Q: I have been trying to grow some vegetables hydroponically, but they are not doing well. I have them in a sunny window with extra lights for illumination. I am adding liquid fertilizer, hydrogen peroxide and a pH reducer because my water has a high pH. What else can I do?

A: If you are following the label directions for the fertilizer and have the lights at the proper height, you will be doing well. Check those two things to make sure they are right.

My biggest concern is that you mention hydrogen peroxide. This chemical should only be used for cleaning the hydroponic system when no plants are being grown. Hydrogen peroxide is an unstable combination of two hydrogens and two oxygens. Plain old water has two hydrogens and one oxygen. The extra oxygen comes off the hydrogen peroxide and binds to anything that has an opposite electrical charge.

Microorganisms are oxidized and killed when the extra oxygen binds to them. Iron oxidizes into rust when the oxygen binds to it. The problem you are having is probably from the fact that the extra oxygen can't tell the difference between bad bacteria cells and good root cells. The hydrogen peroxide is damaging the roots of your plants at the same time it's killing the bacteria cells. Stop using the peroxide until the vegetables are done. Then clean your system and put in new healthy plants.

Q: I have seen ads for LED grow lights, and I want to start some vegetables for next summer's gardens. Do they really work?

A: I have only used one type, but it was very successful. Last spring, I used a GlowPanel 45 in a test with my regular fluorescent grow light. I planted the same seeds in two identical trays. There were tomato, beans, peppers and cilantro. The seedlings growing under the bright red and blue LEDs of the GrowPanel 45 were sturdy and stocky plants with good dark-green leaves. In the same room, the plants under my regular grow light were tall, spindly and pale green.

The 1-foot square panel of LEDs uses only 28 watts and can replace a 250-watt metal halide grow light. It does so without producing the heat of a light bulb, too. LED fixtures can be used on hydroponic and soil growing systems and are suitable for all stages in a plants life, not just sprouting seeds. The LEDs last thousands of hours longer than regular bulbs and use far less electricity. In a location where they are used every day and all year long, they pay for themselves quickly. Because they use so little power, they can be linked together by just plugging them into each other and using one timer.

The only drawback that I see is the unusual color. The LED bulbs in GrowPanels are intensely blue and red. Combined, they produce a purple glow that takes some getting used to. The green leaves look strange under the light, but when the light is off, the good green color is obvious. If your local garden center doesn't have them, check them out at www.glow-panel.com.

E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg at [email protected]. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.