Appreciate your short, clear, and concise answers and recommendations. Happy growing has become a full-time job. :) More experience and input, please. Did I misunderstand you about using composted cow manure? Your potting mix recipe sourced at the "Container soils and water in containers III" thread included "micro-nutrient powder (substitute: small amount of good, composted manure)". I concur and am looking for ways to increase the balance of air over water surrounding the roots of some of my plants, as I am ironically more successful with high maintenance flowering plants, such as roses, strawberries, and gardenia than with low maintenance varieties like wildflowers and mesclun. With your technical explanations and my educated guess based on observation, I am able to grow mesclun for the first time just by increasing the content of perlite and sun exposure (I canÂt remember now for sure if I added compost or not). I will look into Ebb and Flow systems, thanks. I donÂt have to have a fully automated self-watering system and will consider any low-energy and low-maintenance systems that reliably regulate the water table (flood/drain) and move oxygen around the roots in an enclosed or semi-enclosed system. Has anyone read any comparative scientific studies or any objective industry reports of the pros and cons of ease of use and upkeep and etc. of the different self-irrigating and hydroponic systems? Are they really easier to use and more economical to grow successful healthy plants? Is it a proven fact that hydroponic and/or self-watering crops are superior in quality and nutrition? Implementing the most successful low impact and economical growing solution IÂm seeking may be a more realistic project for next year by the rate my research is going instead of the immediate changes I need to make now. Any personal comparative experience or insight would be appreciated to expedite the process. Top-dressing/mulching with compost would not pose a problem, right? I am disappointed that self-sustaining, renewable, ecological, and organic principles canÂt be utilized in container culture. Why do you suppose that there are others who promote combined hydroponics, permaculture, and organic gardening principles and growers? One such apparently successful example is at http://rooftopgardens.ca/files/manuel-p2_english.gif. This enclosed system appears to use compost. A technical English translation elucidating these applied soilless techniques is not yet available; thus, IÂm unsure as how to apply the combined principles for success. Also, see actual photos of many different growers at the site.

RANT !! I'm not one to stick my head in the sand and totally dismiss global warming, but I don't believe all the science has been accumulated and digested. Back in the 1960s, scientists were reporting in "THIS WEEK" magazine, the precursor of the Sunday "PARADE" magazine, that we were going into another ice age. There were several other articles during the same period predicting another ice age. This was back in the days before the EPA and air quality alerts. I sometimes believe the theory of global warning is a ploy by the ultra-environmentalist, tree hugging eco-terrorists to stampede us into stricter environmental protectionist laws. There was a mini-ice age from about 1400 through 1830. How do we know we aren't in a temporary warmng cycle which is just exacerbated by industral pollution. SUPPORT NUCLEAR POWER!

They cover less but have more effective light. I read once that a fluorescent fixture without the side wings or shades loses 60% of the light for growing plants. The light spreads out when it should be directed dowmwards. Your moving the lights around means that your plants will get different exposures to the light. It may work but it would not be something I would try. My opinion only

Sorry, but your old-timer's logic is totally wrong. Too little or no insulation directly above the living space ceiling in your attic will result in a dramatic increase in the amount of radiant heat entering your living space through the ceiling. Your attic can store an enormous amount of heat during the day, which will slowly dissipate after the sun goes down. Until it dissipates, and without sufficient insulation above your ceiling, heat will radiate into your living space during the day and continue to do so at night until the attic completely cools. Radiant heat from the attic will dramatically increase the load on your air conditioning system. Sufficient ceiling insulation will block radiant gain through your ceiling and lower your cooling costs (it will also decrease your heat loss in colder months). Perhaps you misunderstood your old-timer. It's a good thing to have insulation above your living space ceiling, but not good to have insulation in the attic on the underside of the roof. You also want good ventilation in the attic. This allows the attic to cool quickly after the sun goes down. Putting good insulation directly above your living space ceiling allows the attic to heat up during the summer without radiating heat into your living space, and also allows the attic to remain cool during the winter so that condensation doesn't form up under the cold roof.