R IO U S G R O W E R S M A G A Z IN E F O R S E
ISSUE 12 2011
Hard & SoftWater What is it?
Gaming
BARLEY GRASS
Superman amongst foods
Powered by
And more: EC by CANNA Research
Grower’s talk
Product Flash
Questions & Answers
Grower’s Tip
Factographic
Facts
Puzzle & Win
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Foreword
HQTalk:
Water, agua, eau, wasser or in the chemical formula H20. It is one of the most important substances on our planet. It covers almost 71% of the earth’s surface and is absolutely of vital importance for all known life forms. It was also an inspiration for mythology, think of Neptune, Poseidon, Oceanus as well as creatures like Mermaids or monsters like that of Loch Ness.
Approximately 70% of fresh water is consumed by agriculture and the most important use is for irrigation. The word Hydroponics actually means water works from the Greek words Hydro meaning water and Ponos meaning labor. So obviously water is of utmost importance in this industry. That’s why this issue of CANNATALK is dedicated to water.
We receive many questions about the influence of Hard vs. Soft water. CANNA Research wrote an article on how to deal with it. If you’re experiencing more issues with EC or ppm values you might wanna check out the second CANNA Research article in this issue. It will probably help you understand it better. If not, please contact us by filling out the questionnaire form on our website www.canna-hydroponics.com. One of our tech specialists will get back to you soon and help you. The most heard question is probably how to and how frequently to water plants. It is also one of the hardest to answer as it is dependent on many things. But in the Grower’s Tip portion on page 23, you’ll find some rules of thumb of which we’re sure it’ll help you out.
On a different note... do you remember going to the Arcade center to play a video game? Soon followed by the time you got in line to buy the Pac-Man cartridge for your Atari 2600. Causing you to still chase flickering ghosts while sleeping. And then later on when you needed to rewind a cassette to start a new game of Great Giana Sisters or Paper Boy on the Commodore 64. Nowadays 3D video gaming is possible and the internet has made online gaming a big hit even causing some addictions! Video Games have been popular ever since the start and through development it likely always will be. You probably know it already but this issue’s What’s Happening item is about Gaming.
s t n e t n Co Enjoy reading, Jeroen
CANNA Research
4 10 12 16 18 19
What’s happening?
Hard water. Soft water. What is it and how do I deal with it?
Gaming
Questions & Answers
Grower’s tip & cartoon
Loads of questions answered
Grow It Yourself Barley Grass
Factographic
The best watering frequency
CANNA Research EC explained
Puzzle
Suprising facts about hot springs
Win 4 CANNA AQUA bottles
Grower’s talk
Facts
Aaron’s price winning story
Product Flash Build!t
20 23 24 28 29 30
Some interesting horticultural developments
What’s next? & Colophon Its all about plagues and diseases
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cannaRESEARCH
HARD WATER SOFT WATER
WHaT IS IT
anD HOW DO I DEaL WITH IT?
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ALL OVER THE WORLD, QUESTIONS POUR IN AS TO THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN HARD WATER AND SOFT WATER AND HOW THESE DIFFERENCES AFFECT HOW AND WHAT PLANTS ARE FED. By Geary Coogler, B.Sc. Horticulture
T
he U.S. department of the interior and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) define 60 mg/l (60 ppm) or less of certain ions as soft water. Water with over 120 mg/l (120 ppm) is considered hard, and water in between is moderately hard. Other countries and agencies hold their own distinctions. (See Table 1)
Strictly speaking, it is the concentration of dissolved positive multivalent metallic ions with a charge of +2 or +3, typically Calcium and Magnesium. This effect can be heightened by the presence of dissolved Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the water as carbonates or bicarbonates.
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cannaRESEARCH
Hard water, Soft water, Bad water what is the difference?
Anything dissolved in water, can and will react with other elements added to the water, or with anything it comes into contact with. Hard Water is an issue for cleaning, for equipment, and increases the chemical activity of the water especially where pH is concerned; it is often considered healthier. Typically this comes from ground water that has been exposed for longer periods to mineral bearing rock. Well water is a prime example. Soft Water on the other hand, allows soap to foam up and work better, has less issues for equipment, and provides more of a blank slate in chemical reactions; studies have shown a correlation between soft water and health issues including cardiac disease. Typically this comes through surface water, rivers, streams, and lakes that have not been exposed to mineral bearing rock formations for long periods. It can also be composed of treated water where most of all ions have been removed or replaced by single valance atoms such as Sodium from water softening equipment.
Problematic ions
Bad Water is bad water, whether because it has a high salt content or has undesired chemicals in it. It can be 6|cannatalk
found anywhere especially in industrial areas, intense agricultural regions, and close to bodies of salt water. This has no bearing on water hardness. Do not confuse ion or salt concentration with hardness or softness of water. Hardness is a function of multivalent ions like Ca2+ and Mg2+ not monovalent ions like Na+ or Cl+. Monovalent ions also show up in the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of a solution, so it is possible to have a TDS of 450 mg/L (1 ppm = 1 mg/L), derived from adding table salt to distilled water, but have soft water. There is no direct correlation between TDS or EC (electrical conductivity) and water hardness unless it is known with certainty that all EC derives exclusively from Ca, Mg or other positive multivalent metallic ions. Sugar water has EC but no hardness. Water softeners work this way by displacing the problem ions Calcium and Magnesium with Sodium ions. The EC stays the same or increases but the water goes from hard to soft; not a good thing for plants. For us, the big question is “How does this affect the nutrients for plants?� One of the biggest effects for growing systems using hard water is the potential for
HARD WATER SOFT WATE insoluble deposits of Calcium or Magnesium carbonates. This combining of these ions is an endothermic reaction meaning that as heat is supplied to the solution, the process gets faster. The process of pumping water from a reservoir, through a pump, through smaller pipes, onto a table top and through a root system imparts increasing amounts of heat to the solution so the reaction is natural and persistent.
Reduced flows
Figure 1: The EC value cannot tell you about the quality of your water. Sometimes hard water with an EC of 0.5 may still be high quality water for growing, while other water with the same EC could be bad or even very harmful to your plants because it contains the wrong salts and chemicals.
WHaT IS IT
anD HOW DO DEaL WITH IT
As this heat enters the system, the combining of these elements increases, resulting in the deposition of insoluble materials on the inside of pumps, pipes, tubes and medium of the growing system. Ultimately this leads to reduced flows, blocked emitters, burnt out pumps, and so on. The effect on the chemical profile of the nutrient package can also be affected through various antagonistic relationships between individual elements and the overall affect on pH. The harder the water the more Calcium and Magnesium is being applied. The higher these elements get in relation to some other elements such as Potassium and Phosphorous, the less available these elements
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cannaRESEARCH Table 1. Recommended upper limits of chemical factors in irrigation water for greenhouse crop production (Based on 1 and 2, see bibliography)
Ph Alkalinity
Total alkalinity Bicarbonates Hardness (Ca + Mg)
5.4 to 6.8 150 mg/l 122 mg/l 150 mg/l
Seedlings General Production
0.75 mS/cm 1.5 mS/cm
seedlings General Production
0.69 mS/cm 1.37 mS/cm
Electrical Conductivity
Total Dissolved Salts (TDS)
Sodium Absorption ratio Sodium (Na) Chloride (Cl)
1.5 mmol/l 1 mmol/l
HARD WATER SOFT WATER Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulphur (S)
Nitrate (NO3-) Ammonium (NH4-)
Phosphate (H2PO4)
Sulphate (SO4)
Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Boron (B) Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn) Fluoride (F-) Aluminium (Al)
0.16 mmol/l 0.03 mmol/l 0.02 mmol/l 0.1 mmol/l 1,5 mmol/l 0.3 mmol/l 0.41-0.62 mmol/l 0.31-0.47 mmol/l 3.6-71.6 µmol/l 18.2 µmol/l 46.2 µmol/l 3.1 µmol/l 4.6 µmol/l 52.6 µmol/l 185 µmol/l
WHaT IS IT
anD HOW DO I DEaL The values can vary by EC meter. Here we have used the Truncheon Meter to calculate the values.
become, effectively locking out these elements. These positive ions will bring the pH of the solution up, and when hardness is also affected by carbonate levels, the pH effect will continue into the medium to which it is applied. The harder the water, the more acid is required to lower the pH. There are a couple of commercial solutions to various situations of concentration and hardness. The first is
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Water Softening. Water softening involves flooding the water with a monovalent ion, typically Sodium, which drives out the Calcium and lowers the hardness of the water. This is great for clothes washing and baths but not so great for consumption by plants and humans, especially where the water is very hard. The next is Reverse Osmosis (RO), a process where tap water is forced through a series of membranes with
R
progressively smaller pores that block molecules and atoms of a certain size. This filters out the Calcium and other larger elements effectively lowering the water hardness. It also strips out most of all the elements including harmful molecules, Sodium ions, and most other ions thus effectively lowering overall Total Dissolved Solids and EC. It is also expensive to install and maintain and really not always necessary, at least to use pure Reverse Osmosis water.
Water sample
Decent nutrient companies should take the concerns of hard or soft water into account with the design of their products. Different lines have different needs in this area. Most of these differences are influenced by the medium the product is applied to. Potting mixes have a greater buffering capacity, the ability to hold elements, and should not be recirculated. Recirculating adds more heat to the system and allows deposits to form more readily. Potting mixes have natural buffers that hold pH changes down. The difference in content should be adjusted through the correct ratio of nutrients found in a fertilizer specially developed for potting mixes. Only soft water is recommended for recirculating systems on inert mediums, so pure RO is acceptable in this system. Recirculating systems have to be able to adjust to, not only the hardness of the water, but also to the additional elements applied in the tap water over and above what is added or needed in the nutrient added. Controlling salt composition is critical because this also affects pH and pH is critical in signaling a plant’s flower response (in addition to photoperiod change). The best would be to use a nutrient which is designed to work with tap water EC values no greater than 0.3 – 0.4 mS/ cm while providing some buffering for pH control in the
system (for example CANNA AQUA). Another situation of current growing systems is the Run-To-Waste system where tank mixed nutrients are applied to a plant and the excess is allowed to drain away and not be re-captured. In this system, it is important to not only adjust the pH once it is mixed, but to maintain that pH across time as the product sits in a prepared tank. This keeps pH swings down while keeping insoluble compounds from forming. Also, there are less Calcium and Magnesium ions available in soft water and the amount needs to be augmented or replaced to achieve the correct disposition of ions. To make growing easier while allowing you to worry less about nutrient composition you should use a nutrient brand that has both a soft water and a hard water version (for RTW) to choose from (like CANNA SUBSTRA). How to know when to use the Hard Water version or the Soft Water version? Simple, see the above explanation and run a water sample. So, what is gained with this knowledge: the appreciation of the fact that there are many aspects affecting water quality. Not only is the total amount of dissolved ions an issue, but also the composition of these elements and the effect they have on added nutrient packages and the post chemical reactions that can and will occur. Ultimately, it all affects the plant. Nutrients have to be designed and used based on the conditions of the water that the grower intends to utilize as source water. In the end, it is also about correctly designed nutrient packages that allow for both the plant’s nutrient requirements and the long term effect on plant development, and the effect of the medium on composition, storage, and reactivity. Testing is knowing, and knowing is growing; how much do you know? •
Biblio GRaPHIE
1. Baily, D, T Bilderback, and D Bir. “Water considerations for container production of plants.” North Carolina State University Horticulture Information Leaflet 557. 1996. 2. Kessler Jr., J. R. “Water Quality Management for Greenhouse Production.” Alabama Cooperative Extension Service Publication ANR-1158. Alabama A&M and Auburn University, 2005.
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Questions & Answers
are you expected to empt y the reservoir and start with a fre reservoir and start with a fre
es it’s no problem to HIZOTONIC as a le ANNARHIZOTONIC
We receive a lot of questions from growers and CANNAtalk readers through the website requesting our help in resolving issues they are experiencing in growing their crops. As always, our CANNA Research is more than willing to answer them!
www.canna-hydroponics.ca
Answer
Our recommended doses on the product label are in a clean tank of water. In a recirculating system you should renew the tank after every 2 weeks or when changing from 1 phase to the I’m using the product other. Within this period you only add water to calculator for food on your take the EC down, or add feeding to correct website and when using a the EC and you correct the pH if necessary. recirculating system, the table If you have to add feeding, (not very shows to use CANNA Aqua common by the way) you have to make Vega and Aqua Flores etc and it the calculation to how much you need to provides quantities you should be add. Changing from phase, or within 2 using. However it’s not clear to me weeks, or when the tank is almost empty if these quantities are simply added (until 30%), you have to renew the solution. to the reservoir or are you expected Throw away the old feeding and start all over to empty the reservoir and start with again with a fresh tank. If you don’t refresh, the a fresh batch? And when it states roots absorb certain elements which can kill the Vegatative state growth (1-3) weeks, are plant in time. So the amount we advice is in fresh clean water the quantities per week or do they last when you change the tank size, for that amount of water. during the whole of that phase?
Question
or
Please advise. Thanks. AC
Question
Can anybody tell me why the NFT advice is to run the pump 24/7?
Answer
When using a NFT system you always use dry substrates or none. Dry substrates, like clay pebbles hardly hold any water, this means that the roots always pump in a mechanic manner to keep themselves moist. Dry roots die and can not absorb any water or nutrition. To keep the moist level stable around the roots they need to be watered 24/7. The dry substrate, the pot and the rest of the system determine the frequency of dripping till continuously dripping.
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Question
Is it okay to spray with a weak solution of RHIZOTOTONIC through the full veg phase?
Answer
Yes it’s no problem to use CANNA RHIZOTONIC as a leaf-spray. But only until the generative period. If you use it too long, leaves will become big and weak. If you want to use a leaf-spray in the generative period, please use CANNABOOST, if still needed, until flowering week 5. After this week don’t spray any more.
PK-1314 and g n i s u d n e m com n do you re How and whe BIOBOOST? Can anybodquestio
Question
have used your COCO coir with the COCO A+B nutrients Is it okay to Isp ra y wi th weak (drain to waste) with greata success. I am about usetion sotolu
Question
I was told by the store where I purchase my CANNA products that I should RHIZOTOTONIC not use the CANNAZYM product the last two weeks in my garden because it is outside in large beds. They explained to me that this dosage was more designed for container soil growing not really for field production. Also, because the soil outside is conditioned by weather and has complete drainage, worms, cover crops annually grown in them. They said too much enzyme would affect taste and colour if used during the “flush” cycle the last 1-2 weeks. I used the grow calculator with tank size and it says to use “CANNAZYM” during that period. One other plant store suggested I use it half strength. I am also breeding worms in these beds and add microbiologicals (worm/compost teas) as well as mycorrhizals so there is quite a bit of enzymic activity in the soil already. I am primarily concerned with soil health and quality of the crop. Thanks for any help.
Answer
CANNAZYM will not interfere with anything other than cellulose, inside or out, containers or beds. These enzymes are the same ones found in natural conditions. The one thing we have noted is that the better levels of enzymes are found in less cultivated soils. Levels found are always higher under stable, older stands of forest and much less to almost nothing under continuously cultivated farm lands. What does this mean? Cultivation causes changes in the addition of fresh material for decomposition and therefore less available food for life forms. There is also loss of physical characteristics that affect types as well as other pressures from different life forms. What does this mean? Well if I were turning my bed between crops or even yearly, I would continue the CANNAZYM. If the beds were left as it is then I would not worry so much about using it. CANNAZYM is made more for the sterile conditions of modern agriculture, container or bed. It is made for cellulose only, something not attacked directly except by some specific organisms. Mycorrhizal fungi does not do it, few things do, and most of those are specific so they only take certain steps in the process of what it takes to breakdown cellulose.
Question
Hello I’m using BIOCANNA right now and I was wondering if I can use BIOCANNA in recirculating systems or in drip systems. Or is BIOCANNA just drain to waste? When Flowering how and when do you recommend using PK-13/14 and BIOBOOST? Also what if I want to use an organic PK-13/14 will the BIOBOOST still work? Thank you so much. I hope it is not too many questions. Hope to hear from you soon.
o
your COCO in my recirculating system, top feed pots filled with clay pebbles and a layer of coco. Since this th roughshould thI use e CANNA whol e Or recirculates AQUA? could ve g I phase? get away with regular CANNA COCO nutes? I check pH daily, top off with plain water, and do a weekly reservoir change. I would prefer to use CANNA COCO nutes because a portion of my other crops still use handwater drain to waste.
Answer
Difficult question at best. If the amount of COCO medium used is below 50% than yes... maybe. We don’t recommend using coco in a hydroponic system. The nutrient is designed to work with the medium in a RTW (Run-to-Waste) application. Anything else is guesswork at best. AQUA is designed to give long term fertility to a solution being passed through the root zone repeatedly. There is a pH buffer in it that helps the grower hold pH levels but will not work as well with an active organic medium like COCO. At which point the system works more as coco or hydroponic is the question. So, as a bit of an educated guess, with less than 50% coco medium, use COCO A/B, and AQUA below that. Watch the pH and results closely and you may need to change the nutrient, the water cycle, the pH, or the concentration or all of them.
Answer
No, sorry, BIOCANNA, like every other true organic product will only work under the influence of a root zone and medium, including other biotics. This is for many reasons some complex some simple. Much research is ongoing in quest of other methods, however everything has been negative to date. You can try other PK products but would have to ensure that it is all applied at the correct amount for a CANNA base product. There is nothing organic about any PK supplement. The problem is that organic P or K will be less available to the plant in a controlled fashion, and would have to be applied separate far enough ahead of the need, to be affective. Sorry, if you are intent on maintaining a total organic product, then you have to be willing to work with nature. This could mean a smaller harvest and better planning, but higher quality. 11|cannatalk
GrowITYOURSELF
Barley grass could well be called the superman amongst foods, the young emperor of health. A bright green supercop to ward off high cholesterol levels and even kill off carcinogens, we’re told. Not bad for a baby! Let us show you the wondrous world of barley grass. Let’s juice it! Text: Marco Barneveld / www.bqurious.nl
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BARLEY GRASS: Emerald superfood Heaps of History It must have been a massive, life-changing discovery about 9000 years ago when the inhabitants of what is now known as the Middle East started cultivating barley. Barley, or hordeum vulgare is derived from a wild species similar to Hordeum spontaneum, which is common occurs widely in Turkey and Syria. For the first time, man was able to grow a steady supply of food on the same spot. No more hunting. No more relentless travelling around. Barley was probably the first cereal grain to be cultivated by man. And since barley grass is nothing more than baby barley before the ovule has begun to move up and the grain started to develop, barley grass has actually been around even longer. written crop reports have been found in Egypt dating back to 2440 B.C. Those Egyptians and also the Greeks, knew the importance of the plant they suspected it was a gift from the gods and revered it
as a sacred grain. Its cultivation spread rapidly around the globe. The Chinese were cultivating barley in 2,000 B.C. and it was also one of the first crops to be planted in the new-world colony of Virginia in 1611. In the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond argues that the availability of barley, and barley grass, is one of the main reasons why Eurasian civilizations have survived and conquered others. Since biblical times, ancient Asian and Middle Eastern cultures reportedly included barley grass in their diets. Historically, the young plant species were used to treat the skin, the liver, the blood, and gastrointestinal disorders. Ancient Greeks used it to treat gastrointestinal inflammations. Gladiators in Rome ate barley grass for strength and stamina. The Roman physician Pliny used barley grass as part of a ritualized cure for boils.
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BARLEY GRASS: Emerald superfood
Neatly nutritious It took a while for science to get to the bottom of the nutritional value of barley grass and other cereal grasses, though. But in 1940, nutritionists finally explained how the vitamins, minerals, and protein in cereal grasses like barley grass are essential to animals and humans. The Council of Foods of the American Medical Association approved a dehydrated preparation of cereal grass called “cerophyl” as an “accepted food” in 1939. The true nutritional benefits are found in the young grass leaves. These leaves contain many of the vitamins, minerals, and proteins necessary for the human diet. Barley grass is considered a whole food concentrate that is close to its natural state, supplying the nutrients we require in natural proportions. So you want to know how nutritious baby barley is? Ready? The juice of barley grass contains eighteen amino acids including alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine. Amino acids like these are the building blocks of proteins, which are the major constituents of our body and necessary for the continuous processes of cell building, cell regeneration and energy production that are part of living. The vitamins found in barley grass include beta-carotene, folic acid, pantothenic
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acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. The minerals include potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, manganese and zinc. Along with all that, you get lots of live enzymes, one of which is the anti-aging enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD aids digestion and metabolism by helping to disperse vitamins and minerals into the blood stream so that they can be absorbed by the body. Neatly nutritious, no?
The green magic of chlorophyll When you look at the pictures next to this article, the bright emerald green of the young grass splashes off the page. This colour reflects the abundance of chlorophyll in the plant, as in other dark leafy vegetables. Chlorophyll, which is an inherent component of all green plants, is very similar to haemoglobin. In fact, their molecular structure is nearly identical. This similarity makes it easy for the body to assimilate. Haemoglobin is substance that oxygen binds to in the blood to be carried around the body, and chlorophyll actually boosts the haemoglobin count in the blood. More haemoglobin means more oxygen-rich blood. So chlorophyll actually aids in the rebuilding of the blood stream. For example, animals with a low red blood cell count that were given wheat grass had a healthy level of red blood cells within five days. It also prevents bacterial growth in the digestive tract as well as the production of yeasts and fungi. Chlorophyll eliminates bad breath and acts as an internal body deodorant.
Smooth recipefor health
This green smoothie is loaded with nutrients and tastes great! – 2 bunches of spinach – 1 bunch mint leaves – ½ peeled cucumber – 1 cup fresh pineapple – 1 cup frozen pineapple/peach/mango – 2 large ripe pears – 2 cups water – 2.9 cl barley grass juice Blend it and down it! To your health.
Chlorophyll and other essential nutrients act synergistically in barley grass to detoxify the body from destructive toxins such as the heavy metals and pollutants that we ingest every day. Chlorophyll also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Active antioxidant But the health benefits don’t stop there. Barley grass is also an extremely powerful antioxidant. It has the ability to scavenge free radicals. Reactive oxygen species have been shown to play an important part in mediating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and can be instrumental in the pathogenesis of diseases such as rheumatoid synovitis, arthritis, and gout.
Chasing cancer
Are we done yet? Definitely not! The really big one is that barley grass protects human tissue cells against carcinogens. The exact mechanism at work is unknown but it may be associated with the plant’s antioxidant activity or its chlorophyll content. It has been suggested that complexes may be formed between the carcinogen and the chlorophyll that may de-activate carcinogens. In addition, antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, found in high concentrations in green barley juice protect against radiation and free radicals.
Anything else?
So, is that all? Almost. Research in Japan and other countries suggests that barley grass can also help against asthma, obesity, skin rejuvenation, anaemia, arthritis, gastritis, peptic ulcers, diabetes, cellular damage from x-rays, heart disease and hepatitis.
The dreadful downside So, what’s the catch? I mean, it can’t be all good can it? Well, you are right. There is a downside. Some taste buds might not appreciate the taste of the green, slightly bitter juice. That’s all? Yep, that’s all. There are absolutely no known side effects to this superfood. So, once again, let’s juice it for a healthier life!
Grow it yourself! There is one other thing. Barley Grass powder is not cheap. However, it’s very simple to grow it yourself! Put barley seeds in water to accelerate germination. After 24 hours, put the seeds in soil in a pot. Put the pot in a warm and bright area to stimulate growing. Water the seeds daily. During 14 days, they will grow about 20 cm, with 100 grams of seeds producing about 100 grams of grass. Process the grass in a blender 100 - 200 grams of grass + 1/2 litre of water. Filter the juice and dilute it with 1/2 - 1 litre of water. Ready to go! •
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Facto The eruption of boiling water DID YOU KNOW....?
• …the Strokkur geyser shown in the picture is located in Geysir National Park in Iceland? It erupts every 5-8 minutes and the jets of water reach a height of some 30 metres. • …the photograph shows a jet of boiling hot water which froze immediately as it erupted because of the extremely cold ambient temperature? • …most natural geysers have been destroyed to generate geothermal energy? Around 10,715 megawatts of geothermal energy are now generated worldwide. • …water from geysers and hot springs has been used to grow tropical fruit in geothermally heated greenhouses since 1920? The fruit could not otherwise be cultivated in Iceland’s inhospitable climate. • …geothermal energy is not only used for heating greenhouses, but also for heating homes, streets and parking garages, drying fish and wood, and baking bread?
• …microorganisms can thrive in those hot springs, despite the extreme temperature of over 73°C Some of these organisms can even survive at temperatures higher than the boiling point of water, 100°C. • …if you drop your clothes into some boiling geysers, they will look like they have been cleaned using bleach when you take them out again? The same microbes are used to create the stonewashed look on jeans. • …that microbes that live in geysers are used to help DNA matching in criminal cases, and also used for making artificial sweeteners? • …that these microorganisms are very valuable? One company has a contract with Yellowstone National Park to study batches of the bacteria in the geysers in return for some of the profits from marketing these bacteria. 17|cannatalk
A word from A GROWER
TALK I have been growing all kinds of crops and herbs indoors on Rockwool for years now. Although I used to be fairly satisfied with my yield I thought it could be better. After trying several brands over the years I finally decided to take a chance and try CANNA. I was told many times about CANNA but always considered it to be way too expensive. When I finally decided to buy CANNA AQUA A+B for both the vegatative and flowering stages to see if it would bring me satisfaction my disappointment could not have been bigger.
A
Around week 5 of my cycle the pH at the roots dropped. The leaves started looking really dark green and lusterless and developed some brown rusty spots. Then later on the edges of the leaves even started looking like they were burned and eventually fall colors appear which usually happens at the very end of their cycle. At first I tried to accept my loss and hoped for the best in the next grow. But I was kind of pissed off at CANNA for charging people this much for a lousy nutrient. I decided I wanted to talk to someone from CANNA and felt like wanting to rant and rave a bit. I checked the CANNA website and found a question form. Although I rather would have phoned them I gave it a try. I filled out only a part of the form as not all questions were relevant but at least gave them the substrate and nutrients used plus my complaint. To my surprise I got an answer the next day. They wanted some additional information like how I mixed my tank, if I was adjusting pH, EC values and the way I was watering to get a total view. I was skeptical at first and figured they would put the blame on everything except their nutes. Again I received a quick reply. They explained to me that every substrate or system has its own characteristics. No news for me as I’ve been growing for quite a while myself. What I missed out on is that CANNA designs their nutrients for each system or substrate specifically. I bought their CANNA AQUA line which is designed for re-circulating systems while I am growing on a Run-toWaste Rockwool system. That’s where it went wrong. It is obvious that when you drain to waste, the nutrient should hold a different composition of elements opposed to when you re-use your feeding and it passes by the roots time after time which make values change.
I decided I wanted to talk to someone from CANNA
For a run-to-waste system I was supposed to be using CANNA SUBSTRA. Ever since I started using that I don’t have any problems anymore. My plants look healthy and the fruits are amazing. I’ve finally found that extra something that I was looking for all these years. I judged CANNA too quickly after my first try. I’m so happy I contacted them and I occasionally still do if I have some questions. Cheers, Aaron
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to-build stand and joining system that is tough strong and can take the strain. This lightweight extrusion is black powder-coated alloy and is tough as it looks. This fully rigid system is perfect for making temporary, semi-permanent or permanent frames, stands and structures. The range of BUILDIT armoured fittings includes everything you need to build anything from simple frames to complex structures. The only limitation is your imagination. Each fitting has an inner metal core and tough nylon coating which makes these super tough.
2 Way Elbow
3 Way Tee
End Cap
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3 Way Corner
Adjustable Foot
Alloy Bar
BUILD!T Rize Cable Hanging System - Fully adjustable hanging system
There are times when you need to be sure your hanging system is strong enough to take the strain. When you use the BUILD!T Rize
T
Untitled-1 1
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system, you can be rest assured it will be able to take the weight. The versatile BUILD!T Rize Cable Hanging System is designed for the suspension and height adjustment of all static loads. This robust product gives the installer the freedom to choose the drop length and can be easily adjusted using a simple finger switch. The BUILD!T Rize Cable Hanging System will carry loads up to 50kg per cable or 100kg using 2 cables. The cables can be joined together to cope with large drops or can be used horizontally to create a suspension system. The high tensile wire is galvanised and manufactured to the highest standards incorporating a 7x7 construction, meeting the BSEN 12385 standard and AISI 316 requirements. The cables are fitted with a specially designed eyelet for taking reflector hooks neatly so it is idea for holding grow lamps and shades. Available in lengths of 1.5m and 3m BUILD!T Rize Cable Hanging System is truly versatile and simple to use. Ask your retailer today for more information or visit www.just-buildit.com
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, What s
HAPPENING
It’s the most popular thing in the world these days. Turn down the stress of the real world for a while and enter a different, more relaxing world – one where anything is possible. You can game on your own or you can game online with friends. You can use a modern games console or an emulator to play on a retro video games system. But however you choose to play, gaming is almost like real life. There’s a bit of everything: excitement, relaxation, recreation, challenge and amazement. And just think, it all started in a laboratory.
A
round 1960, was when the first game was developed in the USA in just three weeks. William A. Higinbotham invented Tennis for Two. It was not until 1962 that a second game - called Spacewar – was developed. Nolan Bushnell played these games and they inspired him to create something comparable. He went then created Atari. The first Atari game was called Pong, a simple game, but it had a huge impact. The Atari brand became a pioneer, and in 1977 the company brought out the Atari Video Computer System. Home gaming became hugely popular, and today it’s difficult to imagine life without it.
Atari
Everything has to be just right – from the sounds and graphics to the story line and the levels. For Pong, simplicity was the key to the game’s success. After all, how easy or difficult can playing ping pong be? But Pong’s simplicity eventually became Atari’s fatal flaw, which in time led to its decline. Why? The game was popular, but while technology continued to develop rapidly, Atari rested on its laurels and just watched the cash roll in. Sure, they developed a few really great games and they also had a lot of success with developing consoles like the Atari 2600. But in the 20|cannatalk
end, Nintendo and later Sony had a more successful approach, and to this day they are still developing games and consoles with a considerable wow factor.
Next Gen
In the beginning, most games were played in the arcades. Now, in 2011, you can buy game consoles everywhere. And these days there is something for everyone. Once your mum used to call you for dinner just as you were about to get to the next level. Now your mum is probably playing on a WII herself and she can thrash you in Grand Theft Auto IV! And all thanks to the next-gen consoles like Xbox360 and Playstation3. Gaming used to be a way of relaxing on your own, but these days you can game interactively with just as much passion. And if you’re waiting around somewhere, you can play Angry Birds on your mobile, or the restyled Pac-Man.
Retro gaming
For those who long for the games of the good old days, there is retro gaming. These gamers can’t get enough of games like Space Invaders, Tetris and Asteroids. They often use video games systems like the Commodore 64. To improve the sound and graphics quality, they use emulators to play through a Windows
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spotlight, celebrating its twentieth birthday in style with the launch of some very special games.
The future of
application. Many old games have also been given a make-over. Games like Super Mario which was first brought out in around 1985 by Nintendo in Japan. You can still find games featuring Super Mario today. And while we’re talking about retro gaming, we have to mention Neo-Geo. Neo-Geo was a classic of the genre and now their games are on the market as retro games. Gamers look back with regret to the time when Neo-Geo first entered the market in around 1990, in the days of 16-bit, the fourth generation of video games systems. Neo-Geo had extraordinary graphics and sound. Even as 2D graphics made way for 3D, Neo-Geo were still popular in the arcades. The last Neo-Geo game was brought out in 2004. And Neo-Geo is now back in the
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gaming
The latest craze of gaming is using your own thoughts. Simulation and reality are all mixed up together. You never know what you’re getting into – it’s truly mindbending! The first headsets using this system have already been launched by an American firm. If you’re a home gamer who plays purely for fun and you’re looking for the next big thing in 3D, you’re probably eagerly awaiting the new Nintendo. A hand-held capable of fantastic 3D games which you don’t need glasses to play. What started with an idea in the mind of William A. Higinbotham has now developed into a whole way of life. Tennis for two was invented during work time for a small group of players. Now, gaming is a huge industry, using high-end technology to produce the best possible games. There are hordes of fans who keep themselves up to date on internet forums. But, whether you’re playing Pong or Crysis2, what still counts is the power of simplicity. So let yourself get swept along by your own imagination. Gaming is awe-inspiring - just like real life! With special thanks to ForeGames, game shop in Breda, the Netherlands, Europe.•
w
, Grower s TIP#12 By Geary Coogler, BSc. Hort
WATERING
water PLANTS
W
What is the best watering frequency for my plants? This is one of the most asked questions in this industry. It is also one of the hardest to answer. There is no easy response but only one right one; when the plants need it! Both the frequency of water applications and, to a lesser extent, the amount of water to apply, are dependent on many outside variables that further complicate the issue, thus requiring the grower to maintain an ‘eyes on’ approach in his or her growing techniques. But below you’ll find some tips to help you on your way:
The general rule of thumb for determining the root health and irrigation needs of a system is that 1 square meter of bench top, covered with leaves, will use 4-6 liters of water a day. New plants, or where the square meter is not covered totally with leaves, will use about 3 liters a day on average. This is true whether there are 2 plants or 20 in the square meter. Build the system to be able to supply this
amount across each watering and for however long you want to go without mixing more. Use this figure to decide how well the plants are working. If it is using less, either the roots are having a tough go, the humidity could be too high, the temp could be too low, and so on.
When figuring water cycle on a crop of more then one plant, base times on an average of all the plants. For instance, we want to water most mediums (except aeroponics) when about 50% of the total volume of the water is used or gone. Set automatic systems to turn on when 50% of the crop is ready. To accomplish this, keep everything the same; medium, plant age and size, light exposure, air currents, and so on. Above all else, keep the crops developing equally. If you wish to read more about this subject check the article “Thoughts on watering plants” in the grow info section on www.canna-hydroponics.ca.
The grateful gardener
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cannaRESEARCH
ELEcTR
EC STANDS FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, WHICH MEASURES THE POTENTIAL FOR A MATERIAL TO CONDUCT ELECTRICITY. EVEN THOUGH MOST GROWERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF FEEDING THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE IN OUNCES PER GALLON, GRAMS PER LITER, OR ANY OTHER MEASURING UNITS USED, EC GOES A LITTLE FURTHER THAN THIS. WHEN GROWING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EC IS ALL ABOUT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE GROWER. By Pieter Klaassen CANNA Research
A
n EC meter measures the potential for an electrical current to be transported through water known as molar conductivity (electrolytic conductivity) and expressed as siemens (S). Electrons flow from one set of electrodes to another in water across a space not because of the water molecules but because of the ions in the water. Ions transport the electrons and limit the amount of electrons that can travel the space by the number of ions available or able to transport; the higher the concentration the greater the flow. Pure water
24|cannatalk
itself is a bad conductor, which is why an EC meter will read 0.0 in rainwater, reverse osmosis water or demineralized water. In contrast, salty seawater is a much better conductor. When we add nutrients (salts) to water we increase the molar conductive potential for current through water and so increase the EC value (or CF = EC*10). All conductivity measurements are directly affected by temperature and must be compensated for.
Unit
The EC can be expressed using a number of different units, but the typical unit is siemens per square meter per mole (S/m2/mole) or millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm). The mS/cm unit is generally used in Europe as a guide to concentration of nutrients in water. In North America, the conductivity is converted into a count of the ions in the water using parts per million (which can also be given in many units including ppm, mg/l etc.). This is done by converting the EC into a value based on knowing the content ions of the solution. Fortunately, there is a fixed calculation for the relationship between these units, which is given in the table below.
that an EC of 1.0 mS/cm contains up to 1.0 gram of measured salts per 1 liter of water.
Absorbability
Salt has the property of seemingly attracting water to itself, a process known as hydrolysis. A pot of salt placed in a cellar will reduce the atmospheric humidity there. In a solution, the concentration of salts will always try to equalize across two different regions of concentrations by water movement to the area of higher concentration. This difference in concentrations is known as the Water Potential Gradient. This property also plays a role in our cultivation through a process known as Osmosis which
IcaL cOnDUcTIVITY Salts
involves a semi-permeable barrier that allows water to pass but restricts ion or salt movement. When we give a lot of nutrients (high EC) the nutritional salts attract the water in the substrate to themselves. This makes it more difficult for the roots to extract the water from the substrate. So it is even possible for us to create conditions in a damp substrate in which the roots are no longer capable of extracting any more water from the substrate. This is known as making the substrate “physiologically dry”. This results in the plants having no more water available for transpiration (evaporation) to cool themselves against the heat (= light). Even though this is commonly referred to as over fertilization it is actually a shortage of water. With cut flowers such as roses, or with cuttings, a higher EC in the vase or the plug for the cutting can literally draw the water out of the stems.
Water that contains mineral salts has an EC but not all EC’s that are measured indicate the presence of valuable nutritional salts for the plant. Tap water can contain sodium and chloride that have an EC value but no nutritional value when applied to the plant. Fertilizer is of course made up of nutritional salts. The nutritional value that we add to water is known as EC+ and should be added to the water’s EC. This is how we measure the total EC in our feeding tank. The nutritional salts are solids that are extracted from the ground or released by an industrial cracking process. We dissolve a specific mass (grams) of salts in a specific volume (liters) of water and because of this we can also use grams or liters for the EC unit. Although every fertilizer has its own fertilizing value, it is possible to generalize and say
NIGHT
DAY
TOTAL
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
0
Root pressure
0,40
0,35
0,30
0,30
0,30
0,30
0,40
0,45
0,50
0,50
0,50
0,50
4,8
Evaporation
0,20
0,11
0,08
0,06
0,05
0,04
0,76
0,70
0,75
0,75
0,75
0,75
5
Difference
0,20
0,24
0,22
0,24
0,25
0,26
-0,36
-0,25
-0,25
-0,25
-0,25
-0,25
Stock
0,20
0,44
0,66
0,90
1,15
1,41
1,05
0,80
0,55
0,30
0,05
-0,20 Shortage !
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cannaRESEARCH
Figure 2: Salt has the property of attracting water molecules. When you add salt to the water in the right half of the tube (thus increasing the EC-value), the salt molecules will attract water molecules from the left side which has less salt. The water level on the right side rises until the the EC-values (salt concentrations) of both sides are equal again.
We can see this osmotic process in a U-tube when we separate the two sides with a permeable membrane such as a piece of stem. If we now add some salt to one side the water level on this side will rise because the water with a lower EC will be drawn toward it. (see fig. 2). This is why we recommend that very little or no nutrients are added at the start.
Building up nutritional values
Once the plant material has taken we have to try to build up the plant’s osmotic value (EC) as quickly as possible. Because the plant increases in volume and absorbs water this osmotic value falls. Nutrition in the plant redistributes itself and the plant itself becomes soft and lighter colored. This makes it very susceptible to dehydration (wilting) because the water can easily leave the plant. Giving more nutrition to the roots will show proportionally in the growth. Because the water that is used as a means of transport has evaporated, the nutritional salts will remain in the plant and this will raise the internal EC (osmotic value). Since this has been raised the grower can give the roots a higher EC again. 26|cannatalk
Strong plants
By achieving this positive spiral of EC build-up in the plant, the plant also becomes more capable of absorbing water and retaining it. Because of this the plant doesn’t allow its water to evaporate very easily so it won’t lose the water that it has absorbed too soon. The table on the bottom of page 25 gives an example of a plant that has lost its water reserves too soon. With plants that are too soft the intensity of the light will have to be reduced or the number of hours of lighting will have to be shortened to prevent a shortage at the end of the day. Even though EC plays an important role in this story it isn’t the only factor that has an influence here. The total climate control around the plant influences the processes that EC is a part of.
Nutritional needs
Building up the EC in the plant and consequently the substrate, should be done taking into account the demands of the plant’s growth. This demand is controlled by assimilation. The bigger a plant you grow the more nutrition it will need. These nutrients are partly locked in the plant and converted into usable amino acids, oils, fats etc. but there is also a proportion that remains in
the plant’s sap and this determines the internal EC. Potassium is one of the most important nutritional elements in this process. Once the plant has finished vegetative growth it can still absorb a lot of potassium for the internal osmotic value and the ovaries. The ovaries are not the fertilized “seed”. However, this increasing intake also comes to an end. After approx. 60% of the cultivation cycle the plant will have enough with the stock of nutrients that are in the substrate. The game of nutrient stock verses applied EC now starts for growers.
EC stock in the pot
We can use the “bucket” principle to gain insight into, and a good understanding of, this game. (see fig. 3).
Example:
We have a bucket that contains 10 liters of fertilizer solution with an EC of 2.0 mS/cm. This means that the bucket contains 20 grams of nutritional salts (nutritional stock). (2.0 g/l X 10 liters) When 9 liters of water evaporate, 1 liter of water remains that has an EC of 20 (EC = 20 grams of salt in 1 liter of water). In reality it will never be as extreme as this and when cultivating with soil there is a further buffering process that binds the nutritional salts to organic substrate particles to some extent, but the principle is still valid. Adding back 9 liters brings the EC to 2.0 mS/cm. So, if we need to maintain the EC between 2 and 4 mS/cm then we have to replenish the water at 5 liters removed. (4 g/l x 5 liters = 20 g, EC = 4mS/cm) If there is a plant in the bucket that has absorbed 5 grams from the solution, we can top this up when giving water if we need to maintain 2.0 EC. If the water dose is 5 liters for
example, we should then give 5 grams, or to put it briefly; a water dose of 5 liters with an EC of 1.0 (gr./l) or mS/cm. The goal here, and in cultivation, is to maintain the EC in the bucket. This is the basic premise of fertilizing. We try to hold a certain level of fertility in the container which ensures an adequate supply of nutritive elements is available to the plant. Generally speaking we should lower the EC in the final period. With a system that can be drained we can reduce the nutritional stock ourselves by rinsing out with a low EC. The substrate in drainable systems can be corrected a lot better. In non-drainable systems, the nutritional stock is constantly added to with subsequent applications of feed. Sooner or later, this nutritional stock will reach levels that slow, then stop the ability of the plant to take up water, then will actually cause water to move out of the plant tissues in a reverse of this entire process.
Summary
As well as being a unit for measuring the fertilizer given to plants, EC is also a climate control mechanism that relates to water absorption. Plants should be started with a low EC, which is then built up as quickly as possible in order to provide for the plant’s nutritional requirements as well as to raise the internal osmotic value in order to build strong plants. The plant requires hardly any further nutrition in the final weeks of cultivation. We only continue to provide nutrition in order to maintain the nutritional stocks in the pot and to keep the EC stable. This generally results in the EC being lowered or even in a weekly rinse (leaching).•
Figure 3: While the water in the substrate will evaporate, the salts will not. So in the last weeks of growth, you should - in most cases - stop feeding the plant and only add water. Because if there’s not enough water in the substrate, the EC-value (salt concentration) could rise dramatically. 27|cannatalk
zz
Puzzle&WIN great prices
E L Z PUZ
Do the puzzle and
Win a bottle of CANNA Aqua Vega and Flores!
! N I &W
There is nothing more relaxing than kick back with a puzzle. Forget everything you’re suppose to do and just focus on something totally useless for a while. Well useless.. no puzzle is useless if you can win some prices! So we suggest you take some time to boost your brain and maybe you will win a set of CANNA Aqua Vega and CANNA Aqua Flores. At least, if you find the 5 differences in the photographs below. You can send your solution to: editor@canntalk.ca and mention issue 12. Have fun!!
Winner
puzzle#10
We randomly picked 1 winner from all entries received and we congratulate
F. Roberts
Congratulations!! We will contact you as soon as possible to send your prices over.
28|cannatalk
Facts
SHRIMP KEEP
BELL PEPPERS FRESH
BELL PEPPERS Bell peppers that are rubbed with oil in which shrimps are processed stay fresh longer after harvest than those untreated. In a study, bell peppers were kept at temperatures of 35°C for 35 days and then judged on quality. The untreated peppers decayed. The ones treated with the shrimp oil still were acceptable. This difference in freshness is well explainable. Shrimp, like all arthropods, have an exo skeleton which contains chitin, a substance similar to cellulose. Chitosan,
a linear polysaccharide gained from the chitin has an anti bacterial function which is responsible for the freshness. The big benefit is the fact that shrimp skin is a waste product of the fishing industry while producing a substance prolonging freshness for the horticultural industry and it is also biodegradable. Source: Food Chemistry
MYCORRHIZAE
help onions grow in phosphorus-poor soil Plants not only embellish your house, they even keep you healthy! Did you know that you can “purify” the air in your home with green plants? Some plants are even capable of filtering harmful gases out of the air and replacing them by clean ones instead. Mycorrhiza is the name for a group of fungi that have/form a symbiosis with the roots of numerous types of plants. Mycorrhiza form long, thin fungal strings enabling the roots to obtain nutrients from the soil while plants with a superficial root system can’t reach these. Mycorrhiza supply a part of the nutritious
Facts elements to the plant and take energy made through photosynthesis in exchange. Plants
can control the symbiosis with the Mycorrhiza fungus themselves. In rich, fertilized soil, a
plant has less need for the fungus and isn’t likely to collaborate. Source : biokennis
Chloroplasts can
move in any direction
Plants need light for their metabolism. Chloroplasts contain photo receptors that detect light. However, a surplus of light can cause damage to the plant. It has been known that plants can slightly move their leaves to let more or less light shine on them. But now it has become clear that the chloroplasts themselves can move within the leaf as well. In a study with the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, one of the leaves had a considerable amount of light shining on it. The chloroplasts in the leaf moved within several minutes. The chloroplast started changing direction when a second quantity of light was being applied. The duration of this reaction and the distance the chloroplast travels depends on the strength of the light source. The plant prevents the light sensitive chloroplasts from being damaged due to an excess of light. Source: Journal of Plant Research
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NEXT
pests an
, WHAT S
What is the most devastating and disappointing thing that can happen while cultivating your crops? Exactly, pests and diseases! The next issue will be all about those pests and diseases that we all wish had never existed. Because keeping your crop healthy is so important, we have decided to dedicate a regular section to this subject in our magazine, starting in the next issue. The ‘Pests and Diseases’ column will stimulate your brain and increase your understanding with all kinds of information about pests and diseases. Of course the next issue will not only be about cultivating. We’ll also talk about something some people consider a societal pest or disease: graffiti! Expect lots of tags, spraypaintings, stencil- and stickerart in our ‘What’s Happening’ section. From Banksy to your nextdoor taghoodlum: read it all in the next CANNATalk
diseases Is published by CANNA Canada Corp. A company dedicated to making the best solutions for growth and bloom.
All editorial is copyright. All rights reserved. No
Is distributed through hydroponic and gardening stores conducting business with BioFloral or Stellar wholesale. (find the closest dealer near you at www.canna-hydroponics.ca).
part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for any inaccuracies. Material which has been contributed
Editor: Ilona Hufkens Email: editor@cannatalk.ca
does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. It is assumed that any image from widely distributed sources, such as the internet
Contributors issue 12: CANNA Research, Geary Coogler, Pieter Klaassen, Marco Barneveld, Myrthe Koppelaar, Georgia Peschel, Mirjam Smit.T 30|cannatalk
are in public domain although these images are often passed on between websites which makes it sometimes impossible to trace the original source.
CANNA AQUA The Art of Balance
The ancient rice terraces in the Far-East show how the people there have understood the concept of balance for centuries. CANNA applied this concept to their nutrient line CANNA AQUA. This line is specially developed for recirculating systems. The unique composition of CANNA AQUA keeps the pH stable over time. This allows you to set the pH in a new reservoir and seldom have a need to correct it again. The nutrients are easily absorbed by the plants and create the best balance in plant cells. Let your plants experience the art of balance with CANNA AQUA! For more information about recirculating systems read the AQUA InfoPaper or ask your questions through our website.
www.canna-hydroponics.ca
www.canna-hydroponics.ca
The gods must beAap crazy Adv
32|cannatalk
www.canna-hydroponics.ca