Dechlorinator & RO Filter Replacement: How Often To Change Reverse Osmosis Filters

If you’re unsure how often to change reverse osmosis filters or dechlorinator filters, then our RO filter replacement guide is a must-read - the quality & health of your plants depends on it!

Don’t risk your old, tainted water filters or membranes letting contaminants through - you paid good money for your water filtration system, so you might as well make sure it’s running smoothly at all times and doing its job!

The problem is that aside from commercial water filtration systems, there is usually no onboard indicator of when exactly it’s time to start replacing RO filters.

Your manufacturer may have provided an estimation, but because every feed water quality & conditions are different, you need a more accurate way to tell when it’s time to swap that old filter out.

And that’s what we’re going to do today - we'll explain the foolproof way to determine if its time to change your RO membrane, your pre-filters, and your carbon filters. Let’s start with the importance of water filter replacement.

TL;DR: RO membranes need to be replaced every six months, and other filter types will need to be changed once a year. But the only way to know for sure if it's time to replace your filter or membrane is by testing the filtered water and looking for a drop in efficiency or efficacy.

Using Sulfur For Pest Control

Curious about the potential of sulfur for pest control? This article will tell you everything you need to know.

Sulfur is a natural pesticide that has been used for generations to interrupt the growth, development, and life cycle of many kinds of pests. It doesn’t work in all situations, but for some garden dilemmas, sulfur might be the solution you are looking for. 

It might be hard for you to believe that something as simple as sulfur can make such a huge difference when it comes to the health of your plants. However, when you’re looking for an inexpensive pesticide, sulfur could very well be the solution you have been looking for.

Here are some tips on using and burning sulfur for pest control  - as well as some precautions to keep in mind.

Light Stress In Plants: Identification & Treatment

Sufficient lighting is essential for all stages of growth, but sometimes you can overdo it - leading to light stress in plants. This can cause a variety of issues with your plants. 

This can get tricky, because you absolutely need intense lighting to produce strong root systems to develop fruits and flowers. From seed to harvest, your plants need light in order to stay healthy. 

But when it comes to lighting, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Light stress, including high light stress in plants as well as low light stress in plants, can cause serious ill effects. 

LIght is one of the most important factors for growing any kind of plant. Get it right in this guide to preventing this condition from occuring in the first place, or treating it if you suspect you may be dealing with it. 

LED vs HPS Grow Lights - Which Technology Is Best For You?

The debate over LED vs HPS grow lights and how each technology produces buds is a hot one.

Growers who have been at this for decades and started out with this older, high-pressure sodium lighting swear by it, and are hesitant to switch to something new - especially when looking at the cost difference between HPS & LED grow lights.

LED growers, on the other hand, point to the huge savings in electricity costs, along with decreased heat production in the grow room. They also reference bigger, more resinous flowers.

So which technology is right for you? Should you finally make the jump over to LEDs?

In this article, we're going to break down the pros and cons of each lighting style to help you understand which one is right for your crop. Because while LEDs are the better light, they might not be right for you at this time.

Let's get started by explaining the criteria we're going to use to compare HPS lights vs LED.

How To Use Dolomite Lime For Plants

Are you curious about how to use dolomite for plants? By the end of this article, you’ll feel confident using this unique compound in the garden to balance out your soil.

It’s important to understand the exact needs of your plants. Although some plants, such as blueberries and azaleas, like acidic soil, most prefer for things to be more on the neutral side. That’s where dolomite lime for plants is so useful. 

This common garden amendment is a limestone compound that contains both magnesium and calcium at ratios of 18 to 23% each. These elements not only can provide much-needed minerals to your soil but can also help raise the pH to make the soil more alkaline.

So when is dolomite for plants necessary - and how do you apply it? We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using dolomite lime for plants. 

How To Build A DIY Stealth Grow Box

If you’re interested in learning how to build a DIY stealth grow box, you’ve come to the right place. 

This kind of growing environment can be incredibly useful, no matter what kind of plants you are trying to grow - or for what kind of purpose.

Not only can it hide your growing space to keep your growing environment more discreet and less cluttered looking, but it also offers the ideal growing environment for your plants.

There are plenty of other reasons to consider learning how to build a stealth grow box. In this article, we’ll give you more information on why it’s a good idea as well as some tips on how to make a cheap stealth grow box in the matter of just a few short days.

Let’s dive in.

How To Make A Pallet Garden - Step By Step Guide

If you are a plant lover, learning how to make a pallet garden is a great way to bring your gardening skills to the next level. 

These gardens are so special because their frames require minimal assembly, are readily available, and obtaining them will not cost you a penny. Pallets are everywhere!

Whether you live in a spacious villa or a tiny apartment, you can enjoy a pallet garden in any location - or during any season. 

A particularly good option is building a vertical garden out of pallets, as it will take up less room while maximizing the growing space. Of course, you can always install a horizontal setup, too.

The size of a garden of this nature can vary depending on what kind of wood pallets are available - a standard pallet measures 48” × 40” × 6”. 

Learning how to make a pallet garden is a fun project that you can complete in just a single weekend, but you’ll reap the benefits for many growing seasons to come. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started!

Best RO System For Growing Plants Of 2024

Clean water is essential in hydroponics which is why the best RO system for growing plants is such an important topic for you to explore.

This is even true if you grow in soil - impurities in your tap water can be detrimental to your crop, whether you grow at home as a hobbyist or in a commercial warehouse professionally.

Don’t let something as simple as water quality affect your harvest - invest in the best reverse osmosis system for hydroponics and protect your plants.

As the experts in all things hydroponics, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to cover an option for every grower out there - our list will feature filters as small as 75 GPD all the way up to systems rated at 19,000 GPD & above!

By the end of this article, you’ll be well equipped to pick and size your water filter. You'll never have to worry about chlorine or sediments messing up your grow or not knowing what the actual PPM of your water is!

Building A DIY Cloning Machine

If you’re interested in learning why building a DIY cloning machine for plants might be right for you, keep reading.

We all know that there are certain plants that are practically perfect in every way. Everything about that plant is great, whether that might be how quickly it grows, how it blooms, or even how beautiful its flowers are.

If this is your situation, you may consider investing in a cloning machine to have more plants just like this. The more the merrier, right?

Buying a cloning machine is a great option, but some of us love saving money and working with our hands. That's why we're going to teach you how to build your own DIY cloner. This can save you money that would be better spent on lots of plants! 

Keep reading to find out more information on how to build your own DIY cloning machine that will make fellow gardeners jealous!

We will also discuss the difference between aeroponic and bubble cloners, and give you the information you need to decide which one will suit your needs.

Coco vs Soil - Which Grow Media Is Right For You?

Coco vs soil - which grow media is the best option for you this season? When you’re starting a garden of any kind, there are lots of considerations you’ll need to make. 

What kinds of plants are you going to grow? Will you use a hydroponics system or grow plants in a raised bed or container? 

Of course, you’ll also have to decide on the proper growing media. Coco coir is a natural material that has been used in agriculture for decades. It's made from the husk of coconuts and provides an excellent growing medium for sustainable gardening, particularly in the hydroponic setting.

A byproduct of the coconut industry, it is often seen as the all-purpose solution that is far superior to soil - but is it really?

Garden soil, as you know, can exist in many forms, textures, and types, including sand, silt, loam, and clay. It is found naturally in your garden yet can also be purchased by the bag or yard at just about any gardening supply store. You can even make your own organic super soil at home, too, if you are so inclined. 

Both coco coir and soil are frequently used by gardeners to fill their containers or raised beds. They can both be used on just about any kind of plant and present their own benefits and disadvantages, many of which are shared between both.