Indoor Gardening Glossary

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

 

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC): AN ELECTRIC

CURRENT THAT REVERSES ITS DIRECTION AT

REGULAR OCCURRING INTERVALS. HOMES

HAVE AC.

ACID: AN ACID OR SOUR SUBSTANCE HAS A

PH BELOW 7

AERATION: SUPPLYING SOIL AND ROOTS

WITH AIR OR OXYGEN.

AEROPONICS: GROWING PLANTS BY MISTING

ROOTS SUSPENDED IN AIR.

ALKALINE: REFERS TO A SUBSTANCE WITH

HIGH pH; ANY pH OVER 7 IS CONSIDERED

ALKALINE.

ALL-PURPOSE (GENERAL-PURPOSE)

FERTILIZER: A BALANCED BLEND OF N-P-K;

ALL PURPOSE FERTILIZER IS USED BY MOST

GROWERS.

AMENDMENT: FORTIFYING SOIL BY ADDING

ORGANIC OR MINERAL SUBSTANCES IN

ORDER TO IMPROVE TEXTURE, NUTRIENT

CONTENT OR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY.

AMPERE (AMP): THE UNIT USED TO MEASURE

THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTRIC CURRENT.

ANNUAL: A PLANT THAT NORMALLY

COMPLETES IT ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE IN ONE

YEAR OR LESS. TOMATOES ARE EXAMPLES OF

ANNUAL PLANTS.

ARC: LUMINOUS DISCHARGE OF ELECTRICITY

(LIGHT) BETWEEN TWO ELECTRODES.

ARC TUBE: A QUARTZ CONTAINER FOR

LUMINOUS GASES ALSO HOUSES THE ARC IN

HID LIGHTS.

AUXIN: CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT

HORMONES; AUXINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

FOLIAGE AND ROOT ELONGATION.

BACTERIA: VERY SMALL, ONE-CELLED

ORGANISMS.

BENEFICIAL INSECT: A GOOD INSECT

THAT EATS BAD FLOWER AND VEGETABLE

MUNCHING INSECTS.

BIODEGRADABLE: ABLE TO DECOMPOSE

OR BREAK DOWN THROUGH NATURAL

BACTERIAL OR FUNGAL ACTION,

SUBSTANCES MADE OF ORGANIC MATTER

ARE BIODEGRADABLE.

BOLT: TERM USED TO DESCRIBE A PLANT

THAT HAS GONE TO SEED PREMATURELY.

BONSAI: A VERY SHORT OR DWARFED PLANT.

BREAKER BOX: ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOX

HAVING ON/OFF SWITCHES RATHER THAN

FUSES.

BREATHE: ROOTS DRAW IN OR BREATHE

OXYGEN, STOMATA DRAW IN OR BREATHE

CARBON DIOXIDE.

BUD BLIGHT: A WITHERING CONDITION THAT

ATTACKS FLOWER BUDS.

BUFFERING: THE ABILITY OF A

SUBSTANCE TO REDUCE SHOCK AND

CUSHION AGAINST PH FLUCTUATIONS.

BULB: THE OUTER GLASS ENVELOPE OR

JACKET THAT PROTECTS THE ARC TUBE OF

AN HID LAMP.

BULBS: COMMON ARE TULIPS AND

DAFFODILS PLANTED IN THE FALL FOR

SPRING BLOOMS, OR FORCED INDOORS FOR

WINTER BLOOMS.

CALYX: THE POD HARBORING FEMALE OVULE

AND TWO PROTRUDING PISTILS, SEED POD.

CARBON DIOXIDE: (CO2) A COLORLESS,

ODORLESS, TASTELESS GAS IN THE AIR

NECESSARY FOR PLANT LIFE AND BIOMASS

ACCUMULATION.

CARBOHYDRATE: NEUTRAL COMPOUND

OF CARBON, HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN.

SUGAR, STARCH AND CELLULOSE ARE

CARBOHYDRATES.

CAUSTIC: CAPABLE OF DESTROYING, KILLING

OR EATING AWAY BY CHEMICAL ACTIVITY.

CELL: THE BASE STRUCTURAL UNIT THAT

PLANTS ARE MADE OF; CELLS CONTAIN A

NUCLEUS, THAT HOUSES ITíS DNA.

CELLULOSE: A COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATE

THAT STIFFENS A PLANTS TISSUE.

CFM: CUBIC FEET PER MINUTE.

CHELATE: COMBINING NUTRIENTS IN AN

ATOMIC RING THAT IS EASY FOR PLANTS TO

ABSORB.

CHLORINE: CHEMICAL USED TO PURIFY

WATER.

CHLOROPLAST: CONTAINING

CHLOROPHYLL.

CHLOROSIS: THE CONDITION OF A SICK

PLANT WITH YELLOWING LEAVES DUE TO

INADEQUATE FORMATION OF CHLOROPHYLL.

CHLOROSIS IS CAUSED BY NUTRIENT

DEFICIENCY, USUALLY IRON OR IMBALANCED

PH.

CLAY: SOIL MADE OF VERY FINE ORGANIC

MINERAL PARTICLES. CLAY IS NOT SUITABLE

FOR CONTAINER GARDENING.

CLIMATE: THE AVERAGE CONDITION OF

THE WEATHER IN A GARDEN ROOM OR

OUTDOORS.

COLOR SPECTRUM: THE BAND

OF COLORS (MEASURED IN NM) EMITTED BY

A LIGHT SOURCE.

COLOR TEMPERATURE: THE RELATIVE

WHITENESS OF A PIECE OF TUNGSTEN STEEL

HEATED TO THAT TEMPERATURE IN DEGREES

KELVIN.

COLOR TRACER: A COLORING AGENT ADDED

TO MANY COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS, SO

THE HORTICULTURIST KNOWS THERE IS

FERTILIZER IN THE SOLUTION.

COMPACTION: SOIL CONDITION THAT

RESULTS FROM TIGHTLY PACKING

SOIL; COMPACTED SOIL ALLOWS FOR

ONLY MARGINAL AERATION AND ROOT

PENETRATION.

COMPANION PLANTING: PLANTING

GARLIC, MARIGOLDS, ETC., ALONG WITH

OTHER PLANTS TO DISCOURAGE INSECT

INFESTATION.

COMPOST: A MIXTURE OF DECAYED ORGANIC

MATTER.

CORE: THE TRANSFORMER IN THE BALLAST IS

REFERRED TO AS THE CORE IN HID LIGHTING

SYSTEMS.

CORMS, RHIZOMES AND TUBERS: DORMANT

STEMS PLANTED IN THE FALL FOR SPRING

BLOOMS, OR FORCED INDOORS FOR WINTER

BLOOMS. COMMON VARIETIES ARE DAHLIAS

AND IRISES.

COTYLEDON: ENERGY STORAGE

COMPONENTS OF A SEED THAT FEED THE

PLANT BEFORE THE EMERGENCE OF ITS FIRST

TRUE LEAVES.

CROSS-POLLINATE: POLLINATING TWO

PLANTS HAVING DIFFERENT ANCESTRY.

CUBIC FOOT: VOLUME MEASUREMENT IN

FEET: Lî X Wî X Hî ˜ 1728î = CU. FT.

CUTTING: (1) GROWING TIP CUT

FROM A PARENT PLANT FOR ASEXUAL

PROPAGATION (2) CLONE.

DAMPING-OFF: DISEASE THAT ATTACKS

YOUNG SEEDLINGS AND CUTTINGS CAUSING

STEM TO ROT AT BASE.

DIRECT CURRENT (DC): AN ELECTRIC

CURRENT THAT FLOWS IN ONLY ONE

DIRECTION.

DEPLETE: EXHAUST SOIL OF NUTRIENTS,

MAKING IT INFERTILE.

DESICCATE: CAUSE TO DRY UP.

INSECTICIDAL SOAP DESICCATES

ITS VICTIMS.

DIOECIOUS: HAVING DISTINCT MALE AND

FEMALE ORGANS ON DIFFERENT PLANTS

WITHIN THE SAME SPECIES.

DOME: THE PART OF THE HID OUTER BULB

OPPOSITE THE NECK AND THREADS.

DOME SUPPORT: THE SPRING LIKE BRACKETS

THAT MOUNT THE ARC TUBE WITHIN THE

OUTER ENVELOPE.

DRAINAGE: WAY TO EMPTY SOIL OF EXCESS

WATER: WITH GOOD DRAINAGE, WATER

PASSES THROUGH SOIL EVENLY.

DRIP LINE: A LINE AROUND A PLANT

DIRECTLY UNDER ITS OUTERMOST BRANCH

TIPS: ROOTS SELDOM GROW BEYOND THE

DRIP LINE.

DRIP SYSTEM: A VERY EFFICIENT WATERING

SYSTEM THAT EMPLOYS A MAIN HOSE WITH

SMALL WATER EMITTERS.

DRY ICE: A COLD, WHITE SUBSTANCE

FORMED WHEN CARBON DIOXIDE IS

COMPRESSED AND COOLED; DRY ICE

CHANGES INTO CO2 GAS AT ROOM

TEMPERATURE.

ELECTRODE: A CONDUCTOR USED TO

ESTABLISH ELECTRICAL ARC OR CONTACT

WITH NON-METALLIC PART OF CIRCUIT.

ELONGATE: GROWTH IN LENGTH.

ENVELOPE: OUTER PROTECTIVE BULB OR

JACKET OF A LAMP.

EQUINOX: THE POINT AT WHICH THE SUN

CROSSES THE EQUATOR AND DAY AND NIGHT

ARE EACH 12 HOURS LONG; THE EQUINOX

OCCURS TWICE A YEAR, IN SPRING AND FALL.

FEED: DELIVER NUTRIENT TO THE PLANT VIA

ROOTS OR FOLIAGE.

FEMALE: PISTILLATE, OVULE, SEEDPRODUCING.

FERTIGATE: TO FERTILIZE AND IRRIGATE AT

THE SAME TIME.

FERTILIZER BURN: OVER FERTILIZATION:

FIRST LEAF TIPS BURN (TURN BROWN) THEN

THE LEAVES CURL.

FLAT: SHALLOW (THREE INCH) DEEP

CONTAINER, OFTEN 18 BY 24 OR 10 BY 20

INCHES WITH GOOD DRAINAGE, USED TO

START SEEDLINGS OR CUTTINGS.

FLUORESCENT LAMP: ELECTRIC LAMP

USING A TUBE FILLED WITH FLUORESCENT

MATERIAL, WHICH HAS A LOW HEAT OUTPUT.

FOLIAGE: THE LEAVES OR MORE

GENERALLY, THE GREEN PART OF A PLANT.

FOLIAR FEEDING: MISTING FERTILIZER

SOLUTION WHICH IS ABSORBED BY THE

FOLIAGE. BEST TO DO WHEN FIRST TURNING

ON YOUR LIGHTS.

FOOT-CANDLE: THE UNIT IS DEFINED AS

THE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION THAT

THE SURFACE OF AN IMAGINARY 1-FOOT

RADIUS SPHERE WOULD BE RECEIVING IF

THERE WERE A UNIFORM POINT SOURCE OF

ONE CANDLE IN THE EXACT CENTER OF THE

SPHERE. THE FOOT-CANDLE IS EQUAL TO ONE

LUMEN PER SQUARE FOOT. FOOT-CANDLE

IS A DERIVED UNIT OF ILLUMINANCE FROM

LUX. ONE FOOT-CANDLE IS EQUAL TO 10.76

LUX.

FUNGISTAT: A PRODUCT THAT INHIBITS

FUNGUS KEEPING IT IN CHECK.

FUNGUS: A LOWER PLANT LACKING

CHLOROPHYLL WHICH MAY ATTACK GREEN

PLANTS; MOLD, RUST, MILDEW.

FUSE: ELECTRICAL SAFETY DEVICE

CONSISTING OF A METAL THAT MELTS AND

INTERRUPTS THE CIRCUIT WHEN CIRCUIT IS

OVERLOADED.

FUSE BOX: BOX CONTAINING FUSES THAT

CONTROL ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

GPM: GALLONS PER MINUTE.

GENE: PART OF A CHROMOSOME THAT

INFLUENCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT;

GENES ARE INHERITED THROUGH SEXUAL

PROPAGATION.

GENETIC MAKE UP: THE SET OF

GENES INHERITED FROM PARENT PLANTS.

HALIDE: BINARY COMPOUND OF A

(HALOGENS) WITH AN ELECTROPOSITIVE

ELEMENTS.

HERMAPHRODITE: ONE PLANT HAVING BOTH

MALE AND FEMALE ORGANS; THE BREEDING

OF HERMAPHRODITES IS HARD TO CONTROL.

HERTZ (HZ): A UNIT OF FREQUENCY THAT

CYCLES ONE TIME EACH SECOND: A HOME

WITH 60 HERTZ AC CURRENT CYCLES 60

TIMES PER SECOND.

HID: HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE.

HONEY DEW: A STICKY, HONEY LIKE

SUBSTANCE SECRETED INTO FOLIAGE BY

APHIDS, SCALE AND MEALY BUGS.

HOOD: REFLECTIVE COVER OF A HID LAMP.

HOR: THE ABBREVIATION STAMPED ON

SOME HID BULBS MEANING THEY MUST BE

BURNED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION.

HORIZONTAL: PARALLEL TO THE HORIZON,

GROUND OR FLOOR.

HORMONE: CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE THAT

CONTROLS THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

OF A PLANT. ROOT-INDUCING HORMONES

HELP CUTTINGS ROOT.

HUMIDITY: (RELATIVE): RATIO BETWEEN THE

AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR AND THE

GREATEST AMOUNT OF MOISTURE THE AIR

COULD HOLD AT THE SAME TEMPERATURE.

HUMUS: DARK, FERTILE, PARTIALLY

DECOMPOSED PLANT OR ANIMAL MATTER;

HUMUS FORMS THE ORGANIC PORTION OF

THE SOIL.

HYBRID: AN OFFSPRING FROM TWO PLANTS

OF DIFFERENT BREEDS, VARIETY OR GENETIC

MAKE UP.

HYDRATED LIME: INSTANTLY SOLUBLE LIME,

USED TO RAISE PH OR SWEETEN SOIL.

HYDROGEN: LIGHT OR COLORLESS,

ODORLESS GAS; HYDROGEN COMBINES WITH

OXYGEN TO FORM WATER.

HYGROMETER: INSTRUMENT FOR

MEASURING RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE

ATMOSPHERE.

INBRED: (TRUE BREED) OFFSPRING OF

PLANTS OF THE SAME BREED OR ANCESTRY.

INERT: CHEMICALLY NON-REACTIVE; INERT

GROWING MEDIUMS MAKE IT EASY TO

CONTROL THE CHEMISTRY OF THE NUTRIENT

SOLUTION.

INTENSITY: THE MAGNITUDE OF THE LIGHT

ENERGY PER UNIT; INTENSITY DIMINISHES

THE FARTHER AWAY FROM THE SOURCE.

JACKET: PROTECTIVE OUTER BULB OR

ENVELOPE OF LAMP.

KILOWATT HOUR: MEASURE OF ELECTRICITY

USED PER HOUR; A 1000-WATT HID USES

ONE KILOWATT IN ONE HOUR.

LACEWING: BENEFICIAL INSECTS THAT PREYS

ON APHIDS.

LEACH: DISSOLVE OR WASH OUT SOLUBLE

COMPONENTS OF SOIL BY HEAVY WATERING.

LEAF CURL: LEAF MALFORMATION DUE TO

OVER-WATERING, OVER FERTILIZATION,

LACK OF MAGNESIUM, INSECT OR FUNGUS

DAMAGE OR NEGATIVE TROPISM.

LEAFLET: SMALL IMMATURE LEAF.

LEAVES: THE EXTERNAL PART OF A PLANT

ATTACHED TO BRANCHES AND STEMS FOR

THE PURPOSE OF TAKING IN LIGHT FROM

THE SUNíS ENERGY. THEY DO THIS WITH

CHLOROPLASTS IN THE CELLS WHICH

CONTAIN CHLOROPHYLL.

LEGGY: ABNORMALLY TALL INTERNODE

SPACE, WITH SPARSE FOLIAGE. LEGGYNESS

OF A PLANT IS USUALLY CAUSED BY LACK OF

BLUE LIGHT OR CO2. TOO MUCH NITROGEN

CAN ALSO CAUSE THIS.

LIFE CYCLE: A SERIES OF GROWTH STAGES

THROUGH WHICH A PLANT MUST PASS IN

ITS NATURAL LIFETIME; THE STAGES FOR

AN ANNUAL PLANT ARE SEED, SEEDLING,

VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL.

LIGHT MOVER: A DEVICE THAT MOVES A

LAMP BACK AND FORTH OR IN A CIRCLE

ACROSS THE CEILING OF A GARDEN ROOM

TO PROVIDE MORE EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF

LIGHT.

LIME: USED IN THE FORM OF DOLOMITE OR

HYDRATED LIME TO RAISE AND STABILIZE

SOIL pH.

LITMUS PAPER: CHEMICALLY SENSITIVE

PAPER USED FOR TESTING pH.

LOAM: ORGANIC SOIL MIXTURE OF CRUMBLY

CLAY, SILT AND SAND.

LUMEN: MEASUREMENT OF LIGHT OUTPUT:

ONE LUMEN IS EQUAL TO THE INTENSITY OF

LIGHT EMITTED BY ONE CANDLE THAT FALLS

ON ONE SQUARE FOOT OF SURFACE LOCATED

ONE FOOT AWAY FROM ONE CANDLE.

MACRO NUTRIENT: ONE OR ALL OF THE

PRIMARY NUTRIENTS N-P-K OR THE

SECONDARY NUTRIENTS MAGNESIUM AND

CALCIUM.

MEAN: AVERAGE THROUGHOUT LIFE; HIDíS

ARE RATED IN MEAN LUMENS.

MERISTEM: TIP OF PLANTS GROWTH.

MICRO NUTRIENT: ALSO REFERRED TO AS

TRACE ELEMENTS, INCLUDING S, FE, Mn, B,

Mo, Zn, AND Cu.

MILLIMETER: THOUSANDTH OF A METER

APPROXIMATELY .04 INCH

MOISTURE METER: AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

THAT MEASURES THE EXACT MOISTURE

CONTENT OF SOIL AT ANY GIVEN POINT.

MONOCHROMATIC: PRODUCING ONLY

ONE COLOR; LP SODIUM LAMPS ARE

MONOCHROMATIC.

MULCH: A PROTECTIVE COVERING OF

ORGANIC COMPOST, LEAVES, ETC.; INDOORS,

MULCH KEEPS SOIL TOO MOIST AND

POSSIBLE FUNGUS COULD RESULT.

NANOMETER: .000000001 METER,

NM IS USED AS A SCALE TO MEASURE

WAVE LENGTHS OF LIGHT; COLOR AND

LIGHT SPECTRUMS ARE EXPRESSED IN

NANOMETERS (NM).

NECROSIS: LOCALIZED DEATH OF A PLANT

PART.

NECK: TUBULAR GLASS END OF THE HID

BULB, ATTACHED TO THE THREADS.

NUTRIENT: PLANT FOOD, ESSENTIAL

ELEMENTS N-P-K, SECONDARY AND TRACE

ELEMENTS FUNDAMENTAL TO PLANT LIFE.

OHMíS POWER LAW: A LAW THAT EXPRESSES

THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTRIC CURRENT;

VOLTS TIMES AMPERES EQUALS WATTS.

ORGANIC: MADE OF, OR DERIVED

FROM OR RELATED TO LIVING ORGANISMS.

IN AGRICULTURE ORGANIC MEANS

ìNATURALî. IN CHEMISTRY ORGANIC

MEANS ìA MOLECULE OR SUBSTANCE THAT

CONTAINS CARBONî.

OVULE: A PLANTíS EGG FOUND WITHIN THE

CALYX, IT CONTAINS ALL THE FEMALE GENES;

WHEN FERTILIZED, AN OVULE WILL GROW

INTO A SEED.

OXYGEN: TASTELESS, COLORLESS ELEMENT,

NECESSARY IN SOIL TO SUSTAIN PLANT LIFE

AS WELL AS ANIMAL LIFE.

PARASITE: ORGANISM THAT LIVES ON OR IN

ANOTHER HOST ORGANISM; FUNGUS IS A

PARASITE.

PEAT: PARTIALLY DECOMPOSED VEGETATION

(USUALLY MOSS) WITH SLOW DECAY DUE TO

EXTREME MOISTURE AND COLD.

PERENNIAL: A PLANT, SUCH AS A TREE OR

SHRUB, WHICH COMPLETES ITS LIFE CYCLE

OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

pH: A SCALE FROM 1 TO 14 THAT MEASURES

THE ACID TO ALKALINE BALANCE OF A

GROWING MEDIUM (OR ANYTHING); IN

GENERAL PLANTS GROW BEST IN A RANGE

OF 5.5 TO 6.8 pH.

pH TESTER: ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT OR

CHEMICAL USED TO FIND WHERE SOIL OR

WATER IS ON THE pH SCALE.

PHOTOMETRICS: THE STUDY OF LIGHT,

ESPECIALLY COLOR.

PHOSPHOR COATING: INTERNAL BULB

COATING THAT DIFFUSES LIGHT AND IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR VARIATIONS IN COLOR

OUTPUTS.

PHOTOPERIOD: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

THE LENGTH OF LIGHT AND DARK IN A 24

HOUR PERIOD.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS: THE BUILDING OF

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS (CARBOHYDRATES)

FROM LIGHT ENERGY, WATER AND CARBON

DIOXIDE.

PHOTOTROPISM: THE SPECIFIC MOVEMENT

OF A PLANT PART TOWARDS A LIGHT

SOURCE.

PIGMENT: THE SUBSTANCE IN PAINT

OR ANYTHING THAT ABSORBS LIGHT,

PRODUCING (REFLECTING) THE SAME COLOR.

POLLEN: FINE, DUST LIKE MICRO-SPORES

CONTAINING MALE GENES.

POWER SURGE: INTERRUPTION OR CHANGE

IN INTENSITY OF ELECTRICITY.

PRIMARY NUTRIENTS: N-P-K

PROPAGATE: (1) SEXUAL: PRODUCE A SEED

BY BREEDING DIFFERENT MALE AND FEMALE

FLOWERS (2) ASEXUAL: TO PRODUCE A

PLANT BY TAKING CUTTINGS.

PRUNE: ALTER THE SHAPE AND GROWTH

PATTERN OF A PLANT BY CUTTING STEMS

AND SHOOTS.

PVC PIPE: PLASTIC (POLYVINYL CHLORIDE)

PIPE THAT IS EASY TO WORK WITH, READILY

AVAILABLE AND USED TO PIPE WATER INTO A

GARDEN ROOM.

PYRETHRUM: NATURAL INSECTICIDE

MADE FROM THE BLOSSOMS OF VARIOUS

CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

ROOT BOUND: ROOTS STIFLED OR INHIBITED

FROM NORMAL GROWTH, BY THE CONFINES

OF A CONTAINER.

ROOTS: THEIR PURPOSE IS TO ANCHOR A

PLANT AND PROVIDE A MEANS IN WHICH TO

FEED AND HYDRATE A PLANT.

REJUVENATE: RESTORE YOUTH; A MATURE

PLANT, HAVING COMPLETED ITS LIFE

CYCLE (FLOWERING), MAY BE STIMULATED

BY A NEW 18 HOUR PHOTO PERIOD, TO

REJUVENATE OR PRODUCE NEW VEGETATIVE

GROWTH.

SALT: CRYSTALLINE COMPOUND THAT

RESULTS FROM IMPROPER pH OR TOXIC

BUILDUP OF FERTILIZER. SALT WILL

BURN PLANTS, PREVENTING THEM FROM

ABSORBING NUTRIENTS.

SECONDARY NUTRIENTS: CALCIUM (CA) AND

MAGNESIUM (MG).

SEED POD: A DRY CALYX CONTAINING A

MATURE OR MATURING SEED.

SHORT CIRCUIT: CONDITION THAT RESULTS

WHEN WIRES CROSS AND FORM A CIRCUIT. A

SHORT CIRCUIT WILL BLOW FUSES.

SOCKET: THREADED, WIRED RECEPTACLE

FOR A BULB.

SOLUBLE: ABLE TO BE DISSOLVED IN WATER.

SPORE: SEED LIKE OFFSPRING OF A FUNGUS.

SPROUT: (1) A RECENTLY GERMINATED

SEED (2) SMALL NEW GROWTH OF A LEAF

OR STEM.

SQUARE FEET (SQ FT): LENGTH (IN FEET)

TIMES WIDTH EQUALS SQUARE FEET.

STAMEN: MALE, POLLEN-PRODUCING.

STARCH: COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATE; STARCH

IS MANUFACTURED AND STORED IN FOOD.

STERILIZE: MAKE STERILE (SUPER

CLEAN) BY REMOVING DIRT, GERMS

AND BACTERIA.

STROBOSCOPIC EFFECT: A QUICK PULSATING

OR FLASHING OF A LAMP.

STRESS: A PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL FACTOR

THAT CAUSES EXTRA EXERTION BY PLANTS; A

STRESSED PLANT WILL NOT GROW AS WELL

AS A NON STRESSED PLANT.

STOMATA: SMALL MOUTH LIKE OR NOSE LIKE

OPENINGS (PORES) ON LEAF UNDERSIDE,

RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPIRATION AND

MANY OTHER LIFE FUNCTIONS; THE

MILLIONS OF STOMATA, MUST BE KEPT VERY

CLEAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.

SUGAR: FOOD PRODUCT OF PLANT.

CARBOHYDRATES THAT CONTAIN

HYDROCARBON CHAIN.

SYNTHESIS: PRODUCTION OF A SUBSTANCE,

SUCH AS CHLOROPHYLL, BY UNITING LIGHT

ENERGY AND ELEMENTS OR CHEMICAL

COMPOUNDS.

TAP ROOT: THE MAIN OR PRIMARY ROOT

THAT GROWS FROM THE SEED; LATERAL

ROOTS WILL BRANCH OFF THE TAP ROOT.

TEPID: WARM 70 TO 80 DEGREES F (21 TO

27 DEGREES C); ALWAYS USE TEPID WATER

AROUND PLANTS TO FACILITATE CHEMICAL

PROCESSES AND EASE SHOCK.

TERMINAL BUD: BUD AT THE GROWING END

OF THE MAIN STEM.

THIN: CULL OR WEED OUT WEAK, SLOW

GROWING SEEDLINGS.

TRANSFORMER: A DEVICE IN THE BALLAST

THAT TRANSFORMS ELECTRIC POWER FROM

ONE VOLTAGE TO ANOTHER.

TRANSPIRE: GIVE OFF WATER VAPOR AND

BI-PRODUCTS VIA STOMATA AND CARBON

DIOXIDE INTAKE AT THE LEAVES.

TRELLIS: FRAME OR NETTING (LATTICE) THAT

TRAINS OR SUPPORTS PLANTS.

TUNGSTEN: A HEAVY, HARD METAL WITH

HIGH MELTING POINT WHICH CONDUCTS

ELECTRICITY WELL; TUNGSTEN IS USED FOR

A FILAMENT IN TUNGSTEN HALOGEN AND

INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

ULTRAVIOLET: LIGHT WITH VERY SHORT

WAVE LENGTHS, OUT OF THE VISIBLE

SPECTRUM, PAST THE BLUE-VIOLET.

VARIETY: STRAIN, PHENOTYPE.

VENT: OPENING SUCH AS A WINDOW OR

DOOR THAT ALLOWS THE CIRCULATION OF

FRESH AIR.

VENTILATION: CIRCULATION OF FRESH AIR,

FUNDAMENTAL TO A HEALTHY INDOOR

GARDEN, AN EXHAUST FAN CREATES

EXCELLENT VENTILATION.

VERTICAL: UP AND DOWN PERPENDICULAR

TO THE HORIZONTAL.

WETTING AGENT: COMPOUND THAT REDUCES

THE DROPLET SIZE AND LOWERS THE

SURFACE TENSION OF THE WATER, MAKING

IT WETTER.

WICK: PART OF A PASSIVE HYDROPONIC

SYSTEM USING A WICK SUSPENDED IN THE

NUTRIENT SOLUTION, THE NUTRIENTS PASS

UP THE WICK AND ARE ABSORBED BY THE

MEDIUM AND ROOTS.