Some seeds do not have a hard seed coat, but rather go into a dormancy period that can make germination a long affair. You will have to wake these seeds from their slumber using a process called stratification.

Stratification involves creating favorable environmental conditions in which the seeds would germinate in nature. Seeds and plants that go into dormancy typically come to life after the return of spring temperatures and rainfall. You must mimic the cycle of dormant winter season followed by natural germination season. Stratification involves exposing seeds to cold temperatures - typically in your refrigerator - for a period of time before attempting to germinate them. Check your seed packet for specific stratification recommendations.

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Citrus trees are heavy nitrogen feeders. Choose a fertilizer with a 2:1:1 or 3:1:1 ratio. There are special fertilizer blends labeled for citrus plants.

Apply a fertilizer to the soil at planting time, then fertilize monthly during the active growing season (late winter through summer) and once every two months during fall and early winter.

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We all kill plants, even us professionals. If you're wondering why your plant died on you, there are a few important things to remember about how plants live and grow. Plants need enough light, water, and carbon dioxide to drive photosynthesis. If they don't get enough of each or all, they'll be in trouble.

Respiration is how plants burn calories, and respiration doesn't stop just because the lights are out or you forgot to water. Your plants will burn energy even if there is not enough light, water, or carbon dioxide available. If those inputs remain limited or cease, eventually your plant will burn more energy than it can generate. Like this plant, which is now TOAST. Because I forgot to water it.

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Have you struggled to grow cucumbers, either in your indoor garden our outdoors? Often a lack of water is keeping your plants from producing as well as they could. Cucumbers produce fruit that contain a lot of water, so they must stay consistently moist for fruit to develop properly.

If you let your cucumbers go dry, you may see flower drop or your fruit might have a tough texture. Inconsistent watering can lead to blossom end rot, a deformity caused by a disruption in calcium uptake. To put an end to blossom end rot, keep soil or growing media evenly moist all the time.

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Many small two-band LED lamps can be used in standard home light fixtures, floor lamps, or spotlights. These small lamps typically fall in the 3- to 13-watt range and will be labeled as E6 or E27 base.

These individual low-wattage LEDs are useful for only individual houseplants like potted foliage plants or orchids. Do not expect them to light up a large area or to be suitable for multiple plants.

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Depending on your climate and outdoor growing conditions through the seasons, you may have to start seeds of certain crops indoors a few weeks, or even months, ahead of outdoor planting days in order to harvest a successful crop. This is where an indoor seeding station comes in handy. You need only a few square feet of space to prepare a couple of seed trays with a small lighting setup.

Sowing new plants from seed is downright exciting. It’s also economical. Starting your own seeds is a very cost-effective way to grow a large quantity of plants quickly, plus you’ll be able to grow a much wider variety than if you buy only finished transplants from a garden center.

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Much of the information provided online or by manufacturers for calculating your lighting needs is based on watts. While energy use is an important consideration, it is an input, not an output.

Without any additional sunlight, you can estimate that:

• A 1000-watt lamp lights a 36- to 40-square-foot growing space.

• A 600-watt lamp lights a 20- to 36-square-foot growing space.

• A 400-watt lamp lights a 12- to 16-square-foot growing space.

• A 250-watt lamp lights a 6- to 9-square-foot growing space.

• A 150-watt lamp lights a 3-square-foot growing space.

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Small fluorescent grow lamps don’t generate as much heat as incandescent lamps, so you can situate them much closer to your plants, especially young seedlings, for better results.

In a fluorescent fixture that holds four to eight tubes, you can use a combination of lamps with different color spectrums. If you buy a T5 fixture that holds eight fluorescent tubes and is zoned with multiple on and off switches, you can turn on only your blue lamps during the vegetative phase and then switch on the red with the blue to initiate flowering.

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