How Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Can Keep Your Plants Growing!

Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen make up about 90% of the dry matter in a plant. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the air supplies all of the Carbon in the plant. Like animals, plants breathe in Oxygen and breathe out Carbon Dioxide all the time. The plant needs Carbon Dioxide during the hours of daylight and uses this to produce sugars. During the hours of darkness it will breathe out Carbon Dioxide, which is a waste product.

The plant uses light and Carbon Dioxide for photosynthesis. The more light there is available the greater the plant’s requirement for Carbon Dioxide, It has been found that it takes about 10 photons, (quantum units of light) during photosynthesis, to create enough energy to split one Carbon Dioxide molecule into its basic components of Carbon and Oxygen and form a sugar.

Because there are trillions of photons hitting the plant’s leaves, sufficient Carbon Dioxide is needed to convert their energy into sugars. If enough CO2 is not available, then the unused photons will bounce off the plant’s leaves and be lost. So the more light the plant is given the more Carbon Dioxide it will need to produce its maximum yield of sugars from photosynthesis.

Plants absorb different spectrums of light in differing amounts. This light is affected in different ways by a range of factors, such as distance and percentage of reflection etc. Because any unusable light is wasted, the calculation of how much useable light the plant is getting is quite complicated. It can be measured using a special PAR meter (PAR = Photosynthetically Active Radiation).

This machine takes into account the lumen level of the light striking the leaves and discounts the unusable fractions of the available light.

Plants outside, in full sunlight, will get about 5000 lumens per square foot. This means that the plant could process about 2000 ppm of CO2. It is unfortunate that the Carbon Dioxide levels outside are nowhere near this level.

Indoors, using a light level of 3000 lumens, the plant will need approximately 1500 ppm of CO2. If the light level was at 1000 lumens this would drop to around 300 ppm CO2 (city air is about 400 ppm) which is within the normal range. The lower the concentration of Carbon Dioxide the more the air has to be moved across the plant’s leaves in order for it to get sufficient exchange.

It is known that if the plant has enough CO2 and enough light it will perform to its optimum, so if we increase the light levels and up the CO2 available then we can expect a good increase in growth and subsequent yield.

Copyright (C) 2004, 2005.

J R Haughton.

— All Rights Reserved —

A partner in a thriving retail hydroponics supply business,
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Many outdoor benches are multi-purpose, for example, they can be used in city parks, in malls, as well as serving as great garden benches. In this article I will provide some examples of the many types and styles of garden benches available. However, there are even more than these to choose from:

Standard garden and park bench:
This kind of bench is sold most commonly six feet in length, but that is also available as short as four feet, redefines the traditional park bench style. The bench has a flat long seat and a wooden frame and legs. There is a gap between the bench seat and the bench seat back, however this is a very comfortable type of garden bench.

Deluxe park and garden benches:
Deluxe park and garden benches offer all the benefits of the standard benches, but add a graceful contour. Therefore your garden bench will be able to fit all body styles comfortably. The more comfortable the make, the easier it is for you to relax and enjoy your garden.

Elite park and garden benches:
These garden benches have a cultivated architectural form. They hold their high quality condition in bad weather, and are virtually maintenance free. They are made with a sustainable recycled plastic construction. They will add a touch of personal taste and beauty to your garden. And they are long lasting as well.

Contour park and garden benches:
Contour park and garden benches are constructed with sturdy type of recycled plastic lumber, and this lumber is firmly fastened to a heavy steel frame. Like all of the other benches I have mentioned, and those that I will mention, the size of the bench usually ranges between four and eight feet in length so you can purchase the perfect fit. These garden benches are not only pleasing to the eye but comfortable and stylish too.

Monarque park and garden benches:
This kind of garden bench is designed for those who require a lighter form of garden bench. However, they are very popular and nice to look at, as well as being a nice to rest in your garden.

Standard park, mall and garden benches:
Standard garden benches provide bench space with no extra frills. It is just garden seating with simplistic design. And this design allows the garden bench to complement virtually any architectural style surrounding it.

Deluxe mall, park and garden benches:
Deluxe mall, park and garden benches are available for more up-scale applications. Still using recycled plastic construction and maintenance free features, these garden benches are matched with aesthetics to be an attractive addition to any garden setting.

Elite mall, park and garden benches:
These elite mall, park and garden benches are designed with a slatted seat assembly that offers the look of freshly treated exotic wood. Wooden benches are very attractive in your garden, and these come especially designed to be long lasting, do not require maintenance and are splinter free. No up-scale garden should be without a bench with this kind of elegant and luxurious design. No matter what size you need.

Remember, because the garden benches I have mentioned are suitable for many purposes, you should choose the size of your bench based on where you want to put it, and assess how it will look in any specific place or places in your garden. Measure the perfect length for your garden benches to be before making any purchase, and choose the style that best fits your garden and you.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on garden design please visit Garden Decor.

Do you have your own flower garden and would like to make some
use of it? Are you fond of crafts and do it your self decorative
projects? Would you like to make some homemade floral
arrangements to further accent your home or to give away as
gifts? If this sounds like you, then please read on for some
tips on making beautiful floral arrangements.

To start your floral arrangements, you will first need something
to put your flowers in. Get a vase or some other container that
is decorative and also holds water. Before you start your floral
arrangements, you may want to consider further decorating the
vase or container by spraying it with gold or bronze spray
paint. Let it dry for 24 hours and then spray on a coat of clear
enamel spray. This will give your arrangement a more decorative
feel.

Next, you need a base for your floral arrangements. The base is
used for the flowers to have something to anchor to. You can use
a ball of willow branches, grapevine, or floral foam that you
can buy at a local craft store. The floral foam is called Oasis.
If you use Oasis, be sure to soak it in water and poke holes in
it with a pen before you put flowers it so that it doesn’t break
the stems.

When cutting flowers for floral arrangements, try to do so early
in the day or morning. This is because the stems have more water
in them at this point of the day and the flowers are not
drooping. Be sure to only use cold water in the flower
arrangement because warm water tends to make the flowers open up
too soon and not last as long.

If you want your flowers to last longer, you can places apple
and lemon wedges in the water at the bottom of the floral
arrangements. The apples have nutrients that will help feed the
flowers, while the lemons prevent premature rotting and
browning. It also adds a more decorative touch to your flower
arrangements.

When designing your flower arrangements, try to pick colors that
go with the environment the arrangement will be placed in. First
use taller flowers to create the vertical part of the
arrangement. Then use full blooming flowers with bright and bold
colors for the center and sides of the floral arrangements. Then
fill in the small gaps with tiny flowers.

Those were some great tips on making beautiful floral
arrangements. If you use all of these tips in conjunction with
each other, you are sure to have a long lasting floral
arrangement. With a little practice, you can be well on your way
to having beautiful floral arrangements that rival those found
in floral shops!

Several chemicals should be added to a swimming pool on a regular basis to keep the water safe and clean. Many swimming pool owners become unhappy with the common chlorine based chemical routine, and look to alternative sanitizers (such as Baquacil or SoftSwim) called “biguanide” based pool chemicals. Unfortunately these alternatives prove to be more expensive initially to purchase the chemicals, and cause problems over time which temporarily close the pool down.

If used in large quantities, or if not maintained properly, chlorine may irritate the eyes and skin of swimmers. Biguanide based swimming pool chemicals are much softer and have almost no affect on swimmers, but these chemicals are not capable of controlling organic contamination. Examples of organic contamination might be wastes left behind by swimmers or material that has blown or fallen into an outdoor pool, which promotes the growth of algae. While a chlorine swimming pool instantly neutralizes harmful organics, a biguanide swimming pool requires the addition of concentrated hydrogen peroxide on a regular basis. This liquid hydrogen peroxide solution proves to be more dangerous than chlorine to both store and handle.

Because biguanide based sanitizers cannot control organic contamination, microorganisms present in the pool water will build a resistance to the biguanide chemical over time. Like an evolving virus, these organisms become used to the biguanide sanitizer and form a type of water mold or slime. This ugly slime can only be eliminated with a strong dose of chlorine-based pool shock. The chlorine pool shock quickly removes the water mold, but also destroys all of the biguanide in the water. The immediate result of the chlorine and biguanide chemical interaction is very cloudy water which turns several unnatural colors, making the swimming pool unsafe to use for several days or weeks. Rather than risk further organic contamination and lost swimming time, most pool owners return to a chlorine pool chemical routine.

Chlorine is the right pool sanitizing chemical in every situation, except when a swimmer has developed allergies to the chemical. Pool chlorine is relatively inexpensive and easy to use, when used properly. With a basic understanding of pool water chemistry, and an easy weekly pool maintenance routine, any home owner can maintain a backyard pool with very few problems.

Please visit InTheSwim.com for a complete selection of quality pool chemicals and swimming pool supplies.

Right now one of the most popular shows on television is, “Trading Spaces.” If you haven’t gotten an opportunity to watch this show, the object of the game is to decorate one room in someone else’s house with a budget of a $1,000. The decorator’s truly struggle to accomplish this so you know it is hard when even they, trained professionals, are having problems creating the room of the homeowner’s dreams. Do not despair just because your money is limited- you can still create a warm and inviting home frugally. When people come into our home and see our front room (the only room we have decorated since we are relatively new homeowners) they always comment on how beautiful our drapes, furniture, and whole look of this room is. Do you think I disclose that we put the furniture together ourselves and that the whole décor came compliments of Target? No way! Never divulge the sordid details, just simply bask in the glory and let them try to recreate your look. Here are a few tips for creating an inviting home on a budget.

• Watch television shows, read books, and look through magazines to gather inspiration for creating a stylish home. Although many of the things you look at are completely out of your budget, you can try to recreate it with lower costing materials and a little creativity. Some great looks can be found on www.potterybarn.com, www.pierone.com, www.ikea.com, and www.marthastewart.com.

• Paint is the cheapest way to really change a room. One thing I have learned is to never be afraid of color- bright colors can really liven up a room. Be wary though with small rooms because this can make the rooms look smaller and closed off. In smaller rooms use softer and lighter colors- yellows, light green, lavenders, and white/off-white.

• Getting your home organized will make your house look well-kept. To find out some great ways to get your home as well as yourself organized, go to www.organizedhome.com. This site is wonderful for learning how and what you need to do to clear out the rubbish in your home. With different styles of baskets to organize your items it not only makes the room look cleaner, but it also adds to the décor.

• Target, Kmart, and Walmart all offer great items for your home at a much lower cost. Target has fantastic drapes, tableware, towels, pillows, and furniture for your home. Kmart offers incredible linens, drapes, and sheets from the Martha Stewart line. Walmart offers great fabrics for those do-it-yourself projects in making pillows, drapes, and linens.

• To add pictures to your walls, look through old art books or photograph books. Buy a cheap frame to put it in and you will have beautiful artwork for a fraction of the cost.

• Rearrange your furniture in your home. Try to find new ways to break up a room or to make the room more open and inviting.

• Light a candle and put potpourri in a bowl. This really warms up a room, not to mention adding a beautiful smell to the air.

• Find slipcovers for your couches. Doing this is a lot cheaper then buying a new sofa and when you get tired of it you can take the covers off. These are especially nice if you have little children because it is a great way to preserve the quality of your furniture. The slipcovers are easier to clean because you can throw them in the wash, unlike your couch. A couple of great places to look for nice slipcovers are www.kohls.com and www.surefit.com.

• Want something in particular in your home, but can’t afford it? Hit www.ebay.com and bid on it. Ebay always has great things for your house not to mention beautiful antiques and collectibles which make your home more unique.

• Buy large pillows to use as extra seating. These are great for when you have a large group over and not enough seating. Don’t invest in more seating; just buy big beautiful pillows for your guests to sit on.

• Go to the garage sales, but go early. Those who wait do not get the deals that the early risers get. Don’t underestimate the Salvation Army and Goodwill either because you can find some interesting and beautiful things for your house.

• Learn one craft that will aid you in decorating your home. Several of the fabric and craft stores offer wonderful classes for learning crafts such as sewing and floral for a very low cost. By learning crafts you can make things yourself at a lower cost or you may be able to make money off of this to afford you more luxuries in your home- you just never know.

• Hit your local Dollar Tree for some great buys on things to make your home more inviting. You might laugh at this one, but you would be surprised what ends up at that store. I have bought beautiful mugs, baskets, and stationary for a buck a piece and no one knows that I spent so little money. Try to think outside the box and go to the stores that are normally not known for quality houseware. This is where you get the real deals.

• Purchase all different types of blankets and put them under your end tables or drape one on your sofa. They make your guests feel cozy and invited especially on those cold winter nights.

• Put a book or two on your coffee table that can be a conversation piece, but don’t overdo it. People tend to get carried away with this and then you lose the beauty of the furniture underneath. One or two books are nice, but four or five looks like clutter.

• If you buy the do-it-yourself furniture or have a piece that looks like it needs a face-lift try replacing the knobs on those cabinets and drawers. A beautiful brushed silver knob or ornate gold knob can make the item look entirely different.

• Replace your old plastic curtain rods with sterling silver or gold rods. Target and Kmart have some really beautiful ones with different styles of ends (leaves, fruit, glass) that really add that special touch.

• Try a theme room, but don’t get carried away. Remember that whatever theme you chose you will have to live with it for a long time. Go for classic themes that seem to withstand the ages. If you choose to pick a theme for the room do hints of it throughout rooms, but don’t make the entire room one big theme. Just give your guest’s hints of it.

I hope these tips will offer you some insight on decorating your own home. My advice to you is that you start small and with one room at a time. Do not get carried away with redoing your whole home or you will feel overwhelmed. Concentrate your efforts on one project until you are completely satisfied and then begin thinking about another project.

About The Author

© 2003-2004 Amy Allen Clark. All rights reserved.

Amy Allen Clark is a stay-at-home mother of a two year old son. She is founder and creator of http://www.momadvice.com. Her web site is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and for those seeking work-at-home employment. Please visit her site to sign up for her free monthly newsletter filled with more great tips to help simplify your life.

amy@momadvice.com

Using lawnmowers to build and mark tennis courts

To build a tennis court properly means a lot of work and it should only be attempted under the direction of some one who understands it. The things most important are good drainage, good light, and sufficient room. A double court is 36 feet wide by 72 feet long, but in tournament games or on courts where experts play it is customary to have an open space about 60 feet wide by 110 to 120 feet long, to give the players plenty of room to run back and otherwise to play a fast game.

A court should always be laid out north and south or as near these points of the compass as possible. In courts running east and west the sun is sure to be in the eyes of one of the players nearly all day; this is of course a very serious objection. While it is very pleasant to play tennis in the shade of a tree or building, a court should never be located under these conditions if it is possible to avoid it. A properly placed court should be fully exposed to the sun all day.

Cutting and Making Up The Grass With Lawn Mowers

First of all it will be necessary to decide whether a grass or “dirt” court is to be built. If the grass is fine and the place where the court is to be happens to be level, there is little to do but to cut the sod very short with a lawn-mower and to mark out the court. If, on the contrary, there is much grading or leveling to be done, a dirt court will be much cheaper and better in the end, as constant playing on turf soon wears bare spots. The upkeep of a grass court will be expensive unless it is feasible to move its position from time to time.

Choosing A Drainage For Your Court

Whatever the court is to be, the first question to consider is proper drainage. If the subsoil is sandy the chances are that the natural soakage will take care of the surplus water, but on the contrary, if the court is at the bottom of a hill or in a low place where clay predominates, it is necessary to provide some means of getting rid of the surplus water from rainfalls or our court may be a sea of mud just when it would be most useful to us.

To level a court properly we shall need the services of some one expert with a leveling instrument of some kind. It is not safe to depend on what seems to be level to our eye, as our judgment is often influenced by leaning trees, the horizon, and other natural objects. With a few stakes driven into the ground, the tops of which are level, we are enabled to stretch lines which will give us our levels accurately.

At http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com you will find gardening reviews on artificial turf, lawn mower parts as well as how to sharpen lawnmower blades for walk behind and riding on lawn mowers. Reach further information and articles on lawnmowers and how to choose the best for your property.

Advice about the latest and accurate advice with reference to security doors.
When you’re trying to find better information on security doors, it will be intricate extricating superior advice from amateurish security doors suggestions or help so it’s astute to know how to moderate the information you are presented with.

Moore Pet Supplies - Doors for Pets
Retailer offers pet doors with installation options such as wall mounts and patio inserts. Buy automatic dog doors, cat flaps, and security French-panel doors.

Here are a few pieces of advice which we recommend you think of using when you’re searching for information about security doors. Hold in mind the advice we give is only pertinent to internet based information concerning security doors. We do not offer you any assistance or guidance if you are receiving information offline.

Maglocks: Commercial Control Access Systems and Locks
Offers electronic locks and access control systems with keyless entry. Audit trail, surveillance and multi-door capabilities available. Expert advice.

A good pointer to follow when offered help or advice about a security doors web would be to confirm the sites ownership. This may show you who owns the site security doors authorizations The easiest way to reveal who owns the security doors site is to find the ‘about’ page.

Any reputable website providing information regarding security doors, will almost certainly provide an ‘about’ or ‘contact’ page that will list the owner’s details. The particulars should reveal a number of key indications about the site owner’s capability. This means you can conduct an appraisal about the site owner’s knowledge and skill, to offer help regarding security doors.

About the author:

Barry Wise is the webmaster for http://www.home-security-doors.info