Garden Culture Magazine UK 26 by Garden Culture Magazine

The Original Maxiswitch Contactors and Relays First developed in 1996 and still one of our best selling products. Simple, robust and one of the most reliable lighting controllers on the market.

• British made using only quality components • Gewiss enclosures • Heavy duty GE contactors • IMO relays • Professional timers • 2 year guarantee Full range available to service most grow room requirements From the Maxiswitch 10A, 2 way relay to the Maxiswitch 26A, 8 way contactor

For more information visit www.maxiswitch.co.uk

Tel: 01949 839 727 Âˇ sales@highlighthorticulture.co.uk

GEAR

HortiGear Ballast - Lamp Control Gear For HPS - MH Lamp

NEW

HORTI KING

CARBO AIR FILTERS

QUALITY, PERFORMANCE AND PURITY ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERY ONE OF OUR HANDMADE FILTERS • Pure virgin activated granular carbon • Hanging brackets • Minimum 18 month guarantee • Award winning filter 2018

Available in 50mm, 60mm and huge 100mm beds. REVOLUTION SILENCED FANS

THE BEST FAN IN THE WORLD IS NOW THE QUIETEST The Revolution silenced fan is the ultimate in silenced fans. • Sealed housing so no possible leaks • Fully serviceable • 2 year guarantee

AC and EC fans available in a range of sizes.

RVK & K FANS

SYSTEMAIR RVK & K FANS Large range of sizes available. • Maintenance free - made in Germany • Thermal protection • Energy efﬁcient

See our website for full details including air flows and technical specifications. PHONIC TRAP TM DUCTING

ULTRA SILENT ACOUSTIC DUCTING PhonicTrap

ducting is simply the best ducting in our industry.

• Ultra efﬁcient, high quality product made in France • Non-allergenic (no glass wool) • Noise reduction of the air ﬂow and fan noise

Various sizes and lengths available. See our website for full specifications. DIFFUSE AIR TM

A NEW SOLUTION FOR GROW ROOM AIR DISTRIBUTION HAS ARRIVED DiffuseAir efficiently mixes all the air in your grow room. • Proven technology • Ceiling hung for more grow space • Improving environments = increasing yields

Designed and made by Systemair.

www.carboair.co.uk

ENVIRO CONTROLLER AC FAN INTAKE

AC/EC CONTROLLER

Fan

Exit 1

Humidity

Day/Night

Exit 2

13 AMP ENVIRO CONTROLLER

SAVE EXIT

Max. Load 2200W

ENTER

EXIT 2

EXIT 1

Temperature and humidity control Control AC fans to a maximum 2200 watts Plugs directly into all Systemair’s EC fan range Set maximum and minimum fan speeds Set day and night temperature and humidity values Set negative pressure Control humidifier, dehumidifier, heaters Timer function Dump feature

Temp

Max. Load 2200W

• • • • • • • • •

G.A.S. AC FAN OUTTAKE

The GAS Enviro Controller will control every aspect of your grow room environment. Controls your grow room temperature and humidity by increasing or decreasing your fans speeds. There are day and night settings and a dump feature for closed looped environments.

Max. Load 13 AMP

EC OUTTAKE

EC INTAKE

DIGITAL AC EC CONTROLLER Take total control over your ventilation system. Thermostatically control your intake and outtake fans. Control EC and AC fans up to a total load of 10 amps. • • • • •

Temperature and humidity control Set maximum and minimum fan speeds Set day and night temperature and humidity values Set negative pressure Plugs directly into all Systemair’s EC and AC fans

Distributed exclusively by:

www.globalairsupplies.co.uk

CONTENTS

Recycling Lost Space to Grow Food

STEALTH SCIENCE PART II

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

84 WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

57 INTEGRADING KNF

Mind Your Ps & Ks 44 I N THIS ISSU E OF GA R D EN CU LTU RE :

13 Foreword

52 The Biology of Flowering

14 Product Spotlights

57 Who’s Growing What Where

20 Top Tips on Flowering Indoors

60 A Hollywood Legend,A Watch, and Enormous Responsibility

22 Plant Training: Step-by-Step Guide

66 OMG it’s OHN

28 Recycling Lost Space to Grow Food

72 Integrading KNF - Stop With the Walls

32 Water Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink

78 When Less is More

38 Let’s Talk Terps

84 Stealth Science - Part II

44 Mind Your Ps & Ks

88 5 Cool Finds

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

Award-winning combinations

update

‘GHE Flora Series is the only nutrient I used at the Chelsea Flower Show because I knew I would get the result I needed’ Jason Ralph-Smith, AutoPot Owner and RHS Chelsea Flower Show Medallist

Try the medal winning combo today! AutoPot and GHE products are available from all good hydroponics retailers in the UK and across Europe. Visit www.eurohydro.com/autopot-fs to see why GHE mineral nutrients work so well in AutoPot, the world’s most popular irrigation system.

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

ave you ever heard the expression, “The devil is in the details”? When it comes to growing indoors, and the flowering stage, in par ticular, this

expression applies perfectly.

Having an intimate knowledge of how your flowers grow is vital if you want your plants to reach their full potential. If you make a mistake in the flowering stage, it can severely hinder the quality and quantity of your harvest. Believe me, I know. Underwatering, overwatering, too much of this or not enough of that, too dry when the lights are on and too humid when they go off... I have made every mistake and my plants were the ones to suffer. When comparing damage, errors made in the flowering period always had the biggest effect on yield and quality. The idea, of course, is not only not to make mistakes but provide the perfect environment and nutrition to maximise your plants potential. It all boils down to plant science, and who better to explain than Dr Callie Seaman in “The Biology of Flowering”; Stephen Brookes continues the lesson in “Mind your Ps and Ks”. You may never look at these two elements the same way. If those are a little deep for you, Stoney Tark lays out some of the fundamentals in “Top Tips for Flowering”. I’ve learned over the years that keeping it simple when it comes to plant nutrition works for me. In “Less is More”, Matt Mountain explains nutrient “lock-out” and the precarious relationship between key elements in the flowering stage. This edition is full of great growing tips and straight up scientific knowledge. Although I love all my editions, this one is special. This one made me a better grower. “Cheers” to the biggest, most fragrant flowers you can grow.

CREDITS

SPECI A L TH A N KS TO: Albert Mondor, Catherine Sherriffs, Dr Callie Seaman, Matt Mountain, Nico Hill, Rich Hamilton, Stephen Brookes, Stoney Tark, and Tom Forrest. PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 E XCU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062 ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com PUBLISHER 325 Media 44 Hyde Rd., Milles Isles Québec, Canada t. +1 (844) GC GROWS info@gardenculturemagazine.com GardenCultureMagazine.com

Eric 3 @GardenCulture

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

@Garden_Culture

D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • HydroGarden • Maxigrow • The Growers Wholesale • Highlight Horticultur e • WHG UK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from 325 Media Inc.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS Cellmax BIO 8 -2-2

E xperiencing a lack of nitrogen in your or ganic garden? Cellmax introduces a whole new supplement with a solid dose of organic nitrogen. Because this product is derived from 100% natural sources, without preservatives and low amounts of salts, the days of plant burn and over-fertilisation are finally over! The high amounts of sugars, easily absorbable amino acids, and trace elements will take care of that precious soil life and will also aid as food for those beneficial bacteria your plant loves so much! Cellmax BIO 8-2-2 is suspected to land in shops this month. Visit Cellmax.eu for all the details.

C-RESULT Free from PGRs, chemicals, and hormones, C-RESULT 100 % Organic Plant Booster additive contains 13 statically-charged element molecules that collect all the elements in your nutrient mix and transpor t them directly to the root. This patented delivery system has great benefits for your plants: bigger yield, better quality, no more deficiencies, stress or diseases. Can also be used to troubleshoot plants with signs of distress. Suitable for all substrates, C-RESULT can be combined with all brands of liquid fer tilisers. Visit C-Result.com for more info.

C-NO INSECTS A 100% organic, effective, ready-to-use insect spray that kills all insects smaller than 7mm, including spider mites, thrips, and gnats, within 72 hours after spraying. Suitable for all types of plants and trees. Learn more: C-NO-INSECTS.com

Clonex Mist CONCENTR ATE Due to popular demand, the best-selling Clonex Mist is now available in a concentrated solution. Simply mix one-part Clonex Mist Concentrate with three parts clean soft water. For example, to make 1 litre of solution, pour 250 ml of Clonex Mist Concentrate into a clean plastic sprayer and add 750 ml of water. Shake well before misting over plants and use within three days. Clonex Mist is the latest innovation in propagation technology by Growth Technology and makes cloning even easier and more efficient. For best results, spray the tips of the mother plant with Clonex Mist once or twice in the week before cuttings are taken. Spray the new cuttings with Clonex Mist and place them into a propagator. After 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;3 days, mist the cuttings again and repeat misting every two days, or whenever cuttings look dry. Clonex Mist CONCENTRATE is available in 1 litre. Visit GrowthTechnology.com to find out more for your propagation needs.

GROWING PRODUCTS

Bluelab

Combo Meter Plus

pH, conductivity, and temperat ure in one portable handheld meter

An all-in-one, convenient por table solution for accurate measurement of pH, conductivity and temperature in nutrient solution. The batterypowered, lightweight unit can be used anywhere, anytime to measure critical parameters related to nutrient uptake in plants. The Bluelab Leap pH probe also allows fast and accurate pH measurements, direct from the root zone in a wide range of growing media including soil, Rockwool, coco coir and potting mixes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no more pH slurries or extraction mixes. The detachable Bluelab Leap pH Probe has a toughened spear-tip for improved durability and is lightning fast in nutrient solution. An easy to read backlit screen ideal in lowlight environments, and a simple push-button operation to view your chosen parameter. Team with the Bluelab Carry Case and Bluelab care and calibration solutions for optimal performance. Find out more or locate a stockist by visiting GrowthTechnology.com

R EZI N by Green Pla

net

Rezin was formulated to enhance the natural processes within flowering plants that produce flavour and aroma. Made from a combination of ascorbic, citric, gluconic and lactic acids created through a fermentation process. Unlike other products, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t impact the ppm/EC of your solution, allowing you to run your base nutrients at full strength. Rezin leverages the production of terpenes to amplify the essential oil and aroma profile of plants, and it also improves overall plant health. Rezin will visually improve the appearance of the finished flowers. Visit Easy-Grow.co.uk to find a stockist near you.

Ton O Bud A concentrated P-K (phosphorous and potassium) additive designed to pack bulk onto flowers and fruits during the middle stages of a flowering cycle. The benefits are plain and simple; higher-end yields and a drastically increased flower set. More flowers with tighter and more compact density, without compromising quality and flavour. Works alongside and in addition to all industry-leading manufacturer feed schedules and does not significantly add to EC levels, unlike most P-K products. Tried and tested worldwide, Ton O Bud works with all grow media and methods, producing rapid, visible results. Visit TheGrowersWholesaleltd.co.uk to find out more.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

Digital AC EC Fan Controller by Glo bal Air Supplie s

Get Total Control

of Your Ventilatio n S ystem

Built with thermostatic and humidity control, the Digital AC EC Controller monitors and regulates your grow room temperature and humidity levels to maintain a stable environment for your plants – improving your environment and increasing your yields. Check out GlobalAirSupplies.co.uk for all your ventilation needs.

• • • • • • • •

ontrols AC & EC fans C Set minimum and maximum fan speeds Day and night temperature and humidity settings Digital display Thermostatic and humidity controlled AC fans up to a maximum 10 amps Capable of controlling multiple EC fans Plugs directly into all Systemair EC fans

c i g a M l a r e n i GHEck WMith a New, More Concentrated Formula and a New Look Ba

A natural organic powder additive, the new GHE Mineral Magic contains natural silicate in a higher propor tion than the previous formula. It is a key trace element for a wide variety of plants, especially in hydroponic and soilless cultivation because it provides an essential missing element: silica. The broad spectrum of elements contained in GHE Mineral Magic stimulates the growth of beneficial micro-organisms for the plant, thus creating a beneficial natural environment for the plant. GHE Mineral Magic allows only the healthiest growth and the roots are more resistant to rot and pathogenic fungi. GHE Mineral Magic stabilizes pH and electroconductivity (EC) levels, reducing stress conditions for the plant and stimulating rapid growth for better flowering and bigger crops. Available in 1L and 5L. Learn more by visiting EuroHydro.com

New from Maxibright

PGZ18 to E40 L amp Hold

er Adapter

So, you just bought a new Ceramic Metal Halide lamp and ballast. You’ve connected your old reflector to the new ballast and are about to install the awesome new Maxibright 315w Agro lamp when it suddenly dawns on you that the connection in the reflector is completely different to the one on the lamp. Curse you, technology! Fear not, dearest grower, Maxibright has your connection problems in hand with the new super strong E40 to PGZ18 adapter. Designed to ensure the lamp is held firmly in a straight position, improving the overall stability of the lamp. With its superior design (zero plastic parts), any reflector you wish may now be home to your new 315 Maxi CDM lamp. Ask for it at your favourite store, or Learn more by visiting MaxiGrow.com

GROWING PRODUCTS

Maxifan

Round Base Pedestal Fan You may well be accustomed to seeing fans with cross bases, but get ready to have your mind blown. You wanted it, Maxigrow went and did it: that’s right, round base fans. No more will you fear the top-heavy wobble of a cross base fan, teetering on its axis as it oscillates through its arching parabola. These sturdy pedestal fans have a much sturdier and weighty round base, ensuring a worry (and wobble) free operation. Move the air around your room like a boss with these powerful 40cm diameter oscillating fans from Maxigrow. Learn more by visiting MaxiGrow.com

Bluelab P eripod M4

Bluelab® PeriPod™ M4 is a simple and reliable inclusion for a fully-integrated solution for optimal reservoir dosing. It responds to dosing triggers received from the Bluelab® Pro Controller™ and pumps pH adjusters and nutrient stock solutions into your reservoir using peristaltic pumps. Accurately measure, control, and maintain pH levels. Grow sites are all different, so now you can choose the pump size to match your set up needs and add optional extras to the dosing system set up. Compatible with most modern growing systems including recirculating and drain to waste; works with the Bluelab® Pro Controller™ and Bluelab® Dosetronic™ models. Check out GrowthTechnology.com for different nutrient management solutions.

Easy inte g nutrient s ration for olution m anageme

le u d o M D E L 0 3 M t h g li SAN Space Flexibility, Even in the Smallest Maximum Efficiency and

The M30 is an innovative and compact 30W LED luminaire designed to be used as a standalone or auxiliary lighting for plant production. The spectral composition was designed to maximise photosynthetic usability even in the smallest space. Following the natural sunlight, the M30 emits a continuous spectrum from 400 to 730nm. An optionally available rail system enables the combination of multiple M30 LED modules, making it a truly flexible solution. Passively cooled, the M30 is absolutely noiseless and maintenance free. MADE in AUSTRIA – SANlight guarantees the best quality and extraordinary suppor t and customer service. Visit SANlight.com for all the technical details.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

PRODUCT Alpha Coco nuSPOTLIGHTS trien Growth Techn ology

Growth Technology are a consistent powerhouse when it comes to plant nutrition: Clonex being a fantastic example of how well they know what plants need. They’ve done it again by formulating a twopart nutrient specifically for plants grown in Coco. No Growth and Bloom versions are needed; this full spectrum nutrient works with the substrate to provide everything your plants need throughout their entire life-cycle. Benefitting from added organic inputs, aminos, humic and fulvic acids, your plants will want for literally nothing. Make sure you contact your local store to grab some today, or check out MaxiGrow.com

r e t e M ia d e im t l u M B l ue l a b P u l s e E a sy

il b o m r u o y o t y l t c e measurements dir

The Bluelab Pulse Multimedia Meter is a revolution – the first of its kind in a range that connects directly to your mobile device. Simply, quickly, and easily spot check moisture, conductivity, and temperature directly from the root zone and nutrient solution to allow early identification of results over or under range. Spot check and correct to achieve better yield and grow healthier plants across a wide range of growing media including soil, coco, Rockwool, potting mix and nutrient solution. Quickly and easily check multiple plants in one greenhouse. Know your moisture levels to optimise irrigation cycles and water consumption, and control risk of root infections. Monitoring your nutrient level will help optimise growth by ensuring the right amount of nutrients for the growth stage of your plants. Keep an eye on the temperature to optimise root function; spot temperature fluctuations; and control the health of the biologicals. You can achieve better yields, reduce shrink, and grow healthier plants. Pulse is always with you: handheld, por table, and always available for essential and immediate measurements. Find out more or locate a stockist by visiting GrowthTechnology.com

Secret Jardin Greenhouse Greenhouses - Aren’t they great? Lovely outdoor structures of pristine glass to make the most of the natural environment that we live in. Well, unfortunately not all of us in an urban environment have the luxury of our own glasshouse, so Secret Jardin has gone and sorted us out with the next best thing! The new Greenhouse Tent from Secret Jardin measures 70cm x 70cm and 70cm high, its unique shape contributing to a fantastic footprint of light, from the 65W CFL lamp it comes provided with. An ideal size tent for growing/storing all of your mother/stock plants; give Maxigrow a shout today to find out more! MaxiGrow.com

Tents

Horticultural LED Lighting upgradeable maximum efficiency daisy-chainable

Q6W

support@sanlight.com

www.sanlight.com

distributor for the UK:

BY STONEY TARK

TOP ON FLOWERING

INDOORS

he flowering stage of growing indoors is generally the most anticipated and is also the par t that can make or break you. Get the most from your indoor garden and enjoy a successful flowering period by following these steps below.

Prune In Advance

Transition Feeding

By pruning your plants prior to the 12/12 light cycle, you will divert all of the much-needed growing energy to its upper parts. As a result, you’ll likely see many benefits including a top-heavy canopy in flower with no lower buds or ‘popcorn’ quality growing. Air circulation will also greatly improve after clearing away the lower shoots and fan leaves, and there will be a noticeable drop in room temperature.

When some plants transition into a light cycle where the days are getting shorter, growth hormones cause them to stretch and pre-flower within the first 14-20 days. Often, growers will switch to a low nitrogen, high phosphorus and potassium feed. If the growing medium is close to depletion of primary nutrients, then an aggressive switch from growing nutrient to blooming nutrient can cause problems once the plants begin to flower.

Try Using A Screen or Net

Air Circulation

If you look at a photo of a plant that has been correctly scrogged, you’ll notice how one plant was trained to grow at an even level through a net or screen. The screen is not necessarily for support, but more for canopy management. If you have pruned your plants sufficiently, the spacing in the screen will be filled with a crown shoot, allowing you to produce a dense upper canopy when harvest time comes.

The key to a successful grow room is not always genetics, the grower, or the nutrients used. It can be as simple as how good your air flow is. Good or bad air circulation is determined by how rich the air is with carbon dioxide, how frequently it is being exchanged in the grow room, and by what movement there is around the base of the plants and the inner canopy. A common problem that many growers face late into the flowering period is a build-up of powdery mildew or mouldy flowers.

TIPS FOR FLOWERING INDOORS

A Custom Made Flowering Mix Organic growers will often make a custom mix that is specifically catered to flowering. As a case of logistics, a smaller pot from veg may be transplanted into a larger pot with the mix already in it. A good flowering mix recipe includes coco, worm castings, bat guano, compost, diatomaceous earth and biochar. This mix is high in micro and macronutrients, and most importantly, is a high carbon-based growing medium consisting mainly of substrates in a state of decomposition.

credit: Big Think

The key to a successful grow room is not always genetics, the grower, or the nutrients used. It can be as simple as how good your air flow is

Beneficial bacteria and mycelium convert the carbohydrates into readyto-absorb nutrition for the plant’s roots.

Keep Everything On In The Dark A bad habit that many growers fall into is turning all of their fans and filters off at night. There are several disadvantages to this practice. For one, the heat from the grow lights has nowhere to escape and will, therefore, turn into moisture. As moisture settles on the foliage and the flowers, stagnant air and poor circulation will promote pathogens such as mildew and mould to grow on your plants. When the lights are off, keep the fans and exhaust fans on and make sure that the airflow in the grow room is always consistent so the environment remains free of pathogens.

Bat Guano Tea This is a personal favourite of mine and for many reasons. Bat guano really enhances the flavour and aroma of some flowers. Bat guano is also an enzyme which works as an agent to break down existing foods in the growing medium. Rich in beneficial bacteria, a bat guano tea will not only supercharge your growing medium, but it will also improve the longevity and reusability of the growing medium for a later date. For almost instant results, simply brew for a 24 hour period and feed to your plants.

Keep Room Humidity Low How dry your room is will directly correlate with the production of trichomes, cannabinoids, essential oils and terpenes. When the room is too humid, pathogens will also thrive. I personally aim for a temperature of 22°C (71.5°F) and a humidity level of 50% during the transition stages. After about three weeks, I keep the temperature in the room the same but reduce the humidity level to about 30%.

Plants Need Carbs! Finally, and perhaps of the most important things to consider when flowering plants, is to feed them a constant supply of carbohydrate-rich nutrients. These will be utilised by the microbiology that is happening deep down within the growing medium. Beneficial bacteria and mycelium convert the carbohydrates into ready-to-absorb nutrition for the plant’s roots. Feeding the plant a balanced diet of micro, macro and carbohydrate-rich nutrients will ensure the plants have exactly what they need to thrive. The easiest way is to use unsulphured blackstrap molasses, a liquid form of sugar cane press. 3

BY STONEY TARK

PLANT

TRAINING: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE FIRST EIGHT WEEKS

lant training is an excellent way to achieve higher yields in your indoor garden, and what grower doesn’t want that? Before we star t, it’s impor tant to

note that this guide is based on using either fabric pots or homemade air pots with holes.

WEEK 22

PLANT TRAINING

for the first 28 days, all you need to worry about is growing your plants to be about 9-12 inches high

What You Will Need: • • • • •

A pot that is made from fabric or a plastic pot with air holes throughout Twine or a thick metal wire (for tying down) A sterile pair of tweezers (for topping plants) A spray bottle Small bamboo canes for support (Optional)

Step 1:

Growing Up, Tying Down and Pinching Out (Weeks 1-4)

For the first four weeks from seed (the first two to three weeks from a clone), you will want to grow your plants naturally and normally. Give your seedlings all the nutrients they need so they get off to a good start. Do not oversaturate the growing medium and when you water, trickle your nutrient solution around the sides of the pot to encourage root growth. Hands-on training doesn’t happen at this stage. In fact, for the first 28 days, all you need to worry about is growing your plants to be about 9-12 inches high. During this time, become comfortable with handling your plants and knowing how durable the main stems are; bend them downwards to get a feel for which side doesn’t show any signs of stiffness or weakness. Working directly with clones can be easier, especially if the clone was already 6-9 inches tall. Once you have found the point where the main stem can be easily bent and manipulated, you are ready to perform the first hands-on technique. This involves tying your plant down while also being very careful not to cause any fatal breaks. The plan is to lower the top shoot so it sits under the other shoots. By bending the top shoot downwards, the production of auxin is limited, meaning that the apical dominance is no

longer occurring in the original primary shoot. The remaining shoot between every other internode on the plant will take charge and grow to become the new dominant head of the canopy. With this taking place and the shape of the plant now totally changed, the part that was originally tied down will begin to make its way back up and join the rest of the canopy, likely over a 24-72 hour period. Now that your canopy consists of many heads, spend time over the next seven days pinching out the tops of each shoot. The idea is to create two shoots for every one that already exists. Do not pinch out all of the shoots at once, as it is better to do three every couple of days. By pinching out the tops and waiting for them to recover and grow back as two new shoots, you are halfway to building the ideal shape to grow big, heavy fruits. At this point, how much you continue to pinch is all about the amount of space you have and your overall goals. There is a technique known as fimming that purposely leaves about 30% of the top tip, encouraging the lower growth to enhance in size and become a little bit bushier. This isn’t the purpose of this training guide, so make sure that every time you pinch, the result is a perfectly-formed, new growing shoot.

8 23

Step 2:

Pruning and High-Stress Technique

image credit: growerflow.com

By pinching out the tops and waiting for them to recover and grow back as two new shoots, you are halfway to building the ideal shape to grow big, heavy fruits

(Weeks 5-8)

By this stage, you will have bushy, round, vigorous, light-hungry plants. From a side profile, you should have a horizontal growing plant that resembles a Bonsai tree in some way. Now that the plant has firmly established itself as a dense shrub with multiple tops, you want to focus on pruning and super cropping. I recommend you perform these techniques during this growing stage so you have the highest chance of success. Using a pair of sterile scissors, cut all the growth below the top canopy shoots. The starting point for clearing is where the internode splits into two, meaning that any leaf or developing growth can be cut and discarded. When this is done correctly, you should be able to feel nothing but smooth, woody stems with no signs of growth whatsoever. It will be your job until week eight to deter any new growth by rubbing it firmly with your finger and thumb. Heading into week six, you should have a plant that is almost bare below the foliage, with all energy going to the upper parts where it is needed the most. Now it is time for super cropping. If you have not heard of this technique before, it involves popping, twisting or snapping the main stem or branch of a plant to break the inner cell walls. The plant will respond by sending out repair growth hormones to heal the damage and make the stem stronger than ever. Once you do it a few times, you’ll become more comfortable with your grip and pressure on the various branches. There are several different ways to snap a stem and break the inner cell walls. One way can be a simple squeeze of the finger and thumb. Hardwood plants can be twisted and snapped downwards at a 90° angle.

WEEK 24

The result is a wooden knuckle very similar to how our knuckle joints lock into our fingers. This is a highly stressful technique for the plant, and therefore, super cropping only needs to be performed once to have the desired effect. A good tip here is to give your plants time to fully recover before attempting to snap and twist any other part of the branches. I have found that super cropping the lower branches over a two week period has allowed me to add a good number of swollen, wooden knuckles to the plant. In week eight, you should now have yourself some super cropped, topped and pruned plants. If you wish to flower your plants now, then the new shape will help you achieve maximum and efficient production. The above description is basically the same guide leading up to the addition of a screen in SCROG, which is used to support the upper canopy.

The Tying Down Part The most difficult part of this guide is gaining the experience to know how durable your plants are. For example, cultivars with thin stems are much more user-friendly than the short stout varieties. I have had experience with some thick-stemmed, stubborn plants that would not bend to the lateral curve originally intended. Other plants are more forgiving; you can really get great results with woody, thin clones or lanky seedlings. I understand it may not be practical for everyone to pin their plants down sideways without suffering irreparable breaks and losses. Without snapping any main stems and disrupting the design of the plant’s final structure, work each day to determine how much bend and stability it has. The truth is, when you have the right genetics, this is a technique that can take minutes to perform.

PLANT TRAINING

Some of the techniques performed may sound harsh to your beloved plants, but remember that most plants are tough, resilient and can take a serious roughing up before bouncing back twice as strong

More Helpful Hints and Tips

L.S.T and The Basic Science Behind It Low-stress training can come under many forms including topping, tying, and fimming. By tying plants down and temporarily disrupting the flow of auxin to the primary top shoot, plants will grow wider and bushier. If a plant is left to grow naturally, then the result will be a single top bud with side branches that are usually lower down. It will usually also have poor biomass and overall weight.

The Benefits Of Stress! Some of the techniques performed may sound harsh to your beloved plants, but remember that most plants are tough, resilient and can take a serious roughing up before bouncing back twice as strong.

Plant Support

What Not To Do!

When following the steps outlined in this article, the result will be a compact plant structure, eliminating the need for extra support. After graduating from this eight-week training program, your plants will be strong, wind resistant, and thickstemmed with a hard-wooded nature. If you do choose to add further support to train the canopy outwards, then bamboo canes are a great option. Insert the canes on the outside of the growing medium and well away from the centre point root zone.

Patience is a virtue! Do not ever begin the low stress or high-stress techniques before they are necessary. For example, super cropping early is a big mistake and can cause weaker plants to die. Another mistake many people make is failing to remove the growing tip when pinching the plants. The process should be a clean one where the entire tip is removed, exposing a wet, green flesh that will recover and grow two new identical shoots.

Why Foliar Feeding? This is an excellent way to feed the plants while also giving the growing medium time to air out and dry. Make a very mild nutrient solution and foliar spray once a day, applying a fine mist on the tops and undersides of your leaves. The benefits will be a healthier leaf tissue which can retain more moisture while also developing a waxy appearance.

BIO Stoney Tark is a freelance writer with over 15 years experience in the canna industry. Specializing in plant science, tutorials, how-to-guides, top tips, microbiology, breeding and all fundamentals cannabis-based. Living in Amsterdam and the resident writer for Soft Secrets, as well as Hightimes and Garden Culture Magazine.

8 25

ENHANCE YOUR STRAINS

NATURAL FLAVOURS Discover what makes Botanicare so SWEET... SWEET is a carbohydrate-based additive, which brings out the natural flavour profile of a strain and increases Brix ratio. This versatile sweetener can be used in any media, with your existing nutrients and is specifically designed not to clog your system. The carbohydrate kick helps ensure a stress-free transition in to budding, while boosting overall terpene production. The four different flavours should be used with corresponding strains.

FIND YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST OVER AT www.botanicare.co.uk

* Selected products only available in the UK

HydroGarden, official European distributor of Botanicare

credit: AeroFarms

BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

Recycling L os t Space

To Grow

Food 28

ith the increasing urban sprawl, food to feed city dweller s must be produced far away from where it

is consumed.

Food must be transported to cities by air, rail or truck, generating significant amounts of pollutants and greenhouse gases. According to the Worldwatch Institute, the food that makes up a typical American plate must be transported an average of 2,400 kilometres before being eaten.

RECYCLING LOST SPACE

The founder of AeroFarms estimates that his cultivation method uses 95% less water than conventional farming in open fields with a yield 70 times higher!

The transportation and storage of food also force farmers to cultivate varieties of fruits and vegetables that are firm and low in juice with a very thick peel. This way, the produce is better able to withstand frequent handling, shocks and temperature differences. Furthermore, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 45% of all fruits and vegetables produced around the globe are lost or discarded before they can be eaten, partly because of transport, storage and handling. Add an increasing fear of GMOs and chemical pesticides to the mix, and young, urban citizens have decided to grow their own food in order to eat it in its most organic form. They have developed very original ways to produce healthy fruits and vegetables, locally, in the heart of cities.

the food that makes up a typical American plate must be transported an average of 2,400 kilometres before being eaten GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

RECYCLING LOST SPACE

In addition to supplying citizens of New York City with healthy food, the Square Roots team also aims to train people who want to start their own urban agriculture business

credit: alive.com

Farms in old buildings Rather than growing edible plants in the ground as it is usually done in conventional agriculture, urban farmers must be creative and find ways to grow food on rooftops and inside buildings. In recent years, the number of projects for growing edible plants on roofs has boomed in North America. credit: Square Roots

Some urban agriculture projects involve renovating and insulating old buildings in which fruits and vegetables are cultivated in vertical hydroponic systems under artificial lighting. This is the case for Metropolis Farms located in a Philadelphia building and for AeroFarms in Newark, New Jersey. Approximately US $30 million has been invested in AeroFarms to transform a former steel mill into a cutting-edge urban farm.

Food inside shipping containers

credit: Freight farms

Another creative way of growing edible plants in urban areas without soil has recently been developed in North America. It involves producing fruits and vegetables in old shipping containers with vertical hydroponic systems. The Boston-based companies Corner Stalk Farm and Freight Farms have had great success with this method.

This question certainly deserves to be asked: although it is free of GMOs and pesticides, can vertical hydroponic culture – done without soil and microorganisms – be considered organic?

Recently, Kimbal Musk, the brother of Tesla founder Elon Musk, created a company called Square Roots. This urban farming company grows GMO-free, pesticide-free vegetables in shipping containers right in the heart of Brooklyn. The vegetables produced are delivered directly to offices or drop-off points. More info: GCMag.co/Freight-container-farming* 3

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor has practiced his craft for over 30 years and created numerous gardens in North America. In addition to teaching courses and lecturing at conferences across Canada, his weekly gardening column has appeared in the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec since 1999. In April 2018, Albert Mondor has published Le nouveau potager, his tenth horticultural book. He is a regular guest and contributor to radio and television programs and his hosting The Trendy Gardener spots broadcasted on Météo Média and online. You can also read his blog called Extreme Horticulture at albertmondor.com. Follow Albert on Facebook: fb.com/albert.mondor GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY NICO HILL

Water

Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drinkâ&#x20AC;Ś

Most of the time, your plant will have stored enough water to get through all the light hours, although sometimes it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always run that smoothly

WATER EVERYWHERE

ou can take a camel to water, but you can’t make it drink. So the saying goes anyway. Personally, I’m thinking if you have crossed a desert with a camel and it isn’t drinking its weight in water at the first oasis you find, you probably got conned by the merchant who sold you said beast in the first place – more fool you. Also, stop using camels; there’s

plenty of all-terrain vehicles to choose from nowadays. Anyway, I’m pretty sure the meaning to this saying is basically ‘make sure you have your fill when you stop for a rest, as you will need those reserves for later when you have more hard work to do.’

credit: leavingcer tbiology.net

your room are just as impor tant as the Unless I somehow got my wires crossed, The night time daytime, and will have just as dramatic an this classic phrase (or, at the very least, my conditions in your impact on your harvest! interpretation of it) is exactly what your room are just plants will be doing come night-time in as impor tant as Water is still ‘taken up’ by your plant durpreparation for the demand of the daily the day time, and ing the night hours, and without the usual grind (transpiration). Many parameters in demand from the oppressively greedy stothe environment above ground will affect will have just as transpiration, just as the conditions below dramatic an impact mata during the day, it wisely chooses to store this water ready for tomorrow’s onground dictate how much can be supplied on your har vest! slaught. Vacuoles (water storage compar tat any one time. How these two things ments in cells) throughout the entire plant balance themselves (or sometimes don’t), are filled as rapidly as possible before the next day begins though, is one of the key things to understanding a plant, and transpiration rears its ugly head again. For most of the par ticularly in relation to its water use. day, (par ticularly for indoor grow rooms) the light levels and environmental conditions are such that without this store of Go with the flow water, a plant would be unable to transpire effectively, and In a nutshell, it all boils down to the total water ‘usage’ of therefore, photosynthesize and grow. a plant over a 24-hour period. Again, don’t be thinking that your dark hours aren’t impor tant here; they most cer tainly are. They Water uptake & transpiration are responsible (nay, crucial) for a lot of the story, and somewhat ironically, they are oft the most neglected hours of the day by many a grower. “Screw a heater at night, they’ll be fine on the cold concrete floor,” the lazy half of your brain might argue, but do not fall foul to such slothful sins! The nighttime conditions in

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Growing What Where in the UK?

See all the urban growers, backyard gardeners, and inspiring communities featured in Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Growing What Where over the years.

NEW

visit: GCmag.co/WGWW

WATER EVERYWHERE

In a nutshell, it all boils down to the total water ‘usage’ of a plant over a 24-hour period. Again, don’t be thinking that your dark hours aren’t impor tant here; they most cer tainly are.

Please, not numbers… The following table has some numbers in it. Don’t be scared. Also, they are not necessarily exact numbers, but more to convey what is going on; close enough for these purposes. These numbers are representative of a plant that is growing in one square meter, in roughly 26 gallons of soil.

So, you can see the table is split horizontally into a 24hour day spread over the night and daytime hours. You have how much the plant transpires in the first row; how much the plant takes up each hour in the second; the third is the difference between those two, and the last row is the accumulated stored water. Firstly, during the night, you can see it doesn’t drink that much less per hour than it does in the day. Slightly less, down to a lower root zone temperature, but surprisingly, nowhere near as much as transpiration reduces. Transpiration pretty much halts, essentially reducing to a slight surface evaporation as the stomata have now all shut tight. You can see the stored water nicely accumulating every hour during the nighttime as you go along the line. Which is good, as when the daytime hours begin, you can see that much more water is transpired than can be supplied by the roots. For tunately, the stored water comes into play and makes up the shor tfall. Most of the time, your plant will have stored enough water to get through all the light hours, although sometimes it doesn’t always run that smoothly.

The nasty-looking red hour at the bottom right of the table (or end of your light hour) is the scenario whereby the plant has been at the limit of its transpiration capacity all day long, working its little green hear t away for you. Alas, now it has run out of stored water at the end of the day. You may well suggest “water it then!” but you would be too hasty my friend. As the char t shows, only an extra 0.08L of water would be available from watering in the last hour, and the difference is almost double that. The only way out of your plants’ wilting, despite an abundance of water in the pot, is to adjust your environment the next day. Do what you can to reduce the amount your plant transpires, firstly, by cooling temps/dimming lights, then by tinkering around accordingly – to be honest, something that would warrant another entire ar ticle. Anyway, hopefully, this little barrage of letters and numbers has conveyed the idea of what is happening (on a fundamental level, at least) and opened your eyes somewhat to the intimate relationship between water and plant. 3

Nico Hill - Hydro Nerd at InfiniteMonkey.com Nico has been a keen gardener for many moons. Bitten by the hydroponic bug back in 1998, and hasn’t looked back since! After many years as a hobby, Nico’s career in Hydroponics had its start working for Aquaculture in Sheffield, the UK’s largest and most forward-thinking grow shops of the time. He was then hired by Hydromag, responsible for the hydroponic content. From there, he has worked with CANNA, as editor of CANNAtalk, author of the research articles, and delivering seminars throughout the UK to grow shops on the finer details of cultivating in a hydroponic environment. Nico is now writing for companies in the hydroponic industry.

Bio

credit: BiologyWise

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY RICH HAMILTON

Le tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk Terp s

An Introduc tion To

Terpenes t erp ene s a re a c omp ound simil a r t o c a nn a binoid s bec au se t he y c a n at tach t o recep t or s in t he br a in a nd induce va ry ing ef f ec t s on t he mind a nd b ody

TERPENES

W h at a re t erp enes ? Wh at do t he y do ? A nd how do we m a ximise t hem?

he English Oxford Dictionary defines terpenes as “any of a large group of volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants.”

In layman’s terms, terpenes (sometimes referred to as “terps”) are aromatic molecules that are present in a majority of plants giving flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs their signature smell and taste.

Most commonly created in the flower’s sticky resin glands (trichomes), terpenes are a compound similar to cannabinoids because they can attach to receptors in the brain and induce varying effects on the mind and body.

How can you increase the terpene levels in your plants if you are not an organic warrior? There are more than a few ways to succeed

Rolling back through evolution to the dawn of plants and biological organisms, terpenes helped to establish the symbiotic relationship between plants and biological (animal) pollinators. Terpenes picked up by the pollinator from the plant, whether through contact transfer or consumption, could have beneficial effects for that animal. For example, the terpene profile from one particular plant could leave that animal with a particular odour on its body, which could then keep ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and other parasites at bay.

Additionally, animal pollinators help spread the existence of a plant species by carrying pollen and seeds far and wide. By dropping them in areas further from where they originated, new crops grow where they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to seed. The pay off of terpenes to living organisms isn’t simply calorific. Terpenes work to entice the best possible pollinators to a plant, ones who are attracted to the riper, sweeter-smelling fruit, while also deterring those who are less suited to maximising pollination opportunities. It is survival of the fittest at its best.

Terpenes can evoke a wide range of emotions. Lavender, for example, can help you relax and overcome insomnia. A zesty bold citrus scent, on the other hand, can make you feel energised and active. There are over 20,000 terpenes, all of them providing unique aromas and physiological effects. Some of the most common and familiar to us include the following:

Pinene This helps with inflammation, asthma, memory retention, and alertness. Its aroma is a sharp, sweet pine. It can be found in conifers, pine and sage.

Linalool It has been known to help combat insomnia, stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and convulsions, while also providing a sedating and calming effect. It has a floral, citrus-like and spicy aroma, and is commonly found in lavender, citrus fruits, laurel, birch and rosewood.

Caryophyllene This terpene works as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and helps with muscle spasms, pain and insomnia. Its aroma has hints of pepper, wood, and spice, and is found in pepper, cloves, hops, basil and oregano.

Myrcene It works as an antiseptic, an anti-bacterial, an anti-fungal, and an anti-inflammatory agent. Sedating and relaxing, its aroma has notes of musk, clove, herbal, and citrus. It is found in mango, thyme, citrus, lemongrass, and bay leaves.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

Cellmax presents the newest member of the BIO family Silicon Silicon ensures a better abiotic and biotic stress tolerance

Calcium Calcium strengthens the plant cell walls in combination with silicon

SAR Enables plant Systemic Aquired Resistance

Magnesium Magnesium aids the plant with chlorophyll production

Fulvic&Humic Enables easy transport for minerals

coming soon to stores in the UK

Bio Soilmix

Bio Grow

Bio Bloom

Bio 8-2-2

Bio RootBooster

The most Durable and Bioactive soil

Essential during growth phase

Essential during bloom phase

Special High Organic Nitrogen Fertiliser

Keeps roots healthy and strong

more info and inquiries:

www.cellmax.eu

info@cellmax.eu

TERPENES

Limonene This one is good for gastric reflux while also working as an anti-fungal and anti-depressant. It can help alleviate anxiety, reduce stress, and lead to better moods. The aroma is heavily citrus, similar to lemon and orange. It is found in citrus rind and also juniper and peppermint.

Humulene Provides pain relief while also acting as an anti-inflammatory, an anti-bacterial, and an appetite suppressant. It has a woody, earthy aroma, and is found in hops and coriander.

Lavender, for example, can help you relax and overcome insomnia. A zesty bold citrus scent, on the other hand, can make you feel energised and active

The production and transportation of terpenes within a plant are extremely complex. In the reference book Comprehensive Natural Products II Volume 2, 2010, Chapter 2.06 describes the building blocks of terpenes as being “constructed from five-carbon isoprene units that are combined to produce a great variety of skeletons, which are then acted upon by various enzymes to add functionality and altered oxidation.” It is a topic that is slowly being unravelled but is still somewhat of a mystery. A thesis on Biosynthesis and transport of terpenes published by the Laboratory of plant physiology at Wageningen University, 2014, states that “while terpene’s biosynthesis genes have been well studied, there is still only limited knowledge on how terpenes are transported within the cell and from the cell to the apoplast” (apoplast being the space outside the plasma cell membrane where any material held such as terpenes can diffuse freely). The same

report also states “there are likely multiple mechanisms involved in terpene transport which complicates the analysis of a single transport pathway.” So, how can we get the most out of the terpenes in the plants that we are growing? Is it possible in an indoor environment to maximise terpene output? Of course, there are some factors that we just cannot mimic in an indoor environment, like rain for example; it never rains in my grow room! Precipitation could very well be a factor that possibly effects the levels of terpene production. There are some things we just don’t know yet! So, let’s start with what we do know.

Hydro systems and mediums like coco coir are inert blank canvases that you can pump full of nutrients and additives, however, they lack the rich, diverse, complex, and natural nutrient profiles that are found in soil. Even soil that is specifically made for indoor gardening cannot compete with natural soil because it originates from a certain number of limited sources and contains only a certain blend of soil/organic matter. Therefore, it can’t possibly provide optimal conditions for the particular plant species that we may be growing inside. The soil produces a rich and flavourful end product by drawing from the individual properties held within it. If you’re not using soil, try experimenting with composts. Aerobic tea, organic, or veganic methods are all effective choices. Recently, I have been adding used coffee grounds into my soil mix, which is giving the end product of my plants a whole new depth

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

TERPENES

of flavour I have never personally experienced in all my years of growing indoors. Another known enhancer is Blackstrap molasses. Used during late flower, it is excellent for developing taste and smell by providing essential carbohydrates, amino acids, and minerals. How can you increase the terpene levels in your plants if you are not an organic warrior? There are more than a few ways to succeed. Using a UV-B light throughout flower can stimulate the glands where terpenes produce more oils to shield the plant from the light intensity and heat.

I have been adding used coffee grounds into my soil mix, which is giving the end product of my plants a whole new depth of flavour I have never personally experienced in all my years of growing indoors.

Pruning lower branches (known as low-stress training or LST) not as bountiful as others will send excess energy to key flowering sites, in turn optimising terpene content. If you find yourself too emotionally attached to your plants (is it just me?) and chopping at them seems too harsh to bear, then the tying down of low branches can create a similar effect, ensuring that an even spread of light is hitting the flowering sites lower down.

Flushing your plants is essential. Sure, it’s tempting to skip this stage and continue with nutrient feed in anticipation of magnificent results. What you will actually be doing, though, is allowing the nutrients to hijack the final taste profile, losing the natural terpene-related flavour and aroma in the process. Nothing short of an utter tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, if you ask me. To really push a natural terpene taste, try using an organic or veganic feed range. Flushing washes out all the excess nutrients, allowing your plant to let all those complex layers of terpene-infused goodness shine through. Beautiful.

Harvesting at the wrong time is unforgivable, as terpene production will be in overdrive at this stage. My advice here? Read up and equip yourself with knowledge so that you know exactly when to harvest your plants and how to optimise the ripening and flavour-building period.

Once in flower, keep temperatures under 80°F (26.5°C), as high temperatures can “burn off” terpene-containing oils. Night temperatures about 5°F-10°F cooler than the daytime temps will also help.

One thing is for sure, terpenes have an amazing ability to transport us into states of nostalgia at a whim. They also add colour, flavour, and richness to our day-to-day existence through the foods we eat, the products we buy, the experiences we have, and the environments we live in. Terpenes create a wonderfully diverse range of aromatic molecules that excite the senses and aid our physical and physiological well-being.

Keep the relative humidity (RH) under 50% throughout flower, and under 30% for the two weeks before harvest. The reason? Dry air causes the plant to produce more oils in response to a stressful situation.

Mix this in with the advent of genetic modification and cross-breeding, and you are essentially creating the possibility of a limitless number of terpene variations that could have unimaginable outcomes and benefits.

Nutrient feed increases salts in the plant tissue and the root area. EC measures these levels and a high EC indicates excess salts which can disrupt growth, development and final taste. A lower EC means there is less concentration of salts within the plant tissues and forces more water uptake from the roots, which is exactly where you want to be in the last few weeks of flower. An average EC range in flowering is between 1.2-2, but stay closer to 1.2 for best results.

The path to understanding terpenes has only just begun. 3

An industry veteran with over 20 years experience in a variety of roles, Rich Hamilton is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor.The author of Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening, as well as being an independent industry consultant working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide.

Bio

Mind Your

BY STEPHEN BROOKES, NPK TECHNOLOGY

P’s K’s and

For the majority of growers, all we need to know is that P and K are absorbed by the roots quite well and can also be foliar fed with good results

P&K

The Cold Fire:

Phosphorus The cold fire glows in the dark as it reacts with oxygen in the air to produce a greenwhite light known as chemiluminescence. This is the reaction that Hennig Brand saw in 1669 after discovering phosphorous, which was given its name from the Greek derivative meaning ‘bringer of light’. Others nicknamed it the ‘devils element’ because of how easily it burst into flames, and for its placement as the 13 th element in the periodic table.

Others nicknamed it the ‘devils element’ because of how easily it burst into flames, and for its placement as the 13 th element in the periodic table

The Potash:

Potassium The cold fire was the name used to describe phosphorous in the 1600’s, but it is the hot fire that is used to describe potash, from which potassium gets its name. Interestingly enough, the symbol for potassium is ‘K’ from the Latin, Kalium. Potash came from the Dutch word ‘potaschen’ in 1477 when people used to soak plant ashes in water and then evaporate the solution in big pots, leaving a white residue behind called potash. 1,2

global reserves could be gone within the next 50-100 years. The impact of this on the worldwide food industry will be enormous, and we need to star t thinking about how we can correct this. 3

The Use of P and K Fruiting plants require a change of diet from the vegetative growth phase, but it is a common misconception that they need less nitrogen. Actually, we need equal amounts of nitrogen throughout growth and bloom 4 . What the plant really needs during high energy times such as flowering, is more phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). This is because the energy currency of a plant is a molecule called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), of which the central atom is P. More phosphorous means a bigger pool of ATP for energy 5.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP):

Modern industry and agricultural techniques mean we have much more refined phosphorous and potassium available as fer tilizer compared to the 1600’s, however, with peak production of phosphorous being hit as early as 2030 and our dependency on phosphate rock (non-renewable), the

with peak production of phosphorous being hit as early as 2030 and our dependency on phosphate rock (non-renewable), the global reserves could be gone within the next 50-100 years. The impact of this on the worldwide food industry will be enormous

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

MEET TAMMY & ANGELA

WATCH OUR PRODUCT ANIMATIONS JOIN THE ATAMI UNIVERSE

WWW.ATAMI.COM | SALES@ATAMI.COM

P&K

Potassium (K) is vital for protein synthesis and photosynthesis, amongst other processes ATP synthase produces ATP in the mitochondria

Potassium (K) is vital for protein synthesis and photosynthesis, amongst other processes. In flowering, the energy requirements of the plant increases, requiring higher rates of photosynthesis. It will also need more nutrients, more water, and more potassium. Believe it or not, potassium has no direct effect on flowering; indirectly, a deficiency can severely hinder yields, and the reason we need more K is for water movement within the plant 6,7,8 .

Uptake of P and K Here’s where it can get a little tricky. For the majority of growers, all we need to know is that P and K are absorbed by the roots quite well and can also be foliar fed with good results. If you’re looking to increase the availability of phosphorus to the plant, using an excellent microbial inoculant can work wonders. However, we need to understand that the movement of phosphorus from the soil into the root, and eventually into a cell, is through a process called active uptake, which is a selective process. This means ions of P are not absorbed because of their ratios in the soil but rather due to plant demand. Therefore, plants do not consume more phosphorus simply because you add more of it. Instead, they will increase their access to P by increasing the volume of roots close to the soil, creating a more extensive root system.

Photosynthesis, water movement, and stomatal regulation, along with the increased requirement of ATP, are the main reasons we like to increase our ratio during flower

When one plant cell requires water, it cannot steal some from another. Water also cannot enter a cell without reason. Plants actually force water to flow by moving charged nutrient par ticles called ions. We call these pathways ‘ion pumps’, and potassium ion pumps will move K+ into a cell to make it salty. The result is a cell with a more significant negative osmotic gradient than an adjoining cell, which moves water between the two cells until the osmotic gradients are the same. More K+ pumped adds up to more water moved between cells. This simple feature of potassium is crucial to the function of stomata, which are the gateways to water loss and CO2 absorption 9,10,11 . There are several other processes that P and K are needed for during flowering, but photosynthesis, water movement, and stomatal regulation, along with the increased requirement of ATP, are the main reasons we like to increase our ratio during flower.

It is critical to understand that irrigating with too much P can be a waste of money (i.e. washed away nutrients) and can damage the plant (i.e. nutrient burn). However, not enough P can mean the plant spends more energy on root growth and searching for P than shoot and fruit development 12. The trick is to know your plants, know your environment, and dose P and K as necessary for optimal plant health. Using microbials can help alleviate this potential guessing game and give optimal results. For me, the growing game is a sweet science to achieve consistent, reliable, and highend results, and that’s really all a good grower needs to know. Well, almost everything; symplastic uptake is the primary means of potassium and phosphorus supply to plants... that’s everything!

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

ALL PHASE Craft Powder Base Nutrient & Additives VEG+BLOOM features 3 revolutionary one-part base powder nutrients and 2 additives in the UK. Catering to soft or hard water EC’s. We’ve also extensively researched in-house which mediums work best with our formulas. Our ingredients are locally sourced, refined and always batch tested for quality assurance to ensure consistency. Our all-phase one-part base powder formula was fabricated so that you could simply use your local water source as long as it fell between 0.0-0.7 EC. No other company offers this as they always recommend using RO water, which can be costly.

Base Nutrients: RO/SOFT is our most universal and popular one-part base nutrient. A hybrid of synthetics and organics; a pH stable formula for those who have small or large containers and a start water of 0.0-0.3 EC. It is completely soluble in RO water and built for coco, rockwool, or soil. TAP/HARD is a revolutionary pH stable formula for farms that have hard water 0.3-0.7 EC. No other company offers this as “water chemistry” is difficult to educate. With TAP/HARD you can potentially skip the costly RO water filter system and also save on the cost of water. Due to a higher pH in hard tap water, this formula is buffered appropriately so the use of large amounts of pH down can be avoided. Best used in coco and rockwool. DIRTY is a comprehensive formula for those who have a start water of 0.0-0.7 EC and are growing in soil or peat based mediums indoor or outdoor. Enhanced with humics, fulvics, crab meal extract and compost tea powder, this base was intended to provide the benefits of both synethetic and organic additives giving you extra bag appeal.

Craft Powder Base Nutrient & Additives

VEG+BLOOM encourages growers to spend less on extra additives and less time on the mixing and measuring (less human error) and more time on the plants, resulting in exceptional and consistent harvests. Save water, shipping costs, shelf space and minimize human error. Are you ready to reduce your variables?

Additives: PUSH is our foliar spray additive used during vegetative growth that includes bio available calcium, silica, plant stimulants and kelp. The plant hormones allow for cells to divide faster, reducing your overall veg cycle, while increasing cell wall strength and vigor. SHINE is our best product, a flowering bloom additive formulated with phosphites and organics such as compost tea powder for enhanced terpene and resin production. SHINE can be used not only in conjunction with our full nutrient line but can also be used with other base nutrient lines. Distributed in the UK by:

hydroponic-research.com

P&K

Plants do not consume more phosphorous simply because you add more of it

(1) Etymonline.com. (201 8). potash | Origin and meaning of potash by Online Etymology Dictionary. [online] Available at: https://www.etymonline.com/word/potash [Accessed 30 Oct. 2018]. (2) Davy, H. (1808). The Bakerian Lecture: On Some New Phenomena of Chemical Changes Produced by Electricity, Par ticularly the Decomposition of the Fixed Alkalies, and the Exhibition of the New Substances Which Constitute Their Bases; And on the General Nature of Alkaline Bodies. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 98(0), pp.1-44. (3) Cordell, D., Dranger t, J. and White, S. (2009). The story of phosphorus: Global food security and food for thought. Global Environmental Change, 19(2), pp.292-305. (4) Har tz, T., LeStrange, M. and May, D. (1993). Nitrogen Requirements of Drip-irrigated Peppers. [online] Hor tsci.ashspublications.org. Available at: http://hor tsci.ashspublications.org/content/28/11/1097. shor t[Accessed 31 Oct. 2018].

credit: http://pediaa.com

References

Geek Science of P&K As roots mature, the Casparian strip star ts to develop, and this is a band within the root cell (endodermal cell) which acts as a barrier to movement of water and ions. When this develops fur ther, the Casparian strip ensures that water and ionic movement into the plant takes place through the plasma membrane, which ultimately brings nutrient uptake under the metabolic control of the plant 13 . The plant is ultimately in control of the uptake of phosphorous and potassium, which is why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital to watch and understand the plant to see when it requires various elements or changes to be made in its environment. The Casparian Strip

(5) Mller, S., Hagemann, O. and Ansorge, H. (1986). The effect of various phosphorus fer tilizers on yields, phosphorus uptake by plants and conversion of phosphorus fer tilizers in long-term experiments on different soils. Fertilizer Research, 10(3), pp.231-236. (6) Rao, N. (1986). Potassium requirements for growth and its related processes determined by plant analysis in wheat. Plant and Soil, 96(1), pp.125-131. (7) Har tz, T., Miyao, G., Mullen, R ., Cahn, M., Valencia, J. and Brittan, K. (2018). Potassium Requirements for Maximum Yield and Fruit Quality of Processing Tomato. [online] Journal.ashspublications.org. Available at: http://journal.ashspublications.org/content/124/2/199. shor t [Accessed 31 Oct. 2018]. (8) Pinker ton, A. and Randall, P. (1993). A comparison of the potassium requirements during early growth of Lotus pedunculatus, Medicago murex, M. polymorpha, M. truncatula, Ornithopus compressus, Trifolium balansae, T. resupinatum, Pennisetum clandestinum, and Phalaris aquatica. (9) Wang M, Zheng Q, Shen Q, Guo S. The Critical Role of Potassium in Plant Stress Response. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2013; 14(4):7370-7390. (10) Hirsch, R . (1998). A Role for the AKT1 Potassium Channel in Plant Nutrition. Science, 280(5365), pp.918-921. (11) Lauchli, A. and Pfluger, R . (2018). Potassium transport through plant cell membranes and metabolic role of potassium in plants.. [online] Available at: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19796731472 [Accessed 31 Oct. 2018]. (12) Greenway Biotech, Inc. (2018). Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the function of Phosphorus (P) in plants?. [online] Available at: https://www.greenwaybiotech.com/blogs/news/whats-the-function-of-phosphorus-p-inplants[Accessed 1st Nov. 2018].

Final Message Find the right PK for you: research PK ratios and the benefits of different ones, understand that adding more of a PK additive will not mean increased uptake and that ultimately, you, the grower, have the control of whether your plants yield to their genetic capability. Become a plant whisperer! Lastly, understand that our resources are finite and we need to take an interest in different aspects of growing if we are to continue the global trend of survival. 3

BIO

Stephen Brookes is a science fanatic, hydroponics obsessed bookworm. His experience comes from running two grow shops, an additives company, and NPK Media. Along with obtaining a bachelor degree of Science in Outdoor Education and Geography and an MSc in Nutrition and Scientific Investigation, he is now working on a PhD, researching the effects of different ratios in cannabinoids on the human body. Motto: The more you learn, the less you know!

(13) School of Land, Crop and Food Science, (2018). [online] Available at: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-paper s/tab - content /grdc-update-paper s/20 09/02 /the-science-of-phosphorus-nutrition-forms-in-the-soil-plant-uptake-andplant-response [Accessed 5 Nov. 2018].

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

DR CALLIE SEAMAN

M a n y p l a n t s p roduce f l ow er s, a nd t his is gener a l ly f or one re a s on: t o rep roduce

T he Biol ogy Of

Flowering

BIOLOGY OF FLOWERING

B o t h t he number of hour s of l igh t a nd t he wav el eng t h inf l uence s t he onse t of f l ow er p roduc t ion

ere we are again, looking through our favourite grow mag and all of the interesting things to read. The last issue we discussed vegetative growth together; this time around, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cover the biology of flowering.

Many plants produce flowers, and this is generally for one reason: to reproduce. In every warp of life, be it insects, bacteria, slugs, plants, fungus, or mammals, the general aim of our existence is to reproduce and carry on our genetic line. How we all achieve this can be worlds apart. Within the plant kingdom, reproduction is achieved through the development of flowers, which are then pollinated to produce either fruit and/or seeds. The seeds are then distributed by the wind or via animals either externally or internally!

Always do your research before applying anything to your plants, particularly if you are consuming them in whatever form

So, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have a quick look at the flowering process as a whole. The flower itself originates from the shoot meristem once it stops vegetative growth. The meristem is the site of new cell growth in the plants. Different types of growth are produced throughout various parts of the plant, such as elongation, lateral, root development, or leaf growth. But that is another story for another day. The shoot meristem transforms into a floral meristem through a two-stage process. This begins with induction, where vegetative growth stops and is then followed by evocation, where the functioning flower forms. However, it is not until the structure is mature that it will be able to reproduce and form those all-important fruits and seeds.

The meristem appears to sense this temperature change and sets induction in motion before flower evocation goes into full swing.

As many of us already know, light is a very big factor in the induction of flowering. Both the number of hours of light and the wavelength influences the onset of flower production. Photoperiodism is the term given to the response of a plant to daylight length, in either long day flowering plants, short day flowering plants, or day neutral. This is variety-dependent and is predetermined by the genetics of the plant, so it is always important to know what you are growing before trying to make it flower. Disrupting the dark period can have catastrophic effects on the yield, sending the plant into confusion and, therefore, stopping growth. The changing of the wavelength of light to induce flowering is known as photomorphogenesis (try saying that fast after a long day at work!). This is what a lot of indoor grow facilities will do in order to stimulate the optimal growth and most efficient turn over for the crop.

There are a number of different factors that can trigger a plant to start flowering. The need for external stimuli is often required to bring about the crazy morphological changes that occur. Vernalization, a drop in temperature weeks or months before flowering fully commences, is sometimes needed for more temperate plants.

Photoperiodism GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BIOLOGY OF FLOWERING

Fertilisation can also be used to help steer the plant into flowering. As the plant is doing more work and using more energy, its nutritional requirements change. During vegetative growth, nitrogen and sulfur are both in heavy demand to help build amino acids, those tiny building blocks of life. Once the plant has begun flowering (entered induction), a plant’s demand for potassium often increases while the demand for nitrogen drops. Phosphorus requirement also increases to help drive ATP metabolism, those little energy packages used to transport things in and out of cells.

“Once the plant has begun flowering [...] a plant’s demand for potassium often increases while the demand for nitrogen drops

berellins, such as paclobutrazol, are used to keep plants short but increase mass in the flower sets. However, studies have shown that some of the synthetic plant growth regulators (PGRs) can cause cancer and birth defects, and are, therefore, only recommended for application on ornamentals. Always do your research before applying anything to your plants, particularly if you are consuming them in whatever form. Well, today we have only briefly covered the biology of flowering. As always, there is so much more that can be explored. Until next time! 3

The demand for CO2 also increases during flowering, with the supplementary helping to increase yields and reduce flowering times. Again, another story for another time. In the commercial production of either ornamental plants, such as tulips, or food crops, such as tomatoes, biostimulators can be used to induce flowering, increase mass, bring on ripening, prevent flower loss, and reduce stress. These types of substances can be naturally derived or be taken from synthetic compounds. Ethylene is a gas that plants naturally emit and helps stimulate ripening in fruit. As the levels around the plant rise, a sudden burst of respiration occurs, increasing the sugar content within the fruit and thus commencing its ripening stage. You may have noticed bags being placed over bunches of bananas to trap the ethylene and helping them ripen faster. Triacontanol is a naturally occurring flowering bio stimulant found on the wax cuticles of all plants. This is found in higher concentration in plants such as alfalfa. It is also found naturally in beeswax, and when applied to plants via the roots or foliar, flowering initiation occurs. Synthetic auxins are used to reduce flower numbers in apples early in the season. They are also used to promote citrus fruit and tomato production. Gibberellins are potent plant hormones that can also initiate flowering and fruit formation. These can be either plant-derived or synthesised via fermentation for commercial production. Synthetic anti-gib-

Fertilisation

BIO Dr Callie Seaman is a plant obsessed Formulation Chemist at

AquaLabs – the company behind SHOGUN Fertilisers and the Silver Bullet plant health range. She has been in the hydro industry for 15 years in research development and manufacturing and had previously worked on the VitaLink range. She has a PhD in fertiliser chemistry and a BSc (HONS) in Biomedical sciences and loves nothing more than applying this knowledge to pushing the boundaries of nutrient performance.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

Expando grow tent maximiser

> expand your tent > bigger & better yields > grow tent essential > 2 per pack > fits all size tents 1m+ > Reduced hotspots > reduced risk of damaged plants > strong, light & durable > easy & quick to assemble > handles high negative pressure

available january 2019 @BLACKORCHID_UK www.blackorchid.co.uk

@extendogrow www.extendogrow.com

WHAT’S GROWING ON

s ’ o h W Growing

t a h W Wh

ere

in the U Kreland & I

Burren, County Clare, Ireland

Respecting Nature

Credit: Sandy Gmur

In an area known for its abundant mix of wildflowers and ultimate growing conditions, the Burren Flower Farm is owned and operated by Sarah Wall. With a deep love and appreciation for flowers, colour, and nature, beautiful things come to life in a small field nestled in an 18-acre property. Since buying the land in 2005, Wall has built sheds and a polytunnel, while also installing a wind turbine, photovoltaics and a solar-powered pumping system for the well. She creates arrangements using both cultivated and wildflowers and foliage, which are grown in raised beds, meadow, native calcareous woodland and hedgerow within the farm boundaries. A strong emphasis on locally-grown and sustainability is the focus. Pesticides are never used anywhere in the property, and as a result, pollinators are constant companions in the garden. Only organic composts are used along with fertilisers of seaweed, nettle and comfrey, all of which are grown on the property or collected from the local seashore. The flowers are grown, cut, and sold locally in a way that feeds the environment instead of depleting it. Wall nurtures nature because she believes nature nurtures in return and brightens people’s lives... Learn more: theburrenflowerfarm.ie

South Gloucestershire, South West England

The largest and probably most inspiring collection of culinary herbs in the UK can be found at Jekka’s Herb Farm. It all began as a small hobby business in Jekka’s backyard in Filton, Bristol, eventually expanding and moving to a vast property at Rose Cottage in South Gloucestershire. In 2013, Jekka’s Herbetum was added to the grounds, featuring more than 300 culinary herbs planted in raised beds. The purpose of the Herbetum is to educate visitors on the wonders, history, culinary and medical usage of herbs. It is Jekka’s mission to make the experience interactive and informative for all ages. People walking through the gardens will discover British native herbs along with more tropical varieties, having the opportunity to sample and purchase them after their tour. Over the years, visitors from all over the world have been impressed by the farm, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver! Amazing tastes and medicines delivered directly from Mother Nature… Learn more: jekkasherbfarm.com

Credit: Jekka’s Herb Farm

Natural Medicine

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

WHAT’S GROWING ON

Who’s Growing

WhWaht

ere

London, England

in the Kland U Ire &

Urban Aquaponics

Credit: South West Garlic Farm

Bridport, England

Garlic Breath

Credit: GrowUp Community Farms

Talk about reinventing the wheel! On a Stratford rooftop with wonderful city views, the GrowUp Box is an old 20-foot shipping container turned aquaponic urban farm. Inside, fish are farmed with more than enough room to grow; they’re fed, and then their nutrient-rich wastewater is pumped up to the roots of plants growing in vertical columns on the top of the container. It’s the ultimate closed-loop system: the nutrients fertilise the plants, and in turn, the plants purify the water, which is then pumped back down to the fish tanks. The community aquaponic farm produces over 435 kg of sustainable salads and herbs each year, along with about 150 kg of fish. The food is sold to nearby restaurants. Beyond that is the farm’s desire to educate the community. It consistently offers workshops for those aspiring to set up their own aquaponics boxes. Proving that growing a ton of food in a small space without soil is very possible… Learn more: growup.community/

With more than 90,000 elephant garlic bulbs growing on 10 acres of land, it’s hard to believe Mark Botwright started out in livestock farming. His wife, Wendy, gave him three garlic cloves as a gift, and 19 years later, South West Garlic Farm was booming, close to being the leading garlic producer in Europe. In addition to garlic scapes, Elephant, Morado and Iberian Fresh garlic, the farm is also home to black garlic. Botwright stumbled across a 4,000-year-old recipe for the black garlic while searching for a product to sell in the winter when the summer stocks are depleted. It’s become a sensation; used mostly in Korean cuisine, fermentation is used to preserve the garlic head. The resulting colour is dark brown, and the taste is described as sweet, earthy, and tangy. Hints of leather, smoke, and liquorice are also detected. South West Garlic farm says it can be eaten as a snack and provides greater health benefits than regular garlic. Garlic lovers, rejoice! There’s a new player in the game… Learn more: southwestgarlicfarm.co.uk 3

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Industry Underside

A Hollywood Legend, A Watch, and Enormous Responsibility

James and the giant watch 60

THE FAMOUS WATCH

it wasn’t just any watch; it was world-famous actor Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona, and in October 2017, it sold for the highest price ever achieved for a wristwatch at auction.

ames Cox has felt an enormous weight of responsibility ever since selling his watch at auction a little over a year ago. He wants to care for others and do good things in the world, while also finding the right people with the drive and passion to inspire change. That’s no easy feat. A philanthropist with

a keen interest in the environment, the foods we eat, and how we interact with nature, Cox doesn’t just blindly write cheques; he takes the time to make sure he’s doing it right.

The obligations he has are all thanks to his former watch. As you may have guessed by now, it wasn’t just any watch; it was worldfamous actor Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona, and in October 2017, it sold for the highest price ever achieved for a wristwatch at auction.

Into the vault, the wristwatch went, but after a few years in the darkness, Cox couldn’t bear to keep it locked up anymore.

The Famous Watch

And boy, did he ever do good.

The Rolex was given to Newman in 1972 by his wife, actress Joanne Woodward. On the back of the watch, Woodward engraved a simple message to her race car-loving husband: Drive Carefully Me. With one of the most bankable movie stars of the time constantly seen and photographed wearing it, the Rolex Daytona quickly became a sensation in the wristwatch world. “Because Paul Newman was so cool, this watch he wore became so cool,” explains Cox. “It was the beginning of the vintage watch movement. You can trace it all back to Paul Newman, really.” How Cox ended up being the proud owner of such a desired timepiece was a matter of two paths crossing at the College of Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, in the 1980’s. A student of human ecology, Cox fell in love with a girl named Nell, who he eventually discovered was Paul Newman’s daughter. The couple ended up dating for a decade, and during that time, Cox offered to restore a dilapidated treehouse on the Newman family property in Connecticut. Perhaps in a gesture of thanks, the Hollywood legend offered Cox his watch. “He came over one day and said, ‘Hey, kid, do you know what time it is?’, And I said, ‘No, I don’t have a watch, Paul’” Cox remembers. “And he took the watch off his wrist and said, ‘If you remember to wind it, it tells pretty good time.’” That’s where it all began. Cox wore the watch for the next 30 years, not knowing just how coveted the item on his wrist was and what an impact it was going to have on his life. “Six or seven years ago, I realize my watch has its own Wikipedia page,” recalls Cox. “Only a handful of people knew I had it, and I just kept quiet. People kept offering me money, and I just kept saying no.”

“I said, ‘I think it’s time.’ If Paul Newman were alive, he’d want me to sell it. He’d say, ‘Well, you’re not going to keep it, kid. You’re going to do something good with that.’”

That Moment When It Sells For Millions On October 26th, 2017, the wristwatch went up for auction at the Phillips Auction House in New York City. It was introduced by Aurel Bacs, a senior consultant at Phillips, as, “The most iconic Rolex wristwatch in the world, and possibly, the most iconic wristwatch of the 20th century.” Without further adieu, the bidding began. If you look up a video of the auction on YouTube, vintage watch collector or not, you can feel the excitement in the room as Cox and Nell Newman look on from the audience in nervous anticipation. After 12 minutes of intense bidding, Newman’s Rolex Daytona sold for a record $17.8 million, including the buyer’s premium. No other wristwatch in the world has ever sold for such a high price. “It was so bizarre. Is this a dream?” Cox remembers thinking after the gavel dropped. “It really showed that we could honour Paul, and it proved that he is, indeed, the coolest.” Cox has felt that weight of responsibility ever since. “That was a gift, and I can’t fuck it up. I need to do the right thing,” he explains. “And so the right thing is to do what I learned from Paul, and that is to take care of people.” On-screen, Paul Newman was a critically-acclaimed actor known for his dazzling blue eyes and handsome good looks. But offscreen, he was known for his devotion to his family, his sense of humour, and his philanthropic work. In 1982, he created the Newman’s Own salad dressing brand and famously declared, “Let’s give it all away.” Since then, more than $530 million has been donated to thousands of non-profit organizations around the world.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

CHANGING THE VIEW

npk_media

THE FAMOUS WATCH

Industry Underside In this undated photo, Paul Newman is seen wearing the Rolex in his race car

After 12 minutes of intense bidding, Newman’s Rolex Daytona sold for a record $17.8 million

Wanting to continue Paul Newman’s legacy, Cox took a large portion of the money from the watch he sold at auction and donated it to The Nell Newman Foundation, an organization that couples charitable giving with Nell’s passion for the environment. “Without a question, I’m giving the money away,” says Cox. “Money, to me, is the lowest form of energy on the planet. It’s super convenient, but when you think of all the other energy forms on the planet, it’s the lowest. I sound like a total hippie!”

Peace, Love, and the Environment Hippie or not, Cox is in the process of doing some incredible things, all the while shedding light on significant issues. Take his work with Clean Oceans International (COI), for example. Cox is a primary funder of the organization working to solve the issue of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. With the UN sounding the alarm that there will soon be more straws and bottles in the ocean than fish, the non-profit is sailing around the world with a machine on board that is capable of converting plastic into diesel, gasoline, or other petroleum products with a much smaller carbon footprint than how we do it now. Designed by Eco-Fuel Technologies, the unit is clean and quiet. Conversion, done safely using electrical power, is made possible through thermal-depolymerization. The reason COI is converting plastic to fuel is that the organization believes it’s impossible to spark a multinational movement to clean the oceans without there being a way to generate some profit. Sad, but true. Finding the right people to inspire change is key. Cox also saw enormous potential in Celine Cousteau, a documentary filmmaker and the granddaughter of world explorer, Jacques Cousteau. Tracing her grandfather’s footsteps, Cousteau travels the world and highlights major environmental issues along the way. A donation from Cox in her name helped her complete her most recent work, a documentary called Tribes on the Edge. The film highlights the plight of the Indigenous people of the Vale do Javari reserve in the Amazon. Past generations have thrived in the world’s largest rainforest, but with increased industrialization, human enterprise, and deforestation, the tribes are in trouble. Cousteau draws attention to illegal industries that have stripped the ecosystem and the people’s resources, and to their desperate need for healthcare as non-native hepatitis rates soar.

“My job is to make things snowball when a group of right people comes together,” Cox explains. “I can help you, I can give you a grant, and I can find another to match that and give you another grant. It’s exhausting, but in a great way.” In Iceland, Cox is currently helping recruit the right experts and conservation groups to help educate the people on a proposed hydroelectric power plant in the Westfjords. It’s a controversial debate, with many conservationists warning that damming the river system will destroy much of the natural landscape in the area. “I’ve fallen in love with Iceland because the people are beautiful and the climate is beautiful, and I’m so curious about the rapid change in our climate,” he says. “It’s happening all over the world, you can see it with rivers and migrations of people and droughts. If you go to the poles, there’s strong evidence.” As an ecologist, Cox, himself, is analyzing whether the project makes sense for Iceland. He’s also working closely with photographer Ragnar Axelsson, who is taking photos of the area to draw attention to what will be lost if the project goes ahead. The point is to help the Icelandic people build the confidence needed to make good decisions for their future. “Iceland is the heart of the planet, and if we hurt the heart, then we are hurting the whole planet,” he says. Socially, Cox has funded organizations working with Aids orphans in Africa, and those helping young girls to get an education. He and the Nell Newman Foundation have also sponsored beautiful community murals in Watsonville, California, featuring migrant workers. “We are painting murals to show them we care about them,” explains Cox. “Despite political pressures, we want them to know we know who is growing our food; we know who to thank.” Santa Cruz-based graffiti artist Taylor Reinhold is also the mastermind behind a 50,000 sq ft mural that, at first glance, appears to be of various sea creatures. Look closer, and the figures are actually plastic materials and other garbage floating around in the sea. Through Reinhold’s artwork, Cox is hoping to reach broader and younger audiences with important messages. Trying to save the world is exhausting work, indeed, but Cox says we all have the ability to contribute, even without millions of dollars worth of funding. 63

The biggest mobile climate room on the market The Mammoth EliteHC 1200L 12m x 6m x 2.4m / 72 m2 Heavy Duty Frame - 100% Waterproof Floor - Modular

2.4m 12m

L AL F

E-mail: info@mammothtents.nl

original manufacturer - designed in holland

pioneers in mobile rooms

TH ER

M O

mammoth tents

mammothtents.nl

NT S

THE FAMOUS WATCH

James Cox and Nell Newman stand outside the Philipps building the day before the auction

Industry Underside The non-prof it is sailing around the world with a machine on board that is capable of conver ting plastic into diesel, gasoline, or other petroleum products

“The cool kids that grow are the visionaries [...] and we’re helping them do their jobs,” Cox says. “It’s the same thing for the pilots.” “Every single one of us has the opportunity to be as cool as Paul Newman; it’s just about making good choices,” he explains. “Generosity is just about doing the right thing. I think buying organic food is being philanthropic because you’re supporting the good people who grew it.”

Ecologist, Philanthropist, and Businessman A typical day for Cox has him out of bed by 6 a.m. so he can spend about two hours reading news headlines from around the world and catching up on his emails. He generally works on his philanthropic projects every afternoon, reserving his mornings for his successful company, Method Seven. He fully admits he’s working on about six businesses or projects and that each one should be its own full-time gig. Method Seven was launched in 2011 and specializes in designing grow room glasses and sunglasses for pilots uses leading-edge technology. The company came to be after Cox’s friend and business partner expressed having difficulty taking pictures in indoor grow rooms. Cox says many of the growers he knew at the time were sparing their eyes and taking clippings from their grow rooms to see if it was time for harvest. He decided he wanted to find a way to balance the bright lights, making the environment safer and more comfortable. “Business is the most influential means of change, but nature the most civilized model of business,” he says. “Stop fighting nature, and look at it for inspiration and common sense. You will find the answers there. Those have been my guiding principals all my life.” Following those principals, Cox found a former glass chemist in Germany and discovered that making grow rooms safer was possible, but that he had to make his own glass by melting seven different elements from the Earth into the lens. After a couple of years of work and a lot of money spent, they finally hit a home run. “Soon after, we discovered all of these added benefits of this glass. There were people who used to get seizures when they went near grow rooms, and they stopped getting them,” Cox says. “[The lens] is blocking a lot of energy that strobes from those lights. It was also blocking out a lot of red heat, which causes fatigue amongst growers. There was a lot more going on than we thought.” Today, Method Seven makes lenses adapted to all kinds of lights, and the growers who wear them say they no longer see spots after leaving their grow rooms.

The idea for making sunglasses for pilots came when the German glass chemist Cox worked with mentioned creating a similar kind of glass for the fighter jet cockpits during WWII. “What the pilots experience at 30,000 ft is similar to what someone growing weed in his basement does,” he says. “The two worlds couldn’t be more different, but they certainly aren’t far apart. We are really on the edge of those two different worlds right now, and it’s nice to see them accepting each other because that wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago.” He credits Method Seven as a way to reach into communities and meet people; he first met the man sailing around the world collecting plastic for diesel conversion by making sunglasses for him. He says his business is a tool to get good things done, and Paul Newman’s watch was a way to open doors.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility It has been a whirlwind for Cox since selling the watch at auction a little over a year ago, but you can tell he wouldn’t have it any other way. Looking back, he tells me a story about the morning after the auction once the dust had settled. “I remember walking 40 blocks through Central Park and New York City, and I went to Paul’s apartment where Joanne Woodward was staying. I sat with her for a couple of hours and told her what happened and how beautiful it was. That was as cool as the whole night before, and that’s what Paul would have wanted.” She, after all, is a big part of this story too. Nobody could have possibly imagined the frenzy she was going to put in motion by purchasing the Rolex Daytona for her husband and engraving it with a simple message. Cox describes the moment he was given the watch in a backyard in Connecticut as a windfall; one that would present him with opportunities only made possible by Newman and the life that he lived. And despite all of his own accomplishments and philanthropic efforts, Cox remains humble as hell. “I’m no hero,” he says. “I just had a good one as a role model.”

Sources: newmansownfoundation.org nellnewmanfoundation.org cleanoceansinternational.org methodseven.com 65

BY NICO HILL

Essentially, you are creating a tincture of five particularly potent natural herbs: garlic, ginger, liquorice, cinnamon, and angelica.

ORGANIC HERBAL NUTRIENT

It is probably the most labour-intensive and fiddly of all KNF techniques to master

ncient homeopathy has certainly gained a lot of traction in today’s society. Herbal remedies have a huge market helping to cure anything from the common cold to an overly flaccid and lazy John-Thomas. There is almost no ailment that an ancient Chinese remedy can’t fix, using all sorts of weird and wonderful things to

do it with. We could all do with a little extra vim and vigour to help re-enforce a waning vitality, and my indoor plants are no different to my failing manhood in that respect.

Enter OHN (Organic Herbal Nutrient). It is an herbal remedy that is produced specifically for plants. It helps boost a plant’s performance much in the same way as an herbal tonic is supposed to improve that of humans: the natural medicinal/beneficial aspects of a plant are extracted into a solution that can be used by your plants to help them suffer all sorts of stresses that the environment can throw at them. Let’s face it, environmental stresses are a big part of growing, so having a viable workaround for them can be a bit of a lifesaver for a lot of lack-lustre growers.

concentrated. Basically, don’t go ballsdeep and use two-litre mason jars for the fermentation stage, as you will end up with roughly 20 litres of final solution once all combined.

There is almost no ailment that an ancient Chinese remedy can’t fix, using all sorts of weird and wonderful things to do it with

While OHN stands for Organic Herbal Nutrient, don’t assume that it is in anyway a replacement for an NPK fertiliser or a nutrient-rich organic amendment. It is much more of just a name. Essentially, you are creating a tincture of five particularly potent natural herbs: garlic, ginger, liquorice, cinnamon, and angelica. Their individual medicinal properties are combined to form an incredibly potent cocktail that helps ward off pathogenic microbes from your root zone and encourage more beneficial aerobic bacteria to populate the media.

image: robin hill gardens

So, what exactly is it then?

• •

Your next task will be sourcing the ingredients. If you can find fresh ingredients for everything here, it would be an incredibly amazing feat. Realistically, you will have to get dry ingredients for a few inputs and rehydrate them. Unless you’re lucky enough to have access to fresh angelica/ cinnamon or fresh liquorice root, you will need to begin with a stage of rehydration using a low alcohol beer, so of course, you need to make sure you buy extra for yourself and have a little party for one while you are at it.

Rehydrating stage:

You will need: • A few glass jars • Dried Ingredients - twice the amount of angelica than any of the other herbs. Low alcohol beer or rice wine, enough to fill each jar to two-thirds full. Labels

Er, no. In fact, it is probably the most labour-intensive and fiddly of all KNF techniques to master. Partly because of the number of separate ingredients you have to ferment and deal with, but also because it requires daily attention for about a month or so. If that’s not enough to put you off, then pat yourself on the back! It is incredibly rewarding to make (and use) and has a fantastic shelf life, essentially improving over time like a fine wine. It is an incredibly effective weapon in a grower’s arsenal for maintaining plant health and can also be used as part of the IMO1 process. So, don’t be lazy; get a batch started while you’re reading this.

Step 1: Prepare Herbs Chop each dried herb into half an inch sized cubes and fill each jar to as close to one-third full as possible. Prepare two jars of angelica; for special Korean reasons, you need to use double the amount of angelica when preparing OHN. Step 2: Add Beer Fill the jar to the halfway mark with low alcohol beer. Pour at an angle to prevent frothing. Step 3: Label Label the jars, then drink all the remaining beer. Step 4: Store Cover with a breathable lid and leave for two days.

Where do we begin?

Fermentation stage

Before anything, think of how much you are going to want to end up with based on the fact that you finish with roughly two times your starting volume of each jar for each input. Also, it has a typical application rate of 0.5-1ml per litre, so it is quite

This is when the action really starts. Two days after beginning the hydrating process of the dry inputs (and ridding yourself of any hangover), you need to begin fermenting. Get your remaining fresh ingredients and arm yourself with a shit-ton of brown sugar.

It’s easy to make though, right?

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss out? Visit GardenCultureMagazine.com and subscribe now!

Grow your own â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no matter where you live. Sustainable, efficient gardening. New hints and tips from our blog delivered to your inbox weekly, and be the first to know when the latest print magazine lands in a progressive garden shop near you. Truly local. Beyond fresh.

GardenCultureMagazine

image: 13-Mile Farm

ORGANIC HERBAL NUTRIENT

Step 3: Stir it up Stir it once a day for 14 days, in a OHN can be used clockwise motion. throughout pretty Step 4: Strain your juice Strain all of the liquid into your separate much any stage of storage container (label it accordingly). growth as a root Put the solids back in your original drench or applied as ferment jar. Step 1: Prepare the fresh Step 5: Backfill the ferment jar ingredients a foliar spray Back-fill the ferment jar up to twoGently smash and cut up the fresh thirds full with the recently strained material to expose a nice amount of liquid, then fill it to the brim again with surface area for fermentation. more fresh vodka and stir. Then seal Step 2: Add sugar each container. Add equal weights sugar to the Step 6: Repeat till funny fresh ingredients and thoroughly Repeat steps 1 through 4 up to mix together. With the rehydrated another five times and then discard the ingredients, simply add sugar until the remaining ferment and solid ingredients volume of the jars reaches the twoonto your compost pile. thirds mark. Step 7: Form like Vultron Step 3: Fill the jars OHN tea Recombine the individually extracted Particularly important with the fresh ingredients together and set aside for ferments is the volume you aim for. storage or usage. You want your jars to end up about Step 8: Self-Congratulate two-thirds full after five to seven days. So, make sure to fill it so Breathe a sigh of relief you needn’t stir anything up on a daily it doesn’t settle below this after fermentation, then remove any basis for a good while. You have now made OHN excess if the fermented volume is over this amount. Step 9: Use it! Step 4: Store Use as and when needed Cover jars and set aside for storage for the next five to seven days. You will need: • More glass jars • Fresh ingredients • Loads of brown sugar • Elastic bands • Breathable lids

image: robin hill gardens

Tincturing Stage Now that you have fermented all your ingredients, you can begin to make them into a medicinal tincture. It involves a great deal of high percentage alcohol, so get ready to get a mother-freakin’ party started along the way. It isn’t particularly tricky from this point, but it does involve daily care, so avoid doing this over a time when you’re due to go on holiday or anything. You will need: • Larger containers for the separation process, one for each input. (if using plastics make sure they are HDPE) • Lots of vodka (mixers optional) • Cling film • Labels • Strainer • Stirring tool Step 1: Add Vodka and stir Add your vodka to each jar, leaving a few inches to allow for stirring. Step 2: Cover Fill to the brim with vodka, then cover with cling film (or lid). This prevents the alcohol from evaporating off.

Alright! Er, but how do I use it?

OHN can be used throughout pretty much any stage of growth as a root drench or applied as a foliar spray. Use it at a rate of 0.5-1ml per litre, although, if you have managed to age your OHN, then you can start to slowly decrease that dilution rate as it increases in potency over time. Additionally, it makes for one of the ingredients that can be used in the IMO process, further enhancing your collection of indigenous microbes. It will improve the overall health of both your plant and soil to a dramatic effect – pushing you ever closer to the perfect harvest.

Chore time over Ok, so OHN is the most fiddly of all the KNF inputs to make, but it really is an effective one and gives great personal satisfaction after having gone through the entire process. Tinkering with the input list is also possible; you can add almost whatever ingredients you feel may have additional medicinal properties to add to the efficacy of the solution. Just make sure to always do twice the angelica of anything else. Anyway, go get yourself onto Amazon or something and get sourcing your dry ingredients! The sooner you get cracking, the sooner you will have your greedy mitts on a unique magical elixir. 3 69

HELLIQ,N DE 600-7.50W HPS At 600W setting PPFD = 1200 -1225 umol At 750W setting PPFD = 1500 -1550 umol

WWW.ADJUSTAWINCS.COM

S: UPERIO.R DE T:ECHNO.LO.GY FREEDO.M T:O.. MO.VE THAT: WO.NT: CO.O:K YO.UR PLANT:S! ,· -··

,· ...

,- ···,· -··

,- ...

,· -·-

The Hellions can sit comfortably just 45cm above your plant canopy, maximum light penetration without the burn!

REDUCED HEAT:

Super Spreaders are designed to disperse radiant heat, not to block light. They ensure that all plants feel nice and warm, not just the ones directly beneath the lamp.

INCREDIBLE LIGHT: SPREAD M_EANS BIGGER YIELDS!

,· ...

...

·· ,. ...

Adjust-A-Wings reflectors are purposefully lightweight.

Air movement in the grow room will gently sway the reflector, lighting areas that static fixtures cannot.

T:WO..- SYST:EMS IN .-O. NE -

Set your system up to suit your growing area. A fixture style combination unit or a remote ballast unit.

-:UNBEATABLE QUALIT:Y AND PERFQ:RMANCE

The Adjust-A-Wings Reflector. Hellion ballast and Hellion DE lamp are all crafted from materials of the highest quality.

The Hellions produce perfect. even light distribution across your crop.

These three components combine in harmony to create the Hellion Defender.

No hot spots or cold corners, just beautiful, even and prolific growth.

A lighting system of unparalleled power and performance.

ABSQlUT:E LIGHTiNG CQ:NTRQl The Hellions have:-

3 power settings - 450w, 600w and 750w 5 reflector width settings 5 lamp height settings

DISTRIBUTED BY MAXIGROW WWW.MAXIGROW.COM CREATION WWW.CREATION-HYDRO.CO.UK HIGHLIGHT HORTICULTURE WWW.HIGHLIGHTHORTICULTURE.CO.UK

BY NICO HILL

Stop With All the Walls Joining Hydroponic and Organic Practices

HYDROPONIC AND ORGANIC

You can keep all the control and ef ficiency of hydroponic media, whilst integrating organic practices to boost the final qualit y essentially aiming for the best of both worlds

egregation is not usually synchronistic with peace and prosperity. I can’t really think of any point in history when separating and isolating peoples and things have ever had anything other than a negative impact on the overall success of a people. To name just a couple of examples, the Mongolians and Chinese missed out on

countless oppor tunities to elevate each other’s societies, and Germans were separated and even forced to go to the extreme lengths of having to create two football teams. The integration of different cultures is IMO’s/LAB’s (Bacterial) Other than maybe always the way forward. Alexander the The bacterial amendment arm of your lowering your EC Great knew this when he saw the majesty KNF additives. No longer restrict yourself slightly now and of Asia’s trading network on the silk road, to a few species of bacteria/fungi from a again, keep your a melting pot of all things desirable and dusty packet – get the best you can from existing feed regime the natural world around you. Once you useful. Trade routes and the exchange of people/knowledge/resources helped to have made yourself some IMO2 (or LAB), exactly the same, elevate these people to dizzying heights you can add this at any point you wish. The then add MNF bits – a veritable golden age for our ancestors. first watering after a transplant is always in as you see fit The growing media your plants are sitting the most ideal to inoculate any fresh new throughout your in are no stranger to this phenomenon, roots, but a weekly top up can be applied plant’s life cycle par ticularly in relation to a bit of the old to increase biodiversity in your pot at hydro/organic fusion of ideas. You can almost any point. For full effect, you could keep all the control and efficiency of hydroponic media, even inoculate your entire media before planting out, in a whilst integrating organic practices to boost the final quality similar way to how IMO3 is made (see previous issues for - essentially aiming for the best of both worlds. fur ther details).

Ferments

Firstly, you need to think about how you can possibly integrate anything into your pre-existent hydroponic regiment. For example, you might be among the vast swathes of growers who are using drip irrigation systems in coco pots. If you are, then good for you! This is possibly the easiest of all systems to integrate the finer aspects of KNF into. The only thing you will need to do is water your organic inputs by hand every now and again, when and where they are applicable. This same thinking can really be applied to almost any hydro system. In a nutshell, you can hand water through organic amendments at almost any point (within reason).

Ferments can be hand fed into your media almost at any given point. A weekly feed will give you the oppor tunity to cycle through all the ferments you have made, star ting with root ferments in early veg, moving to vegetative ferments in mid-veg, then switching to more flower/fruit ferments as you transition through the flowering stage. The aim of the game here is to match the type of ferment you have made to the stage of life that your plant is in at that time so that the inherent hormones and nutrients meet the demands of your plants at that par ticular time.

credit: Confessions From The Soil

Unless you are amending your media with dry fer tilisers, you are essentially just adding to what you are already doing, so change nothing in terms of the EC and pH levels you normally set your reservoir at. Other than maybe lowering your EC slightly now and again, keep your existing feed regime exactly the same, then add MNF bits in as you see fit throughout your plant’s life cycle. “Easy enough” I hear you say, “I can switch my irrigation pumps off and hand water once a week. So what should I use and when?” Well, dearest fellow, let’s have a quick look at a few of your options so you get the gist.

credit: www.biocharireland.com

Physically how, though?

IMO1

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

JUST ADD FEROCIOUS. Add to any existing nutrient programmes.

COCO

SOIL

HYDRO

HydroGarden, exclusive UK distributor of Ferocious

HYDROPONIC AND ORGANIC

Other bits and Pieces

(FAA) FISH AMINO ACIDS

FARMING

These are possibly the best two to focus on when integrating KNF into hydro practices. Both of these inputs are fun to make and can significantly change the end result of your crop. As a place to star t, they make a great organic addition to almost any method of growing you currently employ. Of course, you are by no means restricted to just these two or three; other KNF inputs can also be utilised just as well. But keep in mind, they take a lot more effor t in the early preparation stage, something many lazy hydroponic growers tend to be rather fearful of.

credit: youtube: (FAA) FISH AMINO ACIDS KOREAN NATURAL

Ferments can be hand fed into your media almost at any given point

In a nutshell Basically, the world is your oyster. An occasional handwatering allows you to integrate almost any aspect of organic growing into a more mineral programme. Just make sure not to add any extras to your reservoir; organic additives tend not to sit well in a tank over time. Essentially, you are giving yourself the best of both worlds in this scenario – all the efficiency and predictability of hydroponics, with all the quality boosting aspects of organics: win/win. 3

Fermented Fruit Juice

credit: Imgrum: #momsorganismsxl Medias

WSCP/WSCA may not be quite as crucial, as your mineral nutrients should have more than adequate levels of calcium and phosphor (although, an additional bit of organic versions hand watered through won’t hur t). OHN can be used as a foliar spray or root drench to help boost the vitality and immunity of your plant (but it’s a faff to make). FAA can give a huge boost of amino’s for a plant and can be a great food source for fungi.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

Sustainable, ethical lighting solutions for

R(evolution)

the

Avici

RLC-1

BRIGHTEST GROW LED EVER

SMART LIGHTING CONTROLLER

Coming soon:

new controllers

CO2 Controller

Recycling Timer Day

Temperature Control Crop

a new hi-tech horticultural revolution

is here CMH

DEva

630w DE DEva

22% MORE EFFICIENT THAN ANY OTHER DE

BY MATT MOUNTAIN

When

less is

Flowering, particularly late stage, easily competes with propagation/start of life as the phase that gives the most customers the most problems 78

FLOWERING AND FRUITING

lowering and fruiting is an exciting time for growers. It’s the pay off for weeks, months, sometimes years of work. So it’s only natural that a large part of the hydroponics and advanced gardening market is dedicated to this phase of life. If explosive growth sounds good - if a little dangerous - explosive flowering clearly sounds better!

With a plethora of PK, CalMag, and PGR based boosters and flowering supplements out there touting oppor tunities for huge productivity and yield gains, it isn’t surprising that many growers use them. Often, with great success.

Flowering problems are compounded by the simple and brutal fact that, well, flowers don’t make the best leaves

At the same time, a quick straw poll of grow shops will confirm that flowering, par ticularly late stage, easily competes with propagation/star t of life as the phase that gives the most customers the most problems. Why is that? And why is it that despite all the products on the market that cater specifically to flowering, problems still often peak during this phase? Whilst a plant is growing vegetatively, all of its available energy is going into duplicating par ts of itself that deliver immediate benefit to the plant: more root to uptake water and nutrients, more leaf to increase gas exchange and energy collection for photosynthesis, or more stem to hold the two together. If you damage a vegetative plant, like tearing a leaf off, for example, whatever the energy cost to effect repairs (i.e to grow a new leaf ), the plant will be repairing something that contributes. You might also notice that if you remove a leaf lower down the stem in an area with less light then the crown, that the plant might choose to replace it slowly, or not at all, sending the energy it has to well-lit areas that can grow higher performing leaves instead. When a plant is in flower, it is trying to reproduce not by vegetative means (budding or via runners etc), but, with the exception of self-fer tile varieties, through sexual reproduction. To do this, it needs a whole new physical set up: new tissues and structures, and often, it needs to do this at new energy levels as many plants are photoperiodic.

This means their development is responsive to day length. For example, a shor t day plant, which will typically flower when day length is less than about 12 hours, will star t to radically change its physiology just as the light and resulting power available to it drops.

So, right out of the gate, a grower who has become used to the responses of their plants to pruning, water availability, or nutrient concentration can be caught off guard and accidentally expose their plants to stress as the plant deals with new demands and less energy availability at the same time. This is one of the many reasons that flowering plants are often said to be more delicate than plants in veg. As if that wasn’t enough, flowering problems are compounded by the simple and brutal fact that, well, flowers don’t make the best leaves. Technically, they are leaves, but they often don’t contribute significantly to photosynthesis, having largely conver ted their chloroplasts into the colourful chromoplasts we grow them for. Flowers also have to produce scent, nectar, resin, pollen, fruits and seeds. None of these things helps your plant grow bigger or healthier. Basically, flowers are black holes for resources that the rest of your plant is stuck with and has to feed. So, plants are diminished in resilience during flowering, and at the same time, they are being asked to do the hardest work and carry the most vulnerable tissue (i.e flowers). Ever seen a plant with some mould on the leaf ? Not a big deal. Seen one with mouldy flowers? Big deal... But, does this explain the massive uptick in “problems” around flowering?

FLOWERING AND FRUITING

About half of them, probably yes. A plant that is suddenly put under more pressure, with less energy available, has less headroom. And that exacerbates any issues that may be lurking. From pest attacks to nutrient deficiencies, a stressed plant going into flower will often succumb to challenges it might have metaphorically shaken off a few weeks earlier. This is why all good shops, and books, and manufacturers, put plant health fundamentals, such as heat, humidity, airflow, light, and the availability of properly oxygenated water first, every time. If a plant is healthy, and growing in the correct environment it will fight disease better, grow better, flower better, and yield better than a plant in a poor environment and all the boosters and supplements in the world. But what about the other 50%? Well, when I ask shop owners about the number one specific problem that customers ask for advice on in flowering, the answer that comes back is almost always “deficiencies”.

Plants are diminished in resilience during flowering, and at the same time, they are being asked to do the hardest work and carry the most vulnerable tissue

Why deficiencies? Because generally, when problems occur during flowering, and customers are using supplements, the plants in question are indeed deficient in one or more primary or secondary nutrient. It’s just that the deficiency has been caused by an excess or unintended interactions between one or more nutrients being delivered. This kind of excess is called a “lock-out” because the affected nutrient is present, but made unavailable to the plant.

levels in the rest of the plant or substrate are sufficient. In fact, in hydroponics, a Ca deficiency is most often due to decreased calcium uptake or transpor t within the plant (Adams and Ho, 1993), and not a lack of calcium in nutrient solution (Morard et al., 1996).

An interesting fact about calcium, for example, is that despite being almost universally paired with magnesium in supplements, the two elements strongly interfere with each other during uptake. As does potassium (Voogt, 1998). This means that an apparent deficiency in one of these elements often means a toxic excess of one or both of the others.

The interplay between just P, Ca and Mg following overapplication of “PK” and “CalMag” can be intense: high levels of potassium in the root environment interfere with calcium uptake (Voogt, 1998; Nukaya et al., 1995; Bar-Tal and Pressman, 1996). And at the same time, excess Ca could inhibit K absorption due to competition between the two ions (Paiva et al., 1998b). Then, you should consider that the rate of Mg uptake can be depressed by Ca levels, and vice versa (Paiva et al., 1998b; Hao and Papadopoulos, 2003).

Another calcium fun fact is that as it is almost entirely distributed via xylem, not phloem, growing tips, fruit, and other par ts of plants that are primarily supplied by phloem often show signs of calcium deficiency when

In shor t, it’s very easy to overload your plants. It is also very hard to accurately diagnose a specific nutrient deficiency in a high EC environment without lab testing because of all these interactions. When you add this complexity to

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

FLOWERING AND FRUITING

An interesting fact about calcium, for example, is that despite being almost universally paired with magnesium in supplements, the two elements strongly interfere with each other during uptake

the generally more delicate physiology of a flowering plant, you can see who so many people get into trouble with what appears to be deficiencies in bloom as opposed to veg. So, what is the solution to great yields without drama? First of all, less often really is more. Resist the urge to throw a little bit more nutrient in just to see. Or at least run a test plant for experiments. If you are using a complete range of nutrients, stick to it: donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mix and match nutrient products - especially PK and CalMag supplements. Manufacturers do a lot of testing to ensure a product range works together; trust them on that. If you fancy a change, switch brand for your next grow.

Respect the iner tia of your substrate: nutrients build up over time, and generally out of balance. There is more than one neutral product available to help re-set your substrate. Consider using one at major transitions in your grow. You can also look at the fast developing world of beneficial microorganisms for ways to improve your plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s access to the elements it needs and that you have already supplied. And finally, if your local shop ever tells you less is more and tries to not sell you one more booster product for flowering, stick with that shop for life; they have your genuine interest at hear t! 3

Resist the urge to throw a little bit more nutrient in just to see

Matt Mountain - Clearspeech.london With a Bachelor of Sciences degree and background in management consultancy, Mattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day job is helping everyday people - aka customers, understand and benefit from the developments that researchers and manufacturers in advanced horticulture make every year.

Bio

Matt manages General Hydroponics Europe and General Organics operations in the UK, and with 20 years of urban gardening experience in France and England, is now particularly concentrated on the practical application of hydroponics in small-scale urban food production with a focus on high value, high carbon cost produce.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

BY TOM FORREST, STEALTH GARDEN SUPPLIES

Stealth Science

elcome to the second par t of our ‘Stealth Science’ Series! In this ar ticle, we will be discussing

how impor tant and seemingly complicated the

This five-part series delves into plant science to help you understand why a garden flourishes or flops. Over the next five issues, we will discuss the important topics relating to plant biology and physiology, structure and function, covering roots to shoots and everything in between!

consumption of water is within our gardens. Without it, all life on ear th would cease to exist. Plants have cleverly evolved a very unique way of utilising this precious resource for a huge range of biological processes.

We will start our lesson with the importance of the transpiration stream. This essential concept describes the movement of water from the soil to the atmosphere. The controlling factor for this movement is the gradient of water potential as it amazingly moves upwards like an upside-down waterfall!

What about gravity? How do trees move such vast amounts of water towards the sky? In a brilliant example of evolutionary prowess, plants have evolved a threefold method of mechanisms. Various theories state that plants cleverly use water’s peculiar cohesive and molecular properties to their advantage. This allows the tallest trees to lift thousands of litres of water hundreds of metres into the air. Using a combination of root pressure, capillarity and cohesion, plants are able to move water even more efficiently than the most advanced human technology. Firstly, root pressure acts to uptake the salts and water by osmosis; through diffusion and the difference in water potential around the root hairs. Capillarity states that water rises higher in smaller diameter pipes and that you can imagine the xylem as tiny, microscopic, thin straws (that use tracheids and vessels). As the root pressure and capillary push the water from the base, cohesion pressure from the leaf surface pulls continuous columns of water upwards. Another theory also suggests that a lack of gasses within the xylem and phloem contributes to the inward movement of water and lack of vertical pressure on the water column within the plant.

Understanding the science behind the art of horticulture ensures we can cultivate beautiful, healthier, and more sustainable crops. The Five Classes: • Plant Morphology and Anatomy (see last issue) • Water Interactions • Plant Food and Ionic Relations • Photosynthesis and Phloem • Plant Hormones: The control of growth and development

A majority of the water tension comes from the cohesive pressure of the leaves. This is actually a very easy movement of water to accurately measure. A potometer (also known as a transpirometer) is a basic device you can make with simple lab equipment to measure the rate of water uptake from a leafy shoot. During daylight hours, the water column within the plant is under the greatest tension as the water potential is much higher. A dendrometer allows us to very accurately measure and observe tree trunks shrinking during the day and actually swelling at night! This occurs as the water column is most stretched while the plant is maximising transpiration.

How does the water get inside the plant in the first place? Let’s imagine we are looking at the transpiration stream under a potent HP microscope, travelling like a magic school bus through the different organs and processes of the plant. Underground (or underwater in certain hydroponic setups), the water firstly passes through the apoplast (the non-living areas; cell walls and intercellular spaces) of the root cortex along the water potential gradient, and into the root. It encounters an impervious barrier at the endodermis but enters through the symplast (the living areas bounded by different membranes e.g. cell protoplasts) and flows back into the apoplast as it is carried upward by the transpiration pull from the leaves.

STEALTH SCIENCE

Water Interactions Plants have cleverly evolved a very unique way of utilising this precious resource for a huge range of biological processes

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

Prepare to be amazed Transport

Lights on, no damage or burning

Overgrow

Performance and mold control

Now available in the UK with Highlight Horticulture www.opticfoliar.com

STEALTH SCIENCE

Water interactions

As it is with humans and all life on earth, water is our key to existence; we need to keep it pure and treat it as our most valuable resource

Near the destination, the water leaves the xylem and travels via the apoplast in the mesophyll cell walls into the substomatal cavity. This is where an exchange of gases occurs and the water brilliantly emerges into the atmosphere as humidity. This is a very oversimplified analysis of the transpiration stream but gives you an idea of how the water moves between different cells and intercellular spaces to get to where it needs to go. Many of us have heard of the stomata, the little bean-shaped things that control respiration. The stomatal opening is an essential organelle for photosynthesis. This is a tiny pore that is bordered by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;guard cellsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that control and regulate gas exchanges from the leaf. As the stomatal opening size increases, so does the transpiration, but the rates will depend on water stress, light, CO2, air toxicities, and several other factors. Stomatal closure is regulated by Abscisic Acid ABA (we will discuss this much more in depth within Topic 5: Plant Hormones) and causes the cessation of the K+ pump. They will close during times of darkness, high CO2 levels, or other poisons in the air. The guard cells have chloroplasts that photosynthesize to help the plant exchange gases (mostly oxygen and carbon dioxide). It is predominantly the environmental factors of a crop that will influence the transpiration levels of a plant. As relative humidity decreases, so does transpiration. But also as the air warms, the plant will transpire significantly more to try to regulate its own temperature. Surrounding the plant, the light intensity and air movement will also have drastic effects on the control of transpiration, as will the soil conditions, soil type, and salinity. To truly comprehend the influence of water relations in horticulture, we need to look at the cellular aspects of H20. Universal laws state that water potential is determined by three factors: gravity, pressure, and the concentration of dissolved solutes. Water movement inside a plant is osmotic; it moves through barriers or semi-permeable membranes as the turgor pressure maintains the structure and shape of a cell.

This turgor pressure describes the pressure exerted by the cell wall in response to the expansion of the vacuole (a space within the cell, usually enclosed by a membrane). It keeps the cells solid and structurally able to do their job. Only a small amount of water moves in or out of the cell, but this still has a large effect on its water potential and its turgor pressure. When the guard cells are turgid, the stomata are open and the gas exchange is underway!

Why is water the most important limiting factor for productivity and crop growth? As water moves throughout the plant, it is used in a variety of physiological mechanisms. The three most important needs for water are as a raw material for photosynthesis, for turgor to support and expand cells, and as a solvent for ions and organic compounds. Plant life only actually utilizes 1% of water for metabolic activity; the remaining 99% is transpired and supports the rest of our global ecosystem! Astonishingly, a Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash) can transpire more than 12,000 litres per hectare per day! The soil type and particle size will also influence how much water a plant is able to transpire or use. Depending on the salt/silt/clay ratio, the substrate will have differing field capacities (maximum amount of water) that a plant is able to utilize. As it is with humans and all life on earth, water is our key to existence; we need to keep it pure and treat it as our most valuable resource. Plants have evolved to adapt to changing climates and we can learn from their ingenuity and resourceful nature. The next segment of Stealth Science will investigate how plants use this water to consume their food and the ionic relations behind mineral nutrition! 3

BIO Founder of Indicated Technology Pty Ltd, Tom is a certified horticulturalist and paid consultant working in the Australian medical cannabis industry. After finishing studies in production horticulture (hydroponics) and plant biology; Tom has spent the past 6 years working in the protected cropping space. Tom is passionate about sustainable yet economic cultivation methodologies and also teaches cannabis cultivation as part of university and private education programs. Tom is also the Communications Manager for Stealth Garden wholesale supplies. 87

GREEN PRODUCTS

cool

finds 1

Let There Be Light

Give your indoor plants the boost they need with this dual head hor ticultural growing lamp. Its 360° adjustable goosenecks will make sure no leaf is left in the dark; simply turn the lights in any direction desired. They’re attached to a single clamp that can be clipped on anywhere from shelves to ceilings and balcony rails. With 36 LEDs (24 red and 12 blue), the grow light is set on a timer (from 3 to 15 hours) and has five different levels of brightness for different plant growth stages. The lamp also has a convenient USB interface that you can plug into a laptop or power bank. Those dark, cold winter days will never be a problem for your plants again. Order from Amazon: amzn.to/2pVF3cM

Be Inspired Chase away those winter blues by flipping through the gorgeous pages of She Sheds Style: Make Your Space Your Own. While you may not be able to get star ted right away, this book by Erika Kotite will at the very least inspire you to make your own plans for a beautiful outdoor refuge once the weather permits. A woman’s response to the man cave, the ‘she shed’ movement is gaining steam around the world. The beautifullyphotographed spread features sheds and their interiors decorated in various styles; from modern and eclectic to rustic and shabby chic, every taste is satisfied. Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, explore plenty of DIY projects, including re-purposing furniture. Be uplifted and inspired. A girl can dream, can’t she? Order from Amazon: amzn.to/2Ouw3dF

PIONEER

Grow Books “Two indispensable books” GARDEN CULTURE MAMAPUBLISHING.COM

NEW

GREEN PRODUCTS

cool

finds 3

Puri f y Yo u r A ir

Green your indoor environment with a low-maintenance spherical glass terrarium.This kit from The Art of Succulents comes complete with a large globe 20cm in diameter, three good-sized succulent plants, gravel in your choice of colour, succulent compost mix, preserved reindeer moss, and more. You’ll also get full assembly instructions and a plant care sheet. Not only do terrariums add elegance to any indoor space, but many varieties of succulents also clean indoor air. And when you’re cooped up all winter long, it’s nice knowing you’re breathing something pure, isn’t it? Order this beauty for your own home or someone else’s at The Art of Succulents: bit.ly/2P2HAQJ

Wal l Ar t

Brighten your space this winter with some living wall art.The Wall Hogger vertical garden comes in a variety of sizes, allowing you to grow herbs and flowers without taking up too much space in the house. The felt pouches hang securely from the wall; made from recycled plastic bottles, the fabric is durable and provides the ultimate growing environment for your plants. The special fabric helps maintain the perfect soil temperature and moisture levels in your living wall. The planter helps create a dense and fibrous root structure without circling. Who says you have to close your gardens up for the winter? If you don’t want to go vertical, a variety of pots are available too. Order from: wallgarden.co.uk

On d i sp lay

Don’t use any old thing for watering your indoor gardens this winter -- make it displayworthy! You better believe you’ll be getting compliments on this watering can. It comes in four different finishes and has a one-litre capacity. Lightweight and easy to carry around the house, the slash cut spout will ensure direct, drip-free watering of your potted plants. Handcrafted from powder-coated steel, eyes will be drawn to the interesting shape and colours. It also comes with an incredible five-year guarantee. Simply water your plants, and then place on an open shelf somewhere to be admired. Order from Haws: bit.ly/2CiMbHM

CLAIM YOUR FREE SAMPLE GREEN SENSATION NOW FIND OUT MORE

WWW.GREENSENSATION.COM

w No le ab ail av at

Only deal with Gold Label

CASH OUT!

HydroCoco 60/40 A/B HydroCoco 60/40 mix

Gold Label HydroCoco 60/40 is the only HydroCoco mix that holds RHP for horticulture certification.

Black Jack!

Garden Culture Magazine UK 26

Articles inside

Stealth Sciences

Product Spotlight

Mind Your P's & K's