Pet bottle planters

Pet bottle planters are the best thing that can happen to one who is trying their hand on home hydroponics for growing plants st home. Here is a small step by step for how to make your own planter from old pet bottle which is thrown out.

Mini Hydroponics system

A friend started a mini home hydroponics system last week. Started with an ice-cream container, cutting out holes for the 2 inch netpots. Simple box cutter worked like a charm.

Holding as much as 250ml of water. This much water is sufficient for a few set of mustard. He wanted to start with something. Proposed mustard from the kitchen spice rack. Every Indian house has mustard (even if it is a bachelor's condo). Mustard greens start within 2 to 3 days.

He is happy with his greens now. Wants to grow them to fully grown mustard plans. Roots have not come out of the baskets. Some of the tiny greens are dying out. May be due to the root congestion.

Difference Between Tulsi and Basil

Main Difference – Tulsi vs Basil
Aromatic medicinal plants are primarily cultivated for the edible leaves, stems, barks, flowers or fruit components and they are essential flavoring and/or ayurvedic agents mainly used in South Asian countries. Tulsi and basil also belong to the aromatic medicinal group, and they share a similar taste profiles as well as features. As a result, tulsi is often referred to as basil or vice versa by the most of the consumers in the world. But tulsi and basil are two different plants; the botanical name of tulsi is Ocimum tenuiflorum whereas the botanical name of basil is Ocimum basilicum. Both tulsi and basil belong to the Lamiaceae family. The edible basil leaves are mainly used for culinary dishes whereas tulsi is mainly used as an indigenous medicinal ingredient. This is the main difference between tulsi and basil. Although, both tulsi and basil belong to the same family, tulsi and basil have different sensory properties as well as different applications and this article explores the difference between tulsi and basil.

What is Tulsi
Tulsi is an aromatic herbal plant, and its leaves are highly scented. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, and it is a blessed plant in Hindu belief.  Hindu people believe that it as an imaginable appearance of the goddess Tulsi, a wife of the god Vishnu. Therefore, Hindu people have tulsi plants growing in the center of the central courtyard. This plant is mainly cultivated for religious and Ayurvedic medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil extraction. It is believed strongly that tulsi has health beneficial effects against headaches, inflammation, common colds, malaria and heart disease. It is also important to prevent food poisoning.

What is Basil
Basil is a culinary herb mainly used as a flavoring agent in various  types of dishes in the world. Although it is originated in India, basil is mainly used in the Italian cuisine. People in Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia also incorporate basil into their cooking. Leaves of basil have a pungent and strong taste.

Difference Between Tulsi and Basil
Tulsi and basil may have substantially different properties and applications. These differences may include,

Scientific Name
Tulsi is known scientifically as Ocimum tenuiflorum.

Basil is known scientifically as Ocimum basilicum.

Alternative Names
Tulsi is also known as Holy basil, Tulasi.

Basil is also known as Sweet Basil, Saint Joseph’s Wort, Thai basil, mints.
Basil grows beautifully in home hydroponics system. Basil heavily absorbs nutrient hence works best for home hydroponics with full concentration of nutrients.

Disposable cup hydroponics planters

If you have ever attempted to start plants indoors, you probably know what it is to get a root bound plant. No matter the size of your growing container, it does not take the roots too long to find its outer boundaries. This method uses the benefits of home hydroponics growing to keep those roots thriving, while preparing your plant to live.

Take 2 disposable cups. Used ones are better. Don't worry! Nobody will judge you on what was in the cup prior to this project.



Make holes with a hot pin in one of the cups.
Put cocopeat in the cup with the holes and plant seeds or live plants in it.
Put water and nutrients in the other cup.
Stack the cups and you are done.
Your simplest hydroponic planter is ready.

Newspaper pots as seed starter

How to use old newspaper pots for seed starting.

When stating seeds like tomatoes. People look for something to sow them. That way when the seedlings are larger they pull them out and sow them in proper deep pots. But when it comes to starting the seeds, people remember that they did not collect sufficient curd containers to fulfill their needs. Now here is a project that can help you in these places. Just by using old newspapers you can make as many seed starters as you like.
For that you will need find a small glass to use for the project, this will depend on what size seedlings you’re transplanting, but generally a small juice glass will be sufficient. Get a glass of straight sides, rather than one that is tapered.

Step 1: Cut it. Start by cutting a fully unfolded newspaper sheet into four equal strips, lengthwise.	Step 2: Roll it. Layer the strips, one on top of the other, creating a single strip of newspaper that’s four layers thick. Wrap the newspaper around the open end of the juice glass, leaving enough slack in the paper so that you can slide it off the glass in step 3
Step 3: Tuck it. Stuff the end of the newspaper into the opening of the juice glass, then slide the glass out of the newly formed tube. If you haven’t noticed the taper in your glass, this is the point at which it will become frustratingly apparent.	Step 4: Tamp it. Flip the juice glass around, insert the bottom of it into the tube, and tamp down to secure the base of the pot.
Step 5: Fill it. Remove the glass and fill the tube with potting mix.	Step 6: That’s it! Now you’re ready to transplant. The pots will hold together until you’re ready to plant your seedlings in the garden, though you’ll want to avoid moving them around too much in the interim. The newspaper can be composted when you’re finished with it.

Basic Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a branch of horticulture, which is a method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. Terrestrial plants may be grown with only their roots exposed to the mineral solution. The roots may be supported by an inert medium, such as coco-peat or rock-wool.

The nutrients used in hydroponic systems can come from various sources. These include, but are not limited to, byproduct from fish waste, duck manure, or purchased mineral salts.