Agri & Gardening

As always, there’s one thing that the packaging industry is good at. Providing all sorts of obscure and possibly misleading terms to let us believe it is one thing or another. You know what I am talking about. Biodegradable, compostable, bio-based, renewable… It is somehow gradable or bio-friendly, but what does it exactly mean? Do these products of a late-night game of Scrabble tell what you think they do? Let’s figure it out. Biodegradable The mother of all terms: biodegradable. One of those things that marketers noticed and figured that it would look good on, well, pretty much anything. It is meant to be a fluffy, do-well-for-the-world endearment. But what does it mean? Going by the word itself, it merely says that over time, something is broken down (degraded) back to its natural components, thanks to a wealth of biological organisms. Zooming in on this explanation, one of the critical issues is that it merely has to be possible ‘overtime.’ This means that no length of time is given or set that dictates when something can potentially be biodegradable. Recommended:  Fashion From Algae Absorbs CO2: Is It Wearable? Eventually, this just means that pretty much everything around us is biodegradable to some extent. Everything will eventually turn into something else. Look at plastics. They may be degradable, but what few producers mention is how it generates a whole lot of methane while taking its sweet time to degrade. And methane happens to be the bad guy, even more, detrimental for our environment than carbon dioxide. So basically, we are toying with a word to make it look good while it is not. Degradable merely means that living things will not eat it. It may break down, but not in a ‘biological’ manner if you will. Plastics are decidedly not eaten by anything alive unless you count the sea life being suffocated in our oceans as they ingest it. It does break down but does so by falling apart as the polymers let go of each other. This is not ‘bio’ in any way. It only means that plastic turns into microplastics - something that is all around us, but that we are blissfully unaware of. Perhaps for the better, as we do not know what their impact on us and the environment may be. Compostable A very similar term, but once again, you got to mind the nuances. Compostable means to say that something is broken down by natural processes, after which it becomes something non-toxic and potentially nutritious. Think of food waste, cardboard, and newspapers. A smart guy somewhere thought to add the word ‘home’ to it, claiming that something is ‘home compostable’ if you can let this process take place at home. There is some kind of standard. You have to apply to have your product tested and officially certified as compostable. While many people think that this also means that it will compost in your bin at home, the truth is that many of those products can only compost in certain circumstances - through forced processes. So while home composting may be the ultimate, you might just have to settle for commercial composting. Not bad, as long as you make sure to dispose of it correctly. Recommended:  Bioplastic From Fish Scale And Skin  Compost s Fast Oxo-Degradable Let’s be short and clear about oxo-degradable products. They should not be allowed to exist. While it may sound fancy, it is something to steer clear of. Plastics that are dubbed oxo-degradable are breaking down into smaller microplastics pieces. Plastic manufacturers perhaps believe that this term will lull consumers in thinking that this is better than regular plastics, but trust us, it is not. Bio-Based Also known as plant-based. Products with this title are usually made using something organic. Great for your marketing - but not so much for the environment. Even if your hemp plastic is produced in an entirely organic manner, it does not mean that it will break down as such. Quite the contrary, it is not always compostable and will not produce more oxygen than carbon dioxide. Looking from a distance, bio-plastics made using hemp or sugar are not that different from fuel-derived plastics. The lesson here is that the starting material does not impact biodegradability or overall sustainability by that much. Bottles made from hemp Recommended:  Hemp: High-Performance Stuff For Now And Always Renewable Sources A proud statement that something was created using renewable resources, like wind or solar. Or, at the very least, that something was created while compensating for our use of that thing. Once again, just as for bio-based, all good and well that something is made sustainably, but this does not affect its ability to break down easier or better. Recommended:  Solar Space Farms: Next Step In Renewable Energy Biodegradable Or Compostable? What Can You Do? There is a term for all of this—Greenwashing, or using all kinds of unregulated claims to influence the consumer’s purchase decision. The only way to deal with it is by being - and staying - informed. Knowing the actual meaning is critical. It definitely would not hurt to spread this true meaning around a bit more. You might even appeal to your local government to help get proper legislation in place for the use of such terms.   Words like this should never be used to mislead consumers. Their intentions to help make the world a better place should not be thwarted and polluted by false claims and labels. Instead, we should all find a better way of communicating what the best (or better) options are when it comes to taking care of our planet. Recommended:  Algae Canopy Miracle Works Better Than A Forrest: How? Did you find this an interesting article, or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your article about biodegradable products and to compost? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage.'

The market for medicinal plants and herbal remedies has exploded since the rise of COVID-19 earlier this year. You could say that this is bad news for wild plants, some of which are already looking at potential extinction from over-harvesting. As the demand grows, they are quite literally plucked from the wild and traded - sometimes even illegally - between countries. Into The Wild: The Plants Hiding In Your Kitchen This is something that you should be concerned about. Just knowing that these at-risk species continue to be imported and exported is one thing, but finding out that they might already be hiding in your pantry is a whole different thing. Welcome to the world of illegal plant harvesting. Photo by ANSB-min. Mugu Community Forest User Group Members Boundary Survey and resource inventory Nepal. Recommended:  Best Sustainable Autumn Life: Exercise, Food, Lifestyle Popularity Of Wild-Harvested Plants The wild-harvested plants in question are wanted for several reasons. They get mixed into herbal medicines or herbal teas; or find themselves being used for aromatherapy oils, liquor, and beauty products. So, mostly luxury products, for which people are willing to put down quite a bit of money. The primary issue is that they do not know how damaging those very same products could be for the environment. Even the producing companies themselves might be in the dark about the origins of their ‘specially sourced’ ingredients. They might not even know that there are ‘wild plants’ in their supply chain. Recommended:  Sustainable Food And Exercise: Get Healthier Sustainability Loses Against Health And Beauty For some other products, the ingredients are less obscure. In China, for instance, several medicine formulas have been developed as a “treatment” for COVID-19. While it is still unclear if these do what they are promising to do, they are responsible for including up to 151(!) plant ingredients - including liquorice root, or glycyrrhiza spp, which is a protected species in China - yet still harvested from the wild. It just goes to show how deep-rooted the problem is, no pun intended. Sustainability seems to be out of the question when it comes to our health or beauty. This is not to say that we should not harvest those wild plants, but instead that we should consider how to do it right. This is where local harvesters come in, who might be invaluable in this chain. They are often part of indigenous communities, with excellent knowledge of and a wealth of skills in harvesting sustainably, in a manner that maintains or even improves the local plant population. Too often, they are still overlooked. That is not what we want. Recommended:  Food From Nature: Is It Healthy And Good For The Environment Into The Wild: The Plant As Income For those people, the harvest of those wild plants could also be their primary source of income. Communities and local economies can potentially thrive if there is just one plant that shows great promise in the medical or beauty fields. Look at the devil’s claw, for instance. It is used to treat arthritis. But it also treats poverty in Namibia, where some 3,000 to 5,000 people live off its harvest. In the mountains of Nepal, up to 58% of the total annual household income can be attributed to the commercial harvesting of herbs. Plants can be a primary source of income. But it all depends on the circumstances. Illegal harvesting can destroy plant populations, damaging future economic prosperity with it. This is why international trade of those medicinal or aromatic plants is strictly regulated, while national governments oftentimes step in to impose strict guidelines on harvesting or trading certain species. This all sounds great in theory, as it will prevent over-harvesting and unsustainable practices, but the reality is that these measures are tough to enforce. Recommended:  Sustainable Fashion: Fungi, Roots Slow Fashion The Customs Officials Have No Real Clue Wild plants, for instance, are hard to identify - in particular when traded in a semi-processed form. When presented with a bag of leaves, powder, or wax, customs officials might find themselves at a loss. It is not as easy as animals or large timber logs, but it may require quite a lot of skill and knowledge of the plants at hand. Unfortunately, the countries who rely the heaviest on their plant resources for income are oftentimes low and thus underfunding their trade monitoring programs. They do not have the workforce or money to enforce the sustainability guidelines required. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that up to a quarter of all illegal trade items entering the European Union are made up of plant and animal parts and products, as meant for medicinal or aromatic use. It is a real problem that governments are still not sure of the exact guidelines and requirements, and thus not stepping in this trading scheme. FairWild As A Reliable Certification Companies can step up and take their responsibility by ensuring a sustainable supply chain of their own. One way of doing this is with the FairWild certification, which lets customers know that the wild plant ingredients are sourced through sustainable harvesting practices and a fair sharing of resources. It is, as such, very similar to the FairTrade or Rainforest Alliance certifications. FairWild is doing precisely what its name promises you: it gives you a fair wild product. This way, you know for sure that your product containing wild plant species was harvested sustainably. It promotes sustainable living and helps you to make an informed choice. It might mean some more work for companies, but, as the CEO of an already accredited company so adequately put it, “ Companies have got to invest the time and the money to know where their ingredients come from, to know how the people that are collecting them are treated and paid, and to know the impact that harvesting those ingredients is having on the indigenous population of plants, as well as other plants that might get trampled along the way .” Recommended:  CO2 Footprint Food: It Is What You Eat Not If It Is Local Into The Wild Dozen List You, as a consumer, could also do your part. 12 so-called flagship species are probably somewhere in your pantry as well. While some of those are already in the safe zone, thanks to the sustainable practices becoming commonplace in their industries, others are still in need of rescuing. These species include: Photo by Ton Rulkens. Baobab fruit. Frankincense resin and oil (Boswellia spp.) Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) Jatamansi/Spikenard oil (Nardostachys jatamansi) Gum arabic resin or E414 (Acacia spp.) Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis) Candelilla wax (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) Pygeum bark (Prunus africana) Argan oil (Argania spinosa) Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata) Devil’s claw root (Harpagophytum procumbens) Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza spp.) Juniper (Juniperus communis) Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) You could investigate whether those species are incorporated in products that you use and consider if it is worth it to you. Companies working with those products should actively review their supply chain and continue to test for sustainability. You might as well give them the motivation they need to do so. Before you go! Recommended:  Agrivoltaics Mutually Beneficial: Food, Water And Energy Did you find this an interesting article, or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your article about herbs ? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage.'

Now, for your educational piece today, let’s discuss the reproduction mechanism of corals. Yes, you heard that right. How do corals get their groove on? In a more surprising way than you might think. Turns out those little buggers are real romantics, waiting for the moonshine! Are Corals Lunar Freaks? Romantic Moon Mating! In a nutshell, there are three triggers that can be identified when it comes to procreation in corals. The mood-setters, if you wish. First of all, the rise in sea temperature must be gradual. Nothing too sudden, just a nice little warming up. Secondly, corals will release reproductive cells when the time is right - as dictated by the lunar cycle. When the moon says so, usually a couple of days after the full moon, corals will release their sperm and/or eggs in order to get things underway. Although they will, thirdly, only do so at night - when it is dark. How is that for a romantic setting? Recommended:  Solar Powered Sea Slugs Shed Light On Perpetual Green Energy So Are Corals Just Lunar Freaks? It would be too easy to call ‘em lunar freaks for this reason alone. Although it is definitely not untrue. The moon is helping when we, as human beings, are often not. Corals are a very large and important part of the sea species, making up more than 25% of it. They are also suffering from our current problems, like climate change, overfishing, and pollution. If we keep going, we might even drive those ecosystems to complete extinction in the next couple of decades. As this would trigger a sequence where other sea life would be dragged down with it, scientists are understandably eager to prevent it. They are actively trying to restore coral reefs by bringing in ‘wild’ coral and breaking them up in fragments. They grow faster, as a result, and will produce hundreds of smaller corals. These cute little spawns will then be taken to nurseries to baby them for a while, before being transplanted back onto the reef. There is just one problem here. As one piece of ‘wild coral’ is usually broken up in pieces, this means that all of those fragments are identical. That is, they have the same ‘father’. Then, as all the resulting coral has one common parent, they will be genetically identical to one another. Great for a close-knit family gathering, but not so good for diversity - something that will help ward off diseases and be more resilient against climate change. Coral spawning Recommended:  Agriculture Under Water: Farming At Sea In Italy Corals Full Moon Mating So, the technique of restoring corals as we do it today is not perfect. This is why scientists are now looking into the use of sexual reproduction to restore corals. They know that corals are ready to get it on, in mass spawning events, during full moons - when the tides are high. There is another reason for this, besides the great mood setter. Powerful currents will take the eggs with them for quite some distance, which means that they will ultimately be fertilized by sperm of far-away, non-related colonies. Mother Nature’s way of creating a diverse population. Now it has to be done by scientists if we want our corals to have a shot at surviving past this century. We bring you: artificial coral insemination. Coral Sex In The Lab What do panda’s and coral reefs have in common? They are both struggling with limited fertility, as they are only fertile for a couple of days per year. This makes it so incredibly hard to get it done. Coral only spawns a handful of nights per year, with the date and time dependant upon complex and largely unknown circumstances. Kira Hughes, project manager at Ruth Gates’ lab, checks on the “super corals” they are growing in Kaneohe Bay. Even worse, every time we take one step closer to understanding the process, climate change sets us two steps back. It changes the timing, making it even less frequent and predictable. As the goal is to get various colonies to spawn simultaneously, this makes the process even harder. Recommended:  Climate Change Stop, Store CO2, Add Phytoplankton By Whales? Not a challenge that the folks at the CORALIUM Laboratory of the National Autonomous University of Mexico were about to back away from. During the full moon, divers collect coral sperm and eggs. These are carefully extracted and brought to the lab, where scientists attempt to fertilize them. The process relies on a lot of external factors, including water quality, temperature, and pathogens, so the larvae need to be monitored around the clock. As they get older, they settle on hard surfaces: 3D shapes that closely resemble the coral rubble that the larvae prefer in the ‘real world’. After only a short while, they are ready to go out into the world themselves. Coral Mating Getting Technical The huge advantage of this technique is the genetically diverse offspring that it creates - genes that they will pass along to create even greater and more diverse offspring themselves. This keeps the pool healthy, allowing future generations to thrive as well. Coral mating is something that has to be done if we want to keep our oceans healthy. The Caribbean alone already lost 80% of all its coral reefs over the last few decades, with the surviving colonies being like islands - too far away from one another to successfully reproduce. In the wild, they are barely able to do so. But with coral mating, a fertilization rate of over 80% has been achieved. While the high costs are still a bit of an issue, the basic premise here is great. The healthy larvae can already be planted back into the reef after a mere few weeks, allowing for a swift and efficient restoration of damaged coral reefs; preserving diversity, and promoting further ‘natural’ reproduction. There are even courses being offered on how to do it on a low budget - making it a hobby that more of us should absolutely be getting into if we want to keep the oceans a thriving, healthy place.  Before you go! Recommended:  Bushfires Australia Generate Their Weather Did you find this an interesting article, or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own experience with how nature can help us? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage.'

Many consider their home to be incomplete without at least one plant gracing the living room. Hardly surprising, as plants are an essential accessory that is both green and stylish. They have the potential for cheering up a room with bright colors and wealthy leaves. Or, if done wrong, the potential for disaster, as life just seeps out of them despite all the best efforts, leaving the owner with nothing but a barren brown pile. Decorate And Brighten Up Your Home: Indoor Plants Be as it may, indoor plants are always an excellent way to decorate and brighten up your home. Not only are they lovely to look at it (unless they are one of the unlucky ones mentioned above), they also provide real health benefits. So, worth your time and effort. If you are determined to get your indoor greenery right, this is just the article for you. Photo By The Creative Exchange: Social Media Agency and Content Studio Indoor Plants As Decoration One of the main reasons people are investing in plants is the decorative power that they possess. They can liven up a room with bright colors or magnificent structures, providing a warm atmosphere. It does not matter where you place them - even bathrooms and kitchens could be great hosts for any type of greenery. Photo by Edgar Castrejan: Succulent Frenzy Potted herbs, for instance, could be significant in your kitchen. Not just decorative and slightly understated, but useful at dinner prep time, too. If you are looking for a plant that commands attention, succulents are your best bet. Their remarkable shapes and styles are a guaranteed eye-catcher. For those who doubt their green fingers, succulents are great too, as are cacti. Just be careful with young children and pets if you opt for the latter. Recommended:  Easy Indoor Herb Garden Kits, Plus Expert Tips Speaking of young children and pets. It is always a good idea to check if indoor plants are toxic if ingested. Nontoxic plants include spider plants, trailing jade, Christmas cacti, parlor palms, mini orchids, and wax plants. All of those are great to look at while being pet- and child-friendly. {youtube}                                       INDOOR PLANT COLLECTION | Best Indoor Plants | House Plants 2020 Indoor Plants As Health Watchers It is essential to realize that you are not just investing in a decorative piece. Plants provide a wealth of other benefits as well. As they filter the air, your indoor space will benefit from a cleaner and healthier air. As you breathe it in, your body will notice the difference - enhancing your concentration and improving your sleep. This air-cleaning capability might even help with your allergies. Some great air-cleaners include the snake plant and spider plant. If you are leaning towards an allergy reliever, the English ivy could be your guy. It filters out mold spores, a notorious culprit for triggering allergies. Photo by Fukayamamo. Spider plant. Besides a healthier body, plants could also account for a healthier mind. Research has shown that the presence of plants boosts your mood. Aromatic plants are particularly great for heightening our sense of comfort and relaxation, like lavender. Perhaps it is just biology, with our minds unconsciously realizing that plants represent a safe and fertile place to shelter. Either way, having plants in our home and office is a guarantee for a calmer and happier mind. Including them in your meditation space, nursing area, or reading nook is therefore always advisable. Recommended:  Does Rising CO2 Benefit Plants? Indoor Plants As Tough Survivors If you are anything like me, you will find that - despite your best efforts - all indoor green companions wither away—no need to panic. Your busy lifestyle just might not be right for the commitment of a living, breathing thing in your dining room. Then you are best off selecting a nearly durable option that requires much less care. In no particular order, some of the hardest to kill plants include: Asparagus Fern, a particularly fluffy plant that does well in both light and darkness, as long as you water it every once in a while. Cacti, although technically not a real ‘indoor green,’ they are great to look at and are happy with a few drops of water now and then. Yucca, a plant that thrives in the hot, barren desert. This means it could also survive in your living room. All it needs is sunlight, watering is optional (it would appreciate a pint of water now and then, though). Spider plant, a pet-friendly option that is low-maintenance as they come. Requiring watering once per week, it is best left alone otherwise. Fiddle leaf fig, which is very popular at the moment. It does best in bright light while being watered regularly. No-fuss is its credo. Chinese Monkey Plant, or the ‘pancake plant’ as some call it. It looks cute, wants to stay out of the sun, and receive some water once per week. That is all. Photo by Garden Know-How: Monkey Plant. It is always advisable to get a feel for what conditions your house has to offer before making the purchase decision. Are there lots of light in your home? What is the climate in your area? How often can you reasonably get around to watering it? Research some plants on the internet or ask an expert to make sure that you will not find yourself planning another plant funeral way too soon. Recommended:  Houseplant Trends And Greening Up Your Houseplants Indoor Plants For Each Room Each room in your house has its function and vibe. This is why there are different plants to consider for each room. These are some helpful pointers for getting it just right. Your living room would benefit from a tall plant, as it is generally the largest room in the house. Think tropical palm. The bathroom gets a lot of moisture. Some tropical plants would do great in the windowsill, as they get to enjoy both the sunlight and humid conditions. Photo by Mel Elias. For the kitchen, herbs are always a safe bet. Basil and oregano, or mint and lemongrass: great to look at, high to put in your meal. In your bedroom, look for plants like the crawling vine or an ivy plant. If you put them high up on a dresser or bookshelf, it provides a lush, romantic effect. In the study, you would want a smaller, easy to maintain the plant. It might not get as much attention like other plants in the house. Pothos, for instance, is rather low-maintenance and still a great enhancer of your productivity and concentration. Indoor Plants As Companion Plants are not just plants. They can liven up the place, provide a healthier and more productive atmosphere, and enhance the unique purpose of each room in the house. Even better, they are not as demanding as pets, while providing some of the same warmth. Plants are the perfect companion—time to figure out which one is right for you. Before you go! Recommended:  Easy Indoor Herb Garden Kits, Plus Expert Tips Do you like this article about Indoor Herb Gardens, or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write and publish your article about indoor plants? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage.'

Do you miss the garden? Or if you have a garden, do you know what to do? Growing your herbs sounds complicated, but is it? Carrying big bags of potting soil or finding great planters is ancient history. Growing your herbs with an indoor herb garden kit is very easy and rewarding. Hydroponic Or Pots With Soil You can divide herb gardening kits into two categories: pots with soil or hydroponic. Hydroponic is a bottomless method for indoor growing and is cleaner to install and maintain. Most of them have digital displays so you can check the herbs (do they need water or food?), automatic lighting systems. Perfect if you can’t place them in sunlight. A disadvantage is that they are a bit more expensive and take up more space. Which Herbs Do You Grow? Which herbs do you use the most? 10 Herbs you can grow easy Indoors: Basil, Bay, Chervil, Chives, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme. Growing Herbs Indoors with a Hydroponic System Whether you use an AeroGarden (or another hydroponic system that relies on proprietary pods pre-loaded with seeds) or you start your hydroponic herbs from seed using a specialized sponge, the process of planting herbs for an indoor hydroponic garden is so easy it really can’t be explained in steps. For the pods, put them where they fit into the planter system. For seeds grown in sponges, put the seeds in the little divots and keep them moist and under lights. These gardens work using timers and internal watering systems, so provided you keep them filled with water and add nutrients as needed (most plug-in hydro systems have indicators to tell you exactly when this should be), there is really no work to establishing and maintaining this setup. Just make sure to keep plants trimmed before they go to seed, and be ready for limited success at best if you try to transplant your herbs to soil. Easy Indoor Herb Garden Kits Click & Grow Smart Garden. 9 plants, 3 Herbs  Dimensions: N/A Herbs included: tomato, basil, lettuce Brighten up your home with a touch of fresh greenery and beautiful Scandinavian design. Get growing right away - the kit comes with 3 mini tomatoes, 3 basil, and 3 green lettuce pods. Grow fresh and healthy! Our plant pods contain no GMOs, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. A wide selection of more than 40 plants to fit your needs... Or experiment with your own seeds! Growth Guarantee - Click and Grow will replace any plant pods that don’t germinate for free. Don't you mind getting your hands dirty? Do you like to have a lot of plants in front of the windows? Then this 3-herb, 9 plans kit would be great. You can reuse the pots, and they have wide drainage holes. The 6-piece package is not only great for the hands but as well for the eyes. The seeds, coming from the United States, passed a test on high germination rates. Click & Grow has excellent customer service and guarantees a full refund if growers don't get results. £165.00. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                           AeroGarden Harvest Elite Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 15 inches Number of seed packs: 6 Herbs included: Genovese basil, curly parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil, mint  Once you go Hydroponic, you never go back, according to some. If you are familiar with at-home hydroponic herb growing kits, AeroGarden may come to mind. They have a lot of models, with Harvest Elite as the most popular. It has high-tech features, like LED lights, a handy holiday mode, and a digital display to remind you when the herbs need food and water. The Harvest Elite comes with non-GMO seeds to grow six herbs. They are pre-fertilized, so they last a whole growing season. The height of the arm adjusts as the plants can reach up to a foot before they need to be cut, and the system is tapered to the soil to save space on the counter. Customers are amazed at how fast the herbs grow and say gardening is a breeze. £129.95. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                              Smart Garden Indoor Cultivation with Automatic LED Adjustment Based on Ambient Light - Kit of 4 Seeds Included (Light Blue) Véritable Indoor Garden is a hi-tech self-sufficient garden that allows you to grow your own produce all-year-round, very easily and inside your kitchen. It has become difficult to find fresh, healthy, and tasteful produce while being sustainable. The Smart Garden automatically adjusts the LED's intensity depending on the ambient light, to distribute the perfect amount of light to your plants. Each Véritable Garden is coming with 4 Véritable Lingots offered: Basil, Italian Parsley, Thyme, Dill. Our technology employs a color spectrum adapted specifically for edible plants. The color and performance ensure quick growth and develop the flavor of your plants. The light is automatically controlled: it remains active for 16 hours a day and off for 8 hours in order to imitate the natural daylight cycle. It doesn't need any natural light to grow, you can put it in a room without any windows. The two lighting poles adjust independently to adapt to different plant sizes and growth speed. The Véritable Garden provides automated light, irrigation, and nutrients to your plants. All you have to do is the harvest! The water tank holds three week's worth of water. You can go on holidays and your Véritable Garden will take care of everything while you're away. Each Véritable Garden comes with 4 Véritable Lingots: Sweet Basil, Curly Parsley, Chives, and Cherry Tomatoes. The Lingots can be stored 1 year before use, in a cool and dry place. After this time, the germination rate can decrease. Plants are ready to be eaten in just 4 weeks and each Lingot guarantees regular harvest for 4 to 6 months. The Garden only uses 4 high performance LED Grow lights with an optical lens. They use 10W of electricity (about $10 worth of electricity per year, *based on French rates). The patented blue and yellow LED lights guarantee fast growth (blue light) and the rich aromas (yellow light). Plants grow at a different rhythm, just pull up or down the lighting masts to give them the best lighting. The Garden regulates the lighting cycles on its own. It features a 2L/ O,5 Gallon large water reservoir that guarantees 3 to 4-week irrigation autonomy, the plants use the water its needs on its own thanks to capillary action irrigation. The low water alarm system reminds you to refill the reservoir. The blue LED will softly blink as a reminder. Pour water in the reservoir and the Light will switch to continuous mode. All the parameters are controlled (PH, humidity, nutrients concentration) £175.00. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                              Smart Hydroponics Garden Lights Indoor Garden Kit with Desk Lamp Function, LED Plant Grow Light, Mini Indoor Hydroponic Growing System with 3 Pcs Mini Garden Hand Tool Set (Blue)   New Generation Indoor Garden Light: Smart Hydroponics Herb Garden Lights are not only an Indoor Growing Plant Light but also a Desk Lamp. Easy to use and Smart control with an automatic control panel automatically turns lights on and off. It helps to accelerate the growth of indoor fresh herbs, flowers, and more. Ideal for kids to observe how plants grow every day. Two Auto Illumination Mode & Smart Control:  In Full spectrum LED grow light mode (red, blue, and white led). The smart indoor garden kit has automatically started work and rest time (work 16 hours, rest 8 hours). The soft lighting system prevents seedling from being burned.  360 Degree Adjustable Desk Lamp: In Reading Mode white light can be used as a table lamp for reading.  Self Watering Plant & Shortage Reminder: Indoor herbal garden System doesn't require daily watering, it could auto irrigate for 2-3 weeks, which helps you to get rid of the annoyance of rotten roots caused by overwatering. It is smart when the red light flashes and the Machine beep it reminds you to add water to level in the basin. Surprised, with the visible blue area, you also can see it lacks water so you can add water in time. Energy Saving: 8.5W Ultra-low-power and high efficiency. You can grow fresh herbs, vegetables, salad leaves, flowers, and more in this smart indoor garden like onion, basil, tomato, and flowers.  Seeds Not Included £43.07. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                                Indoor Kitchen Garden  Tregren Smart LED Grow Light Kit For Both Outdoor & Indoor Plants & Gardening Kits   Tregren T12 smart home kits feature 2 of Tregren's innovations Active growing technology and smart gardener APP. These features make growing herb and seed 3X faster. It automates the amount of LED light and water. Smart gardener App - Our Smart Gardener App controls your T-series Kitchen Garden. Connects with your smartphone to monitor the LED lights, watering, and nutrients your plants need. It creates perfect growing conditions for any plant. This kitchen garden makes it easier than any other hydroponics, greenhouse garden kit. Just add water and plug in your smart home T-series kitchen garden. The Smart Gardener app creates the perfect conditions to the plants you choose to grow. They make great gardening gifts! Low carbon footprint. The Tregren food tech company is committed to reducing food waste and the ecological footprint that comes from food production. Grow your own vegetables! £119.90. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                            Planters’ Choice Herb Garden Growing Kit Dimensions: N/A Number of seed packs: 4 Herbs included: basil, parsley, chives, cilantro This starters kit from Planters' Choice has four herbs: basil, parsley, cilantro, and chives. There is a moisture meter, so you don't have to worry about overwatering. They are delivered with the same lovely bamboo makers as their nine-herb kit, pre-fertilized soil disks, and the same full-refund guarantee. £27.99. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                                                                                               AeroGarden Bounty Basic Dimensions: 16 x 6 x 8 inches Number of seed packs: 9 Herbs included: Genovese Basil (x2), Thai basil, curly parsley, Italian parsley, thyme, chives, dill, mint If you love to cook, fresh herbs are essential. AeroGarden Bounty Basic provides a bountiful harvest (therefore the name) and delivers two kinds of basil: Thai and Genovese. Just like all the company's hydroponic kits, they are equipped with a digital display that gives reminders (for watering and feeding), a holiday mode, and a powerful energy-efficient 30-watt Led grow light that will automatically turn off and on. “It’s the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook!” says one customer. £249.95. To purchase, please click on the shopping button.                                                                                              Smart Herb Garden Kit LED Light. Bamboo frame. Indoor hydroponics   Just set it up without tools and plug the plant cartridges in! The water reservoir can last about 25 days without refilling. The water level indicator informs you when to add water. The wavelength of the LED grows lights are tuned to stimulate better plant performance. Place it anywhere you want. Perfect for basil, thyme, sage, parsley, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, rosemary, peppers, flowers, and strawberries. Seeds are not included!   £86.99 To purchase, please click on the shopping button.                                                                                            Click & Grow Smart Garden Dimensions: 12.5 x 9 x 5 inches Number of seed packs: 3 Herbs included: basil  Great for the eye and your stomach! Comfortable in use: biodegradable plant pods (which contain organic, pesticide-free seeds and plant food) to grow. The reservoir needs a refill once every three weeks, plug it in and see how your herbs grow under the energy-efficient LED lights. Delivered with three basil plants, but there are more than 50 other herbs available. You can adjust the arm height. “This thing is fun, easy, and it works!” says one recent customer. £89,70. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                                Self-Watering Potted Herb Keeper, Cole & Mason. Fresh Enamel Coated Steel, White, and Grey, Triple Keeps fresh herbs up to at least 10 days longer Hydro-pads allows herbs to draw water as desired Pads are washable The estimated usability of the pads is 3-month. 12 pads included Fits up to 85 mm diameter pot (base)   The Cole & Mason Self-Watering Triple Potted Herb Keeper is a highly functional tool for giving longer life to your fresh herbs. This fuss-free plant pot does not require you replant; simply insert a hydro felt pad under the retaining arm and place your potted herb in the container. Fill with water through the spout and check regularly to refill as the plant will absorb water through the pads. This potted herb keeper ensures less water evaporation as the vessel is covered. Enjoy fresh herbs for longer in your everyday cooking. £30,34. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                           AeroGarden Sprout  Dimensions: 11 x 4.5 x 10 inches Number of seed packs: 3 Herbs included: Genovese basil, curly parsley, dill  Do you have a small garden? You can still harvest your herbs. The hydroponic AeroGarden Sprout is tiny and has space for three herbs. With this kit, you will receive basil, dill, and curly parsley. It has a digital display that reminds you to water or feed the plant. Grow your plants up to 25 centimeters high. “I'm very impressed with this product!” says one recent reviewer. £69.95. To purchase, please click on the shopping button                                                                                          Plantpak 70200410 Hydro-pod Indoor Garden Dimensions:  White, 26.5 x 11.7 x 11 cm   If you're looking for an indoor-outdoor herb-growing kit, this is the one from Plantpack. It contains two self-watering chambres. Power and water shortage reminder.  £29.57. To purchase, please click on the shopping button Hydroponic Indoor herb Garden kit Intelligent Multi-Function Growth led lamp Flower and Vegetable Cultivation Plant Growth lamp Dimensions: N/A What about an indoor garden for herbal tea?! This kit from Smart Garden includes: LED light timer, different light colors, 5 levels of brightness, specially cultivated substrate and reminder function (light & sound) for low water level. £125.99. To purchase, please click on the shopping button WhatsOrb cannot be held responsible for price changes, out-of-stock of products, and material or color differences. All information is provided by third parties. Before you go! Recommended:  Which Sustainable Food Keeps Your Immune System Running? Do you like this article about Indoor Herb Gardens, or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. 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