Indoor Growing UK 37

Now also compatible with digital ballasts!

FULL SPECTRUM, INTENSE OUTPUT

600W 3K & 4K CMH LAMPS

The first full spectrum, 600W CMH lamps.

The E40 fitting allows use with any standard 600W DIGITAL or MAGNETIC ballast.

These lamps are a game changer.

600W 4K

New 4k

Improved balanced spectrum with enhanced red for optimal flowering.

• Use for all stages of grow

• 3K: 90 CRI, 4K: 97 CRI (Sunlight = 100 CRI)

• PPF 960 umol/s

Energy efficient: high PAR output per Watt. Improved balanced spectrum with an enhanced blue region for outstanding vegetative growth.

• High Efficiency 1.6 umol/J

• Significantly increases plant mass compared to HPS

• Significantly higher yield per watt compared to HPS

Traditional values contemporary thinking

Each starter pack includes the full range of Mills nutrients and a sample of the UKs Favourite Additive and UK's Best-Selling Silica, Vitalize - more than just silica.

There's also a feed chart, measuring syringe and some novelty Mills-themed gifts.

Just give us two pots and see the difference for yourself.

As an added bonus the first 500 readers to claim a Mills starter kit will also receive a FREE sample bottle of Fish Sh!t organic soil conditioner - an ecosystem in a bottle!

FOREWORD CREDITS

2020 has been one hell of a year; the spring and summer months saw record-level numbers of people turning to their gardens for solace. Sales of seeds, soil, and gardening equipment also hit record highs. The harvest moon has come and gone, leaving most gardens sitting bare until the warm weather returns

Gardening is rising in popularity, but only a fraction of the people getting their hands dirty grow indoors. However, more are choosing to bring their growing ventures inside, often because gardening outdoors can be so limiting. Your zone dictates your choice of veg, the weather is getting more unpredictable, and pests of all kinds have easy access. It can take just one big hail storm to decimate your hard work.

When you garden indoors, it will never hail. If properly controlled, the environment is always perfect. The team at Garden Culture can help you get there; we can also help with plant nutrition, watering schedules, lighting, and more.

In this issue, Stephen Brookes gives an overview of Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD). An industry buzzword these days, VPD is a new way of looking at the relationship between temperature, humidity, and plant growth.

HID lighting has been the staple forever, but the new LEDs are starting to fly off the shelves. Different lights require different growing techniques. In Important Concepts for Transitioning from HID to LED Grow Lights , Alex Fraser explains just that. We also look back at one of the oldest methods of gardening indoors in The History of Hydroponics - A Timeline by Jesse Singer and get to know industry legend and founder of GHE, now Terra Aquatica, William Texier a little better.

Passionate gardeners can extend their season if they have a space in the kitchen, an unused closet, or an area in the basement. Help seed the movement. Teach your friends and family. You can start by giving this magazine along to someone who is anxiously awaiting spring.

Happy indoor gardening, Eric 3

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Albert Mondor, Alex Fraser, Anne Gibson, Ari Singer, Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Cody J Garrett-Tait, Cosmic Knot, Dr Callie Seaman, Jesse Singer, Martyna Krol, Nico Hill, Rich Hamilton, and Stephen Brookes.

PRESIDENT

Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com

+1-514-233-1539

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com

+1-514-754-1539

EDITOR

Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com

DESIGN

Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com

DIGITAL & SOCIAL MARKETING COORDINATOR

Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com

+1-514-754-0062

ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com

PUBLISHER

325 Media INC

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ISSN 2562-3540 (Print)

ISSN 2562-3559 (Online)

Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

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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.

Author Spotlight Martyna Krol

From natural beekeeping, wildflowers, and allotment gardens to guerilla gardening, aquaponics, and avoiding troubles in the grow room, Garden Culture’s Martyna Krol covers it all! Let’s get to know this writer and gardener extraordinaire a little better, shall we?

What’s your growing motto?

Never give up! Sometimes the results aren’t as expected, the space too small, the weather too wet and so on, but they can be taken as lessons rather than disappointments. I try to observe and learn, read about it and assess, so when the conditions are better, I can implement what I’ve learned next time.

What is your favourite plant to grow?

Tricky question! I love them all for their different qualities, but one that’s been close to my heart recently is Achocha ‘Fat Baby’. It’s a small, cucumber that resembles a hedgehog from South America. It has a remarkable taste and is very easy to grow, even in wet England.

Do you grow organically?

I do, however, I also used mineral nutrients in hydroponics and I don’t have anything against them. I primarily grow in soil, so I create a sustainable environment for soil animals and other little critters, as they do half the work for me. Growing organic is simple; all of my ingredients come from nearby farms. It’s a marathon rather than a sprint; it takes some building and hard work at first, but long term results are easy to achieve.

What is your favourite food?

All of it, I don’t discriminate! Mash can be eaten every day (Polish roots are hard to get rid of), homegrown roasted veg, fresh juices. It would be easier to say what’s my least favourite food: an aubergine.

What is on your playlist right now?

Oh, dear! Not up to everyone’s taste, but it’s my go-to playlist called ‘The Slaughterhouse,’ which contains equally energising and relaxing death and black metal classics. Currently on ‘Cannibal CorpseMake them suffer.’ I do listen to ‘normal’ music too, I promise. 3

Are you interested in writing for Garden Culture Magazine?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email introducing yourself with a sample of your work.

editor@gardenculturemagazine.com

Growing organic is simple; all of my ingredients come from nearby farms. It’s a marathon rather than a sprint; it takes some building and hard work at first, but long term results are easy to achieve.

credit: Tom Rust

900 PROPAGULES PER GRAM,

YOU WILL NEVER GROW WITHOUT IT AGAIN.

DISTRIBUTED BY:

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

Tribus® Original AQUAvalve5

Use this highly concentrated blend of three growthpromoting rhizobacteria with organic or conventional growing practices. Increases crop quality and quantity from seedling through harvest, in any cultivation system.

These bacteria work symbiotically with the plant by producing enzymes and other biochemicals that maximise nutrient availability and uptake, improving root and stem growth and increasing the plant’s growth rate and yield.

Tribus® Original can be used on seedlings and can be applied up to the day of harvest.

Check out Easy-Grow.co.uk/tribus for more info.

MAXIFAN TF fans

Typically, tube-fans are the ‘go-to’ option for most growers setting up a new grow. The tried and tested nature of their design, combined with them being exceptional value for money, makes for a very wise investment. With high-quality internal motors to power the blades, the MAXIFAN TF range offers you fantastic performance at a fantastic price.

The MAXIFAN TF fans come hard-wired with a UK plug, meaning no un-wanted faffing around with having to wire up the plug before use.

Ask for the MAXIFAN at your local store or contact Maxigrow.

Control Freak Frequency Controller

When you hook up your new fan to a speed controller, the last thing you want to hear is an annoying, whiney electrical hum in place of where there could be peace and quiet. Rather than crudely chopping and splicing the electrical input to your AC fan, the CF Frequency Controller precisely changes the frequency of the input signal, meaning whisper-quiet fan control and a prolonged unit lifespan. With a user-friendly interface giving versatile options to precisely

The needs of growers are ever-evolving, served by an increasingly diverse range of nutrients.With a 5mm inlet, AQUAvalve5 rises to the challenge of delivering the broadest range of nutrients in a faster flow for a quicker fill, maximising system efficiency. Maintenance is reduced and the risk of blockages minimised.

AQUAvalve5 has revolutionised how nutrients can be fed through AutoPot Watering Systems. Liquid organic nutrients can now be fed in solution via the reservoir and pipework.Vast as it was, the range of suitable mineral feeds is now virtually limitless.

Supplied with all new systems, AQUAvalve5 with its 9mm pipework and fittings also fits existing AutoPot modules - allowing you to upgrade seamlessly.

Follow @autopot_global for the latest.

Monitor Your Key Plant Health Parameters 24/7 With The Bluelab Guardian Monitor

The Bluelab Guardian Monitor will continuously monitor the pH, EC/PPM, and temperature of your reservoir. When you consistently track these three fundamental parameters of nutrient uptake, you’ll be able to spot any fluctuations, allowing you to solve issues as they happen.

Here are some of the Bluelab Guardian Monitor’s key benefits:

• High and low alarms to alert you when parameters are out of range

• Large, backlit display for at-a-glance viewing

• Easy pH calibration with on-screen instructions

• Flexible mounting options for walls, posts, and racks

Visit Bluelab.com to learn more.

Maxiflow Ducting REVOLUTION

The next generation of silenced fans from Global Air Supplies that doesn’t disappoint.

The latest product has been engineered by Systemair to be lighter, quieter, and maintain all the advantages of the previous model. The V2 raises the bar and is the ultimate sound-absorbing fan.

Ducting is a crucial aspect of any ventilation system, although sometimes an overlooked one. A grower can spend a fortune focusing on fans and filters, but then sometimes neglect the quality of the ducting tying it all together.

Maxiflow ducting has all your connection needs covered, being entirely airtight to ensure no gaps or leaks throughout your system. The outer sleeve precisely wound over a metal spiralled spine provides excellent rigidity and an airtight seal. Available in all typical diameters and with options of 5m or 10m, Maxiflow ducting ensures all your hot air is safely and securely blown away.

Can be found at your local store or contact Maxigrow for more details.

Growmax Water Reverse Osmosis Systems

The V2 has a sealed housing that further reduces the noise of airflow, silent motors, and double-balanced blades. Alongside these, the latest model features a sound-reducing foam specifically for ventilation systems which doesn’t absorb moisture or dust. The outer body is light, sturdy, and deadens sound.

Join the #SilentRevolution.

Gro-Silic by GROTEK BIOAVAILABLE SILICA

A fully soluble, highly concentrated, and effective silica fertiliser. Gro-Silic is made of silica in the form of mono silicic acid, the only silica compound known to be bioavailable.

The benefits of using Gro-Silic are many:

• Strengthens plant cells, structure, and reduces the impact of abiotic stress.

• Reduces plant uptake of heavy metals, increases soil pH, and induces oxidising capacity of roots.

• Contains boron that strengthens cell wall synthesis, structure, and lignification to promote growth and development.

• Features molybdenum to improve plant response and resistance to cold, drought, and salinity.

Visit Grotek.com to learn more.

Reverse Osmosis Systems ensure the best water quality for growing and gardening. Growmax RO units produce pure water that ranges from 20 L/h up to 125 L/h and includes features like pressure gauges, flow restrictors, and automatic shut-off valves to ensure your system will maintain optimum performance and reliable service for many years.

The systems range from units that filter 240 L/h for house plants, flowers, and other indoor and outdoor applications up to 2.000 L/h designed for large gardens, nurseries, and other commercial uses.

Visit GrowmaxWater.com for more information.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

RadAir

The radical, new, mixed-flow inline fan from Global Air Supplies. The product is a cost-effective, entry-level fan that delivers high air volumes at high air pressure. They are a low-noise, high-power solution which does not compromise air delivery.They are fantastic for this price range. If you are looking for value for money, then look no further than RadAir.These fans feature a robust, sealed body unit with built-in mounting brackets that ensure you can mount and clean the product with ease. Available in six sizes. They also offer plug-and-play functionality with an IEC controller.

Go to GlobalAirSupplies.co.uk for more great products.

MAXIFAN Oscillating Clip Fan - New & Improved

Air movement in your grow room is something that almost couldn’t be higher up on the importance list of something to get right. The MAXIFAN clip fans with new and improved clips make placing and controlling the airflow throughout your room a breeze. With the ability to mount them almost anywhere, you can ensure your air is freshly mixed throughout your tent, therefore reducing the risk of moulds and diseases from the build-up of humid microclimates around particularly dense flowers.

Do not unwittingly sacrifice your crop to botrytis, ensure your air is continuously mixed and stays super fresh with the MAXIFAN clip-fans. Get down to your local store or contact Maxigrow for more details.

Hygrozyme Concentrate

Specifically designed with commercial growers in mind, Hygrozyme Concentrate is 5X more concentrated, allowing you to get more for less! Hygrozyme Concentrate is one of the most competitively priced root enzyme-based formulas in the market that provide a cleaner root zone.

Check out Hylineproducts.com to learn more about enzymes!

HydroLogic’s Boys: smallBoy, TALLBoy and BIGboy

The #1 choice for up to 99% chlorine removal, quickly and efficiently. Give your plants clean, fresh, chlorine-free water on demand and also remove up to 99% of other potentially problematic materials like sediment, rust, silt, volatile organic compounds, and particulates down to five microns. Each system comes with a Green Coconut Carbon Filter for city water chlorine, with the option of a KDF85/Catalytic Carbon Filter specifically for use with well water. If you know your water contains chloramines, upgrade to the HydroLogic Chlorashield filter for 100% chloramine removal.

• smallBoy: Produces 227 L/h, 11, 356-litre filter lifespan

• TALLboy: Produces 454 L/h, 29,000-litre filter lifespan

• BIGboy: Produces 1,590 L/h, 94,635-litre filter lifespan

Don’t risk harming sensitive root-supporting ecosystems with municipal water treated with biocides; the Boys will take the worry out of your water!

See HydroLogic’s full line of water filters at: HydrologicSystems.com

LIGHTING CONTROLLER

Precise and versatile lighting control, right at your fingertips!

New

Suitable for CMH and LED fixtures

The new DAYLIGHT Lighting Controller has been designed and manufactured to power your grow lights, whether you are using CMH or LED technology. Whether you want functionality like sunrise/ sunset options, dimming on overheat or simply need to control the times of banks of lights with ease, this unit has you covered. Connected via the iLink ports, you can daisy chain multiple lighting fixtures together and control them all from the one unit, with the simple touch of a few buttons. Things couldn’t be made simpler for you!

Two zones (A & B) controlled independently

• Control for 400 HID ballasts or 100 LED drivers • Max HID ballasts per zone: 200

• Max LEDs per zone: 50

• On/Off 24hr timer

• Controls: DAYLIGHT 315W HID, 480W LED, 660W LED (excl. 2019 model)

• Dimming range (1% increments)

LED – 20%-100% HID – 50%-100%

• Sunset and sunrise settings: 0-30 mins

• Temperature safety control

• Thermostatically controlled dimming

Limpuro Ship Shape Cleaner Plant Magic Evolution 2.0

Every grower should have a bottle of Plant Magic Evolution on stand-by. Containing a wealth of plant health and growth-accelerating ingredients, it revives stressed plants, increases the growth of new shoots and gives your plants an incredible growth spurt. It’s plant health in the foliar form!

free cleaning solution that is perfectly safe to use in grow rooms, tents, and greenhouses. Kills viruses, mould, algae, and bacteria, plus eliminates nasty smells and odours.

Perfectly safe to use, Limpuro won’t stain or make tent material crack as other cleaners do. Apply with the refillable foaming bottle to the surface to be cleaned, work into every crease and crevice, and allow to dry. Will prevent recolonisation on treated surfaces. Simple. Effective. Affordable.

Available in a refillable 500ml foaming bottle; refills available in sizes of 1 litre and 5 litres.

Find it now at all good hydroponic shops.

A favourite with growers, Plant Magic has now improved the formula of this impressive product, enabling growers to get even more use out of the foliar spray. After several years of rigorous research and development, version 2.0 now features an added super wetting agent which allows it to be sprayed under lights. Why change an already great formula? The truth is, Evolution 2.0 is still made up of the same bio-stimulants, plant hormones, sugars, vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and humic and fulvic acids. Evolution 2.0’s new super wetting technology achieves rapid wetting, dispersion and penetration into the pores of the plant, enabling use when lights are on or off!

Evolve your grow with Evolution 2.0! Visit Nutriculture.co.uk for more great gardening products.

Science

Corner:

(VPD)

How does the vapour pressure deficit impact a plant’s growth and the quality of the harvests?

Why Bother With VPD?

In 2017, Zhang, D published an article on VPD in greenhouses showing how proper control can reduce stress and help regulate irrigations to save water over a tomato growing season (1). In indoor grow rooms, monitoring and regulating VPD will help solve many problems during the vegetative and flowering cycles. Furthermore, it will also help you achieve show-grade fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Firm fruits, glossy and colourful herbs, and flavoursome vegetables are a product of the environment they are grown in and have very little to do which the nutrients used. In other words, there is truth to the statement that ‘environment is everything’. When you control VPD, you are allowing the plant to uptake water, nutrients, and CO2 in the most efficient way possible, which speeds up metabolism for faster growth and enables the plant to reach its genetic potential for yield and quality.

How To Measure VPD

You’ll need a monitoring system, such as the Minder from PL Grow systems, which can tell you the temperatures, humidity, and VPD from anywhere in the world. These units are small, compact, and accurate. If newer technology intimidates you, have a thermometer/hygrometer and an infra-red thermometer handy to measure the plant leaf temperature. Plug the information into a chart to work out VPD, such as this one from Omni: bit.ly/31LZnB2

VPD charts generally all look the same, but it’s essential to pick one that doesn’t overcomplicate things. Google search ‘VPD charts’ and click on the images of one that is colour-coded and looks simple to follow.

The chart shows that if you manage humidity as the temperature increases or decreases, you can keep the VPD in the green zone (safe) and allow your plants to grow happily. The same applies to changes in humidity, where you can increase or decrease the temperatures to keep everything moving along at a good pace.

The numbers in each square may be confusing at first, but they represent the pressure plants are experiencing in kPa (Kilopascal). The numbers are easy when you know what they should be in your room.

• Propagation and early veg: 0.8 kPa (+/- 0.2)

• Late veg and early flower: 1.2 kPa (+/- 0.2)

• Mid to later flower: 1.4 kPa (+/- 0.2)

These are the basics; once you are happy with the performance in your grow room, you should naturally begin to learn more and explore VPD in detail, such as the leaf temperatures. In a plant that is metabolising well and in good health, the leaf temperature should be 2-3°C lower than the room temperature. Monitor the temperatures, humidity, and VPD with a data logger consistently over 24 hours and make sure the plant is in the optimum environment during the lights on and the lights off stages. VPD is critical to achieving nutrient-dense fruits and high yields.

How To Control VPD

To control VPD, you need to know what the readings are, so whichever method you use (technology or manual measuring), be accurate and consistent with the measurements.

Controlling the humidity is where most growers will want to go first to manipulate the VPD. Consider investing in good humidifiers and dehumidifiers with controllers. With these two items, you can maintain a steady relative room humidity, and therefore, have reasonable control over VPD.

The control factor can become more challenging during the summer (with plenty of moisture in the air) as well as in the winter (dry air). Altering the room temperatures will help with that issue. Most growers will do this by increasing or decreasing airflow, dimming or boosting the lights, and changing the time of day the lights are on and off. There are hundreds of articles and podcasts that go into more detail on this if you need more information.

Conclusion

Too many growers are still spending money on the ‘secret nutrient’ that increases their yields or improves quality. Go back to the basics with nutrients, and concentrate on creating the perfect environment with particular attention to the VPD. Instead of buying fancy nutrients, purchase the right hardware to take measurements. Whether it’s better quality, more vivid colours, or an increase in yields, I promise this will have a far more significant impact on your grow. 3

BioStephen Brookes is a hydroponics aficionado and loves to apply the scientific method to his articles. He has been the manager of NPK Technology for 10 years, and produces and hosts the world’s number one hydroponics podcast, NPK Live. Stephen is also owner of NPK Media, a 360 media content production agency. He likes to read and enjoys mountaineering in his spare time. Motto: The more you learn, the less you know.

Reference:

(1) Zhang, D., Du, Q., Zhang, Z., Jiao, X., Song, X. and Li, J., 2017. Vapour pressure deficit control in relation to water transport and water productivity in greenhouse tomato production during summer. Scientific Reports, 7(1).

In indoor grow rooms, monitoring and regulating VPD will help solve many problems during the vegetative and flowering cycles

The History Of Hydroponics

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without soil and is derived from the words “hydro” (water) and the Greek ponein (to labour, toil) and ponos (labour). While hydroponics has grown in popularity and importance over the last 80 years or so, its origins and some of the modern methods we know today date back thousands of years. For a very complete and in-depth dive into hydroponics, check out the Garden Culture website and our five-part series, “History of Hydroponics.” But for now, you can dip your toes into this fun and fact-filled hydroponics timeline.

1100:

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are slightly controversial on a couple of levels. The first is that the gardens, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, might never have existed. Some texts reference them, but no real archaeological evidence has been found. Secondly, when examining the texts, there are multiple references to the use of soil. However, the irrigation techniques used to get the water throughout the “gardens” does have similarities to methods used in modern hydroponic systems.

Aztec Floating Gardens

The Aztec Floating Gardens are also a little controversial. First off, contrary to popular opinion, these islands, or Chinampas, were attached to the land and not floating freely. But more importantly, while the roots of the plants did grow down through the raft and into the water, the Aztecs did use soil on the rafts, so this wasn’t true hydroponic/soilless growing.

1648:

The first ‘modern’ book that discusses growing plants without soil is Sylva Sylvarum, written by Sir Francis Bacon and published posthumously the year after his death.

The 5-Year Willow Tree Experiment

An experiment conducted by Flemish Chemist Jean Baptist van Helmont that attempts to determine where plants derive their mass. Van Helmont planted a five-pound willow tree in a pot with 200 pounds of soil. Over the next five years, he added nothing to the pot but distilled water the tree weighed in at 169 pounds, and the soil only weighed 2 grams less than it had five years earlier. Van Helmont concluded and roots arose out of water only.”

1627:

Sylva Sylvarum

5 pounds 5 years

169 pounds

John Woodward

Woodward was an English naturalist who, in 1699, published his “water culture” experiments using spearmint grown in different waters (nonpure, distilled). He found that plants grown in less-pure water grew better than those grown in distilled water.

Julius Von Sachs

Professor Sachs publishes the first formula for a nutrient solution that can be dissolved in water to grow plants. This standard formula - with just a few minor tweaks - is used for the next 80 years.

William Frederick Gericke

Gericke, the “Father of Hydroponics,” while at the University of California at Berkeley, grows tomato vines 25 feet high in his backyard using only water and nutrients.

Wake Island

This rocky atoll in the Pacific Ocean was used as a refuelling stop for Pan American Airlines in the 1930s. Because there is no soil there, they had to use hydroponics to grow vegetables for the passengers, becoming one of the early successful use-cases of this growing method.

HYDROPONICS

Gericke coined the term “hydroponics” (supposedly suggested to him by phycologist W. A. Setchell).

The Chemical Culture Company

Businessman Ernest W. Brundin was very interested in Gericke’s work and ended up experimenting himself by growing tomatoes hydroponically. It went so well, he soon was producing tons of tomatoes and had secured contracts to supply several transcontinental trains and steamships. He named his company, The Chemical Culture Company.

Chemical Agriculture System

In 1938, Brundin also patented the Chemical Agriculture System - the first hobby hydroponic system.

1940:

Complete Guide to Soilless Gardening

Gericke left the University in 1937, and in 1940, he published his landmark book, Complete Guide to Soilless Gardening. In the book, he lays out his formula for both macro and micronutrient salts for growing hydroponic plants.

WWII Military Bases

During the war, British and American armies use hydroponics to grow food for service members stationed on rocky islands.

8 Million Pounds

According to the special hydroponics branch of the US Army, over 8 million pounds of fresh produce is grown for the military using the growing method.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

NFT is a hydroponic technique developed by Allen Cooper at Glasshouse Crops Research Institute in England. The methvery shallow stream, or a “film” of water, recircuthe bare roots of plants in a gully/channel. All of the nutrients are dissolved in the water.

General Hydroponics

Founded by Larry Brooke, General Hydroponics develops hydroponic systems and products.

CANNA CANNAZYM

Clean roots; mean fruits

Clean roots; mean fruits

Without a fully functioning and productive root system, it´s a struggle to achieve record breaking fruits. Microscopic, decaying root matter takes up crucial space in your substrate and can lead to low oxygen levels, offering diseases an easy way in. With every watering, CANNAZYM breaks down dead roots, frees up air pockets and releases nutrients bound up in the dead organic matter back as available nutrition.

The most powerful and effective enzyme product your plants could ask for, make sure you keep your roots squeaky clean and yields at their maximum, with CANNAZYM.

EPCOT: Gardens of Tomorrow

Disney introduces the world to the “gardens of tomorrow” at the brand new Land Pavilion at EPCOT - featuring a number of different hydroponic techniques. The pavilion is still going strong today with interactive hydroponic experiences.

NASA

Over the last few decades, NASA has been doing extensive research into hydroponic growing for its Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS).

200 Pounds of Tomatoes

Eurofresh farms in Arizona sold more than 200 pounds of hydroponically grown tomatoes.

Organic

The USDA has ruled that hydroponically grown plants can be labelled organic: “Certification to the USDA organic standards is currently allowed, as long as the certifier can demonstrate it is certifying in a way that complies with the standard.”

Aeroponics

Caleb Hunter and his team at the MIT Media Lab discover and develop aeroponics. It is a form of hydroponics - in that it is soilless growing - but instead of the plants sitting in the water, they are sprayed with a nutrient-rich mist. There is no growing medium used either.

Jones Food Company

Jones Food Company is Europe’s largest vertical farm. They were founded in 2016 and started growing their first crops in 2018 in their facility in North Lincolnshire, UK. With 26 tennis courts worth of space and growing 365 days a year, they are producing hundreds of tonnes of produce (fresh herbs, leafy greens, root veggies, soft fruit).

Corbis.

VÄXER 2018:

If you thought this one sounds like something you would find at Ikea, you’re right. In 2018, Ikea introduced their VÄXER line of products, providing all you need to grow some hydroponic herbs or veggies at home. 2019:

World’s Largest Hydroponic Farm

Emirates Flight Catering and Crop One Holdings are building the world’s largest hydroponic farm in Dubai. The 130,000 square foot facility will be capable of producing over five tonnes of produce every day (all free of pesticides and herbicides). Even though it is soilless, hydroponics uses less water than traditional farming. The company claims that the technology will use just 320 gallons of water and 100 square feet of land to produce the same amount of leafy greens that traditional farming would require 827,640 square feet of land and 250,000 gallons of water to produce.

In-Store Hydroponic Farm

Just last year, Quality Food Centers (QFC) in Seattle teamed up with a vertical-farming startup from Germany, InFarm, to set up in-store hydroponic growing next to the produce aisle in a couple of their locations. They are producing kale, crystal lettuce, and cilantro. Dubai is also introducing in-store hydroponic farms in a few places, producing about 10kg of fresh herbs and microgreens daily - which would typically require up to 1 acre of farmland.

Continued Market Growth

Hydroponics offers many advantages to traditional farming, including using less water, better allocation of space, no soil needed, no pesticides, climate and environmental control, faster plant growth, and less labour required. And the food it produces is just as tasty and nutritional as it ever was. With all that in mind, and the continued strain population growth is putting on world water and food supplies, some prognosticators are predicting the global hydroponic market to eclipse $16 Billion by 2025 - and to keep going up from there.

Sources:

• Gardenculturemagazine.com: The History of Hydroponics bit.ly/3iLFBeg

• USDA.gov: Organic Hydroponics and Aquaponics bit.ly/33MiAUB

• Time.com: This New Method Of Farming Could Change Where Our Food Comes From bit.ly/34BhYAe

• Britannica.com: Jan Baptista van Helmont bit.ly/3df6dU2

• Ikea.com: Hydrophonics bit.ly/3iIGDrK

Businesswire.com: 2020 Hydroponics Market: Growth, Trends and Outlook -ResearchAndMarkets.com bwnews.pr/3lvB0yN

• SeattleTimes.com: Growing produce inside the grocery store? Some QFCs try a new approach bit.ly/3jMa3Xg

• Arabianbusiness.com: Dubai welcomes first in-store hydroponic farm by Majid Al Futtaim bit.ly/30KCBcb

BIO Jesse grew up obsessed with movies and so it only makes sense that he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Political Science. He then put that degree to good use with a job at a video store. After that, he spent months backpacking around Europe - a continent that he has been back to visit many times since. Jesse is super curious and loves to learn and explore new subjects. For the last 15+ years, he has been writing online for a number of different sites and publications covering everything from film and television to website reviews, dating and culture, history, news, and sports. He’s worn many hats - which is ironic because he actually loves wearing hats and he has many different ones.

Read the IV Part Series on the History of Hydroponics by Jeff Edwards on our blog. Start at the beginning with Part I: GCMAG.co/

History-of-Hydro-Part-1

Flow Going With The

In his book, Texier says a grow room is a source of pleasure that everyone should experience

After working in an industry for 40 years, many would agree that it’s challenging to remain relevant. But somehow, William Texier has done it. After meeting him on Skype for the first time, it’s easy to understand why he is still such a large player in the game.The hydroponics innovator and author of Hydroponics For Everybody: All About Home Horticulture has a passion for the growing method; one that translates through the screen and makes you want to grow something in water immediately. He’s accomplished so much in a career that spans four decades, from developing “bioponics” to helping advance growing technology. And yet, he’s still not done. In his book, Texier says a grow room is a source of pleasure that everyone should experience. And he means it; he will not rest until we all give it a go. He still offers presentations practically begging people to try growing hydroponically.

“You have to beat them until they try,” he says half-jokingly. “You know that when they try it, they will be hooked. Push them to make the first move; really, whatever it takes.”

These days, he may not have to push very hard. Like many seed companies, grow shops, and garden centres around the world, Terra Aquatica, Texier’s European growing company, saw its business double in a single day as COVID-19 forced people into their homes. The grow your own movement is surging in popularity, and with the colder months here, people are looking to bring their pandemic gardens indoors. Enter hydroponics.

“Food today is really bad, most of it,” says Texier of the produce found in supermarkets. “Giving easy access and an easy way of growing, since the beginning, this is our goal. We want to provide tools to people to grow their own food, even in urban settings.”

Texier is particularly proud of a new ebb and flow system Terra Aquatica has released that is powered solely through solar panels. He calls it the perfect eco-friendly growing system for city-dwellers who don’t have a lot of space. The company is in the process of transferring its entire line of growing systems to solar power, including its commercial model, which covers 200 square metres. When it comes to the environment, every little bit helps.

The Planet And Hydroponics

With the United Nations sounding the alarm about the state of the world’s soil, hydroponics is undoubtedly a valid alternative to growing food. It’s especially useful in urban settings where food typically travels thousands of kilometres before making it to people’s plates.

A Brief History

• William Texier is a hydroponics innovator and the author of the world-famous book, Hydroponics for Everybody: All About Home Horticulture.

• Born in Paris, France, he dabbled in hydroponic growing in his 20s, but his experimental work never went far.

• In 1980, while living in California, he turned his interest into a career and joined General Hydroponics, where he worked until 1994.

• Texier and GH founder Lawrence (Larry) Brooke developed aerohydroponics together. He credits his mentor, chemist Cal Herrmann, for teaching him everything he knows about manufacturing nutrient solutions.

• In 1994, Texier moved back to France and created General Hydroponics Europe (GHE) with his wife, Noucetta Kehdi.

• In 2004, Texier invented and patented “bioponics” (organic hydroponics).

• In 2013, Texier’s French-language version of Hydroponics for Everybody: All About Home Horticulture was released.

• In 2014, Scotts Miracle-Gro acquired GH in the United States. GHE was not taken over but was forced to rebrand under the name Terra Aquatica.

“We are not going to save the planet just with hydroponics, but it is one of the really important tools,” says Texier. “In France, Paris especially, we are ahead [in the game]. They give a lot of roofs for people to grow food, parking lots, and underground parking. For a city, [hydroponics] is part of the solution.”

William Texier (far right), his wife Noucetta, and their friend Larry Brooke

A Changing Reputation

But Texier says before that happens, hydroponics must be included in a more global vision. While having the reputation of being used strictly for cannabis, the growing method is also excellent for growing tomatoes, peppers, herbs, strawberries, and more. Texier says it doesn’t help that the technique hasn’t been properly used for many years.

“This technology, from the beginning, has been really badly used,” he explains. “In Canada, you have the west of Vancouver and that region covered in greenhouses growing absolutely tasteless tomatoes. This is what hydroponics has been for the last 50 years.”

Since the very beginning, his vision has been to grow for quality over quantity. He and his longtime friend, Larry Brooke, founder of General Hydroponics, have been able to achieve that by taking great care of what they put into their grows. Whether it be food or medicine (or both!), the plants they produce are twice as nutritious as conventionally-grown products or those grown hydroponically with standard inputs.

Bioponics

One of Texier’s most significant achievements has been developing and patenting “bioponics”, which is, essentially, organic hydroponics. His organic solutions are made with the ‘scraps’ from other industries. Think vinasse, which is left over after sugar is removed from a beet, or the part of the aloe vera plant that remains after the gel is extracted. Texier has found a way to make plants our medicine by growing it with the leftovers from other foods; a virtuous cycle that makes hydroponics more appealing to people who are turned off by mineral salts.

Texier acknowledges that many people are intimidated by the technology and nutrient solutions involved in hydroponic growing, not to mention the fact that the plant’s roots are exposed, something entirely out of the ordinary for gardeners accustomed to growing in soil. But if you look at it from Texier’s point of view, how could you grow a plant without seeing the roots?

For those who want to get their feet wet, he recommends starting with coco perlite and a simple ebb and flow

system, which offer excellent results for even beginners. Texier, himself, says it’s his favourite system to grow in, although he points out that there is an appropriate model for every plant.

What’s Growing In Texier’s Greenhouse?

Texier’s favourite plant to grow has always been cannabis. He is a huge proponent of medical cannabis and belongs to several advocacy groups throughout Europe. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like to grow other things hydroponically.

“There are a million of other plants that I really like,” he says. “In our greenhouse in France, [my wife and I] have 230 varieties of plants. I grow mostly medicinals and food crops, and she grows mostly nice flowers. All together, it makes a very nice connection.”

As Texier talks about his career, it is clear that he is one of the pioneers who has helped build the hydroponics industry. He and his close friends and colleagues took an enormous amount of risk, especially in the early days, because they believed in the growing method. Rather than remain stagnant, Texier has worked tirelessly to help the industry evolve, whether it be by introducing organic nutrients or developing new and improved equipment. And it’s all inspired by a deep-rooted passion for plants and growing in water.

“People always tell me that I’m working on new technology,” Texier laughs. “My God; a new technology that comes from the ancient times!”

And although Texier jokingly referred to himself as a dinosaur during our chat, unlike hydroponics, he is far from ancient. He’s just a modern-day guy who wants us all to grow healthy things for our bodies in water. And that’s what keeps him so relevant. 3

Bio

Catherine is a Canadian award-winning journalist who worked as a reporter and news anchor in Montreal’s radio and television scene for 10 years. A graduate of Concordia University, she left the hustle and bustle of the business after starting a family. Now, she’s the editor and a writer for Garden Culture Magazine while also enjoying being a mom to her two young kids. Her interests include great food, gardening, fitness, animals, and anything outdoors.

The grow your own movement is surging in popularity, and with the colder months here, people are looking to bring their pandemic gardens indoors. Enter hydroponics.

Water is something that we take for granted in the comfort of modern-day living. It’s seen as pure and clean and something we can pop into the kitchen and drink from the tap when needed. Despite all appearing very similar to the eye, there are significant differences between water types, which can be essential to growers for a plethora of reasons.

What Reasons?

Firstly, the background mineral content. These are minerals that contribute to the overall EC reading and can be varied in their make up. These minerals will chiefly be made up of calcium and magnesium (good) or sodium and chloride (bad). The importance of correct mineral ratios is something that doesn´t need much explanation.

Bicarbonates need more explanation. The level of bicarbonates present in water has a direct influence on the pH of both the solution and substrate. In Europe, it is typically measured as dKH(degree of Carbonate Hardness). Analysing both of these factors can help establish what water you are starting with and what the best way to use it would be.

Why Are Bicarbonates Important?

They help to stabilise the pH levels in a solution, such as the one in your reservoir or substrate. Bicarbonates react with the acid in water and temporarily become carbonic acid before turning into water and carbon dioxide. The reaction goes as so:

H+ + HCO3 = H2CO3 = H2O + CO2

(Acid) + (bi-carbonate) = Carbonic Acid = (Water) + (Carbon Dioxide)

By turning acid into water and CO2, the pH of a solution does not drop too low and remains more stable. This acid could come from either a concentrated nutrient (when you add your base nutes and additives) or activity in a rootzone as the plant takes up nutrients such as potassium. Low (or no) bicarbonates results in unstable pH conditions in your reservoir and substrate. This reaction also goes the other way, so watch out for pH fluctuations when oxygenating reservoirs. Ensuring you have the right levels of bicarbonates means a more stable pH throughout your grow, meaning less chance for nutrient lockout.

What Types Of Water Are There?

Extreme Soft Water:

Characteristics:

• EC of <0.1

• dKH of 0-2

• Very low mineral level

• Very low bicarbonate level

Common Problems:

Drastic swings in pH fluctuation. Either on the application of (acidic) nutrients, over time in a reservoir or from changes in the plant nutrient uptake within the substrate during growth.

Mineral deficiencies. Very low starting level of essential minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Especially bad combined with high humidity/low air movement (common in propagating stage).

Soft Water:

Characteristics:

• EC between 0.1-0.4

• dKH of 2-6

• Low mineral level

• Low bi-carbonate level

Common Problems:

Minor pH fluctuation. Similar as described for extreme soft water, but not as extreme (depending on level).

Minor Deficiencies. Again, similar to the description in extreme soft water, but not as extreme (depending on the level.)

Normal Water:

Characteristics:

• EC between 0.4 and 0.55

• dKH of 6-10

• Most nutrients are formulated with this type of water in mind (excluding soft/hard specific versions).

• Expected mineral levels, mostly calcium and magnesium.

• Expected bicarbonate level, aiding pH stability.

Common Problems:

Minimal. If issues arise, they’re often brought on by environmental mismanagement (grower error.)

Hard Water:

Characteristics:

• EC > 0.55

• dKH of 10+

• High bicarbonate level.

• Very high mineral level, mostly calcium and magnesium.

Common Problems: pH continually rising. The bicarbonates react over time, raising the pH in your reservoir, pipelines, and substrate. This eventually leads to a deficiency.

Mineral imbalance can be caused by elements being at the wrong ratios (excessive) in the final nutrient solution and/or substrate.

Despite all appearing very similar to the eye, there are significant differences between water types, which can be essential to growers for a plethora of reasons

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Reacts with concentrated nutrients. Particularly when applying a concentrated nutrient, the excess calcium in the water can react with the concentrated phosphor, forming gypsum in the solution and rendering it useless.

Bad Hard: Characteristics:

• EC > 0.55

• High bi-carbonate level.

• dKH of 10+

• High mineral level but wrong minerals! Mostly sodium and chloride.

Common Problems:

pH continually rising. Similar to the description of hard water. High bicarbonates can also interfere and slow nutrient uptake in an organic substrate.

Incorrect/damaging minerals. Rather than useful calcium and magnesium, sodium and chloride make up the majority of the content, posing a risk to your plants, quickly causing toxicity issues in re-circulating systems or substrates with a high CEC.

What To Do?

The best thing to do is to bring your water back to a suitable level. Typically, that would be to get it back to ´normal´ water. Normal water has the ideal level of background minerals and bicarbonates, not just for most formulated nutrients, but also for your plant´s long term growth habits.

Extreme soft water´s super-low bicarbonate level is tricky. Similarly to most soft waters, you can raise the minerals to an EC of 0.4 with the addition of a decent quality CAL MAG product, although watch for pH issues depending on your (low) bicarbonate levels. For most normal water, do nothing! For most hard and bad water, it is best to treat it using R.O (Reverse Osmosis) water.

With most hard water, add R.O water until the overall EC gets down to 0.4, leaving you adequate bicarbonates and useful minerals. With most bad water, use R.O to lower the EC right down to 0.2, then use a calmag product to raise back up to 0.4. This leaves you with a more typical bicarbonate level, and a partially corrected (although, still not ideal) mineral level.

High-Quality H 2 0

Once you have arrived at this point, you are now perfectly placed to begin adding your usual nutrient regime. This is, of course, on the basis that you are getting your water out of a tap. Other water sources will also bring in their own complications. Rainwater will have virtually no minerals, very low bicarbonates, and have contaminates from falling through the air and any guttering. Well water can contain unwanted minerals depending on the source, or contain too much bacterial activity if not dug deep enough. Using pure R.O water sounds good; however, having zero bicarbonates and zero background minerals in leaves you wide open for massive pH swings and/or mineral complications.

Test, Test, And Test Again

Whatever your source of water, you need to test it to make sure you know exactly what is in it, how suitable it is for growing, and whether you need to do anything before adding any nutrients. You can use an EC pen to get an indication, but the cheap and easy-to-use hardness test kits from aquatics suppliers will give more concise information about your water´s content.

Other than contacting your local water board, or testing it for yourself, your local hydro store should be well-versed in all things water-related for your local area, so get down there and pick their brains! Doing so could make more difference to your grow than spending hundreds on the swanky new piece of kit is currently hitting the shelves. 3

BIO 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.

Well water can contain unwanted minerals depending on the source, or contain too much bacterial activity if not dug deep enough

Whatever your source of water, you need to test it to make sure you know exactly what is in it, how suitable it is for growing, and whether you need to do anything before adding any nutrients

Urban Farms In Skyscrapers

California-based urban agriculture firm Plenty, which recently raised more than $200 million in funding, in part provided by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon. These indoor urban farms use a vertical aeroponic system that requires very little space.

With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic upon us and teleworking being more popular than ever, office buildings in several North American cities are deserted. The occupancy rate of office towers in major Canadian and American cities has never been so low, reaching only 25% in some areas.

Workers aren’t the only people deserting downtown areas since the pandemic hit; more and more city-dwellers are also moving to smaller and rural municipalities. For example, Manhattan had 15,000 empty apartments last august, a new record! Even more surprisingly, many real estate developers and builders continue to erect commercial buildings. But who will occupy these skyscrapers?

What if we gave unoccupied buildings and skyscrapers a new purpose by converting them into urban farms? Read on to see why this project is so relevant and doable!

Indoor Urban Farms

The largest indoor urban farm in North America is located in Newark, New Jersey. AeroFarms is inside a building that housed a former steel mill. This farm uses 95% less water than a conventional farm and provides about 30 harvests of leafy vegetables per year for every square metre of crops.

Indoor farming More Productive Than Greenhouse Culture

Growing vegetables does not have to be done outdoors, inground, or in greenhouses. Large-scale urban agriculture can be practised inside buildings, without even having sunny windows for light. However, the inner envelope of buildings must be waterproofed to protect them from any mould. It is also necessary to equip grow rooms with proper ventilation and LED lighting systems specially designed for growing plants.

Despite these essential modifications needed for an urban farm, the fact remains that the indoor farm’s productivity is much higher than that of greenhouse crops. Inside a building, it is possible to grow plants vertically and increase the growing area. This concept isn’t feasible in a greenhouse without blocking the sun from the plants below. It is estimated that an indoor vertical urban farm can produce up to eight times more food per square metre than a greenhouse. If well insulated, an existing building is significantly less expensive to heat than a double-walled glass greenhouse.

Significant renovations to the existing superstructure included adding a green facade, offices, an auditorium, cafeterias, a rooftop garden, and most importantly, indoor urban agricultural facilities.

The crop space totals over 43,000 square feet with 200 species grown including fruits, vegetables, and rice. Crops are harvested, prepared, and served in the building’s cafeterias. Pasona Urban Farm is the largest urban farm-to-table agricultural project ever in an office building in Japan.

Another urban farm project called Pasona Urban Farm began a few years ago in Tokyo, Japan. Pasona Group Company grows edible plants in a nine-story building.

Around $30 million has been invested in AeroFarms to repurpose a building that housed a former steel mill into a state-of-the-art urban farm.

Located in the heart of Tokyo, the Pasona Group building houses a vast indoor urban farm.

credit: Aerofarms

credit: Konodesigns

credit: Konodesigns

The occupancy rate of office towers in major Canadian and American cities has never been so low, reaching only 25% in some areas

Several dozen urban agriculture start-ups have been founded in recent years. The German company Infarm is a firm specialising in the conversion of old buildings into urban farms with a bright future.

Locally-Produced Food

With rapid urban sprawl, food for city-dwellers is being produced further and further away, thousands of kilometres from where it is finally eaten.

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

Transporting and storing food also forces farmers to grow varieties of fruits and vegetables that are firm, contain little juice, and have very thick skins so they can withstand frequent handling, shock, and temperature variations.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that 45% of all fruits and vegetables produced around the globe are lost or thrown away before being eaten, and this, in part, is because of food transport and handling.

Creating indoor urban farms in buildings is an excellent idea, especially if food is sold locally and if citizens are involved in the management of these businesses. 3

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor has practised 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 published Le nouveau potager, his tenth horticultural book. He is a regular guest and contributor to radio and television programmes 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

Credit: Freight Farms

credit: Konodesigns

It is estimated that an indoor vertical urban farm can produce up to eight times more food per square metre than a greenhouse

The indoor growing areas of Pasona Urban Farm have been created with obvious aesthetic concern. A section of the building is entirely dedicated to rice cultivation.

Infarm’s growing system is easy to set up and quickly transforms any office building into an indoor city farm.

credit: Infarm

best of the blog

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

The key to solving the climate crisis lies beneath our feet. The documentary Kiss The Ground emphasises the need to save our soil if we hope to save the planet. Read this review and about other critical environmental initiatives at GCMag.co.

Kiss the ground

Climate change is the most significant problem in our time. Every day we hear dire warnings about the state of our planet as natural disasters sweep across the globe. The news is terrifying, but Kiss The Ground, a documentary on Netflix, offers a possible solution: save the soil, and we might be able to save ourselves.

Cast With A Conscience

The doc is narrated by Woody Harrelson, who admits he’s fearful of where the world is heading and has just about given up hope of fixing what we’ve done. I think we can all relate to how he’s feeling.

Other celebrities with environmental consciences join Harrelson, like Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, Jason Mraz, and more. But the real stars of the show are the slew of experts, farmers, and regenerative ranchers who are dedicating their lives to ensure a future for our children.

Ray Archuleta is a conservation agronomist who travels across the United States meeting farmers. He believes that social problems and a lack of education are blocking us from solving environmental issues. For example, Archuleta says our major food producers don’t understand soil.

Education Is Key

Soil contains microorganisms, an entire universe of life right underneath our feet. That universe works to sequester carbon.

But after years of tilling the earth and spraying it with chemicals to grow food crops, the soil can no longer absorb moisture and carbon, releasing it into the atmosphere instead. Soil erodes and turns into dust, a process called “desertification.”

Every year, 40 million people are forced off their land because their soil is no longer adequate. By 2050, one billion people will be refugees of soil desertification.

And the United Nations estimates we only have about six decades of topsoil left. Kiss The Ground puts it simply: we only have 60 harvests left. After that, we’re done.

Scared Yet?

There is a way out, and the documentary introduces us to real people working in genuine ways to reverse climate change. People like regenerative ranchers raising cattle responsibly, practising rotational grazing and permaculture. Or farmers who understand the value of cover crops and the need for a radical reduction in pesticides, GMOs, and other synthetic inputs.

The documentary helps viewers understand that renewable energies and electric vehicles will help balance the climate, but those efforts aren’t enough.

Soil regeneration is the solution. Making the earth healthy again will lead to annual reductions in carbon in the upper atmosphere. Then what do we get? Global cooling Imagine that?

It’s Up To Us

We can achieve regeneration in our lifetimes. We don’t have any other choice.

Watch Kiss The Ground on Netflix and then tell your friends and family to do the same. We can’t depend on governments to do it for us. We need to lead the way.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Need To Grow is another excellent documentary explaining the urgent need for soil regeneration.

Sources: kissthegroundmovie.org

BY CODY J GARRETT - TAIT

Organic Cloning The Ins and Outs of

There comes a time in every organic gardener’s life when they find the remarkable plant that they want to save for future use, whether for breeding or enjoyment. The good news is one doesn’t need to resort to using hormone gels or other synthetically-derived ingredients to clone their prized plants. It is possible to achieve reliable replication organically!

For the best results, it’s essential to understand what is needed for the cloning process. A typical setup usually involves:

• A cloning medium such as Rockwool, peat pellets, rooting sponges, perlite and vermiculite blends. Coco and seed raising/propagation mixes are also required.

• A cloning tray with a cover and a heat mat.

• A propagation gel that contains either the synthetically-derived auxins INAA (1-Naphthaleneacetic acid), IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid), or a combination of both to help with root proliferation and initial callus development.

• Foliar cloning nutrients and other adjuncts are also sometimes used to speed up the cloning process.

Cuttings of the desired size are cleanly cut and dipped in the propagation gel. After, they’re placed into the medium and the clone incubator so their roots can develop. This approach is timeproven and effective. However, for soil grows, where the goal is to maximise beneficial microbial activity as early as possible, this approach doesn’t cover all the bases and involves the use of synthetically-derived ingredients.

With a few tweaks, we can easily optimise this process for organics while keeping strike rates high. Without chemical stimulation, we need to attack the problem from various angles.

To help keep the vegetative material healthy while roots develop, foliar applications of diluted amino acids and kelp/ seaweed provide readily available nutrients.

For root growth promotion and callus initiation, several natural methods are at our disposal. The first is the use of silicate compounds, which are useful in aiding natural root proliferation. If you’re searching for a source, you won’t need to look very far. Named after the Salix (willow) tree, which is high in salicin, these natural substances are found in many plant species. Of note is aloe vera, which contains adequate amounts of salicylic acid, a potent plant health promoter.

Horticultural aloe-based products will work very well for organic cloning, both in the initial soak phase and as foliar sprays during the callusing and root development phases. In the old days, willow water was commonly used in nurseries. This is easily made by steeping freshly cut lengths of a willow tree in water to extract the natural compounds. But today, most grow stores will have multiple well-formulated salicylate-containing products for purchase.

If your environment is right, you should have very healthy, strong clones within about a week

It is possible to achieve reliable replication organically!

Professional formula for the most demanding growers.

Organic soil growers have an advantage

Naturally-derived auxins can also be added for better results. Sprouted seed teas made from corn or legumes such as alfalfa, lentils, and peas are useful, and so is coconut water. These all contain a range of enzymes, biostimulants, and are potent root stimulators. When combined with a seaweed solution or humic and fulvic acid, the combined synergistic effects are quite powerful. By utilising a combination of the above ingredients as a soak for clones, you can provide the perfect environment for healthy plants.

Growers can also add living microbes to the equation, which will provide further enhancements such as pathogen and disease prevention by crowding out the spots where they would take hold. Microbes such as azospirillum, Trichoderma, bacillus, and mycorrhizal fungal types can influence early root development. They will also allow for rhizosphere colonisation at the initial step of the growing process.

Organic soil growers have an advantage. It’s quite common to apply a microbial inoculant at planting time. However, there is a bit of lag between the spores germinating and colonising the root system. By getting the microbes in early, you are essentially priming the plants and avoiding the lag, with further applications building on this foundation.

The best way to apply is to pre-soak the media of choice in a combined mixture of the above ingredients and a small amount of the chosen microbial inoculant. After pre-soaking the clones, roll or dip the freshly cut end into the microbe product, just like you would cloning gel before putting it into place.

An effective organic cloning method would be the following:

• A cloning medium; this can be any of the above choices.

• A cloning tray with a cover and heat mat can be used as with regular cloning.

• Instead of propagation gel, we can apply silicate compounds, beneficial microbes (fungi and rhizobacteria), as well as seaweed, humic/fulvic acids, and coconut extracts to fill the void for auxins and root-promoting compounds.

• Foliar sprays of amino acid-based products, aloe, and kelp/seaweed extracts, to preserve carbohydrate reserves.

Putting it all together:

• Pre-soak the chosen media with a mixture of seaweed, humic/fulvic acid, a silicate source (either aloe or willow water), coconut water, or some sprouted seed tea for auxins. To further enhance, add some microbial inoculants.

• In a separate container, save some of this mixture and as you cut your clones, allow them to marinate for a few minutes.

• Carefully remove and dip the ends in microbial powder and insert them into the media.

• Lightly mist with seaweed and amino acids.

If your environment is right, you should have very healthy, strong clones within about a week.

Happy cloning! 3

Sprouted seed teas made from corn or legumes such as alfalfa, lentils, and peas are useful, and so is coconut water.

Sprouted seed tea

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NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION:

POTTED CHRISTMAS CONIFERS

It’s that time of the year again -- a time when millions of families rush out to pick a holiday tree to decorate, only to throw it out after a few weeks. The other common alternative is a plastic tree bound for the same pile of trash. With an ever-increasing knowledge of the environmental impacts of our actions, we have to ask, why are we still disregarding nature to such a degree?

If we look at nature, one thing is sure; there’s a better solution than the throwaway mentality so rampant in our society. Nature is regenerative, fecundating, and life-giving. Why do we push against the natural way of life? There’s a better solution for the holidays, and it only takes a hint from nature to see it—potted holiday conifers.

A potted conifer will not only live well past the holidays but if trained in their pot, they can live long-term in your home or yard. Some might even choose to plant a holiday tree annually, creating a ‘forest’ of memories and life for the coming years. Imagine if millions of families went out every year with joy in their hearts and planted their holiday trees instead of chopping them down? We could change the face of the Earth and give future generations positive thoughts about their elders as they walk among forests containing past holiday evergreens.

Every home that acquires a cut holiday tree could source a potted conifer. Even if one would like to maintain their tree in a pot, bonsai conifers are known to live for hundreds of years. One particular bonsai is more than 300 years old, and somehow, lived through the atomic blast at Hiroshima!

There is a joy that a living tree brings into a home that cannot be imitated by a cut spruce or plastic look alike. A real tree brings with it fresh air, fragrance, and potential for tea if the correct species. Some species will grow into seed-producing trees that are an excellent source of nutritious pine nuts.

A potted holiday conifer is good for the soul, the family, and Mother Nature herself. No more needles on the floor or storage boxes. And if you source the right species, you can put it outside after the holidays, and it will live on unhindered as nature intended.

Our Earth has a finite amount of oxygen produced daily, and combustion is quickly depleting our supply. The air we breathe once contained 33% oxygen. Today, in some inner cities, it’s less than half of that.

We can’t go on living with such a disregard for the very thing that allows us to be here in the first place. We can make things better with our everyday actions. Choosing a potted holiday conifer this year and beyond has a never-ending list of benefits. Year after year, the living trees will bring back fond memories of years past, allowing us to pass these precious souvenirs and natural gifts on to future generations. 3

Follow Tom and all of his passions: facebook.com/tom.wall.946 instagram.com/cosmicknotmusic/ artistecard.com/cosmicknot

A potted conifer will not only live well past the holidays but if trained in their pot, they can live long-term in your home or yard

BIO Tom Wall: Professional Musician, Writer and Gardening Consultant. Cosmic Knot/Therapeutic Horticulture Consultations

Growing up on a deer farm located on 79 acres of land along the banks of one of Lake Michigan’s tributaries, Tom grew a love for nature and all the beauties it could hold. Through that passion, Tom has channeled his influences into educating the community on sustainable agriculture, becoming an activist, writing for magazines and creating music tuned to nature in his band, Cosmic Knot.

Someone’s left the faucet running all night, and someone’s in trouble

As you’re heading to your grow room with a long list of tasks to tackle, you walk through the door, and splat! You look down at your wet shoe and know the shine on the floor isn’t because someone polished while you were away; you have a three-inch-deep pool at your feet. Then, you notice the delicate hum of the tap and the trickle of water coming down the side of your water tank. Someone’s left the faucet running all night, and someone’s in trouble.

This delightful scene is just one of the indoor growing disasters that no one wants to ever deal with, but unfortunately, they happen more often than they should. Growing indoors should make for the most controlled environment possible. Still, when you’re busy dealing with your plants, multitasking between water tanks, mixing nutrients, and then suddenly the phone rings, the running tap escapes your thoughts like a sweet dream smashed by the alarm clock’s ring.

Indoor growing is a lot more complicated than outdoor simply because there are more variables to consider, technology included! While there are dozens of incredibly skilled growers in this issue writing about the success stories and top tips from their grow rooms, I’ll take you on a mini horror trip instead, which will hopefully help you avoid some rookie mistakes.

The Buzz

Unlike the great outdoors where a plant’s growing cycle is dictated by natural daylight hours, indoors, we try to imitate various seasons with lights and heat. Take aubergines as an example. We can start the seeds in heated propagators when it’s still freezing outside, then by the time cold April showers whip the daffodils outside, our seedlings are well-established and have started to set their flowers. We’re delighted to see a bounty of purple petals but then are horrified to see them fall to the floor a few days later. At this point, you realise that not all plants are self-pollinating. Fun fact: If you don’t release bees into your indoor grow room, the best time to hand-pollinate an aubergine is between 6 am-11 am. When the flower closes and doesn’t fall off, you’re heading for success.

Many indoor accidents can be costly and time-consuming to fix

Act Before Problems Arise

One of the worst things to happen in a grow room is missing the early signs of a pest infestation. When you notice a tiny web around the leaves with two-spotted mites, it’s probably time to bring the napalm out of the chemical cupboard. At this point, make a mental note to your future self: get the predators before you have the problem. Have a sachet of biological pest control ready when plants are young; this way, any pest entering the grow room will have an unpleasant surprise waiting for them. Unfortunately, many critters are hard to spot. The spider mites are light green when young, almost translucent and invisible to an untrained eye. They turn orange when mature, but by the time you notice the leaves covered in a thick white web, you’ve pretty much lost the battle and have to chop and burn the plants before mites spread onto another crop.

Indoor growing is a lot more complicated than outdoor simply because there are more variables to consider, technology included!

Pollinating stick

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The same applies to other prevalent indoor pests. Before you notice aphids, you may see white parts of their body shed on a leaf, a sticky sap, or black mould on the leaves. Get some parasitic wasps when your plants are still babies and let them patrol the grow room in case an aphid dares enter on your clothing. If the indoor grow is connected to a food hub, consider using one of those UV lamps that attract insects for a quick electric shock and death. Turn them off before you release the wasps; otherwise, you might find yourself wondering why they aren’t working!

Establish A Daily Routine

Observation and routine is the key to success with a controlled environment. As soon as you notice discolouration or a leaf curl, go and check all your water tanks to see if your EC and pH are in order, especially if you’re not the only one looking after the plants in your team.

In my early growing days, I could not understand how, within a couple of days, a plant could go from healthy to one that was drooping and curling. When I began checking the parameters, I noticed that every water tank had different (and out of scale) EC and pH readings. I learned to double-check my students’ work just in case mistakes were made. If you love technology, invest in a monitoring system like a Raspberry Pi, where all the probes show real-time readings. However, don’t put all of your trust in them; regularly check and calibrate tools, as they may be off the scale. Precision is crucial to indoor growing. Check your system for any leaks, kinks, blockages, sediments, and so on. Verify that lamps are mounted safely and that the plant support system is reliable. Hopefully, the only thing smashed on the floor will be an odd tomato redefining itself as ketchup.

Know Your Animals

Many indoor accidents can be costly and time-consuming to fix, but there is nothing worse than knowing that the mistakes made caused an injury or even the death of an innocent animal. When incorporating an aquaponics system into the indoor garden, take extreme precautions as to what chemicals are used and how well the equipment is working. Even the simple soap spray for aphid control can cause severe damage to aquatic life. From the pump and drainage system to the heaters and oxygen pumps, there is a lot that can go wrong in a very short time, so regular observation is critical.

Observation and routine is the key to success with a controlled environment

Spider mites turn orange when mature, but by the time you notice the leaves covered in a thick white web, you’ve pretty much lost the battle and have to chop and burn the plants before mites spread onto another crop.

Aphid infestation

For example, one winter morning, I noticed the tilapia fish we kept weren’t very keen on their breakfast, which was odd, but I assumed they didn’t have the appetite. When none of them came up for food at the second feed, I began to worry. All the pumps seemed to work fine, and the water quality was good, but when I touched the heater, I discovered it was stone cold. It seemed to have failed at night, and the water temperature was far too low for the tropical fish to be comfortable. A quick run to the local hydro store and the purchase of all of the small heaters they had in stock raised the temperature enough for the fish to perk up, but trying to heat a ten thousand litre fish tank in the dead of an English winter is not fun. My advice is to purchase a spare heater before this happens to you. There were no casualties, but I had heard a horror story from another grower whose pump system was blocked when nobody was around. Water overflowed the tank, and the team had a very unpleasant surprise in the morning that resulted in the loss of all their fish.

Harvest Time

Growing is so much fun, but after harvest, make sure the produce is adequately preserved, so the fruits of your labour aren’t wasted. Research correct drying temperatures for herbs; I can tell you from experience that drying in full sun to speed things up is a no-go! Master the art of preserving, drying, or even pickling some of those gherkins so you can enjoy them for a long time.

The key to avoiding many mistakes in a controlled environment is almost always prior knowledge. By the time you notice a problem you’ve never heard about before, it’s often too late to do anything about it. Research the subject at hand to have half a chance of spotting problems before they happen. Read about the techniques, equipment, varieties of plants and their needs, and use the great vault of knowledge growers around the world have created in many magazines, books, YouTube videos, and podcasts. Most importantly, establish a routine in your grow, no matter what it’s size, so you can reap the benefits for months to come. 3

BIO Martyna Krol is a vegetable grower, natural beekeeper, and edible spaces designer. She is a lover of all soil and urban farming techniques and is the former head of growing at Incredible Aquagarden.

Even the simple soap spray for aphid control can cause severe damage to aquatic life

Turk’s Turban squash

Growing is so much fun, but after harvest, make sure the produce is adequately preserved, so the fruits of your labour aren’t wasted

Important Concepts for Transitioning from Grow Lights HID TO

Since the introduction of the first UFO lights, there have been diehard proponents and detractors of growing with LEDs. While we can attribute much of the performance increase in recent years to technological improvements, growers have come a long way in learning how to adapt their plants and environment to growing with modern LED fixtures. With a few of the following factors in mind, yield and quality produced under LEDs can meet and even significantly exceed those made under traditional HID lights.

Footprint

The first thing that is essential to consider when evaluating any grow light is the dispersion pattern of the particular fixture in question. Just as different HID reflectors are designed with various footprints, today’s LEDs come in a wide array of beam angle options for multiple scenarios. The first LED grow lights directed all the photons downward, often using lenses that focused the light in narrow patterns of 60 or 90 degrees to minimise light wasted on walls and floors. While suitable for hanging in tall greenhouses, these early products failed to provide a uniform light footprint for indoor scenarios. The results were uneven gardens and unhappy growers.

Modern LED producers have ditched secondary optics in favour of diodes with a native beam angle of 120 or 180 degrees. These low-power, high-efficiency diodes are laid out in large arrays on bars or boards to provide extremely high light uniformity at the plant canopy. When two or more fixtures are used together, crossover lighting from the LEDs’ wide spread further improves uniformity and canopy penetration.

Before upgrading from HID to LED, it’s important to measure your current light levels to provide a baseline. Throw out your lumen meter and buy a PAR meter from a reliable company. Lumen meters only measure the brightness of a light source based on the sensitivity of the human eye. PAR meters give a more accurate representation of light intensity in relation to photosynthesis. Take readings from every part of your garden and make some notes. Once you know the intensities you’re accustomed to growing under, you’ll have a better idea of what you’ll need to expect from a new LED fixture. For larger spaces, many LED manufacturers will create a custom light plot tailored to your specific needs.

Canopy Temperature

For decades, indoor growers have known that the success of their gardens depends heavily upon environmental conditions, most notably temperature. Users of high-pressure sodium lights knew that they grew the healthiest plants whenever their room temperature was between 70°F and 75°F. Surprisingly, rooms outfitted with LEDs need to be in the 80°F to 85°F range to achieve similar performance. This shift in ideal ambient temperature comes down to the differences in how HID and LED light sources produce heat.

HID light sources, whether we’re talking about high-pressure sodium, ceramic metal halide, or anything in between, all work on the same principle. An electric arc heats and evaporates a mixture of metals which emit photons of a spectrum determined by the specific materials involved. Only a small fraction of the electricity used is converted to visible light, while the rest is released in the form of infrared energy. This invisible range of the electromagnetic spectrum heats surfaces directly, which is why sunlight feels warm on your skin, even on a chilly day. Plants grown under a 1000 watt HID light receive massive amounts of infrared energy, and their leaf surface temperature might be 10 to 20 degrees warmer than the surrounding air.

Yield and quality produced under LEDs can meet and even significantly exceed those made under traditional HID lights

Before upgrading from HID to LED, it’s important to measure your current light levels to provide a baseline

Most LED products designed for growing plants produce little to no infrared energy, which is why these lights don’t heat surfaces the same as HID. Almost all the waste heat from an LED fixture is released into the air, either passively or via builtin fans. Circulating fans and air conditioners easily remove this type of heat, so plants directly under the light might only be 2 or 3 degrees warmer than the rest of the room.

What’s important here is leaf surface temperature. This is where photosynthetic reactions take place, and they happen most efficiently in a specific temperature range dependent on plant variety and other environmental factors like humidity and CO2 concentration. In addition to using a thermometer to measure room temperature, try using a non-contact thermometer to measure and control the temperature at the leaf surface. 84°F is a good starting point.

Stretching

Another effect of the far-red heavy-spectrum of HPS lighting involves the plants’ shade-avoidance response. In nature, plants can sense when they are being shaded under taller plants by measuring the ratio of far-red vs visible light they receive. Since far-red light (700-800nm) penetrates through plant tissues better than visible light, a high ratio of far-red to visible red indicates shading.

Studies have shown that plants exposed to high ratios of farred tend to stretch out, growing longer leaves and stems to outcompete taller plants. Conversely, plants exposed to higher proportions of blue light grow shorter and stockier. LEDs, with minimal far-red and abundant blue wavelengths, tend to produce shorter plants compared to the same varieties grown under HID lighting. This factor should always be taken into account when comparing or planning HID and LED gardens.

Water usage

Heating plant canopies with infrared-heavy lights, then cooling them off with fans and air conditioners set up a scenario for very high rates of transpiration, and in turn high water usage. We’ve all seen how quickly plants grown under high-pressure sodium will suffer when an irrigation system malfunctions. Growers switching to LED will notice that their plants don’t need to be watered as often, but they’ll still need just as much fertiliser to avoid nutrient deficiencies. If you plan to feed with hydroponic nutrients, you may need to dial up the strength (EC/PPM) of your solution to account for less-frequent waterings.

Dehumidification

There’s one final environmental concern that should be addressed. Well-designed LED grow lights are more electrically efficient than the best HID lights on the market, so you won’t need as much air conditioning to fight all that excess heat. Also, the absence of infrared energy we discussed earlier means that grow rooms can be run warmer, and as a result, air conditioners will kick on less often. Many HID grow rooms rely on air conditioners to handle the bulk of dehumidification. With air conditioners doing less work, it might mean you’ll need to install additional dehumidifiers to keep humidity under control in an LED grow room.

Conclusion

Although there are many challenges to transitioning a complex, established grow operation from HID to LED lighting, the long term benefits are beginning to outweigh the costs, and ongoing technological advancements mean that LED grow lights are here to stay. Through careful observation and practice, highly skilled growers are using LEDs to push the limits of what was once thought possible in their gardens. It all comes down to understanding the attributes of the light source and the needs of the plant. 3

Bio Alex Fraser is a product specialist with NextLight LED and the owner of Garden Grove Organics, the Cincinnati area’s oldest hydroponics retailer. Before entering the indoor agriculture industry, Alex spent a decade touring the world implementing lighting and sound solutions for stage applications. His electronics background and love for gardening eventually led him to the world of cutting-edge horticultural lighting and materials processing, where he has consulted clients ranging from hobbyists to largescale commercial installations.

Before upgrading from HID to LED, it’s important to measure your current light levels to provide a baseline

highly skilled growers are using LEDs to push the limits of what was once thought possible in their gardens

You’ve decided to add beneficial microbes to your growing process for the first time and are dabbling with the idea of adding mycorrhizal fungi to the mix.You head over to the nearest grow shop and get a recommendation from the sales rep to pick up product X.You excitedly head home and apply the product to your plants. Congratulations! But, what exactly is in the bag that you purchased? How does it work? How can a living organism arrive in a sealed bag and affect and benefit your plants?

Let’s talk about the role of mycorrhizal fungi in nature and why adding them to growing media benefits plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associate with approximately 90% of all plants on the planet, can be found on almost every continent, and have been around for over 400 million years. The mycorrhizal fungi penetrate root cells, and from there, branch out into the soil in search of nutrients. Plants exchange these nutrients for carbohydrates they give to the fungi. As a result, mycorrhizal plants can absorb more nutrients and water through the fungi’s hyphal network.

Most commercial mycorrhizal inoculants consist of the following: spores, hyphae, and inoculated root fragments. Propagules are effective inoculation vehicles and can be made up of any of these three elements. Some products contain only spores, while other “whole inoculum” products contain all three. Whole inoculum products tend to be more robust and can inoculate plants at higher rates.

Fungi in Commercial Products

When picking up your first pack, look at what the product contains in terms of fungal species and their concentrations. This is essential since the higher the concentration of propagules, the faster and more likely they are to colonise the roots. Since we are dealing with biological products, it’s important to observe how they were stored and their shelf life. If the product has expired, do not purchase it. If it has been stored outside and not according to manufacturer recommendations, do not purchase it either, as this could certainly affect the viability of the fungi inside the product. There have been cases where products do not meet the label’s claims and get taken off the shelf by regulatory agencies, which can happen due to improper storage that kills off the fungi.

In a bag or bottle of a commercial product, propagules can come in several forms. Viable, meaning alive, or non-viable, meaning dead. The viable propagules in the product arrive

credit: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/7/4/75/htm

Plants can communicate with each other through this intricate network and inform each other of pests so that other plants can increase their defence mechanism and much more.

in a dormant state and spring to life by two factors. Either biotic, through a hormonal signal from a plant the moment the fungi are placed in the growing media, or abiotic, from a change in environmental conditions, i.e., rain, cold, drought, etc. If there is an abiotic factor that caused the fungi to come to life and no plant for the fungi to connect with and create the mycorrhizal symbiosis, the fungi will die.

The mycorrhizal fungi penetrate root cells, and from there, branch out into the soil in search of nutrients

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No longer should plants be subjected to tapering root systems, circling around the edges of a barren plastic pot.

Dirtbags prune the roots as they meet the relatively dryer fabric of the ‘pot’. This forces the root system to branch off and form more sub-lateral roots, making full use of the volume of media in the pot. Resulting in a much larger root mass concentrated in an area that has much preferable conditions for roots. Also, being made from recycled plastic, they are much better for the environment too!

Methods of Producing Mycorrhizal Fungi:

In-vitro – This is done in sterile Petri dishes on “transformed root cultures” where the host “plant”, mostly carrot, has been modified to produce only roots to have the fungi grow on. This method provides uncontaminated fungal propagules but has some disadvantages as well. The fungi are produced in sterile, artificial conditions, and thus, there is no interaction with the external biological world. Various biotic and abiotic stressors affect the fungi and how they will perform in a pot or a field (Vasilis Kokkoris and Miranda Hart, bit.ly/3kRQBJ1). These stimuli include the fungi’s interaction with various microbes, temperature, carbon levels, and more.

In-vivo – This method is done by growing fungi on the roots of living host plants. Since approximately 90% of all plants form a relationship with AMF, the number of potential host plant species is vast, allowing the fungi to be stimulated by the different growth rates, nutrient uptake cycle, and host plants’ other factors. These plants are grown mostly in pots in greenhouses with soil or other growing media. While they are in a greenhouse, the rhizosphere environment is more complicated than in a Petri dish. This means that there is an interaction between microbes and the fungi, an influence of the nutrients used to feed the plants, the watering schedule, the temperature, and more.

In a product containing the whole inoculum, the sum of these propagules is estimated via what is known as Inoculum Potential (LIU, R.-J., & LUO, X.-S. 1994). Therefore, by adding more root fragments, the Infection Potential grows. Moreover, studies show that root fragments containing vesicles and hyphae increase colonisation speed compared

with spores (Powell, 1976; Abbot and Robson 1981), and specifically, vesicles in roots proved to be highly infectious (Biermann and Linderman). Therefore, the benefits of whole inoculum are faster initial colonisation, and higher inoculum potential.

This doesn’t mean a product with only spores is inferior to a product with all three types of propagules. There are other factors to consider, such as the propagules’ viability to that of the spores alone. These tests are done at labs where they test the strength of the inoculant by various methods.

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and more research needs to be done on the subject to fully understand the impact of both approaches in an agricultural setting.

Nature vs. Controlled Environment

How does growing in a pot compare with what happens in nature from a mycorrhizal fungus’ standpoint and role? In nature, AMF can connect multiple plants, even from different species, together through their hyphal network. This phenomenon has been coined the “Wood Wide Web”. Through this network, plants exchange nutrients and water, and even information, among themselves. Plants can communicate with each other through this intricate network and inform each other of pests so that other plants can increase their defence mechanism and much more. When growing a single plant in a pot, this network exists, but not to its fullest extent. The fungi’s role is lessened, as they do not transfer nutrients between plants or information, but their part is still enormous. They now will “only” absorb nutrients that the plant can’t access, such as locked up phosphorous, iron, zinc, and others, as well as water.

Whole inoculum products tend to be more robust and can inoculate plants at higher rates

In nature, AMF can connect multiple plants, even from different species, together through their hyphal network. This phenomenon has been coined the “Wood Wide Web”

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Endomycorrhizal Fungi Life Cycle

What came first, the chicken or the egg? What’s fascinating about mycorrhizal inoculants is that both the spore (A.K.A. the egg) and the hyphae (the chicken) can start a symbiotic relationship with a plant. Spores sporulate and make their way toward the plant cell, where they construct treelike structures called arbuscules, where the exchange of nutrients and carbohydrates between the fungi and plant occurs. From there, the fungus branches out via hyphae, microscopic root-like structures in search of food for the plant. When inoculating with hyphae and root fragments, the hyphae do not require sporulation and can latch on to the plant roots without sporulating.

die

Mycorrhizal fungi are obligate biotrophs, meaning they will live only if they have a host plant. If no host plant is around, the spores or hyphae will either remain dormant or ultimately die. Unlike humans, who digest food internally, mycorrhizal fungi secrete powerful enzymes as they spread out in the soil, which break down minerals and nutrients into simpler forms. It is through this method that the fungi feed the plant. As they continue to expand into unchartered territories that the plant can’t reach, they supply the plant with the brokendown matter which the plant needs to grow. In return for this, the plant gives carbohydrates to the fungi. 3

Resources:

• Abbott, L. K., & Robson, A. D. (1981). I nfectivity and effectiveness of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: effect of inoculum type. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 32(4), 631-639.

• Biermann, B., & Linderman, R. G. (1983). Use of vesiculararbuscular mycorrhizal roots, intraradical vesicles and extraradical vesicles as inoculum. New Phytologist, 95(1), 97-105.

• LIU, R.-J., & LUO, X.-S. (1994). A new method to quantify the inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytologist, 128(1), 89–92.

• Powell, C. L. (1976). Development of mycorrhizal infections from Endogone spores and infected root segments. Transactions of the British Mycological Society, 66(3), 439-445.

The image above illustrates how this cycle works and how new fungal growth and reproduction can occur at any stage of the fungus’ life.

Bio Ari Singer is a man with a mission: spreading endomycorrhizal fungi spores to benefit plants worldwide. He leads the DYNOMYCO sales team in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Israel and is passionate about mycology, gardening, and making the world more sustainable. Ari has a B.A. in Sustainability & Economics from the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya. When he is not roaming the globe spreading DYNOMYCO spores, you can find him on his urban garden rooftop growing vegetables and mushrooms or on a slackline somewhere between cliffs and trees.

If there is an abiotic factor that caused the fungi to come to life and no plant for the fungi to connect with and create the mycorrhizal symbiosis, the fungi will

Because users like a tailored experience

BY CODY J. GARRETT-TAIT

REVIVING OLD SEEDS

ORGANICALLY

There’s something exciting about finding some long-forgotten, rare seeds. Once you have them, the challenge is to revive those genetics, especially considering they’ve been sitting in someone’s tobacco tin, basement, or garage for decades. While they look like they could germinate, you don’t have many, and you want to make sure they sprout.

Is It Possible?

Yes! Even seeds that are thousands of years old can germinate. But proper pretreatment is essential, and the older the seed, the less energy it has left in storage.

Seeds from annual plants aren’t often designed to last many years, part of what makes the germination process so tricky. With each trip around the sun, energy declines. Eventually, the embryo doesn’t have any juice left to break the seed coat and push through the soil to the surface.

To an extent, we can minimise this through proper storage in cool and dry environments. But even still, the passage of time inevitably wins.

any potential mould spores and pathogens that may be on the seed surface. Soaking the seeds in a 1 or 2% hydrogen peroxide solution for a few minutes cleans effectively while also providing slight chemical scarification to the seed coat, which has likely hardened over time.

Chemical Scarification?

For germination to occur, the embryo needs to be able to exchange oxygen with the outside world. The issue? Seed coats tend to harden over time, which prevents them from properly absorbing water and oxygen. While H202 can provide a chemical roughing, it’s often necessary to get a bit more surgical.

Mechanically scarifying seeds can be as simple as lightly sanding the micropyle (edge) with a piece of sandpaper (being careful not to go too far), or knicking a notch out of the seed coat with a utility knife. Cracking the seed coat carefully between a pair of forceps is another method. Many old-timers used to crack the seeds between their teeth!

Seeds from annual plants aren’t often designed to last many years, part of what makes the germination process so tricky

For germination to occur, the embryo needs to be able to exchange oxygen with the outside world

Scrubbing In

Sometimes, you have to perform surgery to get a seed to germinate. Do this by entirely removing the seed coat and directly germinating the embryo by placing it on top of a quality propagating media kept evenly moist in a controlled environment. Steady hands and magnification are a must for this; small seeds mean delicate work! Often, this step alone is enough for seeds and should improve success rates.

Rejuvenation

To further ensure the best chance of germination, we can attempt to replenish some of the energy and hormones that have been lost over time. Soaking seeds in a diluted solution of blackstrap molasses or even sugar water will bolster carbohydrate levels. When added to the mix, kelp, fulvic acid, B vitamins, alfalfa meal, coconut water, and malted grain (especially barley) provide a considerable array of biocatalysts, including natural enzymes to wake the tired embryos and get them moving. Coconut water is notably used in plant tissue culture as food stock, which proves very useful for these purposes. Germination is an enzyme-driven process, which can be naturally supplemented by the above ingredients.

Once the seeds are ready, place them directly into a quality, organic soil for germination, rather than on a paper towel. The latter makes the seeds more prone to pathogens. Good soil should be brimming with healthy microbes. Direct planting also avoids injury to the initial taproot’s very fine feeder hairs during transplanting, further enhancing survival rates.

Don’t give up on older seeds; try to germinate them to see if they are as good as you remember. 3

BIOCody is the owner of High Powered Organics and a second-generation Australian grower with more than a decade of experience in the horticulture industry. Cody works closely with growers locally and abroad, creating organic solutions for high output cropping. He achieves maximum results by combining aspects from permaculture, biodynamic farming, and Korean natural farming techniques. Cody’s main focus is finding natural, and sustainable ways to produce high-quality plants with a minimum of input.

Soaking seeds in a diluted solution of blackstrap molasses or even sugar water will bolster carbohydrate levels

Once the seeds are ready, place them directly into a quality, organic soil for germination, rather than on a paper towel. The latter makes the seeds more prone to pathogens

PEST PREVENTION: A

challenge that comes with growing plants is deterring garden pests, and the list of potential insect diners wishing to feast on the fruits of your labour is a long one. One of the most destructive problems in the garden is the spider mite.

What are spider mites?

Spider mites belong to the arachnid family and look like tiny spiders. They thrive in hot, dry environments, and especially where there are no predators to challenge them. Spider mites are oval-shaped and only about 0.4mm long; they come in colours of red, brown, black, yellow or green, depending on the species.

Spider mites are oval-shaped and only about 0.4mm long; they come in colours of red, brown, black, yellow or green, depending on the species

When temperatures reach above 30°C (86°F), baby spider mites are born in as little as three and a half days. Females can lay 200 eggs in her lifetime. In just 15 days, new mites reach adulthood and then lay eggs of their own. Spider mites hatch at a ratio of 3:1 female to male, so it is easy to see how an infestation can quickly take hold before the grower has even noticed.

Red spider mites, glasshouse red spider mites, and carmine spider mites are especially concerning because they are sap feeders, sucking juices from plant leaves. Other spider mite species feed on decayed organic matter and small insects rather than plants.

Lifecycle and Reproduction

In a warm and dry climate, spider mates breed at an alarming rate. They can be catastrophic in an indoor grow room, destroying crops in next to no time.

Signs of Infestation

Tiny brown spots and yellowing leaves are the first indications that spider mites are present. The mites appear as minuscule coloured dots on the underside of leaves. They use spider webs to travel between leaves and branches.

How Plants are Affected

Spider mites puncture holes in the leaf and suck the sap out, causing it to turn yellow. The entire plant becomes very weak, and because mites reproduce so quickly, it won’t recover from the relentless attack and will eventually die. Spider mites are super-spreaders when it comes to transmitting disease, as they travel from one plant to another, which poses another threat to crops.

Prevention

Spider mites cannot fly. They arrive via other infested plants or hitch a ride to the growing environment on a gardener or visitor. They can also get into greenhouses or grow rooms through ventilation systems.

Use fine dust filters in grow room ventilation systems to prevent mites from entering the room. Always change any clothes that have been in contact with other plants or gardens before entering the growing environment. Because spider mites love hot and dry climates, keeping the humidity up can help deter them as well.

Neem oil and other horticultural oils are spider mite deterrents. The oil creates a barrier on the leaf, and the mites will struggle to penetrate the surface and starve. The oil also coats the mite, softening their shell, and hopefully, killing them off.

Keeping all plants covered in oil is not realistic. The best line of defence is to check plant leaves, especially the undersides, regularly for the abovementioned signs of an infestation. The mites are so small that using a magnifying glass is a good idea.

Curing A Spider Mite Infestation

The key to getting rid of an infestation is to act fast! If caught early enough, neem oil will help. If the infestation is severe, however, then the most effective cure is a nonsystemic insecticide that kills mites on contact. Dousing the plant with water for a few days after will reduce any insecticide residue remaining on the plant.

If growing organically, cinnamon clove tea might do the trick. Mix an ounce each of powdered cinnamon and cloves into a gallon of cooled, boiled water. Spray regularly onto the plant. Releasing predator mites into the grow room may also help eradicate the pests. Unfortunately, the aggressive nature of spider mite infestations means organic methods tend to have lower success rates.

Prevention is the ultimate cure when it comes to spider mites, or any pests, for that matter. Taking the time to check plants thoroughly and regularly may seem daunting, but it is a chore worth doing versus the hassle of dealing with an infestation. 3

BIO

An industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in a variety of roles, Rich is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distribof the Growers Guide book series, Rich aspects of indoor gardening. He is also an independent industry consultant, working closely with businesses worldwide.

Neem oil and other horticultural oils are spider mite deterrents.

In a warm and dry climate, spider mates breed at an alarming rate. They can be catastrophic in an indoor grow room, destroying crops in next to no time

With more people spending time at home and mindful of health in 2020, it’s time to reflect on the indoor environment and how that impacts our wellbeing. Research studies in recent years have revealed plants can have a positive effect on indoor air quality, how we feel both mentally and physically, and mitigate a wide range of potential health issues.

Where Potential Dangers Lie

Figures from 2019 reveal over 86% of Australians live in urban areas and spend an average of 90% of their time indoors - either at home or work. According to the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), “Indoor air is generally more polluted than outdoor air due to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) produced by furnishings, carpets, paints, and outdoor VOCs (mainly fuel emissions) trapped indoors.”

House plants help clean improve indoor air quality and provide visual amenity

Health Impacts of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Polluted indoor air contaminated by VOCs is recognised as a major cause of building-related health conditions, including headaches, nausea, lethargy, nose and throat irritation, and loss of concentration. Few people likely suspect an invisible enemy may be contributing to their health issues.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has identified indoor air quality (IAQ) as one of the top five environmental hazards. Research studies have revealed that pollutants indoors might be two to five times, and sometimes over 100 times higher than outdoors (US EPA, 1993).

Normal outdoor carbon dioxide levels range between 300 and 500ppm. Indoors, the average CO2 concentration levels range between 500 and 1,500ppm (Seppänen, 2006), primarily from human respiration. Disturbingly, one study (Satish et al., 2012) revealed that rational thinking and reasoning ability reduced at 1,000ppm CO2 concentration levels. Another study (Bluyssen, 2009) showed occupants could suffer from suffocation and tightness in the chest with exposure to CO2 levels at 800ppm or higher.

VOCs are carbon-containing chemicals that evaporate into the air at room temperature. Some of these toxic gases are easily identifiable from their distinctive smell. Cigarette smoke is an obvious one, and most of us recognise that ‘new car’ or ‘new carpet’ scent, but other emissions are odourless. Some of the worst offenders include newly manufactured products, like curtains and flooring, building products, marker pens, varnishes, adhesives, synthetic fabrics, cleaning agents, craft products, scents, and sprays. Office electronics like new computers and printers may emit a variety of VOCs, according to a US Berkeley study.

Common VOCs found in our homes include benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, acetone, and styrene. Higher levels of VOCs occur with new products, and off-gassing gradually reduces over time. However, if new VOC-containing products are regularly introduced, concentrations can build up significantly, particularly in warm, poorly-ventilated rooms. Unfortunately, it’s virtually impossible to avoid all off-gassing. Even if a product no longer smells, it could still be emitting VOCs.

Just one plant can enhance the work environment and improve productivity and mental health

VOCs are carbon-containing chemicals that evaporate into the air at room temperature. Some of these toxic gases are easily identifiable from their distinctive smell.

Indoor Plants to the Rescue

There are positive low-cost solutions – and plants hold the key! Indoor plants not only absorb all types of urban air pollution, but an ever-increasing body of evidence confirms they also promote positive mental and physical wellbeing benefits. The findings from a three-year study, “Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing”, conducted by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are significant. A series of tests were performed before and after plants were positioned in offices. The results showed people in offices with plants experienced:

Wormwood

• 58% reduction in depression/dejection;

• 44% reduction in anger/hostility

• 38% reduction in fatigue;

• 37% reduction in tension/anxiety;

• 30% reduction in confusion;

• 4.5% increase in vigour.

The research provides strong evidence to support the use of plants in work environments to reduce stress and improve performance. Impressively, just one office plant was enough to make all the difference.

Plants Help Improve Wellbeing

Plants can relax and energise us, improve our mood, enhance productivity, and aid concentration. The results from many research works confirm that people find plants an effective mechanism for coping with stress just by being around them. A greener space is not only a cleaner one to live in, but provides a practical strategy for mental health. In our homes, plants can give a sense of connection to nature that lifts the spirits and makes us feel more relaxed.

Plants Help Remove VOCs and Reduce CO2

In one of the UTS studies, CO2 concentrations were reduced by 10% in an air-conditioned building and by 25% in a naturally ventilated building – another significant improvement in IAQ. Air conditioning indoors is used for temperature control and to refresh the air by removing CO2 to acceptable levels (a maximum of 1000 ppm). During the UTS office plant testing period, it was observed that just three people talking over 10 minutes in an office could increase CO2 concentrations to 800 ppm. Indoor plants could potentially play a major role in reducing CO2 levels under the extra-ventilation cut-in point for air conditioning systems.

In terms of reducing VOCs, the UTS research revealed that after an initial period where the plants acclimatise to the unique VOCs in the room, the potting mix bacteria in conjunction with the plant consistently remove VOCs on an ongoing basis. Residual concentrations of VOCs are removed to insignificant levels (< 20 ppb), which is below the detection limits of the gas chromatography instrumentation.

Test results from multiple studies revealed that indoor plants were able to consistently remove VOCs and CO2 within 24 hours regardless of the plant species, whether they were in small or largesized pots, in light or dark, in air-conditioning or not. What’s even more impressive, is when the VOC levels increased, the rate of removal rose in response to the challenge. The research revealed, “the bacteria involved (Burchett et al., 2009) are among the normal decomposing microorganisms of soil/potting mixtures, and similar to those routinely cultured for use in bioremediation of oil spills and groundwater contamination.” An invisible workforce we can employ to improve our health!

A greener space is not only a cleaner one to live in, but provides a practical strategy for mental health

Looking at green plants while working can help relieve stress

Houseplants still need adequate natural or indoor lighting to photosynthesize

Indoor plants help us relax clean pollutants from the air and reduce stress

List of indoor plant species

UTS laboratory-tested for VOC removal:

• Aglaonema modestum (Chinese Evergreen) (Fam. Araceae)

• Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm) (Fam. Palmae)

• Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ (Fam. Dracaenaceae; prev. Liliaceae) Dracaena marginata (Fam. Dracaenaceae; prev. Liliaceae)

• Epipremnum aureum (syn. Scindap(s)us aureus) (Pothos; Devil‘s Ivy) (Fam. Araceae)

• Howea forsteriana (Kentia palm) (Fam. Palmae)

• Philodendron ‘Congo’ (Chinese Clone) (Fam. Araceae)

The type of plant species used for indoor air phytoremediation is not significant, but rather, it is a healthy microbe population that needs to be cultivated (Leahy and Colwell, 1990). Keeping indoor plants, regardless of species, well-maintained in a moist, well-drained and pH-balanced potting mix rewards us with clean air and healthier homes and workplaces. A win-win!

Loving our Indoor Plants

It’s clear from this evidence that plants not only play a beneficial role in our outdoor gardens by providing us with greenery, food, and a place to find peace and relaxation, but they also contribute valuable ecosystem services indoors for human health. Indoor gardening is becoming many people’s go-to activity – not only as a hobby to green our homes but also as a way to improve wellbeing through sensory engagement with plants and soil.

I have plants in every room of our home including on our desks, bedrooms (where CO2 accumulates overnight as we sleep) and in our living spaces. Not only do they make the house more beautiful to look at by greening our indoor spaces, but they are effectively part of our ‘health insurance’ plan!

• Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother-in-law‘s tongue) (Fam.Ruscaceae/Dracaenaceae) Schefflera ‘Amate’ (Queensland Umbrella Tree) (Fam. Araliaceae)

• Spathiphyllum ‘Petite’ and ‘Sweet Chico’ (Peace Lily) (Fam. Araceae) Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’ (Peace Lily) (Fam. Araceae)

• Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Zanzibar; ZZ) (Fam. Araceae)

They were all found to be equally effective in removing a standard dose within about 24 hours after a week of acclimatization (induction) to exposure to the VOC.

My houseplants get a weekly ‘spa bath’ treatment with a soak in liquid seaweed for trace elements. They are rotated outdoors for a brief ‘holiday’ in the sun to boost photosynthesis every fortnight and soak up the mineral-rich rain to wash off any dust. I can honestly say my houseplants are thriving and even flowering indoors. They’re like members of our family now and deserve a little TLC in return for the positive health and wellbeing benefits they contribute. Perhaps yours do too? 3

BIO Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener, is an author, speaker and urban garden community educator on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Anne is passionate about inspiring people to improve health and wellbeing, by growing nutrient-dense food gardens in creative containers and small spaces. Anne regularly presents workshops, speaks at sustainable living events, coaches private clients and teaches community education classes about organic gardening and ways to live sustainably. She has authored several eBooks and gardening guides. Anne shares organic gardening tips and tutorials to save time, money and energy on her popular website - TheMicroGardener.com

References:

1) Burchett MD, Torpy F and Brennan J, 2009, Towards Improving Indoor Air Quality With Potted -Plants A Multifactorial Investigation, Final Report to Horticulture Australia Ltd.

2) Burchett MD, Torpy F, Brennan J and Craig A, 2010, Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing, Final Report to Horticulture Australia Ltd.

Polluted indoor air contaminated by VOCs is recognised as a major cause of building-related health conditions, including headaches, nausea, lethargy, nose and throat irritation, and loss of concentration.

African violets are a popular indoor flowering plant that can help

lift

the spirits as well as

clean air

Pioneering References

Castrated Seeds

A Granny Smith apple seed has a one in one hundred chance of making Granny Smith apples!

Do you ever harvest the seeds from the fruit you buy from the supermarket and try to germinate them? Green-thumbed gardeners have a better chance at succeeding than most, but even if the seeds do germinate, the chances of them producing the same fruit as their parent plant are relatively slim. A Granny Smith apple seed has a one in one hundred chance of making Granny

Smith apples!

Centuries of breeding and production methods have had a significant influence on the genetics of humanity’s favourite foodstuffs, many of them favourable. But where a fruit farmer at the turn of the 20th century could reasonably expect to influence his crop and perhaps that of his neighbours, food production today is a global enterprise that has a genuine and potentially catastrophic influence on the existence of species themselves.

Anyone seeking a monopoly on food production has to contend with the fact that almost anyone can grow a plant from seed. Patents protect the profit margins of patent holders, but suing farmers is a costly process and success isn’t guaranteed. The less expensive solution is to ‘switch off’ a seed’s ability to grow. What could go wrong?

Grafting

So, how did we get here? It’s fair to say we’ve been genetically engineering plants for millennia, to varying degrees. Grafting, the process of attaching the upper portion of one plant (the scion) to the lower part (the rootstock) of another plant, is believed to date back some 4,000 years. Asexual propagation is common enough in nature and plants do graft naturally to one another in a process called inosculation, but grafting today is far removed from its natural precursor.

In commercial terms, grafting has a host of advantages; primarily hardiness, disease resistance, and precocity –the ability to produce fruit without having to wait years for a seedling to mature.

Seeds from the fruit of grafted plants contain the genetic data of both the scion and the rootstock. When these seeds are successfully planted, they tend to favour the rootstock. With apples, that often means their fruit will likely be inedible crab apples. Years of hybridisation means these seeds often contain the genetic data of numerous varieties and cultivars.

Hybrids

Many of the fruit and plant varieties we enjoy today are hybrids born of grafting and cloning. Hybrids are generally sterile as a result of polyploidy; a condition where abnormal cell division results from an uneven number of chromosome sets, preventing the creation of balanced gametes.

In a commercial sense, this is fantastic; it means you’re not handing your customer the means to compete with you every time you sell them a piece of fruit full of seeds. Then again, why give them a chance, even if it’s one in a hundred?

Feminised seeds are produced by crossing two females with one another. They have the added advantage of preserving the characteristics of their mothers

Grafting

Seedless fruits are a product of parthenocarpy; the production of fruit without fertilisation. Originally a naturally occurring mutation, highly-prised seedless fruits are propagated through grafting and cuttings, as well as by artificial pollination and through the introduction of external hormones. No more picking seeds out of your teeth or worrying about pesky home growers cutting off your cash; right up until a disease rips through your crop. But that’s someone else’s problem in the future, right?

Feminised Seeds

The sale of seeds is a massive industry in itself. Where the fruit and flower of female plants are the prised product at the end of the process, an errant male could easily fertilise your crop.

Feminised seeds are produced by crossing two females with one another. They have the added advantage of preserving the characteristics of their mothers.

Gibberellins are hormones that induce male flowers in female plants. Silver nitrate modifies ethylene levels in plants, causing the switch to maleness without the disadvantage of male genes. Since neither parent has a Y chromosome, the resultant seeds are guaranteed to be female.

With aeons under her belt, Mother Nature always finds the way. None of these techniques can be 100% guaranteed. Humankind has never been one to let anything get in the way of rampant capitalism though, and we’ve still got two big guns to set against the biodiversity that underpins life itself; brutality and sneakiness.

Radiation

Strictly speaking, radiation treatment extends the shelf life of foods and prevents the spread of pathogens and fungi. Exposing foodstuffs to gamma radiation isn’t widely discussed, perhaps for obvious reasons, but it is widely practised.

Potatoes, in particular, are a staple around the world and they spend a fair amount of time in storage before they reach your plate or the processing plant. Irradiation irreversibly inhibits cell division and multiplication; which is excellent for preventing breakdown and sprouting, but not so great when it comes to the

cell multiplication necessary for creating life. Look for the Radura symbol on food packaging if you’re wondering whether the food you’re eating has been irradiated.

Terminator Seeds

Genetic Use Restriction Technologies, or GURTs, represent the bleeding edge of genetically modified foodstuffs. Developed in the nineties by the USDA and the Delta and Pine Land Company, a subsidiary of Monsanto, GURTS imbue genetically modified plants with a genetic ‘switch’. The switch induces infertility in second-generation seeds, or only allows them to become fertile in response to exposure to a particular, proprietary agent.

Dubbed terminator technology or suicide seeds, names which are incredibly unpopular with their proponents, suicide seeds are billed as a biosafety measure that will prevent GM-crops from accidentally spreading into the wider environment.

Around the time that they were being developed, Monsanto was famously suing Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian canola farmer, for failing to pay them royalties for their Roundup-tolerant canola, a product which he had never purchased. It was a costly battle for Monsanto which brought to light the fact that they weren’t above stooping to base intimidation.

Widespread outrage and outright horror at the prospect of terminator technology has seen it shelved and outright prohibited in certain countries. Today, it remains ‘not yet commercially available’. 3

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 Ph.D. 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.

Look for the Radura symbol on food packaging if you’re wondering whether the food you’re eating has been irradiated

Suicide seeds are billed as a biosafety measure that will prevent GM-crops from accidentally spreading into the wider environment

Radura symbol

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Inspiring Change Through Regenerative Organic Certification

WWhat criteria do you look for in the products you buy? Perhaps you check the nutritional value or list of ingredients. Maybe you look for non-GMO, fair-trade, or organic-certified products. As consumers, we are faced with many choices, and we can take a stand on a variety of issues (or not at all) with every item we buy.

There is a new label many people will be looking for whether they’re shopping for food, clothing, or personal care products, and if you see it, you can feel terrific about what you’re buying. It’s called “ROC”, which stands for Regenerative Organic Certified.

ROC checks all of the boxes. Although new to the marketplace, it is already being called the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world. Consumers who purchase products with this stamp of approval know that they are supporting soil health, farmworkers, and pasture-based animal welfare.

The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is behind the new certification. The group includes various experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and fair trade. The goal of the ROA is to heal a broken system, repair the planet, and empower farmers and consumers through better farming practices.

First established in 2018, the ROC pilot phase took place last year. The standard is now open for general certification. Before being eligible, farms must be organic-certified by the USDA. After that, they must meet additional criteria to ensure thriving soil life, animal welfare, and social fairness.

For example, a USDA-recognised organic farm must also provide a tillage action plan, soil lab test results, and a record of native fauna and flora on the farm to get the ROC.

Beyond that, they must also have not cleared any forests for agricultural purposes since 2015. Year-round cover crops and crop rotation are also necessary. These are just a few examples of the environmental criteria ROC farms must meet.

Fair labour and social justice are also paramount in the certification process. Businesses who achieve the ROC respect all laws associated with working conditions and the health and safety of their employees.

Already a certified organic and biodynamic property before receiving the ROC stamp, California’s Tablas Creek Vineyards says the focus on employee wellness was a significant attracting factor to the certification.

“What really drew us in was ROC’s commitment to the importance of the Social Responsibility pillar/standard,” explains viticulturist Jordan Lonborg. “In the world of agriculture, all too often are the workers overlooked. This certification ensures that it is not the case on your farm.”

There are three levels to the certification bronze, silver, and gold. To make it to the top tier, farms and businesses must strive to include more rigorous regenerative organic techniques. When a product makes it to gold, it truly is the cream of the crop.

Regenerative organic farming techniques can help heal the broken food system and as a result, improve human health

The good news is some ROC products are already available for purchase on the marketplace wherever organic products are sold. They include:

• Apricot Lane Farms: Avocado Oil from Moorpark, CA

• Dr Bronner’s: Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil from Serendipol Ltd. in Sri Lanka

• Nature’s Path: Oats from Legend Organic farm in Saskatchewan, Canada

• Grain Place Foods: Popcorn and Cornmeal from Marquette, NE

• Patagonia Provisions: Regenerative Organic Chile Mango from Sol Simple, Masaya, Nicaragua

• Lotus Foods: Brown and White Basmati Rice from Rohini, India

• Sol Simple: Banana from Masaya, Nicaragua

Other certified farms and businesses with ROC products rolling out shortly include:

• Tablas Creek Vineyards: Paso Robles CA

• Herb Pharm: Williams OR

• Guayaki Yerba Mate: Misiones, Argentina

The Time Is Now

There is no better time for farms and companies to be pushing themselves to meet the standards set out by the ROC. With the United Nations estimating the world population will hit 9.7 billion by 2050, it has become clear that we need to revamp the agricultural system so that future generations have food security and a healthy planet.

“Growing food and fibre with industrial techniques and harmful chemicals is having devastating effects on human health and the health of our planet,” says Birgit Cameron, Head of Patagonia Provisions. “This type of farming degrades soil, which over time reduces our ability to grow healthy crops and contributes to the loss of topsoil and water-limited resources we can’t afford to waste. Switching to Regenerative Organic practices builds healthy soil and draws even more carbon back into the ground, turning our agricultural system from problem to solution.”

We are in both a race against climate change and a fight for human health, neither of which we can afford to lose

Dr Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut farm in Sri Lanka

Herb Pharm (Williams OR)

The COVID-19 health crisis is another wake-up call. The ROA says the outbreak has shown how many inequalities exist in the global food supply. Regenerative organic farming techniques can help heal the broken food system and as a result, improve human health.

The Rodale Institute and The Plantrician Project recently released a new white paper called The Power of the Plate: The Case for Regenerative Organic Agriculture in Improving Human Health The report discusses how farming and healthcare are very much intertwined, and yet the link between them is often ignored.

The increased industrialisation of our food system has led to environmental degradation, empty food, and unhealthy people. The report above urges the farming and healthcare sectors to work together to create better food and a healthier future. “Let the food be thy medicine, and the medicine be thy food.” (Hippocrates, 400 BC)

We are in both a race against climate change and a fight for human health, neither of which we can afford to lose. By nourishing the land, animals, growers, and consumers, the ROC stamp of approval is a step in the right direction. We can all take a stand with the products we buy. Anything with “ROC” attached to it makes a significant impact and an even greater statement.

For more information, visit regenorganic.org.

If you’re looking to shop for ROC products online, check out the Patagonia Provisions patagoniaprovisions.com

Lotus Foods produces Basmati Rice (Rohini, India)

Sol Simple farms from Masaya, Nicaragua

Sol Simple Stuart McMillan of Legend Organic Farm Nature’s Path

Not Just A Sweet Treat...

The Medicinal Benefits Of

Wild Raspberries

Afew scratches on our hands and forearms are worth it when enjoying sweet and juicy wild raspberries. Incredibly fragrant and tasty, these plants produce abundant harvests of bright red berries from about mid-summer to the first frost.

Wild raspberry, also known as Rubus idaeus, grows in many different soil conditions and can be found in woodlands, along roadsides, or beside the garden. But despite being a delicious treat, many gardeners consider the raspberry canes to be pesky weeds. The plant propagates quickly, and suckers begin to spread. Flowerbeds and vegetable patches can easily be overcome by it.

From Invader To Medicine

Although invasive, it’s not such a bad idea to find some space for wild raspberry plants. The sweet flavour of the delicious fruits and the countless number of recipes we can include them in is reason enough, but wild raspberries also offer many medicinal benefits.

Food that grows in the wild is rich in nutrients and tends to be more flavourful than what you find at the supermarket. Wild raspberries are no exception and are rich in vitamin C, minerals, and fibre. The nutritious berries help boost the immune system, nourish the blood, and protect against heart disease and various cancers thanks to their many antioxidants, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins.

The wild red raspberry plant is a precious medicine long appreciated in herbalism and folk medicine. Indigenous people foraged the fruit for both food and medicine immediately after the ice age!

Dried leaves, picked before the flowers bloom, are delicious when made as a tea. A high tannin content makes the brew similar to black tea but without the caffeine. A wild raspberry infusion contains many vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, and vitamins B, C, and E. The concoction can help build healthy bones and teeth or can be taken after an illness to help with recovery.

A tea made with raspberry leaves is easy to make! Use up to two tablespoons of dried herb and steep in a cup of hot water for 1015 minutes. Add a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup, if desired.

The raspberry leaves are astringent and anti-inflammatory. These two herbal actions can help to slow diarrhoea and tighten mucosal tissue in leaky gut syndrome or general intestinal inflammation. The astringency will help heal wounds and sore eyes. Eye drops made from a cooled, filtered decoction of raspberry leaves has been used as a treatment for conjunctivitis. A mouth wash from the tea will help with bleeding gums, mouth sores, or mouth inflammation.

A Woman’s Best Friend

The wild raspberry plant has been used for centuries to support reproductive health in women, and the gentle herb can ease menstrual pain. Although herbal medicines are often discouraged for expecting mothers, raspberry leaves have long been used by midwives to help women through their pregnancies and prepare them for childbirth. A herbal infusion made with the leaves nourishes the body and strengthens and tones uterine muscles, which can help reduce labour pains and their duration.

The infusion also helps increase a mother’s milk, relieves nausea, and the high iron content prepares the body for blood loss during childbirth. The uterine tonic made with red raspberry leaves also help tighten and tone the womb.

Despite being safe to pregnant women, wait until the second or third trimesters before drinking a wild raspberry tea. There is some concern that the drink may stimulate the uterus and potentially cause a miscarriage. 3

Disclaimer: While raspberry leaves are a nourishing food that is safe to eat, always check with a health practitioner before enjoying the benefits associated with any medicinal herb.

A therapist and healer for over 15 years, Caroline’s passion for medicinal plants only began after leaving the city for the quiet country life in Quebec, Canada. Eager to learn, she’s never looked back, using forests and wildflower fields as her classroom ever since. In a time where reconnecting with plants and nature is badly needed, she spreads her love for herbalism by holding teaching workshops about the powers of medicinal herbs and natural remedies.

The nutritious berries help boost the immune system, nourish the blood, and protect against heart disease and various cancers thanks to their many antioxidants, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins

FAST. RESPONSIVE. BESPOKE.

WEB DESIGN

Designer A person who takes a problem and creates a solution.

Developer Takes a design solution and builds a web experience. Business Is what comes to those who sell an experience.

Growing Who’s WhereWhat in the UK & Ireland

Birchington, Kent

With six commercial greenhouses and plans in the future for a seventh, Thanet Earth is a large company with the entire nation at heart. The business was born in 2005 amid a worrying decline in UK-grown salad greens. Growers in Spain and Holland were taking over the market and the local industry was suffering as a result. Thanet Earth grows all of its plants in closed-loop hydroponic systems, eliminating run-off waste. While the clear rooftops allow for plenty of natural light, British winters call for some extra help and artificial lighting is used as a result. Each glasshouse is also a power station using Combined Heat and Power generators. This setup provides the electricity to light and heat the entire business and also provides power to the local grid; enough for approximately 50,000 homes! Reservoirs collect rainwater and condensation produced in the glasshouses, and a UK variety of bumblebee is released into the environment to pollinate the tomatoes. Today, Thanet Earth grows an astounding 400 million tomatoes a year, along with 30 million cucumbers, and 24 million standard and speciality peppers. The company distributes surplus produce to the larger community and also runs school programmes to help educate youth.

They’ve come a long way since 2005. Learn more: thanetearth.com facebook.com/thanetearth

@thanetearth

Polegate, East Sussex Aweside Farm

Sinead and Adam began growing on a tiny allotment in London before upping their game on a 4.5-acre plot in the countryside. When they arrived at Aweside Farm, the property was in desperate need of rejuvenation after having been stripped of nutrients and living soil by three decades of conventional agriculture. The couple has since dedicated themselves to bringing new life to Aweside. While definite proponents of sustainable living, Sinead and Adam say it isn’t enough to help the planet and focus instead on fixing what’s broken through regenerative farming practises. With wildlife, trees, and healthy soil now in abundance, the organic farm grows beautiful edible flowers, cut flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Whether wanting to add spicy nasturtium leaves to salads or looking for gorgeous pops of colour in the form of cornflowers, calendula, and more, customers can shop Aweside’s products directly on their website. A variety of tasty and nutritious recipes made with Aweside Farm’s eco-friendly products are also available.

Celebrating nature’s diversity. Learn more: awesidefarm.co.uk

@awesidefarm

@awesidefarm

awesidefarm

Credit:

Thanet Earth

Credit: Aweside Farm

2.

1. Thanet Earth

The all new One Love FlexiTank revolutionises water storage, it is everything you need in one compact box. It requires no tools for assembly, reduces storage and shipping costs and takes minutes to assemble. It really couldn’t be simpler.

FULLY COLLAPSIBLE

LIGHTWEIGHT & DURABLE

• NO TOOLS REQUIRED

Growing Who’s WhereWhat in the UK & Ireland

Piddington, Bicester, Oxfordshire Plantasia

Love chillies? Then you’ll probably love Plantasia too. The company grows, breeds, sells and eats chillies. It even dreams about them sometimes! Passionate about the spicy fruit, Plantasia grows dozens of varieties, from the extremely hot Trinidad Scorpion Red and Carolina Reaper to the mediumspiced Purple Cayenne and Thai Dragon. Whichever you choose, these babies are not for the faint at heart! Beyond chillies, you can also find sweet peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, herb, courgettes, and some giant veg growing in Plantasia’s working greenhouse. Plant lovers are always welcome to drop by Plantasia to see not only what’s growing, but how it’s grown as well. Learn about plant nutrients, stimulators and boosters, the latest and greatest growing equipment, hydroponic growing systems, grow lights and environmental control. Plantasia’s shop features a working grow room along with grow tent and product displays. Customers can purchase any of the items they see in use, but above all else, they can ask for advice to get the best grow possible.

A passion for plants. Learn more: plantasia.co.uk

plantasia_shop

@plantasiabicester

4. Linlithgow, Scotland Rainton Farm

Rainton Farm produces traditional cheese and luxury ice cream in a non-traditional way. The products are made with organic milk from the farm’s own dairy herd, and the calves are kept with their mothers to suckle. Traditional dairy farms separate calves from their mothers within a few hours of birth, and the stress on the cows is apparent. Rainton Farm keeps cow families together for five to six months and is the first commercial dairy in the UK to follow the cow with calf method. The impact has been incredible; Rainton Farm says its animals are happier, calmer, and more confident as a result. The calves grow into ‘teenagers’ and only leave the nest once they start playing with their pals. Treating the cows, land, and environment respectfully has also led to reductions in the use of antibiotics and an increase in biodiversity. Proving that the ethical dairy model is viable and sustainable, Rainton Farm is hoping this way of farming catches on across the UK. 3

Radical dairy worth supporting.

Learn more: theethicaldairy.co.uk

facebook.com/EthicalDairy @theethicaldairy

Credit: Plantasia

3.

Credit: Rainton Farm

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.

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? 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.

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.

STUDY LOOKS AT ACAI BERRIES AS POTENTIAL TREATMENT FOR COVID-19

With a fruity chocolate taste and a whole slew of health benefits, the acai berry is emerging as a type of super fruit. Native to the rainforests of South America, the deep purple berries are harvested from acai palm trees and are rich in antioxidants. Properties in the berries are excellent for weight-loss and have anti-ageing effects. But they are also shown to be good for the heart, help fight certain cancers, and reduce stress and inflammation in the brain. The latter quality is why Canadian researchers are looking at the grape-like fruit as a form of treatment for COVID-19

palm berry extract can prevent severe

A clinical trial underway at the University of Toronto is examining whether an early intervention of acai palm berry extract can prevent severe cases of the novel coronavirus. As the pandemic continues, many patients are developing an acute inflammatory response in the heart and lungs. Because the acai berry is so effective at reducing inflammation in the body, researchers are hoping it might also be an all-natural way to reduce the number of COVID-19 hospitalisations.

The study involves nearly 600 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 but are well enough to recuperate

and isolate at home. While some of the participants will receive acai pills, others will be given placebo pills. Doctors will assess their symptoms every 15 days.

If proven successful, the treatment will not prevent people from contracting the virus, but rather, keep them off a ventilator and reduce the risk of death. 3

Sources:

• CTV News: Canadian clinical trial looks to acai berries in hopes of preventing severe cases of COVID-19 bit.ly/388QhSE

• Medical News Today: What Are The Health Benefits of Acai Berries? bit.ly/2JzR4BZ

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

TO LEARN ABOUT REGENERATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWING

Regenerative and sustainable are two buzz words in the world of growing these days. And they should be; the current climate crisis means we need to be making serious changes and fast. Lucky for us, there are plenty of resources out there that can help us all adopt these practices in our gardens. Here’s our list of 5 cool ways to learn more about regenerative and sustainable growing practises.

The Need To Grow 1

It costs $7 to watch, but The Need To Grow is a documentary well worth the money.The best part about this flick? It’s inspirational and offers messages of hope; a nice shift from the terrifying news we hear about the environment every day.Yes, the world’s farmable soil is depleting at a rapid rate, but we can find a way out of this mess, and the documentary introduces us to brilliant people who are offering real solutions. Meet a 6-year-old food activist working to ensure her future, a never-say-die micro-farmer, and the inventor of the incredible Green Power House.You will fall in love with the protagonists in this documentary, celebrate their achievements and want to fight for them with every bump they hit on the road. Learn all about biochar as a healing mechanism and vertical hydroponic towers that are a valid alternative to growing in soil. We all eat, so we should all be a part of the solution, right? Check out this documentary to find out how you can help. (To watch: bit.ly/31GrYaI)

Epic Gardening Podcast 2

If you have five minutes to spare or want something interesting to listen to while you’re driving or making dinner, the Epic Gardening podcast is for you. Host Kevin Espiritu is not only really likeable, but he offers a wealth of information to anyone interested in learning about organic gardening, growing in small spaces, or various growing methods. Hear from experts on straw bale gardening, relay planting techniques, regenerative gardening, and more. Learn how to revive dry or silty soils, grow just about anything in pots, tips and tricks for composting, and how to fight pests and diseases naturally. Espiritu offers a wealth of information on a broad range of gardening subjects and breaks it all down into easy-to-follow guides that don’t take up too much of your time. Worth a listen for anyone looking to hone their craft. (Learn more: epicgardening.com)

Kevin Espiritu

TO LEARN ABOUT REGENERATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWING

The Rodale Institute 3

No matter where you live in the world, the Rodale Institute wants to help you make essential changes for the health of our planet.The organisation is all about education and offers a series of webinars (many of them free!), workshops, and online courses, so farmers and gardeners can learn restorative growing techniques. If online meetings aren’t your thing, research and read about a variety of topics ranging from organic gardening, cover crops, and crop rotation to no-till practises, rotation grazing, and compost.There is no better time to educate yourself on this subject; a global switch to regenerative crop and pasture systems could fight the current climate crisis by soaking up 100% of annual carbon emissions! Need some science to back that up? Check out The White Paper, released by Rodale in September. What are you waiting for? RodaleInstitute.org/Climate2020

Good Gardening Reads 4

Between the pandemic-imposed social restrictions and the upcoming holiday season, chances are you have some extra time on your hands for a few good books. Luckily, there are so many out there that help aspiring and seasoned gardeners be the best versions of themselves. It’s never too early to start planning next season’s garden; The Pollinator Victory Garden, written by EcoBeneficial’s Kim Eierman, helps readers win the war on pollinator decline with ecological gardening tips. Learn how to safely attract and support bees, beetles, butterflies, bats, and other beneficial bugs to your garden.Trusted since the beginning of time(ish), the Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook by The Old Farmer’s Almanac gives the lowdown on feeding the soil for bountiful yields. Another book on our must-read list? Garden Alchemy, by Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy. Much like a cookbook, this gem provides readers with more than 80 recipes for organic fertilisers, plant elixirs, potting mixes, pest deterrents, and more, all of them made with Mother Nature in mind. No matter what your topic of interest, there’s a book for it. Pick one or two and plan your winter escape!

Kiss The Ground 5

The message from another powerful documentary is clear: save the soil, and we might be able to save ourselves. Netflix’s Kiss The Ground lays all the cards on the table; destructive farming practises have stripped the world’s soil of nutrients, and we only have 60 harvests to go before growing in ‘dirt’ becomes a thing of the past. Environmentally-conscious celebrities make appearances throughout the doc, but the real stars are the farmers and ranchers devoting their lives to regenerative agriculture while educating others. Learn about the soil structure beneath our feet and how it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. Discover how essential cover crops are to soil rejuvenation and the simple things we can all do to change our path. Do yourself and future generations a favour: don’t miss this documentary. Read more about it on GCMag.co and page 44 of this issue! 3

Credit: AgFunderNews