
between the length of light and dark in a 24-hour period.
Photosynthesis - the building
of chemical compounds (carbohydrates) from light energy, water and CO2.
Phototropism - the specific
movement of a plant part toward a light source.
Pigment - The substance in
paint or anything that absorbs light, producing (reflecting) the same color as
the pigment.
Pollen - fine, yellow,
dust-like microspores containing male genes.
Pod seed - a dry calyx
containing a mature or maturing seed.
Pot-bound - bound, stifled or
inhibited from normal growth, by the confines of a container: Root systems
become pot bound.
Power surge - interruption of
change in flow of electricity.
Primary nutrients - N-P-K.
Propagate - 1. Sexual - produce
a seed by breeding different male and a female flowers 2. Asexual - to produce a
plant by taking cuttings.
Prune - alter the shape and
growth pattern of a plant by cutting stems and shoots.
PVC pipe - plastic (polyvinyl
chloride) pipe that is easy to work with, readily available and used to make
most of the gardens on this site.
Pyrethnim - natural insecticide
made from the blossoms of various chrysanthemums: Raids' Pyrethrum is the most
effective natural spider mite exterminator.
Rejuvenate -
Restore youth: A mature plant, having completed its life cycle (flowering), may
be stimulated by a new 18 hour photoperiod, to rejuvenate or produce new
vegetative growth.
Root-bound - see POT BOUND.
Salt -
crystalline compound that results from improper pH or toxic buildup of
fertilizer. Salt will burn plants, preventing them from absorbing nutrients.
Secondary nutrients - calcium
(Ca) and magnesium (Mg).
Short circuit - condition that
results when wires cross and forms a circuit. A short circuit will blow fuses.
Socket - threaded, wired holder
for a bulb.
Soluble - able to be dissolved
in water.
Spore - seed-like offspring of
a fungus.
Sprout - 1, a recently
germinated seed 2. small new growth of leaf or stem.
Square feet (sq. ft.) - length
(in feet) times width equals square feet.
Staminate - male, pollen
producing.
Starch - complex carbohydrate:
Starch is manufactured and stored food.
Sterilize - make sterile
(super-clean) by removing dirt, germs and bacteria. A good sterilizer for
hydroponic equipment is a 10 percent bleach to water solution.
Stroboscopic effect - a quick
pulsating or flashing of a lamp.
Stress - a physical or chemical
factor that causes extra exertion by plants: A stressed plant will not grow as
well as a non-stressed plant.
Stomata - small mouth-like or
nose-like openings (pores) on leaf underside, responsible for transpiration and
many other life functions: The millions of stomata must be kept very dean to
function properly.
Sugar - food product of a
plant.
Super-bloom - a common name for
fertilizer high in phosphorus that promotes flower formation and growth.
Synthesis - production of a
substance, such as chlorophyll, by uniting light energy and elements or chemical
compounds.
Sump - reservoir or receptacle
that serves as a drain or holder for hydroponic nutrient solutions.
Tap root - the
main or primary root that grows from the seed: Lateral roots will branch off the
tap root.
Teflon tape - tape that is
extremely useful to help seal all kinds of pipe joints. I like Teflon tape
better than putty.
Tepid - warm 70 to 80° F (21 to
270 C). Always use tepid water around plants to facilitate chemical processes
and case shock.
Terminal bud - bud at the
growing end of the main stem.
Thin - cull or weed out weak,
slow growing seedlings.
Tonic life - the amount of time
a pesticide or fungicide remains active or live.
Transformer - a devise in the
ballast that transforms electric current from one voltage to another.
Transpire - give off water
vapor and by products via the stomata.
Trellis - frame of small boards
or PVC (lattice) that trains or supports plants.
True breed - see INBRED.
Tungsten - a heavy, hard metal
with a high melting point which conducts electricity well: Tungsten is used for
a filament in tungsten halogen lamps.
Ultraviolet -
light with very short wave lengths, out of the visible spectrum.
Variety -
strain, phenotype (sec strain).
Vent - opening such as a window
or door that allows the circulation of fresh air.
Ventilation - circulation of
fresh air, fundamental to healthy indoor garden. An exhaust fan creates
excellent ventilation.
Vertical - up and down;
perpendicular to the horizontal.
Wetting agent
- compound that reduces the droplet size and lowers the surface tension of the
water, making it wetter. Liquid concentrate dish soap is a good wetting agent if
it is biodegradable.
Wick - part of a passive
hydroponic system using a wick suspended in the nutrient solution, the nutrients
pass up the wick and are absorbed by the medium and roots.