Garden Culture Magazine: US 6 by Garden Culture Magazine

GARDEN CU LT U R E USA - CANADA EDITION 路 ISSUE 6 路 2015

TheGreatUK

Planting by the Moon

industrial hemp of an American Industry

in your growroom

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the Rise, Fall & Resurrection

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c e n t r a l co a s t

ral co t n

CONTENTS I INDEX

82 TheGreatUK

CALCULATING WITH LIGHT

JALOPEÑO HEAVEN

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

20 N-Pee-K

FOOD PATENTS

101 74 57

IN THIS ISSUE OF GARDEN CULTURE:

PLANT HORMONES

WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

9 Foreword

10 Product Spotlight

60 What is humidity

14 Planting by the moon

64 Getting to the truth

19 Urban Grow

68 Proper watering techniques

20 The great UK hydro store survey

72 Podcasting: NPK live

30 Plant auxins and cytokinins

74 Jalapeño heaven

34 California crops – an unquenchable thirst

79 Canning isn’t expensive

37 Five cool finds

82 Calculating with light

40 Higher levels of plant nutricion

89 Roundup’s new classification outrages Monsanto

46 Just beet it!

95 Why should we use enzymes?

48 Industrial hemp

98 Can plants talk?

55 Column: expert believers

101 N-Pee-K: urine the garden

ENZYMES

57 Who’s Growing What Where GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

NOTHING SAYS GROWING MEDIA BETTER™

INOCULANTS WITH GUARANTEED VIABLE SPORES • Improves nutrient and water uptake • Increases plants’ resistance to stresses from nutrient imbalances and drought to increase post-transplanting survival rate • Increases crop vigour, plant quality and quantity of flowers/fruits

PROVEN RESULTS† TOMATO

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† Results obtained from independent plant growth trials. Individual growth results may vary to a degree. Additional results and details are available.

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FOREWORD I CREDITS

FOREWORD

CREDITS

We are proud to announce the launch of our new website, www.gardenculturemagazine.com, where you’ll find hundreds of unique blogs,

and free

digital copies of all our past and present magazines. Now you can read any issue online.

With so much information out there, and so many self appointed “master growers” ready to tell you how to grow, my warning to you is don’t believe everything you read, and don’t discount other ideas just because they have not been proven scientifically or simply sound crazy. “Science can only answer a question that it chooses to, and sometimes it simply cannot, or will not. Keep an open mind. Earth remains full of countless unknowns - mysteries that beg investigation.” -- Judd Stone, “Planting By The Moon” (p. 14) So, where do you go to learn to grow? Who’s advice are you taking, and is it working for you? Who can you trust? In our opinion piece “Expert Believers” (p. 59), Theo Tekstra rants about self-appointed “Master Growers” or Expert Believers. The Internet is full of them, out there on your favorite FB forum, or YouTube channel. Showing you pictures of their amazing gardens, and telling you how it’s done. Some of them are brilliant, and others are, well... not. Fear not there is still credible information out there, but don’t believe everything some dude tells you on the Internet. Proper research is often just a couple of clicks away. Happy gardening. 3 Eric

Garden Culture™ is a publication of 325 Media Inc. ED I TO RS Executive Editor: Eric Coulombe Email: eric@gardenculturemagazine.com Senior Editor: Tammy Clayton Email: Tammy@gardenculturemagazine.com V P O PER AT I O NS: Celia Sayers Email: celia@gardenculturemagazine.com t. 1-514-754-1539 DESIGN Job Hugenholtz Email - job@gardenculturemagazine.com Special thanks to: Our writers Tammy Clayton, Judd Stone, Sara Jelly, Grubbycup, Amber Fields, Evan Folds, Kyle L. Ladenburger, Theo Tekstra, Callie Coe, Tim Miller, Agent Green, Rick Le Renard, Dillon Abruzzese, Keith Roberto PUBLISHER 325 Media 44 Hyde Rd., Milles Isles Québec, Canada t. +1 (844) GC GROWS w. www.gardenculturemagazine.com Email - info@gardenculturemagazine.com ADVERTISING Eric Coulombe Email - eric@gardenculturemagazine.com t. 1-514-233-1539 D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • Sunlight Supply • Hydrofarm • Rambridge • Biofloral Website: www.Gardenculturemagazine.com facebook.com/GardenCulture twitter.com/GardenCulture © 325 Media

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.

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product spotlight

y e v r Su Winners

at TheGre

o r d y h e r o st vey

ill feature ition we w d e is th In urvey. rs of the s the winne

su r

W h a t is yo u r n t? Fa vo ri te N u tr ie Canna

20%

Wh at is you r Mo st Sol d Nut rien t? Canna

59%

Quality is one of the most important values of CANNA. We also value our customers for helping us be the best selling nutrient in the United Kingdom for 20 years! We always strive to develop and manufacture the highest quality products. Our research department team is constantly busy developing, and improving the CANNA product line. All the products are registered, and fulfill country specific laws and regulations. CANNA products are specifically designed for what the plants need. If you grow in soil, coco, a run to waste system, or a recirculating system - CANNA has something for you! For more information about CANNA, and its products visit their website www.canna-uk.com. CANNA quality proves itself! 10

d e r r e f e r p r u o y is Who

distributor?

27% Hydrogarden as the UK d to be recognised ille thr is n Hydro Garde e work hard dro ponic distributor. W retailers’ preferred hy ical advice, r ser vice, expert techn to offer great custome rket-leading a wide variety of ma timely deliveries, and products . innovative k to develop new, We continuall y see ges. The and improve our ran hydro ponic solutions, mbination new VitaL ink sees a co imminent launch of the d appealing for better growt h, an of stunning recipes rac t customers. product designs to att tting edge , we’re also at the cu ….And that’s not all areness of hnology, increasing aw of ver tical farming tec techniques, t types of hydro ponic the benefits of dif feren all y grown ve the availabilit y of loc while seeking to impro fresh vegetables

h s e fr

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS rite o v a F r u o y What is tive? i d d A / t men Supple What is your 19%

Buddahs Tree

any. Created sed family-owned comp Buddhas Tree is a UK-ba s built up over a , and driven by passion from one man’s vision for the future ey’ve set the benchmark lifetime of growing. Th s of the highest ducing unique additive with their aim of pro without compromise. quality and safety - and

ling PK 9-18. a trail with their best sel Buddhas Tree has blazed or has gained its ral flowering stimulat This unique bio-mine quality and wers simply through the own reputation with gro ces. They were flowers that it produ yield of the fruits and ratio of P and anies to advocate a 1:2 one of the first comp suit K in their formula to ieties the most popular var nts. pla of fast flowering avier This enables much he base bio fruiting, whilst the build helps the plants to huge a at essential oils, and increase.

What is your

preferred bulb brand and watta ge?

Sunmaster

Favo r it e B a ll a s t ? Magnetic Maxibright

22%

We are proud to have ranked #1 - thank you to all who participated. It is through our commitment and passion that we have earned a reputation for being specialists in this field. Delivering excellent and consistent service, we strive to accommodate all our customer’s needs, whilst being fair in all our business activities. All products are continually scrutinised for quality, and value for money. All our products are manufactured to CE, British Standards, and are RoHs compliant. This is to make sure that you as a purchaser are buying the best quality products; legally, and safely. All Maxibright products go through rigorous in-house end-of-line testing. Our internal systems and procedures, integrated with well-trained staff ensure that our quality is second to none. We want you, as the end user of Maxibright products, to rest assured that they have been designed with safety, and reliability in mind.

38%

Developed by distinguished physicists, and leading agricultural researchers, the Sunmaster line has been built on the marvelous versatility and flexibility of metal halide technology. By blending specific halides in the arc tubes, we’ve created lamps that offer significantly more usable light energy for hydroponics, and horticultural gardening. Each Sunmaster lamp has been customized to meet the diverse nutrition requirements of plants at various stages of their growth cycles. So, while the sun may come and go, Sunmaster lamps are sure to consistently provide new levels of quality, and productivity. Welcome to the future of light... Welcome to SUNMASTER. All Sunmaster lamps are designed to operate on electronic ballasts

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product spotlight

erred f e r p r you s i t a h ers? t W l fi n o carb f o d n a br Rhino

35%

Rhino filters are highly effective at cleaning air of dust, debris, and odours before it leaves the grow room. The activated carbon in Rhino filters has been ground to a fine powder so there are no air pockets in which odours can remain, instead plant and fertiliser odours are trapped, and absorbed. The carbon has been positively charged, so it attracts organic particles like a magnet! Every filter is checked and certified to confirm the source and quality of the carbon. Both our Pro and Hobby filter ranges use virgin granulated carbon, and are made from lightweight aluminium for easy handling. The only difference is that the carbon bed is deeper in the pro filter for a longer life.

W h a t a r e y o u r fa vo r it e pH and EC meter s?

Bluelab

59%

Our products are people-friendly. We place great emphasis on simple design, and straightforward functionality. We’re sticklers for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use. When you can test something easily and accurately, you can manage it. That small, but important job will enable you to get the most from water-based plant growing systems. It’s not just about products. Open information-sharing, reliable service, individual responsiveness – these matter a great deal. They’re a big part of the unique Bluelab promise.

What is your favourite

reflector? Adjust-A-Wing 30% Adjust-A-Wing’s Avenger Reflector Range has been our flagship product since 2003. We vapor coat our surfaces with molten glass, titanium dioxide, and PVD/Ceramic. The result is the most reflective, and most durable surface known to science - 95 to 97%! It will maintain full reflection for up to 20 years. Our NEW Enforcer reflector range possesses the same essential features as the Avenger models, save for the “glasscoated” finish, and the high-end price tag. The finish on the Enforcer Wings is 85% reflective, and guaranteed for 3 years. The word on the street is that these reflectors throw a huge light footprint, run nice and cool, produce killer yields - and have gained the respect and admiration of all who use them !

m oo n N O O M

BY JUDD STONE

planting by the

the newest thing to make your garden better Indoor hydroponic gardening is still not a mainstream idea, although most people eat hydroponic lettuce regularly, or even have a traditional outdoor garden - the idea of growing food or medicine in their basements has never really crossed their minds. For the most part food and medicine is something you buy in a store, or your doctor prescribes it.

science can only answer LUNAR EFFECT question that it chooses a to facts “I rely on scientific hods tried and true met Not you, reader of Garden Culture, you not only know about indoor agriculture, you’re hungry to learn more. You want to know what’s next? What is the newest thing that is going to make your garden better? The answer is anything you are willing to observe. Participating in garden forums and discussions with other gardeners has been a treasure trove of thought-provoking information for me. Yes, there are tons of bogus claims out there, lots of misinformation, but buried in countless posts there are rare gems of information. I have to admit, I’m not much of a gardener of faith. I rely on scientific facts - tried and true methods to shape my gardening expectations. How my different plants will progress through their seasonal cycles is completely predictable, and 100% in my hands. The tenure of experience built is what leads to irrefutable knowledge of what one can expect... at least that’s what I thought. About a year ago I was participating in a discussion online about cutting edge urban farming concepts. Again, being the cause and effect gardener that I am, I scoffed at someone’s assertion that the moon had some effect on her ability to root clones. This seemed to carry a level of mysticism that was enough for me to almost totally discredit the concept. Almost, but curiosity got the better of me - I needed to know more. Maybe there was something about the gravitational pull having a bio-stimulating effect on the plant making it easier to grow during certain moon phases. You know, some scientific facts to help connect the dots. So I did my regular Google searches, asked my peers what they knew on the subject. I couldn’t find even one scientific study that proved that the moon had any effect on germination. I did find several less scientific articles filled more with anecdotal evidence than research that believed in the moons powers. I wasn’t satisfied.

full moon. I honestly was hoping to find the opposite results, and go back to my science loving ways. But no, the fairytale proved itself not a myth, but a reality via observation. The concept now deserves a little credit. Planting crops according to the moon’s phases is almost older than dirt - a concept older than the farmer’s almanac itself. Recordings of planting crops by the moon phases go back as far as early civilization. It’s not just a metaphysical idea, there is some underlying practicality. They used the full moon for its most simple, and obvious purpose... light. The full moon lit the fields for the advantageous farmer of old, to enable working into the night planting the crops needed to sustain the village. Obviously this early in the season, daylight hours are short, and dry days are usually less likely than wet ones. So a nice dry day around the full moon at the beginning of the season affords the opportunity to get everything planted at once.

“the fairytale proved itself not a myth, but a reality”

I started making my own observations on my seeding and cloning of plants throughout the following year. My results were less than coincidental, and did support the original claims that this woman on the thread had tried to relay to me. Over several months I started dozens of clones and seeds. I observed, when taking clones between 10 to upwards of 20 days before the full moon in a controlled environment, regardless of lead time, they seemed to hang up, or readily root by, or around the

Fast forward to today, and there are further observations being made about the advantages of planting and cloning with the moon cycle. Is there something to it? Hard to say at this point beyond my own observations, there are very few scholarly articles that even take a look at it, but some are found in the Oxford Journals, which for the most part are inconclusive, yet admit, that more is known today than when the practice took root. Based on that knowledge, and modern understanding of the moon, answers to some of these questions are closer than ever before, because the moon’s effects are predictable day-to-day, and all that’s required now is a scientific and studious observation. Naturally, this takes a lot of time, and a lot of trials based on eliminating other factors that may take effect on the outcome of observation. We are well on our way to legitimizing lunar effect research as we continue to ponder all the unknown forces that affect all life on this planet. I gained a great lesson from this. Science does help me define why, and how certain inputs will affect plant growth. But, science can only answer a question that it chooses to, and sometimes it simply cannot, or will not. Keep an open mind. Earth remains full of countless unknowns - mysteries that beg investigation. 3 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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the art of growing

Trey Carskadon Director of Marketing Sunlight Supply, Inc.

BY SARA JELLY

PROJECT

Project Urban Grow “AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VERTICAL FARMING INDUSTRY”

HydroGarden in Coventry has entered the world of vertical farming equipment.

Elephant enjoying the first taste of urban agriculture

They’ve developed a versatile, modular, and fully controlled environmental system Modular racking and gullys used inside Hydrogarden’s vertical farming system Project Urban Grow

to establish a new industry standard in hydroponic farming. Adaptable to most environments, the project uses mobile racks fitted with gully trays designed for easy crop growth and harvest. They’ve installed Valoya LED lights above each level for optimum crop growth lighting conditions. A slight incline in each gully ensures thorough circulation of water, and nutrient solution. Controlled via tablet or PC, they’ve outfitted the system with fans, ventilation equipment, and the room is fully insulated for temperature control. This system is noncrop-specific, making it suitable for most salad crops.

Lettuces growing in Project Urban Grow at HydroGarden

Extensive trials continue on different processes to see where they can take it next. The continued rapid advances in technology mean that the possibilities are endless. They’re poised to help revolutionise food production in the UK at HydroGarden - the Urban Grow cuts the seed to harvest time almost in half.

Feeding the Elephants “Urban Grow is an exciting development for the vertical farming industry,” says HydroGarden’s Stephen Fry. After two years of working on creating, and fine-tuning this project, they now have a reliable, accurate, easy to use, and technologically advanced system that’s perfect for crop growing in urban environments. Since the government recently announced its increasing spend on locally grown food by $630 million in 2017, the September 2014 launch timing is spot-on. They introduced the system last fall at the Vertical Farming and Urban Agriculture (VFUA) conference at the University of Nottingham. Kevin Frediani, a keynote speaker at VFUA, and the head of sustainable agriculture at Bicton College commented on the system during his presentation describing it as; “As good as a system gets currently.”

Twycross elephants won’t forget their first hydroponic meal... a free lunch courtesy of HydroGarden. Rapidly growing 2,000 lettuces in the Urban Grow System brought them to donate most of their November harvest to the Twycross Zoo. Elephants love lettuce, so the greens were especially enjoyed in the Elephant Creek neighborhood of the Leicestershire zoological park. The gift of 1800 heads of lettuce delighted zoo staff. Even a small zoo goes through an incredible amount of produce every day. Julian Chapman, Team Leader of Large Mammals, visited HydroGarden to see the project in action, and was very impressed. “It’s great to see how far hydroponics has come,” he says. “We’re looking forward to keeping in touch about future projects. It’s even better when our animals get treats as a result!” Learn More: www.hydrogarden.co.uk 3 19

BY ERIC COULOMBE

TheGreatUK

hydro store survey HOW THE U.K. HYDRO M ARKET I S E V O LV I N G The UK store survey was the biggest article I have taken on since starting with the magazine. At first I was only going to run it in the UK edition, but after talking to a bunch of stores in the US, I changed my mind. The UK is an interesting market, with some unique products, and amazing people. I surveyed over 100 stores all across the UK, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 20

U.K. HYDROSTORE SURVEY

The Survey

Gender 5% Female

95% male

100 Stores from across the UK, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This is what they said...

Question #1 How is business going? On a scale from 1 to 10 10 being the best and 1 you are about to go out of business. As someone who has spent most of his career in North America, I had much to learn about how these store owners operate, and how they are different or similar to shops in Canada or the USA. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very glad to say the article went over very well, so well, that I will begin calling stores across the USA and Canada to see what you think. Yes! The Great North American Hydro Survey will be taking place NOW. If you are a store owner and would like to participate; please email us or give us a call, and ask for Eric. I will be contacting 50 stores from Canada and 200 from the USA asking questions about what they like, love and sell. We will be able to compare Canada and the US, East Coast and West. It will be good reading. For now you can see what is going on in the UK. Where old school techniques and new technologies compete at getting attention in almost 500 stores. Remember these statistics are the opinions of 100 UK store owners. They do not necessarily reflect the reality of the entire UK market.

7.34

was the average

Breakdown 4 or Lower Between 5-7 8 AND UP 7 43 48 2 stores chose not to respond to this question

The overall opinion on how things are going in the UK market is very positive. Naturally, there were some who were not doing well, but not one store said they were going out of business. The UK market has steadily grown for the past 20 years, with about half of all new stores opening in the past 5-6 years. Increased competition, and price erosion was the primary concern of most shop owners. Sound familiar?

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

Trade Shows

Question #2 How many years have you been in business?

5.66 was the average

Question #3 Did you attend either of the 2 indoor gardening trade shows in the UK last year? Homegrown Expo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Coventry May 2014 or Grow Expos - London Sept. 2014

years

Breakdown Coventry only 16

Breakdown 3 and under 4 to 6 7 to 9 10 to 14 15 and up 39 32 9 12 6 2 stores chose not to respond to this question

How many shops are there in the UK?

London only Both 14 39

Neither 30

Even though the UK market is 20 years old quality trade shows are still relatively new. 70% of all respondents attended at least one of two shows and 39% went to both. I am not saying that 70% of all the stores in the UK attended trade shows. But this very high number certainly indicates a very positive trend towards UK stores finding value in the information and networking that these expos provide.

The retail hydroponics industry in the UK began about 21 years ago. In 20 short years the market has boomed to over 400-500 stores. Most of them have popped up in the past 5 years. Every growth market must mature eventually.

Question #4 117 votes

Some storeowners choose multiple companies

Top 3 Hydrogarden Highlight Horticulture Growth Technologies

26% 16% 15%

Who is your preferred distributor? Distributors are also faced with the challenges that expansion and competition bring. 18 different companies were named as favorite. That is a lot of companies fighting for their piece of the pie. The top four represent 70% of the total vote.

Breakdown Hydrogarden Nutriculture Highlight Growth Tech Maxigrow Erith 30 16 19 18 8 5 Down to Earth Ikon Eden Space 2 Grow Buddhas Tree 4 4 2 2 2 22

2 stores said they had no preferred distributor. 7 other distributors had a single vote (FHD, BLT Lighting, Century, DB Wholesale, FC Worldwide, Dutch Garden Supplies and Cannaâ&#x20AC;Ś) Canna?

U.K. HYDROSTORE SURVEY

What is your favourite Nutrient? I specifically asked for their preferred brand, not necessarily the best seller in the store. 100 votes Top 3 Canna House & Garden Dutch Pro

20% 11% 10%

Question #5 23 brands named as favorite. Wow, that’s is a lot of brands. Canna received almost double the next brand, so it appears they are clear winners. But with 80% of the stores choosing another brand, competition is fierce. Many owners are finding new nutrients that they can call their own. Having exclusive territories has motivated many store owners to be more open to selling new nutrients.

Breakdown Canna House & Garden Dutch Pro Shogun Plant Magic Hydro Tops Botanicare HESI 20 11 10 8 7 5 4 3 Green Haze 3

Field Marshall Vitalink 3 3

Gold Label 2

Biobizz 2

Ferro 2

Advanced Nutrients 2

Metrop 2

7 brands had 1 vote. Humboldt, GET, FHD Holland’s Secret, Dutch Master, GHE, Ionic, Biogreen. 4 Stores said they had no preference and 2 said they just don’t grow, I included them because they had good product knowledge, they just didn’t use it.

Question #6 supp lement s

What is your favorite additive or supplement? 105 votes

Question #7 What is the best selling Nutrient line in your shop? 121 votes

Top 3

Buddhas Tree PK 8-19 19% Atami Bloombastic 8.5% Dutch Pro Explode 8.5%

Canna 59% Dutch Pro 10% House & Garden 7%

Breakdown Buddhas tree Dutch Pro Xplode Bloombastic Shogun Sumo H&G Roots Excellerator Canna Boost CX Hydroponics Hydrotops Triple F GHE Ripen Extreme Mykos Terpinator Rock Resinator Solar Green Power Sugar Babe Ecothrive Charge

20 9 9 8 8 8 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 2

12 Brands received one vote: Organic Rescue Mist, Aptus Regulator, Foxfarm Chaching, Plant Magic CaMg, HESI Supervit, Greenfuse, AN Carboload, Botanicare Liquid Karma, Plant Magic MagiCal, Plagron Green Sensation, Biobizz Root Juice and Go 12-12 from Field Marshall

A modern day hydro David and Growliath story. Once again we see even more brands with 27 nominated as favorite. Buddhas Tree coming in #1 - more than doubling the next two best is impressive, and the biggest surprise in the survey. This small company founded in 2010, with a handful of additives and a good chemist, have made their mark in the UK market with ninja-like stealth.

Breakdown Canna Dutch Pro H&G BioBizz 71 12 9 6

Plant Magic 5

Gold Label Vita Link 2 2

HESI 2

Ionic 2

10 brands received 1 vote. Atami, Power Feeding, Ferro, Plagron, Hydrotops, Shogun, Bionova, Botanicare, Field Marshall and Advanced Nutrients all had 1

Canna is King! If there was ever a clear winner here it is Canna at #1 by a landslide. With so many players in the race, and the obvious trend for shops to support unique/exclusive brands it is amazing to see such supremacy. Unlike in the USA and Canada, Canna is in every shop in the UK. They have been the UK’s top brand since the beginning. 20 years of stable, quality products, and reliable service has been their recipe for success. The nutrient battle is on, and there are over 30 nutrient companies trying to make a name for themselves, and chip away their piece of the market. 23

HYDROSTORE SURVEY

Question #8 Do you sell more digital or magnetic ballasts? Digital

Magnetic

50/50

Question #9 Do you have a preferred ballast type/brand?

100 votes

102 votes

Top 3 Maxibright #1 Ballast 22% Gavita #1 Digital Ballast 16% Dimlux 12%

Magnetic wins hands down, but the digital tide is turning. It was clear, magnetic ballasts still outsell digital in the UK. Even though they are the ballast of choice, it seems the digital trend is growing. Over the past 10 years, North American growers have embraced digital technology. I am not sure of the exact numbers, but would guess that it would be at least 80% of ballast sales in total are digital. New LED products continue to intrigue store owners, but have a long way to go until they are affordable for the average person.

Breakdown Maxibright Gavita Dimlux Lumii Lumatek Sunmaster 22 16 12 9 8 8 Nanolux Digilight pro Progear Omega Ajustawatt 5 3 3 3 3 3 companies received one vote: Darkstar, Grolux and Cannatronics. 7 said they had no preference

Question #10 What is your preferred bulb brand and wattage?

Maxibright is #1 choice for ballast. Knowing the results of question #8, it is no surprise to see a magnetic win as favorite ballast. What is interesting is that almost every other brand mentioned is digital. Gavita has grabbed the #1 digital position, and is working hard to keep it.

100 votes

Top 3 Sunmaster Phillips Sylvania

38% 20% 19%

UK indoor growers love their 600 watts 600W 81

1000W

315W

400W

LED

Breakdown Sunmaster

Phillips

Sylvania

Omega

38 20 19 4 3 Companies had 1 vote: Gavita, Hortilux and BLV 16 had no preference Sunmaster is choice for price and quality combo. Sunmaster, almost equaled its two nearest rivals combined. Lighting giants Sylvania Osram and Phillips are massive companies to compete against. But Sunmaster is a veteran manufacturer of HID lighting who has found a way to outshine its competition in the UK.

This is another huge difference between the UK and North America. Most indoor growers in North America use 1000W. Often air-cooled and/or connected to a climate system that will control the heat issues. So, why don’t UK growers use 1000W? Do they know something that we don’t? I’m not sure. The general consensus was that 600’s are more efficient, and they do not have tons of space for growing. I could see how space limitations could count for 60-70% of cases, it still wouldn’t explain why only 5% use 1000W. Would you rather have 6 X 1000 Watts, or 10 X 600 Watts in the same space? Which would produce more? Food for thought.

U.K. HYDROSTORE SURVEY

Hydro is big winner

What is your preferred brand of carbon filters? 108 votes

Q u e s t i o n # 11 What is your preferred method of growing?

Top 3 100 votes

Top 3

Breakdown

Hydro 59% Coco 25% Soil 16%

Hydro 59

Hydro Breakdown

DWC NFT Flood n Drain Wilma Bubbler Ecosystem Dutch Bucket Aeroponics Pebbles

21 13 8 5 3 2 2 2 2

Question #12

Coco 25

Soil 16

With almost 60% of the vote, hydro is clearly the preferred method of growing. 9 different hydro methods made the list. DWC was most popular. Coco

Coco coco/clay 19 6

Some do it pure, some mix with perlite or clay pebbles, either way growing in coco has become one of the top growing methods, and seems to be increasing in popularity. Soil growers were rare, Soil 16 and even more rare were the organic gardeners. Organic Not organic This is very different than 6 10 the USA and Canada that have a huge and thriving organic movement.

Rhino Phresh Can Filters and Mountain Air each received

35% 19% 17%

Breakdown Rhino Phresh 38 21

Can Filters Mountain Air Prima Klima 18 18 7

4 Brands received 6 votes: Kaizen with 2 and Ram, Bulldog, Scorpion and Flowfilter received 1 vote. Phresh, CanFilter and Mountain air are all sold as premium filters in the UK, and have a strong following with a total of 57% of total sales. This shows that, as a whole perceived quality is more important than price. It also shows that for a large portion of the market price is still a huge factor.

Question #13 Do you sell water filters (RO filters)? 100 votes As I continued to hear no as the answer, and asked why, I got the same 67 % 33 % reasoning I used to hear 12 years ago in Quebec; “We have good water”, “my plants do just fine in the water I have, why buy a water filter?” and so on. The water in the UK is not great, and growers do need to filter their water. NO

YES

Question #14

HYDRO STORE SURVEY I GARDEN CULTURE

What are your favorite pH and EC meters? 123 votes

Question #15

Top 3 Bluelab Essentials HM Digital

What is your favorite reflector? 103 votes

59% 27% 11%

Top 3 Adjust-a-Wing Euro Shade Parabolic

With the smallest amount of companies vying for the market this question received the most amount of total votes. Bluelab was the clear winner but Essentials is pHecking at its heels. Most of the votes for Essentials were explained like this, “I pick Bluelab for EC, and Essentials for pH”. They described both products as reliable. But people were looking for a less expensive pH alternative. HM is a newcomer to the UK market but has gained some ground with their “quality product at a competitive price” approach. What was interesting was the complete absence of other companies like Hanna, Milwaukee, and Oakton.

29% 14% 10%

Breakdown Adjust- Euro Parabolic Air Goldstar Gavita a-Wing cooled

Sunlight Supply AC/DE

Mantis Ecotechnics

Lumii Supernova F1 Hortiline Alpha Optics

2 brands received 1 vote: Power Plant and Renovado 7 people answered that they have no real preference.

conclusions

13 different brands of reflectors made the list, whether or not Adjust-a-Wings are the best reflector is not the question. They are the most popular and outscored the next branded product (Goldstar) 5 to 1. With the next 3 most popular choices being generic reflectors and 7 saying it doesn’t matter it is clear that many store owners do not see reflectors as an important element in the garden.

1. The myth that UK growers are cheap is just that, a myth. They will spend more on a product if they feel they’ll have guaranteed results. Adjust-a-Wing, Canna, and Bluelab win hands down because they are simple, they work and they have been consistent for a long time. Not because of price.

This question may seem less relevant than some of the others but it isn’t. These numbers reveal much about the UK indoor gardening market.

2. They are still a frugal bunch. A pattern throughout the survey was, brand names or premium products usually had the most votes, but there was always a good percentage that voted for the value options. 3. Is the UK market still growing? It is close to saturation levels for retailers for now. Some geographic markets could sustain more growth, while others need to shed some weight. The number of products being offered to stores has skyrocketed over the past 5 years and store owners have to choose which products they will support. But the gardeners are another story. As our society shifts towards a broader acceptance of indoor gardening, both for food and medicine, we should see a massive influx of new endusers.

4. Last, is my personal reflections of this endeavor. I have observed something about hydro store owners worldwide. There is a particular life ideology that is common in hydro people. A grassroots, slightly revolutionary attitude that is often served with humor and wit. So now I will begin calling you, and compiling the North American Hydro Survey. Stay tuned for the next edition to find out the results. Eric 29

BY GRUBBYCUP

Plant Auxins Plant auxins are hormones that help guide plant growth. They work in conjunction with, but in op-

Fertilizers For The Future.

position to cytokinin hormones. They are both required, and the ratio of one to the other will either promote root growth (if the ratio has more auxin), or promote shoot growth and inhibit root growth (if the ratio has more cytokinin).

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IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) and IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) are the two primary natural plant auxins. Two other natural plant auxins used by some plants are 4-Cl-IAA (4-Chloroindole-3acetic acid), and PAA (2-phenylacetic acid). The primary (but not the only) flow of IAA is from the growth tips down through the phloem (transport tubes in the stem) toward the root tips. The effect is additive, so the effects of the auxins are least at the top of the plant, and most at the root tips. The apical (top) budding site generates IAA but doesn’t get any from above itself, so is the least affected by it. This causes the top node to grow unhindered, and therefore generally larger. Anything below it is in part influenced by the IAA the apical site produces. You can see a similar effect on the last node on a branch, which tends to be larger than other sites along that same branch. A common tactic in pruning is the removal of the top growth tip or bud, which also removes the IAA it was producing. This gives the bud nodes directly below it the advantage of not being hindered, allowing them to develop larger. This is commonly known as pinching, because the tips are “pinched” off, although in practice using something sharp such as scissors is usually preferred.

PLANT HORMONES

and Cytokinins

HORMONES THAT HELP GUIDE PLANT GROWTH

In tall plants the normal growth pattern is often a large central top. By pinching off the top growth tip, the next highest buds will tend to increase in size, and they in turn will produce IAA to inhibit growth below themselves. Energy that would have gone into increasing the size of the top bud is now divided between the new topmost nodes. This is often done to promote a bushier plant. The top growing tip need not be removed to take advantage of this phenomenon, alternative methods involve simply bending the top down to the same level or lower than the next highest budding sites. Benefits to using these methods include a reduction in stress from pruning, and they prevent the loss of the budding site, but these are more labor intensive, and they do require more ongoing maintenance. Sometimes the normal auxin flow will get sidetracked in response to stimuli such as light (turning the plant toward the light) or gravity (turning roots downward). It does this by concentrating in an area on the inside of the turn to inhibit growth, allowing the opposite side to grow normally, and thereby curve the stem or root in the desired direction. One way to visualize this is to think of toothpaste being squeezed from a tube. Place a fingertip on one side of the stream, that will inhibit flow (growth) on that side, and the toothpaste flow will AUXINS curl toward the fingertip. PROMOTE ROOT

GROWTH. CYTOKININS ENCOURAGE BUSHY GROWTH

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NOT ALL AUXINS ARE GOOD FOR PL ANTS One reason cuttings need to have an exposed growth node is so that the node can send auxins down to form roots, which will send cytokinins back up to the growing tip to promote leaf, stem and branch development. Rooting products generally add auxins near where they’re needed, namely on the stem where you want root development. Along with the natural auxins, these hormones encourage the undifferentiated meristem cells to become root cells, forming first callouses and then roots on the stem. Since IAA is not suitable for packaging and storage, most commercial rooting products use either IBA, or a synthetic auxin, such as NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid). Not all auxins are good for plants; some synthetic auxins are used as herbicides. These auxins send the plant into an uncontrollable growth spurt that the plant can’t keep up with, quickly overdriving it to death. Broad leafed dicot (two seed leaved) plants are more easily influenced by auxins than narrow leafed monocot (single seed leaved) grasses. Certain synthetic auxins take advantage of this to selectively affect broad leafed plants. An example of this is an auxin-based herbicide that kills the dicot dandelion without killing the surrounding lawn monocot grass. Agent Orange is a 50/50 mix of the synthetic auxins 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). They have discontinued the use of 2,4,5-T in most places due to medical concerns, but 2,4D is still one of the most commonly used herbicides. Some GMO crop plants are specially designed with even more resistance to the effects of such auxins, intentionally making them very well-suited for using auxin-based herbicides in the growing program.

Molecular model of Auxin

PLANT HORMONES

ADDING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE Cytokinins are the opposites of auxins in more ways than one. Just as using auxins promotes root growth, you can use cytokinins to encourage bushy growth over root development, and they’re used in some PGR (plant growth regulator) products. As stated above, auxins start at the growth tips, and travel down the phloem towards the root tips to encourage roots to grow. Cytokinins start at the meristem cells located at the roots, and travel up the xylem to encourage shoot cell division (growth). Because of this, damage to the growth tips will reduce the auxins needed for root development, stunting the roots, and damage to the roots will reduce the cytokinins needed for shoot development, stunting the growth tips. Having an understanding of the interaction between auxins and cytokinins is helpful when pruning plants, training branches, trimming roots, or applying rooting compound. It should now be obvious why adding an auxin to a cutting is conducive to rooting, but applying a cytokinin would be counterproductive, and that it is the ratio between auxins and cytokinins that matters, so adding both at the same time is counterproductive, and potentially a waste of money. Use one or the other to promote either root or shoot development depending on the desired results. 3

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

a i n r o f C ali

BY AMBER FIELDS

The pinch California’s feeling from severe drought is actually increased phenomenally with the persistent unsustainable agricultural practices in place, along with mismanagement of precipitation and runoff. Yes, it’s a sizeable part of the state’s economy, but not the majority, and the choice of crops grown is very unwise for an arid climate. The intense lingering drought has farmers in a welldrilling fever, trying to keep lucrative vine and tree crops producing, and in prime condition. These woody fruit and nut bearing plants don’t allow the grower to let the field go fallow until the weather decides to coöperate again. Throughout this dryer than normal period, the planting of new long-term water demands - orchard and vineyard expansions continue without hesitation. It’s not that no one is aware that California has an arid climate. The population continues to grow, the average resident uses 100-200 gallons of water a day, and farmers pump billions of gallons up to the surface to facilitate highdollar crop harvests. Millions of pounds of produce, and nuts still steadily ship out of the state... as if no drought existed. As if running out of water isn’t possible.

AGRICULTURE CONSUMES 80% OF THE WATER HUMANS USE IN CALIFORNIA. Feeding the world’s appetite for almonds from an arid land could make it uninhabitable, especially with sucked dry underground waterways collapsing. California produces an average of 2 billion pounds of almond meats annually in the past few years. A feat that requires over 1900 gallons of water per pound, and this is just the second largest 34

crop grown there - it’s an agricultural mecca with endless sunshine and warm temperatures. On top of this excessive exploitation of resources, nature never intended to support 40 million people living there. Residents in Palm Desert, and Palm Springs where the water-use is at over 200 gallons a day per person - almost double what other community capita consumes. It really can’t continue. Drastic change needs to take place in both farming and lifestyles. But Governor Jerry Brown’s emergency residential water restrictions levies 25% cuts statewide, with some places getting a 35% reduction. How will this help when this represents less than a quarter of water use in California? There is little to no restrictions on agriculture, and while low earning fields haven’t been planted, water-hogging nuts and grapes, and other big money crops continue to get ample water. The state’s water system recently cut off supply to municipal agencies, earmarking their dwindling reserves for? We can only guess. Drilling deeper wells isn’t the answer. The water table has receded to 50-feet or more below ground. In some places the ground has sunk a foot in the past year as long emptied water veins cave in, causing road buckling, and compromising bridge structures. Some suggest that a pipeline from the Great Lakes should be built, which is absurd. Why destroy a massive ecosystem so that

DROUGHT

C r o pCsH A B L E T H I R S T AN UNQUEN

California can continue to waste water, and mismanage precipitation and runoff? Additionally, the Great Lakes belong to TWO countries. If they want to grow thirsty crops, perhaps they need to a) relocate their farm to a place where it is sustainable, or b) invest in desalination of all that water next to them in the Pacific Ocean. By the way, this isn’t the first, or the worst mega-drought to hit California. And it isn’t due to global warming. It’s a natural, recurring event, though the population explosion is not helping the situation, nor is all this unsustainable agriculture. In truth, the 20th century has been the wettest period ever there. From 900 A.D. - 1400 A.D. the region was under drought stress so severe that the native forests died. The stumps of these trees still are present underwater in the lakes. See: bit.ly/ancient-droughts, and bit.ly/medieval-droughts. It never rains in Southern California... you know what that means? Drought. History shows this could be a humdinger of a dry spell too. It could take a decade to correct the extravagant use of water by conventional agriculture. The water may not last that long. Perpetual summer isn’t the perfect climate. To have a never-ending supply of water you need lots of cloudy days, damp weather, and more ice and snow than is pleasant. That’s what keeps the Great Lakes from going dry. 3

“THE CHOICE OF CROPS GROWN IS UNWISE FOR AN A R I D C L I M AT E ” CALIFORNIA CROPS WATER USE: 1929 gallons < 100 gallons 34 gallons 146 gallons 26 gallons 1112 gallons 1326 gallons 401 gallons 67 gallons 77 gallons 61 gallons 258 gallons 361 gallons 50 gallons 260 gallons 154 gallons <100 gallons 141 gallons

= 1 lb /.45 kg of almonds = 1 lb /.45 kg of grapes = 1 glass of wine = 1 lb /.45 kg of corn = 1 lb /.45 kg of tomatoes = 1 lb /.45 kg of walnuts = 1 lb /.45 kg of pistachios = 1 lb /.45 kg of figs = 1 lb /.45 kg of oranges = 1 lb /.45 kg of lemons = 1 lb /.45 kg of grapefruits = 1 lb /.45 kg of asparagus = 1 lb /.45 kg of olives = 1 lb /.45 kg of strawberries = 1 lb /.45 kg of nectarines = 1 lb /.45 kg of apricots = 1 lb /.45 kg of kiwi fruit = 1 lb /.45 kg of avocados

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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GREEN PRODUCTS I GARDEN CULTURE

cool finds 1

BR AG A LIT TLE

No savvy gardener would dream of hiding their green thumb. Go ahead - shout about it with this larger than life outdoor figurine. A hysterical touch for the veggie patch, flower bed, deck, patio, or balcony. Available in dark green and bronze patina, it stands 27” tall. Get one for your domain, or a gift for any grower you know. From Garden Gnome: bit.ly/garden-thumb.

FA S T E R C O M P O S T

Why work harder, when you can work smarter? Speeding up the composting process takes water and air. Adding water is a cinch, but turning the pile isn’t. This handy tool accomplishes the task with far less effort. Use it every time you add fresh material to get those busy bacteria where you need ‘em most. From Wayfair: bit.ly/compost-aerator.

POWER ANY WHERE Harness the sun… Perfect for camping, power outages, or traveling the Waka Waka Power is a solar charger that can fully recharge your dead phone battery in 2 hours. It’s also a handy light. For every one sold, the company sends one to people without electricity. From Waka Waka: bit.ly/sun-charger.

INFRARED PLANT CAMERA

Map plant health with infrared filtering. Use the same technology for studying stress signals in the forest to keep track of how your plants are faring in the garden, your yard, or your community. Now you can buy the inner workings of the camera, and make your own! Be sure to check out the links in the product description: From Adafruit: bit.ly/infrared-camera. 3

GARD EN SPY

What goes on in your garden while you’re at work or sleeping? Keep track of the activity in the indoor or outdoor garden with a HDR time-lapse video camera... or just watch your plants grow. Great price on the Brino Pro TLC200 Pro camera alone or with weather-proof case, and mounting arm as a group buy on Amazon: bit.ly/garden-camera.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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BY EVAN FOLDS BY EVAN FOLDS

HIGHER

LEVE LS OF

ALL FERTILIZER IS NOT THE SAME If you have grown a garden then you have used fertilizer. Fertilizer is a human invention that supports the greater part of success in modern agriculture and home gardening. Used properly, fertilizer can provide complete nutrition, and produce premium plants, but did you know that fertilizer is not the only way you can nourish the plants that you grow?

THERE IS MORE TO PLANTS PLANT NUTRITION THAN PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND FERTILIZER S ARE THE E T A R D Y H CE CARBO All fertilizer is not the same. There are macronutrients and ERGY FOR N E G N I V I DR NTS micronutrients, or you can clearly define fertilizers as artificial HIND PLA E B or organic. Where, how, and when you use a fertilizer can make a major difference in the results you can get growing your garden, but there is a ceiling. In other words, most fertilizers are a different path to the same place. Fertilizers are the raw materials plants use to make their own food. If carbon dioxide, water, and balanced essential elements are available, plants, with the aid of solar energy, can synthesize all the different metabolites they need for their existence. This ability to make food for themselves is extraordinary and unprecedented on Earth, and thankfully so. The phenomenon of photosynthesis that occurs inside green plants is the basis of the entire food chain, and results in the vital conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen that supports aerobic life. But there is more to plants than photosynthesis and fertilizer. Plants convert the sugars manufactured in photosynthesis into all sorts of metabolites we will call â&#x20AC;&#x153;biocatalystsâ&#x20AC;?, such as enzymes, amino acids, and hormones. With knowledge of how plants grow, and access to products that contain these biocatalysts, it is possible to help focus plant energy towards the type of growth you cannot accomplish by simply switching fertilizers. The idea is that instead of relying on plants to manufacture their own biocatalysts, we can supplement them directly, and allow them to choose where to put their vital energy. The result is less responsibility on the plant to grow, and higher yields. Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1, respectively. Some carbohydrates are relatively small molecules; the most important is glucose, which has 6 carbon atoms, and is the end product of photosynthesis.

Plants expend an enormous amount of metabolic energy on manufacturing carbs throughout the late vegetative and early flowering stages. Carbohydrates play their most critical role in the weeks just before harvest. It is during ripening that fruits make their biggest weight gains while burning through those precious energy reserves. Once ripening sets in, carbohydrate production all but stops, and plants must rely almost solely on their carbohydrate reserves. Plants have a finite reserve of space to store carbohydrates for use, supplementing will ensure that they can maximize this reserve, and even enhance it. The more carbohydrates available to a growing plant - the higher the yields. If carbohydrates are raw energy, amino acids could be called the building blocks of life. There are twenty known amino acids used by cells to manufacture proteins. Proteins are a primary constituent of life, and involved in practically every metabolic function performed by plants. Plants synthesize amino acids by combining carbohydrates with nitrogen obtained from fertilizer, the surrounding environment, and configuring themselves into limitless formations using all the elements in Nature. Amino acids have a chelating effect on micronutrients, as well as a beneficial effect on cell permeability, amongst myriad other functions. Even though plants have the built-in capacity to biosynthesize all the amino acids that they require from nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, the biochemical process is quite complex and energy-consuming. Applying amino acids allow plants to save energy on this process, which they can dedicate to better plant development during critical growth stages.

Carbohydrates are the driving energy force behind plants. After producing carbohydrates, a plant uses them as energy, stores them, or builds them into complex energy compounds, such as oils and proteins. All of these food products are known as photosynthates.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

PLANT NUTRITION

“FERTILIZERS ARE THE RAW MATERIALS PLANTS USE TO MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD” There are even products that compartmentalize the amino acids desired in different stages of growth to root, grow, and bloom formulations. Applying amino acids is a well-known way to increase yield, and overall quality of crops. Specialized proteins known as enzymes facilitate biochemical reactions. Even the simplest of organisms have hundreds of enzymes in every living cell, catalyzing reactions that are crucial for life. We are constantly finding more, so the number that exists is not known in any firm or definite way.

where, through the process of photosynthesis, they convert these elements to sugars and starches which are, in turn, sent back down to the root zone for potential storage. Plants must produce the enzymes necessary to manufacture and move water, nutrients, and metabolites through cells, and up and down its organism to support healthy growth. These processes require much energy, and amount to lots of heavy lifting. An acre of corn gives off about 3,000 4,000 gallons of water each day, and a large oak tree can transpire 40,000 gallons per year.

ENZYMES ARE BIOLOGICAL CATALYSTS THAT WORK LIKE A LOCK AND KEY

Enzymes are biological catalysts that work like a lock and key for most, if not all, plant metabolic processes. We define them by specific elements known as “co-factors”. Enzyme production involves every element on the periodic table in some way, which is a major reason it is so important to use kelps, rock dusts, sea mineral supplements, and other broad spectrum mineral products in the garden. Enzymes lower the amount of activation energy required by the plant for metabolic processes, and help the plant upbuild. Plants use energy via active transport and other processes to move water and nutrients through cells up to the leaves

Now consider how much extra energy your plants could use for other vital processes if we supplemented a good portion of the enzymes needed to make it happen? With a healthy diet, plants should be able to manufacture all the vitamins needed to grow, and thrive. But if conditions are not ideal, supplementing with vitamins can go a long way towards ensuring healthy results, and there is evidence to show that vitamin supplementation can have a beneficial result over and above natural production levels. Vitamins are also co-factors for enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and the biosynthesis of higher molecules.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

PLANT NUTRITION

THE ONLY READILY ACCESSIBLE FORM OF NATURAL HORMONES C O M E S F R OM L I Q U I D K E L P, W H I C H Y O U CAN USE AS A PGR IF A PPL I E D I N HI G H E R C O N C E N T R A TI O N S , A N D CAN SHOW RADICAL R E S U L T S I N T HE GARDEN.

Vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6), Vitamin C, and Vitamin E have all been shown to benefit plant growth on some level, particularly in times of stress, such as transplanting, or taking clones. Then there are hormones. Hormones act as signals that control the growth and development of living organisms. In the same way hormones regulate height and sexual development in humans, hormones in plants regulate rooting, vegetative growth, and flowering.

As with other metabolites, plants naturally produce them, but unlike other biocatalysts these are very difficult to synthesize in a stable form. Typically, plant growth regulators (PGRs) accomplish the hormone effect in the garden, which are artificially produced substances designed to replicate hormones to be applied to plants to influence growth and development. The only readily accessible form of natural hormones comes from liquid kelp, which you can use as a PGR if applied in higher concentrations, and can show radical results in the garden.

The five major plant hormones can be divided into three basic categories: • growth hormones - auxins and cytokinins • stress hormones - ethylene and gibberellins • shock hormones - abscisic acid

All three types of hormones are similar in that they fall within the classic definition of an intracellular hormone. They are all made by a cell, and meant to affect the behavior of other cells, either in nearby tissue, or at the opposite end of the plant. Use PGRs with care, and be mindful that you can easily trample the boundaries using these powerful substances. Too much can certainly do damage. Just imagine dosing a man with too much estrogen, or vice versa. You get the idea. The takeaway here is that growing a great garden involves concentrating the natural process of plant metabolism for human benefit. There is more to getting maximum results than using fertilizer and letting plants figure it out for themselves. Regardless of what stage of growth you want to enhance, using biocatalysts is a great way to accomplish dynamic results. 3

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

BY STEPHEN BROOKES

“potential medicinal effects of beetroot juice on high blood pressure”

Just

t ! t I e Be

After concluding my Master’s in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Chester, I threw myself completely into learning more about plants, the methods of growing them, and every other nuance associated with horticulture. The botany bug bit me big time, and I was hooked. Taking such a small entity as the seed, providing the ideal conditions for germination, and watching as this tiny pod of life became a fully matured plant captured the child and the scientist within me.

My old university contacted me 3 months ago about growing some beetroots for them. An easy task by no stretch of the imagination, but not when they want beetroots with as little nitrate as possible! The reason for this is the potential medicinal effects of beetroot juice on people with high blood pressure (hypertension). Early research has shown that beetroot juice reduced blood pressure in people who exhibit chronic high blood pressure, and therefore, may have an effect on reducing incidents of cardiovascular disease.

The Deep Science Part Dietary nitrates, like those obtained from eating beetroots could be a source of the biological messenger nitric oxide, which tells the endothelium of arteries to trigger smooth muscle and vasodilation, which increases blood flow… This basically means the body’s cells get increased blood flow, and therefore, more oxygen. For this reason (increased oxygen to the muscles) cyclists have also been exploring beetroot juice to improve their speeds and times.

BEETROOT EXPERIMENT

The Growing I set up 24 pots in a 8’ x 4’ grow tent, with 12 in Gold Label soil, and 12 in Plagron coco. The beetroots were all from F1 Bolt Hardy type seed, and the seedlings were all transplanted into bigger 3 quart pots, and finally into taller 3 gallon pots. On the 12 in soil, I used Hydrotops Solo Grow and Bloom on 6, and Just Bloom on 6. During the first 4 weeks of growth the soil grow was used at a dose of 1.5 ml per litre, which gave me an EC of 0.8, this was increased to 2ml per litre in weeks 5-6 which gave an EC of 1.2. I then lowered the dose of the soil grow to 1 ml per litre in week 7-8, as I started using the soil bloom at a dose of 3ml per litre which gave me an EC of 1.5. In the final 4 weeks I stopped using the soil grow completely, and just used soil bloom at a rate of 5 ml per litre, which gave an EC of 1.8 maximum. In the coco, I used the Hydrotops coco nutrient, watered 6 on coco grow and bloom, which is a 2-part nutrient with A+B grow, and A+B Bloom. The other 6 in this group were grown using only coco bloom. I followed a similar pattern as the soil grow so will not repeat here to avoid repetition.

“testing coco vs. soil and nute against nute in one grow” Discussion The results have pointed out something that was quite interesting, and should make you think about your medium of choice in the future. Soil is a very forgiving medium to work with, even when I technically ‘messed up’ by just watering bloom feed, it produced an edible crop, although much smaller. Coco is a much less forgiving medium, and when stressed will punish the grower, but if treated well will reward with great yields, and good flavour. However, something I would look into before the next round of growing is to measure the background Nitrogen levels of the soil, which would make the tests much more accurate, and help in developing the final technique for growing low nitrate level beetroots. The beetroots are now in a lab being analysed by the university, and I should have some results on the nitrate levels shortly. From these results we can adapt the growing methods, and improve on our quest to grow a low nitrate beetroot. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to inhibit nitrogen uptake, but most of them will definitely impact the plant negatively in one way or another- so this trial could last for the foreseeable future. I will keep you all updated when we come up with the solution. 3

“they want beetroots with as little nitrate as possible!”

The reason for splitting the beetroots into 4 groups was twofold; it would be interesting to see the effect of minimal nitrogen on developing beetroots in soil and coco, but also to see if the lack of nitrogen helped in our test to produce a beetroot with low levels of nitrates. The test was carried out over 3 months, and the results were quite interesting.

The Results

Further Reading:

The soil grown beetroots developed nicely, even those grown on Just Bloom, although they were significantly smaller. The coco beetroots on Grow and Bloom also did well, but the beetroots on just bloom feed did very poorly, developed deep purple leaves, and what can only be described as a pebble of a beetroot.

Lundberg, J.O.; Carlström, M.; Larsen, F.J.; Weitzberg, E. (2011). “Roles of dietary inorganic nitrate in cardiovascular health and disease”. Cardiovasc Res 89 (3): 525–32. Hobbs, D. A.; Kaffa, N.; George, T. W.; Methven, L.; Lovegrove, J. A. (2012). “Blood pressure-lowering effects of beetroot juice and novel beetroot-enriched bread products in normotensive male subjects”. British Journal of Nutrition 108 (11): 2066–2074.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

industrial The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of an American Industry

INDUSTRIAL HEMP

Cultivating Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) has provided the people of the earth a sustainable source of fiber for thousands of years. The oldest known human artifact is a piece of hemp fabric from ancient Mesopotamia dating back to around 8,000 BC. The products manufactured from the hemp plant are so numerous that they cannot all be named in a single article. Throughout the centuries people used hemp for making paper, clothing, sails, ropes, fuels, medicines, and even plastics - just to name a few. However, this incredibly useful crop became inaccessible, steeped in controversy. Industrial hemp is a close relative of the modern marijuana plant so well-known for the psychoactive effects caused by ingesting it, along with THC, its cannabinoid compound. Industrial hemp has almost no THC, usually much less than 1% by weight. It’s used mainly for its fiber. Though differing greatly in this aspect from marijuana, legislation and public opinion have lumped the two together to the extent that its outlawed the growing of industrial hemp in the USA for almost a century.

H E M P CO M ES TO A M ER I C A

200 years - Americans could actually pay their taxes with it. Many of the United States founding fathers, including George Washington, grew hemp on their own land, and encouraged others to follow suit. Thomas Jefferson penned the first drafts of both the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution on hemp fiber paper. The undeniable importance of hemp in early American history is hard to understate, and its prominence unmatched as an industrial fiber until 1865.

Hemp arrived in America during the 1600s aboard the INDUSTRIAL HEMP SEES Mayflower ship carrying A DECLINE the Puritans escaping religious persecution in Europe for Following the Civil War the world saw the rise of the a better life in the “new world”. steamboat, making hemp sails and other similar ship Hemp was an invaluable commodity for ships of the accessories nearly obsolete. Around the same time era due to its sheer strength, and natural resistance to other domestic materials such as cotton and tree fiber decay. Ropes, canvas, sails, netting, began to replace hemp in products like maps, log book pages, and even the clothing and paper. Michigan, Illinois and THIS INCREDIBLY flags the ships sailed under were all Kentucky continued to grow industrial USEFUL CROP manufactured from hemp fiber. Not hemp until the late 1800s. Demand BECAME only was the Mayflower equipped with continued to drop though, and by the hemp products, it carried a supply of INACCESSIBLE, 1900s Kentucky was the only state to hemp seeds to supply the colonists with STEEPED IN continue an active production of the a renewable source of strong fiber. In CONTROVERSY” crop until the start of World War I, fact, most ships in Great Britain’s fleet when an increase in production occurred due to demand. were commonly stocked with a store of hemp seeds. During this same time period advancements in the They distributed them throughout the colonies of the production and use of petroleum products led to their empire, and colonial citizens were often compelled by law extended use as both fuels and oils. This furthered the to grow, and process the plant for industrial use. Colonial diminishing use of the hemp plant, which was and still is, America was no exception. an adequate material for products ranging from biofuels to plastics. Though domestic production of hemp was In the 17th century, citizens of Virginia, Massachusetts, declining, there was still a need for hemp, and its products. and Connecticut colonies could actually go to jail for But most of the hemp fiber was imported, which remained not growing hemp on their farms. This easily grown the norm for the next hundred years. fiber source was so immensely important that for nearly GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

O U LD G O TO C U O Y Y R U T N E C IN T H E 17 W IN G H E M P ! O R G T O N R O F IL JA th

INDUSTRIAL HEMP

GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY UNITE: A CONSPIR ACY IS BORN

prohibition campaign, and was unemployed due to the end of Though the hemp industry was in noticeable decline, certain prohibition. Anslinger was the final piece of the puzzle, and industry moguls still saw the plant as a plausible threat to the man they needed to help bring an end to industrial hemp their profits. Most notable of the bunch was the Dupont production in the US, but doing so would take a bit of finesse. Chemical Company, and William Randolph Hearst - owner of Hearst Paper Manufacturing, a division of Kimberly-Clark, Enter into the equation the Mexican Revolution of 1910, and a growing empire of newspapers which created an influx of Mexican across the country. “FOR CENTURIES immigrants into the United States. The immigrants brought along with them PEOPLE USED In the early 1900s DuPont was their tradition of smoking the flowers HEMP FOR manufacturing pesticides, the use of the cannabis plant. As is true with MAKING PAPER, from herbicides and fertilizers was extensive other moments in history, the immigrants CLOTH, ROPE, in cotton growing. In comparison to were not favorably welcomed, and Harry FUEL, MEDICINE, Anslinger began using their cannabis use industrial hemp, cotton requires much AND MORE” more water and fertilization per acre, and as a way to demonize their population. yields less usable fiber that is inferior to hemp fiber in many He effectively created a smear campaign equating Mexican ways. DuPont also held patents for the processing of oil and immigrant recreational cannabis use as a cause of the violent coal into plastics, a process that Henry Ford helped prove crimes, and socially deviant behaviors committed by this the hemp plant was highly capable of. “racially inferior” class of people. If hemp were to see another big surge in demand it surely would not have been positive for DuPont’s bottom line. Hearst also understood the threat that popularized hemp production could have on his paper industry. His business manufactured paper from tree fiber, and he understood that hemp grew far faster, and could be manufactured cheaper than the product he was producing. In order for Hearst’s company to thrive he knew he must become the main producer of paper in the USA, and with industrial hemp looming as a possible alternative… He had to do something to monopolize the market. But there was only so much these two companies could do to prevent another rise in hemp production. As the adage goes, we get by with a little help from our friends - especially if those friends are powerful. Enter into the scenario, Mr. Andrew Mellon, the Secretary of Treasury under President Herbert Hoover. Andrew Mellon was the owner of Mellon Bank, the financial backer of both DuPont and Hearst. As a man who undoubtedly understood the woes of his constituents, and with these expressed concerns, he then created the Bureau of Narcotics. He chooses none other than the husband of his niece, Harry Anslinger, to head the department. Anslinger was a key figure in the alcohol

Feeding off the overwhelming popularity of racism, Anslinger consistently spread, through articles in William Randolph Hearst’s own newspaper publications, slanderous unsubstantiated rumors that the use of cannabis by Mexican immigrants was leading to rapes and murders throughout the country. He even started using the Mexican slang for cannabis, marijuana, when referring to the problem. Not once did he ever make a plausible effort to substantiate between marijuana and industrial hemp. The smear campaign continued through the 1930s when the Great Depression caused immigrant resentment to grow, and solidified the hatred or fear of marijuana within the minds of the people, and the way they viewed society. In 1937 congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act leading to extreme regulation of industrial hemp, and eventually the modern prohibition of the cannabis plant in the US.

A WORLD AT WAR: INDUSTRIAL HEMP AND NATIONAL DUT Y In 1942 the Japanese war campaign in the Pacific led to invading the Philippines, which consequently cut off the Manila hemp fiber supply destined for the US. Understanding how

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

INDUSTRIAL HEMP

TH E G O V E R N M B U R E A U O F N A R E N T C R E ATE D TH E C O TI IN TE R E S TS O F D U C S TO FU R TH E R TH E PONT AND HEAR ST

M PA I G N A C R A E M S T N E M A G OV E R N LI D IF IE D T H E O S M IS C A R Y B D F U E LE F M A R IJ U A N A O R A E F R O D E R T A H

hemp fiber supply destined for the US. Understanding how important hemp fiber was to their own war efforts, the US government decided to distribute 400,000 pounds of hemp cannabis seeds to farmers from Wisconsin through Kentucky. The effort was given the marketing slogan “Hemp for Victory,” and the USDA even produced a film and pamphlets outlining the importance, and need for industrial hemp production. (See bit.ly/hemp-video.)

products made from limited resources, such as those made from petroleum fossil fuels, and the widespread damage of deforestation for paper production are becoming ever more apparent - most people in the US and worldwide are looking for a reliable resource that is easy to grow and renewable. Without surprise, hemp is definitely one option that is getting some serious attention, and the government isn’t trying to stop it this time.

The government viewed industrial hemp such a major key factor to the war effort that it even waived military service duty for the farmers and their sons. When the war ended, so did the production of hemp. The government ordered all remaining crops be destroyed. The remnants of these victory farms can still be seen on the edges of the fields they once populated where the plant is casually referred to as ditch weed, with most of the population not even knowing the history of how the plant got there in the first place.

In 2014 the Federal Farm Bill included a provision allowing for industrial hemp cultivation by state universities and state departments of agriculture for research under an agricultural pilot program, or if the state has already passed a law allowing the for the industrial production of hemp. Currently, 21 states in the US have enacted state laws approving hemp cultivation for industrial or research purposes.

The final nail in the coffin of industrial hemp came in 1970 with the passing of the Controlled Substance Act, which classified all types of cannabis - marijuana and industrial hemp included, as Schedule 1 drugs, making them illegal to grow or possess, and levying heavy consequences for those caught doing so. At this point, industrial hemp production was officially a thing of the past.

NECESSITY DICTATES CHANGE: INDUSTRIAL HEMP FINDS NEW HOPE As the environmental effects of the over-consumption of

These laws are all built around three major points: (1) The laws strictly define hemp as different from marijuana. (2) Regulated use by industry. Growers need a state license and registration. (3) Hemp is now excluded from the state’s’ Controlled Substance list. On the federal level, steps being taken to differentiate between cannabis the drug, and cannabis the industrial-use plant are backed by leaders of both main political parties. Experts believe that this will inevitably lead to the unrestricted cultivation of industrial hemp in the United States. 3

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COLUMN

YOU KNOW WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS?

Expert Believers In this column Theo discusses observations in the indoor garden culture. There is sometimes so much legend, and so little science in this industry. It’s time for some myth busting, to allow a fresh breeze to move through the growing realm. It is sad to see that so many people nowadays do not know the difference between facts and opinions any more. What you believe may well be different from the facts. You may believe in Santa, but I know for a fact that he does not exist. You may believe that as plants are green and reflect green light, they do not use green light, but I know from the research results that this is not true. The worst thing is: people don’t care anymore what is true or not. Telling a lie seldom has repercussions. People hear it from politicians all the time. Within minutes the “fact checkers” show they are lying, but people do not care anymore. Look at the media, Fox News, for example. The things they can say there are incredible, even a 12-yearold could easily debunk most of their facts with some research. But it’s accepted these days. We almost live in an idiocracy. You would think that with all the resources on the internet today you would be able to do decent research, but people on the internet are even worse! They ask questions on social media that they could easily solve within 4 seconds by typing it in on Google. And when they search, they do not search for the facts from the most credible source. No, they search for confirmation of their beliefs. And as there are so many of us, it is very easy to find exactly that.

“What you believe may well be different from the facts”

It doesn’t prove anything people! I don’t care what you believe. I don’t care if you believe in god or not, if you believe in reincarnation or in heaven and hell, in full moon harvests, in LED or Metal Halide, in mineral or organic nutrients. Just do not impose your beliefs on me. If you want to impress me then convince me - show me the research, and the results. You can be very intense, full of confidence in your product, and sounding very convincing on that YouTube video of yours, but if it is wrong - it is wrong, even if you believe it’s right. Choose your teachers well. Choose your sources well. And really, do you believe everything they are saying? Where is the science behind it? Yes, it totally grinds my gears, and I spend hours to re-program my followers who get brainwashed by these idiots. Get real people. Be informed, instead of willfully ignorant - or get out of this business. We don’t need you. Your buddy probably don’t know shit. 3

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Who’s g n i w o r G What

1) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Molding Growers “Learning you can’t get from a textbook,” says supervising teacher, Leann Tepsich-Cox, about the middle school aquaponics project select students participate in at the Marshall Math and Science Academy. It’s not just about growing food, the kids are also getting hands-on training in the business world, and envision taking this technology to third world countries. They’re selling the fruits of their labors to local restaurants; herbs, vegetables, and about a dozen fish to date. The school is working with Aggreco, a Harrisburg company that provides their training in Controlled Environment Agriculture. It’s a labor of love for the kids too, who receive no academic credit or a grade for the aquaponics lab work, and they love it. Plans to construct the same type of lab in the high school are under way. Changing tomorrow’s world through today’s kids. That’s smart.

Credit: Penn Live/The Patriot-News

Where

WHAT’S GROWING ON

Credit: Plant Chicago, NFP/Rachel Swenie

2) Chicago, Illinois

Off Grid Inner City They’ve got all manner of great things growing at The Plant. It’s part vertical farm, part food-business incubator, part research and education. No small undertaking, the 1925 building that once housed Peer Food’s pork packing operation, gives John Edel of Bubbly Dynamics, LLC close to 2 acres of space to grow urban farms, startup businesses, jobs, and expanded minds. Thanks to a grant from the city, The Plant will be entirely off the grid - zero waste, and zero energy by June 2016. The project began in 2010, and renovating the building with repurposed and recycled materials is still underway. Just investigating what Edel had when he bought the building, and

all that’s been done to date is super inspiring and interesting, but he’s not done yet. The story is huge, as is his vision. The best place to learn what The Plant is all about is to visit the website: PlantChicago.com. Bringing good food, and a future to an economically distressed neighborhood. Two thumbs up. 57

WHAT’S GROWING ON I GARDEN CULTURE

3) Talihina, Oklahoma Credit: Symbiotic Aquaponics, LLC

Tribes Go Techno Brothers Kaben and Shelby Smallwood, members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, got into aquaponics, and saw it as a way to improve the food situation for the tribe. That led to installing a 200 square foot system for the Choctaw community as the beginning of replacing traditional farming. It was co-funded by the brothers and the tribe. Through their company, Symbiotic Aquaponics, LLC, they train others the art of growing with this technology. Since then, they have also installed a working system in a rural Oklahoma school where over 65% of the students qualify for the low-income free lunch program. The brothers have helped the school improve cafeteria food quality, an accomplishment that won them the Hitachi Foundation Young Entrepreneurs Award 2015. Now they’re working

with the Sheena V. Foundation to bring closed system food production to other tribes, beginning with the Seminole Nation. Now their goal is bringing year-around fresh veg and fish to all Native Americans. Follow their progress: SymbioticAquaponic.com Change that comes from within... totally awesome.

4) Maize, Kansas

Credit: High Plains Journal

Future Midwest Farmers

Yes, Kansas is in the middle of farm country, but Maize is a suburb of Wichita, yet Maize High School curriculum includes agricultural studies... urban agriculture. Two years ago, science teacher, Jay Super, was prompted to look into Future Farmers of America so the school could take advantage of state career and technology training incentives. Enlisting city kids into the FFA wasn’t easy, but he gathered enough to get started. The students enjoy the learning so much it’s grown from there. This spring they applied for a Farm to School grant to expand the Comprehensive Agricultural Sciences program into the more technical side of growing, investing the $12,500 funding they received in hydroponics equipment. The urban ag students are now growing fresh greens and herbs for the cafeteria, but there’s more to it than that. They’re learning skills they can use at home, or as a career. The elective cluster program has 3 levels: Intro to Urban Ag, Food Science & Horticulture, and Internship & Accounting. Way to go, Mr. Super! More details: bit.ly/hp-journal 59

W H AT I S

HUMIDITY?

BY STEPHEN BROOKES

HUMIDITY I GARDEN CULTURE

You know those really hot days, when no matter what we do we just can’t cool ourselves down? That’s mainly due to high humidity! When the air around us becomes saturated with water vapour, making it impossible to cool ourselves, as the sweat from our skin can’t evaporate. Then we have the really hot days that we could just lay in the sun all Saturation – When a gas (or a space) holds the maximum day, but stay relatively cool… That’s due to low humidity! The air water vapour possible at a given temperature, it is said to is quite dry, allowing any perspiration to evaporate off of our skin, be saturated. If you add extra water to a saturated gas, or which keeps us cool. However, extremely low humidity (25% and if its temperature decreases, some of the water vapour will condense. below) can have detrimental effects on us humans, such as Relative humidity (RH): dry skin, and irritated eyes and It is the ratio of actual respiratory system. water vapour content to ONE OF THE MOST The funny thing is that it’s the the saturated water vapour UNDERRATED same for plants. Humidity is content at a given temperature ENVIRONMENTAL one of the most underrated and pressure expressed as a ASPECTS OF AN environmental aspects of percentage (%). INDOOR GARDEN an indoor garden, and it’s definitely something we need The air temperature is vital to to keep an eye on. know when measuring relative Before we get technical with humidity. This is because, relative humidity, and why it’s essential to monitor and control the ‘relative’ part is essentially related to the temperature, it, the bottom line is that we want to avoid extremes. A good and how saturated the air is at its current temperature. For humidity range during vegetative growth is around 60-70%, example, if your grow room rises in temperature, the relative because before a good root system has formed, the plant will humidity will drop, so at a RH of 50%, a temperature rise find it easier to maintain equilibrium of water uptake and water from 68°F to 70°F will cause RH to drop by about 3%. The loss. During the flowering stages it is good practise to drop digital thermometer that you should be buying from the local the humidity to 40-50% to prevent any mould or pathogens grow shop, usually comes paired with a humidistat, and it’s an from forming, but it also ensures good movement of water, essential piece of equipment, to say the least. nutrients, and minerals through the plant to the flowers or To understand how plants operate under different humidities fruits. Cuttings are special, and require 90% humidity to form new roots, whilst seedlings do well at around 60%. we need to understand how a plant works. All plants allow That’s the essential bit of information that we all need to know. carbon dioxide (CO2) to enter through their leaves via tiny Now we can delve a little deeper into the technicalities of humidity. openings called stomata. They use this gas in photosynthesis. The plant regulates it’s intake of CO2 by opening and closing Key Words its stomata, and as it does this moisture in the leaf can escape. Transpiration: The rate at which the plant expels, and If your grow room is dry (low humidity), it causes the plants to transpire much more rapidly than in a higher humidity absorbs moisture. This helps to cool the plant, and enables a flow of water, nutrients, and minerals. environment. When this happens, the leaves become flaccid Stomata: These are the pores that regulate moisture within and begin to wilt, and over a longer period of time the plant the plant. They help protect it from dramatic changes in will close its stomata, and reduce the flow of water out of moisture. GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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HUMIDITY I GARDEN CULTURE Open stomata increase transpiration to take place

you want 60-70% humidity during vegetative grow th the plant. This is very effective at stopping water loss, but unfortunately it also reduces the intake of CO2. Without an adequate supply of CO2 the cells will begin to die, and the plant will look tired and ill. The key point to remember here is that dry air will remove water from the leaves quicker than the roots can deliver it, under these conditions it doesn’t matter how much you water the plant, it won’t help. And overwatering will remove oxygen from the root zone (rhizosphere), creating further problems. When a plant has the right humidity for its stage of growth it will thrive, the stomata will open completely, and the plant will enjoy a good fresh supply of CO2, with controlled water loss from the leaves. This loss of water from the plant to the atmosphere is known as evapo-transpiration. Plants regulate this loss of water by the opening and closing of guard cells, but also something called the vapour pressure gradient, which is the difference between the water vapour content of the atmosphere, and the vapour pressure within the sub-stomatal cavity. The reason this is important is because it brings me to my next point, which is air movement around your plants. A layer of saturated, or partly saturated air will now have built up around the leaf if the air is still. Slight air movement will move this saturated air away and helps in the cooling of the leaves because of the transfer of heat by convection from the leaf surface. This movement of water away from the plant allows more water molecules to move through the plants

humidity increase sw the lights go outhen

cutting 90% hum s need i form r dity to oots auses c r i a y r d nspire a r t o t s plant ly too rapid

veins, the stem, and the roots, creating a negative water pressure in the root zone which allows the plant to ‘drink’. This process is known as osmosis. An important point to note though is that high wind velocity from clip fans will move all the air away from the leaf boundary, and result in a dry atmosphere that increases water loss - something we don’t want too much of during vegetative growth. Therefore we want our clip fans on the lowest setting and we don’t want them pointing directly at the plants, somewhere between the tops of the plant and below the lights is the golden zone. After all of that information, knowing where to start may seem difficult. Here’s some top tips... 1. Remember that when the lights turn off, the temperature will drop, and the relative humidity will rise. It may be wise to keep the extraction running after the lights are off or invest in some heaters so the temperature drop isn’t too drastic. This will prevent the water from depositing on the plants/ walls, and creating a breeding ground for pathogens. 2. When the lights ignite the temperature will increase, and the relative humidity will drop. A good investment to negate this drop would be a timed humidifier. One that uses ultrasonic vibrations is better, so that the water released is cool, and not steamed. 3. So keep those humidity levels in check, higher in vegetative growth, and lower during the flowering stage. As we said at the start of the article, plants, just like humans prefer environmental stability in their lives. Whether it’s relative humidity or temperature swings, prevent dramatic changes in short spans of time, and your plants will metaphorically thank you. 3 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

BY CALLIE COE

Getting To The

truth Real News Revelations

REAL NEWS I GARDEN CULTURE Read the news, and you’ll know. Right. How much do you really know from paying attention to mainstream broadcast news? What’s been sugar-coated, or withheld completely... what’s the real story here? If you suspect that mainstream media tells you only what those at the top prefer you to believe, that the news is spun and not reported, you’re not alone. Many people don’t trust radio and television news. More and more of them are turning to the internet in search of the truth, because they are keenly aware that there is more to the story. Word On the Wire In the weeks following the World Trade Center demolition it became apparent to me that if you really want to know what is happening in the U.S. - read foreign news sources online. US news outlets seemed focused on prolonging the terror, while world news reporting from London, Sydney, and other major hubs beyond information control jurisdiction said more. They had a lot more information than what today’s terror alert color, heartrending stories of families who lost loved ones, and repetitious reminders that you need to fear for your very safety. Yes, it was a horrific event, but there’s a lot more to the story than any of us really knows. Realities that may never come to light, though there are plenty of suspicions, studies, and theories. That was the non-transparent Bush administration. Now a decade and a half later, under the total transparency regime, mainstream news content hasn’t improved, if anything it seems to have further deteriorated, grown more slanted, and fluffy.

I wasn’t expecting the book would prove as interesting as it is. Stonewalled is well-written and packed with eye-opening revelations anyone would find important, but this isn’t a book review. It’s an article about who, or what, drives the information published on popular online news magazines and blogs. Some of the most highly regarded news sites are actually supported by special interests of different powers that be in the industrial-political complex as spin or propaganda broadcasters. Yes, the bloggers get paid to portray things in favor of the interest that employs them. If you wanted proof that there is money in blogging, here it is.

SUSPECT THE NEWS IS SPUN AND NOT REPORTED?

And so you turn to the internet. But here you’re faced with the same dilemma. Some of the most popular news blogs are actually paid to beat a partisan drum, to further the preferences of special interest groups, election candidates, and officials on The Hill. It doesn’t matter whether you’re conservative, liberal, right wing, left wing, or middle-of-the-road... social media works for them too.

The Inside Scoop In the course of my work I run across all manner of interesting things. A few weeks ago it was a TED Talk that led me to buy a book. The speaker, Sharyl Attkisson, veteran investigative journalist who after 20 years of Emmy-winning news reporting left CBS to regain her freedom to truthfully report a story.

Media Matters, Mother Jones, Huffington Post, PolitiFact, Mediabistro, BuzzFeed, Politico, Daily Beast, and even Wikipedia are all involved in skewing what you know to someone’s preferred reality, as opposed to the truth. And today’s news broadcasts are largely repeating what they see published on the above (excluding Wikipedia), in addition to what they find on the New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, and other U.S. newspaper websites. And then there’s perpetually positive slanted press releases that come out of the White House PR machine.

Astroturf and Fairy Tales Journalists note that in today’s Washington corruption surpasses levels not seen in 40 years. Transparency? There is none. The Freedom of Information Act is largely ignored as the powers that be seek to maintain total control over public perception. Sculpting what people think is paramount for business and officials. They create fake grass roots groups to support their interests. Any opposing information or views are controversialized, discredited, or attacked by smear tactics. But the spin cycle has a recipe that even you can identify a propaganda campaign, and start separating truth from calculated fiction. 65

REAL NEWS

While most know that ‘astroturf’ is fake grass, in this context Attkisson is referring to an entire industry that exists in Washington D.C. People who earn an excellent living helping big business cover the money trail between them and the government. This becoming well-known has sparked a surge of fake grass roots, activities special interests use to disguise themselves as the spinners publish blog articles and letters to the editor, start nonprofits, create ad campaigns, and establish a personality on Facebook and Twitter. They also spread their spin commenting on other people’s posts and articles online... all intentionally fooling the public into believing an average person or grassroots movement is adding their voice to the topic. “The whole point of astroturf is to give the impression there’s widespread support for an agenda when there’s not. Businesses may fund fake astroturf ‘consumer campaigns’ against competitors. Government may call upon its corporate partners to use astroturf methods to discredit reporters who threaten their mutual interests.”

Recognizing Spin Damage control and influencing is rampant, and when you know what to look for you’ll realize it’s everywhere - online and on the news. It features inflammatory labeling including: crank, quack, nutty, paranoid, pseudo, truther, conspiracy theorist, shoddy, and witch hunt. Don’t overlook ‘junk science’ - as in Monsanto’s response to WHO’s press release announcing the IARC reclassifying glyphosate as possibly causing cancer. By controversializing the truth astroturf seeks to discredit, and belittle political-industrial complex enemies. The astroturfers claim to debunk myths that are actually truths. They publish all manner of confusing and misleading information just to make it virtually impossible to figure out what is going on. The goal is to guide everyone into giving up and ignoring the entire issue. A special interest’s role can easily be camouflaged in the guise of benevolent-sounding nonprofit or other third-party where the co-opted or supported astroturfers peddle a spun story that serves their business overlords. It gets reported as news by unsuspecting journalists, or pushed into the broadcast by management. If they don’t concoct a story, the special interest nonprofit can also secretly defend the propaganda without any disclosure of their financial ties to their benefactors.

IN TODAY’S WASHINGTON CORRUPTION SURPASSES LE VELS NOT SEEN IN 40 YEARS”

Don’t Trust Wikipedia In the past couple of years it has come to light that not only can an outsider not edit references on this largely revered free encyclopedia, Wikipedia has monetized itself by selling PR space to corporate and political interests that is free of conflicts of interest. Powerful pharmaceutical interests use this massive website for propaganda distribution, and exercise control over science and journalism by controlling biographical pages.

ASTROTURF, FAKE GR ASS ROOTS GROUPS - SO MUC H FOR TOTAL TR ANSPARENC Y

If it’s happening in these known topics, you can be pretty certain that it’s afflicted Wikipedia entirely. So much for the annual plea for donations! Take your research elsewhere, because facts are no longer available here.

There’s More To Know The information provided in this article is just an introduction to what is disclosed in Sharon Attkisson’s Stonewalled. It’s an inside look at the hard-core investigations into a variety of events and situations, and how unimportant facts and witnesses are to mainstream media news - a much as it is a revelation of what happens to those who dare to get to the truth. Whose special interests are served by these different news sites mentioned? What is the whole story on Benghazi, gun walking on the U.S.- Mexico border, Dreamliner battery explosions, and other scandals, cover-ups, and corruption cases in the past few years? How does government and military roll these days? Read the book. You may find that what you thought was the worst case scenario pales in comparison to the real story. Both new, and discounted used copies are available on Amazon. 3 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

P R OP E R

G N I R E T WATEC H N I Q U E S ETHOD OF E A C H U N I Q U E M F E R E N T WAY DIF G ROW I N G H A S A E F F E C T I V E LY ” O F WAT E R I N G Stated as frankly as possible, water is the giver of life. It was the key component in creating life on earth, and its importance in sustaining all life is insurmountable. This rings as true for the world’s smallest organisms as it does for its largest creatures. Without water this all ends, and the plants we grow are no exception. As plants living on Earth evolved, with a little help from the sun, they adopted the ability to receive mineral sustenance from the water. Elemental minerals in their ionic form become dissolved in soil water solution, and can travel along with it into a plants roots and vascular system. A remarkable task in and of itself: the water acts as courier to the minerals delivering them to the plant to use in its developmental processes. In today’s world, plants are grown using several different methods, which have a common thread - they all require water. However, with each unique method of growing comes a different way to provide water in the most effective way. The key to success is having an adequate understanding of which watering technique is the most efficient, and productive for the style of cultivation being practiced.

enough water to allow for constant vegetative growth, but not enough that the medium stays to moist for too long. You can achieve this by watering thoroughly each time, and then letting the medium dry out just enough that it is not constantly wet throughout. Keeping the medium perpetually moist will lower oxygen levels around the roots resulting in poor root development. By allowing the soil-less mix to dry out between feedings it will cause the roots to create more lateral development as it searches for remaining moisture. It’s recommended to not let the seedlings sit in standing water after the medium is adequately saturated. Also, try to not let the medium dry out so much that the plants are falling over from lack of water because this can have negative effects on the plants’ early stages of development.

Container Gardening Seedlings After seeds have sprouted, and the true leaves begin to form, it is imperative that watering be done in a fashion that promotes strong initial root growth. For seedlings growing in soil-less potting mixes the key is to provide 68

The proper watering technique for container growing is directly correlated to the type of medium being used. You can use soil-less growing mixes as they come, but they can also be amended in several ways to reach a certain consistency that a grower may desire.

WATERING TECHNIQUES

PERPETUALLY MOIST MEDIUM RESULTS IN POOR SEEDLING ROOTS

D SOILLESS N A S IL O S D E WATERLOGG E M ANY PROBLEMS M IXES C AUS Mixes that contain higher levels of organic material like peat moss or coco-coir will undoubtedly hold or retain water to a higher capacity when compared to mixes fortified with different sized aggregates like pea gravel or expanded clay pebbles (LICA). The more different sized aggregates a mix has the faster it will drain, and lose moisture. This means the grower will likely have to water and fertilize more often.

closed, and the flow of calcium becomes hindered, it can result in disorders like “blossom end rot” in tomatoes and peppers. Keeping the growing medium constantly damp, but not waterlogged will allow for proper nutrient uptake, and a rooting environment that can support healthy growth of both roots and beneficial microorganisms alike. Never grow in a container that has no drainage holes.

Despite the obvious difference in water retention the technique used to provide water and fertilizer is generally the same for any container plant. The important part is to water thoroughly, saturating the growing medium in its entirety. Allow any excess water to run-off, or drain, from the bottom of the container making sure the container does not sit in the excess water for too long.

Outdoor Soil Gardens

Between watering allow the growing medium to dry out, but not to the point where the plant wilts. A wilted plant has gone into water conservation mode, and the stomata has closed. With closed stomata the plant will not perform transpiration, and the flow of water and nutrients will be cut off. This can have a negative effect on the nutritional status of the plant, especially in regards to calcium intake. A plant requires a constant unhindered supply of calcium to adequately form all the various plant structures, such as leaves, flowers, and fruits. When the plant stomata remain

The composition and consistency of outdoor soils can range drastically depending on one’s region, and the history of the soil profile. They range from loamy, sandy soils to dense, hard soils like those rich in clay. Though the construct of the soil naturally varies from place to place the central idea involved when watering is the same: water slow and deep with as much consistency as possible. Applying water too quickly to outdoor soil causes it to puddle up, all be it less so with sandy soils, and it runs off to collect in the lower parts of the garden. As the soil takes in the water it ends up accumulating more in those areas, and does not provide an even distribution among the plants. Much like a light steady rain, when you distribute water slowly, and spread it consistently over the garden, it is better absorbed throughout. You can accomplish this, with some finesse, using the average garden hose sprayer attachment, but the most GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

WATERING TECHNIQUES

WA T E R I N G

TE CH N IQU ES

SOIL “IN OUTDOOR SLOWLY TER GARDENS WAENT SPREAD” WITH CONSIST

“DO NOT OVERWATER” efficient way is with some type irrigation such as drip line or sprinkler systems. So that is the slow and consistent part, the other part of the equation is to water deeply. This means providing enough water, delivered slowly, to ensure that moisture is reaching 1 to 2 feet into the soil profile. Strong, healthy plants outdoors have nice deep and expansive root systems. Providing moisture at deeper levels will encourage the roots to grow as far as they possibly can. You should water an outdoor soil garden this way about every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the soil type, and environmental conditions.

Waterlogged

important thing roots come into contact with. When too much water stays within the growing medium it will fill these holes, and the oxygen will become depleted. A lack of oxygen in the root zone will certainly lead to root death by suffocation, or devastating attack from diseases that thrive in low oxygen environments, such as pythium. Roots aren’t the only thing that dies in such an anaerobic environment: it will also take the lives of any beneficial microorganisms that have colonized, as they too thrive in an oxygen rich atmosphere. Plants grown in mediums that remain waterlogged for prolonged periods of time are almost certainly destined for loss of yields, if not total failure.

Regardless which of these growing techniques one prescribes to there is always this common thread: Do Not Overwater. A simple way to state it is to not allow the soil or growing medium to become waterlogged. Something that’s waterlogged is highly saturated, or full of water. Soils and soil-less mixes have small pores throughout that act like tiny pockets of air. The small amounts of oxygen residing in these pockets are arguably the most

Water is often taken for granted in our world. Yet, in its absence, life itself would not be possible. When a grower is supplying plants with this precious resource it is important to do so in a cautious, and efficient way. By paying close attention to a plant’s overall water requirements a grower can adequately provide enough water at the right times to ensure a healthy productive plant. 3 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

PODCASTING

npk live

It began as an experiment to see what podcasting was all about, how it worked, and if we would be any good at it. What started out as a ‘bit of a laugh’ with friends and the companies that we do business with, very quickly became highly subscribed to with a listener base of 7,500 in the short space of nine months. We were very lucky being picked by Podbean (our podcast host site) as one of the top ‘up and coming science’ podcasts, which helped us tremendously. Now that we have published over 30 episodes, we’ve upgraded our equipment, built a recording studio, and we have had to up our game to keep the momentum flowing, and the subscribers listening.

The idea to start the podcast came about because sometimes people don’t have the time to watch a video, or read an article. Podcasting is a great way to reach busy growers, whether it’s in the car, during work, or whilst making the dinner... you can always be learning, and improving your indoor grow. On the show we talk about the issues that the indoor gardener can face - from picking the right fan/filter combo, choosing the right lights, keeping environment levels optimal, and discussing different products on the market.

Podcasting is a great way to reach busy growers, whether it’s in the car, during work, or whilst making the dinner... you can always be learning, and improving your indoor grow

Check out our live recordings from the Home Grown Expo 2015, with special guests from Gavita, Botanicare, Smart Pots, Terpinator, Dutch Pro, and a host of other companies. You can find us at http:// npktechnology.podbean.com - or on iTunes at ‘NPK Technology Live’. 3

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BY TIM MILLER

JALAPENO

N E V A E H

I’ve been growing hydroponic vegetables for just over a year now. It’s the most fun, addictive, and rewarding hobby I’ve ever had. Jalapeno peppers have been one of my favorite things to grow. The plants stay relatively small, at about 60cm in height. They also tolerate stress well, so while you’re learning you can correct course, and still get a harvest! And if you like a little spice in your foods the fresh jalapeno just can’t be beat by anything you’ll buy at the grocery store. The jalapeno is a chili pepper of the best way to turn your jalapeno “ONE OF MY the Capsicum Annuum species, chili plant into a perennial producer. F A V O U R I T E T H I N G S and is one of the most popular chili We don’t all have a greenhouse TO G R OW ” peppers used in culinary dishes out back, but it’s surprisingly easy, around the world. With a heat index and relatively inexpensive to grow ranging from 2,000 to 8,000 Scoville Units, the Jalapeno can your own indoors. You’ll need the right lighting, a good give you nice mild heat, or be a bit of a sweat-inducer. planting medium, nutrients, and water. You could grow in dirt Varying in size from two to six inches, depending on the indoors, but I find the process cleaner, and more efficient with cultivar, and when they’re picked. What you’ll find most often hydroponics. in the grocery store are immature, and green in color. Like bell peppers, jalapenos are most often picked green, because the How I Did It time to harvest is shorter, reducing the risks associated with I like to experiment, so I grew two plants using different leaving them on the plants longer than necessary. methods; one aeroponic, and one deep water culture. I With a bit of patience and care they will ripen fully to a deep started from seed, using organic seeds from Seeds of Change. red color, and with that comes the sweetness of a red pepper I sprouted the seeds in 40mm rockwool cubes from Grodan, with an intensified kick of heat! The red jalapeno is a beautiful used General Hydroponics 3-part Flora Series nutrients, and a sight to behold, and adds great color and flavor to your recipes. 600W metal halide for the lighting. Smoked, they’re known as chipotle peppers which give a distinctly smoky and spicy taste to foods. Growing in my basement in winter, where it’s cooler than ideal for peppers, they took a little longer to fruit. I started Contrary to the species name of Annuum, the jalapeno plant the seeds in late September, and harvested the first immature is not an annual, and will grow and produce for several years if fruits (green) in late January. My results from both methods kept in the right conditions. Indoor or greenhouse growing is were impressive.

JALAPEÑOS I GARDEN CULTURE

TU R N YO U R JALAPENO CHILI PLANT INTO A PERENNIAL PRODUCER The aeroponic setup used so much less water than the DWC, but required more frequent maintenance, and adjustments of pH and nutrient levels. Eventually I converted it to DWC as well in order to provide more water/nutrient to the heavily fruiting plant. It took a while, but finally in mid-March the first fruits started to ripen. I had harvested and used several green peppers over the previous month and a half, but the transition and final product was magnificent! Bold, shiny red jalapeno peppers in a sea of green leaves. I couldn’t wait to try them. The sweetness of the red pepper and the heat of the jalapeno are delicious together.

The scary moment came when everything was in the pan, and just starting to simmer to a nice low rolling boil. I turned my back for no more than 10 seconds, and I heard it. The sizzle of boiling over jalapeno jam hitting the burner below. My mind instantly raced to the last thing my co-worker said to me, “Oh, my brother said to be very careful not to let it boil over, because the smoke is like pepper spray, and will burn your nose, throat, and eyes.” After a brief panic and scramble to get the boiling over pot off the burner, I waited for it. Luckily, it didn’t get to the point where it created any smoke, and I was able to carry on after a cleanup that was not fun. If you try the recipe, use a pan that’s plenty big, and don’t turn your back on it.

My five-year old son asked if he could try one once. He got a milder bite the first time and claimed to love them. The next For the second large harvest I decided to pickle them so I could bite he got was quite a bit hotter. After two tubes of yogurt add them to salads, sandwiches, pizza, etc. I did a quick search and a glass of milk, he claimed that it wasn’t online, and found a very simple sounding T H E J A L A P E N O recipe that was similar to a refrigeratorso bad, and he liked it. I offered him another bite. He looked nervously at the pepper, and P L A N T I S N O T pickles-type recipe. Makes a smaller batch, coolly claimed he was full. and doesn’t require all the canning equipment. AN ANNUAL I was in. For this effort I now had a nice Abundance Is Mine mixture of green and red jalapenos. Again for something so I had all these peppers, now I needed a plan. A co-worker simple to do, the result is absolutely delicious. The mix of green asked if I’d ever tried jalapeno jam, and offered to trade the and red pepper rings is a fantastic flavor, and looks great in the recipe for a jar of the finished product. It sounded terrific, so jars. With the slicing and everything included, this recipe took I took her up on the offer. The jam was so easy to make, and no more than 30 minutes start to finish. Highly recommended. it’s delicious! All the peppers used in it were green, so it turned out a nice deep dark green color.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

JALAPEÑOS I GARDEN CULTURE

, s r e p p e p e s e h t l l a d a h I “ now I needed a plan” If you like jalapeno peppers, it’s a great experience to grow them yourself. It’s really nice to know exactly where your food comes from, and what went into it. Fresh, pesticide-free, and fully ripe; this is jalapeno heaven! I hope you enjoy these recipes like I did. Happy growing!

Jalapeno Jam • 1 lb jalapeno peppers, stems removed • 1/2 cup water • 1 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar • 6 cups sugar • 2 pouches liquid fruit pectin • 10 jam jars (will make about 9-10 jars) Prepare jars and lids by boiling, then placing upright, empty, in shallow pan with the boiling water. Puree peppers with 1 cup cider vinegar in food processor. Put in cooking pot and add the water, rest of the vinegar, and the sugar. Bring to boil dissolving the sugar. Boil for 10 minutes. Add fruit pectin, let boil vigorously for one minute. Remove from heat, ladle into jars. Wipe lip of jar clean. Place lids and rings on jars. Remove from water.

Quick Pickled Jalapeno Rings • 3/4 cup water • 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar • 3 TBSP granulated sugar • 1 TBSP kosher salt • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 1/2 TSP oregano • 10 large jalapeno peppers, sliced into rings Combine water, vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, garlic, and oregano in a saucepan over high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, stir in jalapeno peppers and remove from heat. Let mixture cool for 10 minutes. Pack peppers into jars using tongs, cover with vinegar mixture, place lids on jars, and refrigerate until needed. 3 76

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CANNING

BY TAMMY CLAYTON

IS N ’T E V I S N E P X E When I was growing up, canning was a sea-

YO U D O N ’ T NEED ALL KINDS OF E Q U I P M E N T. ..

son. So, I’m amazed to learn that people are afraid to can, think it’s too much hassle, or that you need all kinds of equipment. They’re missing out on the finer things in life.

Yes, it’s a lot of chopping, but it’s summer in a jar. You really don’t have to invest in all kinds of special equipment to do simple canning, and you can preserve the harvest in small batches. You only need a pressure cooker for low acid foods - not for pickles, jams, tomatoes, and simple salsas. My canning kettle - the canning kettle huge hot water bath pot for processing jars in - was found in the trash. Someone made tomato soup and burned it. At the time I had no money, so spending an afternoon scouring the scorched tomato and milk out of it was an affordable investment. I acquired the jar tongs jar rack at a garage sale for a quarter, along with the jar funnel, the jar tongs, and even some canning jars. As long as the rims are smooth, and free of chips or cracks - you can reuse them forever. jar funnel I’ve discovered the jar rack isn’t even necessary. Mine was lost in moving, but I realized it at 11:00 pm with a batch of salsa already boiling on the stove that needed processing. I had to improvise fast. The rack serves two purposes; to keep the bouncing jars from cracking as they bounce together as it boils, and from direct contact with the bottom of the pot.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

CANNING

YOU

NEED

CANNING KETTLE, JAR FUNNEL, AND JAR TONGS I used rags to cushion them. Old wash cloths and dish towels. Put the jar in the center, and pull the corners up to form a pouch held in place with a rubber band that hugs the neck of the jar, making sure the shoulders are all covered. When I hastily concocted this temporary fix, I intended to replace the rack, but I couldn’t find the rack alone, and wasn’t about to buy a whole new kit. Years later, I’m still using washcloths. They fit both pint and quart jars nicely. I even invested in new ones that hold less water - the cheap ones they sell in a bundle at the dollar store. You can do the cooking part in soup pots or stock pots for large batches, which most people already have in the cupboard. If you don’t want to can 12 pints at a time, or don’t have a big enough pot, you can cut the recipe in half, even thirds, though as you get into preserving your harvest this way, anyone with a backyard garden will soon discover that its more efficient to put up the abundance in full recipe projects. Scout thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, and yard sales if buying new is out of the question. Do a little dumpster diving. If it’s functional, it will work. Lids are cheap, and so are jars at the dollar store. I have used a slotted cooking spoon to raise jars out of the water far enough to grab them with a hot pad - before I located jar tongs that fit my budget. Thanks to the cold summer and soil-borne diseases, last year’s garden didn’t produce enough peppers and tomatoes for home-canned salsas. It’s the first time in 7 years I’ve had to buy salsa, and that stuff isn‘t summer in a jar at all. But the jalapeno patch delivered enough for one batch of Escabeche. It’s highly addictive. I have to hide it from my son who devours it by the pint. 3

Jalapeños en Escabeche Approximately 20 peppers in a pound. For smaller batches, cut amounts in half or thirds. covered. When I hastily concocted this temporary fix, I intended to replace the rack, but I couldn’t find the rack INGREDIENTS alone, and wasn’t about to buy a whole new kit. Years • 3 pounds PLUS 6 extra jalapenos (deseeded and sliced) later, I’m still using washcloths. They fit both pint and • 1 cup olive oil quart jars nicely. I even invested in new ones that hold • 2.5 pounds onions, thickly sliced less water - the cheap ones they sell in a bundle at the • 2 pounds carrots, peeled and thickly sliced dollar store. • 1 head garlic with cloves peeled & separated • 12 cups apple cider vinegar You can do the cooking part in soup pots or stock pots • 6 tablespoons kosher salt or sea salt for large batches, which most people already have in the • 6 bay leaves cupboard. If you don’t want to can 12 pints at a time, or • 1-1/2 teaspoon dried oregano don’t have a big enough pot, you can cut the recipe in • 3/4 tsp dried marjoram half, even thirds, though as you get into preserving your • 3/4 tsp dried thyme harvest this way, anyone with a backyard garden will soon • 3 tablespoon sugar discover that its more efficient to put up the abundance in full recipe projects.

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a large soup pot. Add the carrots and fry over Scout thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, and yard medium heat for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally. Add sales if buying new is out of the question. Do a little chilies, onions, and garlic. Fry for 10 minutes, turning dumpster diving. If it’s functional, it will work. Lids are occasionally. cheap, and so are jars at the dollar store. I have used a slotted cooking spoon to raise jars out of the water far Add the vinegar, salt, herbs and sugar. Bring to a boil. enough to grab them with a hot pad - before I located jar Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Make sure tongs that fit my budget. chiles are cooked through before canning. Thanks to the cold summer and soil-borne diseases, Pack 12 sterilized US pint jars with the vegetables and last year’s garden didn’t produce enough peppers and juice and seal. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. tomatoes for home-canned salsas. It’s the first time in 7 **Metric jars: use 500mL size. Will probably fill 11 with a years I’ve had to buy salsa, and that stuff isn‘t summer in a little left over to refrigerate. jar at all. But the jalapeno patch delivered enough for one batch of Escabeche. It’s highly addictive. I have to hide it Let them cure for at least 2 weeks for best flavor. from my son who devours it by the pint. 3 Refrigerated opened jars will keep for 1-2 months.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

BY THEO TEKSTRA – MARKETING MANAGER GAVITA HOLLAND BV

YOU NEED TO MEASURE LIGHT PATTERN AND INTENSITY IN A 3 DIMENSIONAL MODEL

CALCULATING WITH LIGHT A 1000W HPS DOES A 4X4 SPACE, RIGHT? .

G N O WR

It seems so easy. You have a few trays of plants, so what keeps you from just hanging a few lamps above them? If you surf the forums, people are really clear about how to do that - a 1000W HPS does a 4x4 space, right? Wrong.

CALCULATING LIGHT

TAKE YOUR LIGHT METER, AND DO THE MEASUREMENTS In reality there is a lot of light wasted, and there are many urban legends about how to deal with lighting. Here are a few: • • • • •

You can position LEDs really close to the crop. A 1000W HPS lamp covers 4x4 (or 5x5 according to some). An air-cooled reflector allows you to get really close to your crop. The best way to light your plants is by hanging your lamps right above your tables. The further away from your plants, the more light you lose. Doubling the distance easily reduces the light by more than 50%. Or even 75%.

Sounds familiar? Now let us take a look how it really works in three simple steps: 1. Let us make an electronic model of our fixture, which completely mimics how the light exits it. 2. Use that model in special light calculation software to simulate different situations. 3. Do some crazy things to see what the result is, and check our calculations in a real life situation.

Electronic models Professional lighting manufacturers have what we call IEC files at their disposal. They are electronic models of their fixtures, which when used in simulation software predicts how much light will be available, how it will look, and how uniform that light coverage will be. They use these models to design the correct lighting in offices, museums, large-scale architectural projects, sport fields and stadiums, studios and, of course, climate rooms for plants. Now you can imagine that in a climate room or greenhouse it’s not so much about the atmosphere, but more about the light levels, and how uniform the light levels are in a room. That’s why there are also specific programs for those types of calculations.

It is not easy to make a good model. You need an instrument that is capable of measuring the pattern and intensity of the light in a 3 dimensional model. Such an instrument is a photogoniometer.

The photogoniometer enables us not only to create an electronic fixture model, but it also allows us to calculate the efficiency of a reflector, as the meter integrates all the light coming from the source. Compare that to the output of the original light source, and you have the efficiency of your fixture. It’s an invaluable tool when you are developing a good reflector. So let’s assume that we have the fixture measured at a certified facility, and have obtained a good IEC file. What now?

Lighting calculation software You need software to calculate and visualize the effect of light fixtures in a room. There are many different types of software for different purposes. One thing they all have in common: they do not automate placement of the lights, they just show you the result for your choices. Compare it to buying Photoshop: you do not become a graphic artist suddenly by obtaining the software. So, lighting design is a serious job, one in which software assists you. Having a lot of experience helps, but it can still be a tedious job, because rooms are never designed to suit the effective throw of a fixture. It can really be hard to find a good lighting solution for a room. In this article we use a Philips program called Calculux. It allows you to position fixtures in a defined room, and calculate what the light levels and light uniformity will be on a specific plane in the room.

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SOME FIXTURES WILL NEED MORE DISTANCE TO THE SURFACE

CALCULATING LIGHT

ET need input! So let us start with a simple room. What do we need to know about that room that will influence the light levels, besides the dimensions? Light doesn’t always reach the subject directly, some gets reflected from the walls, the ceiling, or even the floor. So it is important to know what the reflectance of those surfaces is, and to define that in your model.

Then we need to know how much light we need. If it concerns plants instead of office workers, then we need to define that as PAR light, measured in photons per second per square meter (umol s-1 m-2). Now the real work begins. We are going to position the fixtures in the model. First of all the designer needs to select the right fixture, as not all fixtures will be suitable. Some fixtures will need more distance to the surface (which is possibly not available), and some just generate too much light for a small surface. You need to take the dimensions of the room into consideration and the amount of fixtures you need to provide the right light levels. Many times there are obstructions in the room, such as HVAC units or vents, or structural elements.

A sample calculation Secondly, we need to know where to measure the light. If there are plants involved, then where are they in the room, at what height? And will they be growing to a different height? Will they be on tables? Based on that, we define a few virtual measuring grids in the room. The software will calculate for us the light intensities and uniformity at those particular planes, given a specific position of our fixtures. In flowering rooms that is usually the height of the plants when they enter the room, when they are at half their future growth, and at the finished height. In many cases floor or table levels are also provided as a baseline.

Taking the surface and the desired amount of light, we can calculate how many fixtures we need to light that room. We will just take a straight clean room and will do this scientifically. Wait... Let’s not! I will now debunk a myth straight away: “a 1000W HPS fixture covers a 5x5 area”. There you go, perfect 5x5 grid. We did not calculate how many lights we needed, we just went by the “5x5 rule of thumb”. Now look at the light level results and the uniformity in the room! I would aim for about 1000 umol m-2 s-1 at >90% uniformity with peaks no higher than 5-7% more than the desired level. But no folks, that is not what you are going to get. Take your light meter, and do the measurements - you are way off! Always take a good look at the scale of the intensities! And how big the steps on the scale are. The larger the steps, the less uniform the light is in the room. Also look for the peak levels: they are going to become your “hot spots” as with light comes radiant heat. GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

A HPS FIXTURE WITH A HORIZONTAL LAMP DOES NOT HAVE A SQUARE FIELD

CALCULATING LIGHT

Now, near the walls you always have losses which influence the light uniformity in a room, so in all fairness, we measure about 50 cm from the wall, the center of my grow area where the plants will be. Want to see it for a 4x4? Here you go: As you see where the lights overlap the levels get way out of control. You will also see that with any configuration the levels near a wall are worse than in the middle. That is because you do not lose light over distance, you lose it to the walls. Lights overlap and compensate this way for the larger surface they cover. That is also the reason you should not place your tables against a wall. So let’s clean this up, and let the light designer do his work. He calculates how many fixtures he needs based on the light requirements, the output of a fixture, and the losses

not as drastic as a direct application of the inverse square law would suggest. I only lose less than 10% over double the distance to the fixture. This is the effect of the overlap of the reflector and its specific throw. Pretty amazing, right? That is a second myth debunked. Remember that this is only applicable for overlapping lights.

Lighting plants or lighting rooms? Now you have seen that using overlapping lights you get an incredible horizontal and vertical uniformity. But how about if I just position my lamps straight above my plants? I don’t want to light the paths, right? Well, that didn’t turn out as hoped unfortunately. Only with deeper reflectors (a smaller exit angle) you can clearly define a specific lit area. Problem is though at the edges the light will be very much lower than in the center. This is in particular true for LEDs. Also you do not have the advantage of the overlapping lights, which give you much more uniform light levels, and a far better horizontal penetration of the plant. Remember folks, the sun is almost never just straight above you.

from the walls. This is the result: As you can see a HPS fixture with a horizontal lamp does not have a square field, but rectangular. You also see that the uniformity is a lot better, and we reach over 90% in every grid. Also notice that the light levels drop a bit, but

Next time we will continue this “exposé” with an explanation about air-cooled fixtures, useless grid measurements, and the facts about air-cooled reflectors. 3 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

ROUNDUP

BY AGENT GREEN

ROUNDUP’S NEW

CLASSIFICATION OUTRAGES

monsanto

glyphosate is now classifie d to ‘probably cause cancer’

The Monsanto merry-go-round tilted the wrong way worldwide in March 2015. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an international press release on the 20th announcing that Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, is now classified to ‘probably cause cancer’. Naturally, this caused backlash. Monsanto’s hackles are up, and the PR spin is in full swing. None of the studies used in the new International Agency for Research on Cancer rating on glyphosate were Monsanto-approved. They controversialize this report, labeling it ‘junk science’, just as they do all studies that find their products unsafe. They demand a retraction, and rev up the disinfo machine. Too late. This took place during the EPA’s re-evaluation of glyphosate as a registered pesticide, which naturally causes Monsanto concern. The EPA has the IARC report, and will now include the findings in their assessment of glyphosate. Loss of EPA registration would halt the Roundup Ready seed and pesticide sales... a devastating to corporate health event. There are those within the science community who also have grave concerns over the hazards of this chemical. Starting with those whose tests and reports were used in this assessment of glyphosate that led to its new 2A carcinogen classification. There were no industrypresented studies included. The IARC considers only government studies, and those published in peer-reviewed journals. Monsanto calls this cherry-picking, because it ignores the results they prefer. The chemical giant rapidly gets damage control underway spinning the reality to their favor in the press. This quote from a Scientific American article shows their twisting of facts to tilt the merry-go-round back where they like it:

“Monsanto said in its statement, “IARC has classified numerous everyday items in Category 2 including coffee, cell phones, aloe vera extract and pickled vegetables, as well as professions such as a barber and fry cook.” But the IARC classified most of these items at the less dangerous 2B level, whereas glyphosate is in the ‘probably carcinogenic’ 2A category. Of Monsanto’s list, only emissions from hightemperature frying and the occupational exposure experienced as a barber are rated as 2A. “ Mind you the classification only includes glyphosate, and not the molotov cocktail that comes from combining it with their surfactant, also called an adjuvant. POEs are present in all glyphosate weed killers, which are 3 times more toxic than glyphosate, and never taken into account by these accepted safety studies and lab tests, or the regulatory assessments. One press source states that Roundup is only applied to young plants early in the growing season, which is not true. It is a recommended drying agent applied to any grain just GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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ROUNDUP

the classification includes glyphos only and not the POE ate, mage a d n o s p m ju ganda a Monsanto p o r p d n a in p control with s prior to harvest to allow the farmer to maintain a business schedule without the increased cost of a drying service. The Glyphosate Task Force claims the IARC has gone about this totally wrong. Naturally, this agency is comprised of Monsanto and their agrochemical manufacturing cronies. This self-appointed self-interest group asserts that the evaluation has serious deficiencies - it’s not methodological, and is inconsistent with all regulatory safety reviews. Why would they find the IARC assessment satisfactory? Glyphosate proponents toss-up the inconclusive evidence that it causes cancer in humans. The only link to cancer from exposure is with lab animals. Press coverage mentions a huge health study done by the US government on cancer among farmers due to pesticide use.

These are old studies conducted over a decade ago! Farmers have broadcast billions of gallons of glyphosate on crops in the last 12 years that are not included in this assessment. The study subjects volunteered and answered survey questions at a set location. No one followed farmers as is suggested in the press. No one canvassed farm communities, or studied much of anything beyond responses to pre-defined questions. How is this conclusive proof? Insufficient human testing will always be a convenient out. They outlawed testing pharmaceuticals and pesticides on people a long time ago. Instead we use rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, which are perfectly acceptable, unless the study doesn’t sit well with the product manufacturer. Then they claim the doses and exposure was excessive, but there are hidden industry studies that have leaked out in recent years with undesirable results. Should the IARC be discredited?

That report says nothing about glyphosate, yet it’s glowingly pointed to as proof that it doesn’t cause cancer in humans. It is unclear whether Roundup or glyphosate were included in the study, which they conducted in two sessions: 1998 and 2003. This really wouldn’t prove conclusive today, because Roundup Ready crops weren’t released until 1997 with the soybean introduction, followed by corn in 1998. So that first group of farmers would have had very little repeated exposure to large amounts of glyphosate. Roundup Ready cotton and canola also came out about this time. What about that second round of farmers responding to the 2003 survey? By this point in time Roundup Ready Corn accounted for 90% of GMO corn grow worldwide. Now there are 2,000 farmers afflicted with prostate cancer, but the report not published until 2013 found the only connecting link between a pesticide and their cancer was malathion. We have no way of knowing if ANY of the farmers who responded to the survey grew Roundup Ready crops. The report is very brief, and no data collected is readily available. It also notes that all these afflicted farmers have a family history of cancer.

No. They are the only agency not swayed by industry presented studies and data. They follow strict guidelines in assessing possible harm presented to humans by substances. There was sufficient evidence that glyphosate alone causes cancer in lab mammals that cannot be attributed to hereditary factors, and would not have existed from other means. Science and health professionals around the world sounded off, with the Science Media Centre in the UK quoting credible experts like this one among those who feel there is nothing wrong with glyphosate: Prof. Andreas Kortenkamp, Professor in Human Toxicology at Brunel University London, said: ”IARC have carefully assessed new evidence about the cancer hazards of pesticides, and have now classified 5 pesticides as either ‘probably’ or ‘possibly’ carcinogenic to humans. The GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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ROUNDUP authorities in the EU must now consider whether existing measures are sufficient to protect consumers and pesticide applicators from cancer risks. This will be particularly important for the widely used weed killer glyphosate, now classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. Home gardeners especially should exercise the utmost care when they use weedkillers that contain glyphosate.” Beyond that, credible studies have determined that glyphosate causes cell degeneration that can lead to the onset of cancer, and that the chemical does not disappear in a couple of weeks time. There are many health and science professionals gravely concerned over its persistent presence in the food, groundwater, air, and precipitation everywhere. Will this get glyphosate banned? Only time will tell. The EPA also concluded glyphosate caused cancer 35 years ago, an assessment they obviously reversed. The agency’s most recent review for glyphosate registration concluded as of early April with restrictions being placed on the herbicide due to superweeds, not health concerns. WHO should not retract their statement, and it wouldn’t matter if they did, because the truth is already out there - a retraction would prove they are patsies who also bow to corporate interests. Why has the EPA not sounded off on this latest classification by the IARC? They’re not done investigating yet, and this will soon be open to public comment. The Glyphosate Task Force is also busy with damage control in Europe battling the fallout from WHO publishing the IARC report. On top of that, the new restrictions on glyphosate will result in fewer fields planted with glyphosate resistant GMO crops, because about 50% of US farmland is now infested with superweeds. Farmers were already finding it more cost-effective to grow non-Roundup Ready crop varieties last year when a return to traditional seed was noted by seed dealers. If the US adopts the same approach to battling superweeds as the UK has, the new guidelines will have farms following a 3-year rotation on pesticides they can apply, which would mean fewer fields growing glyphosate resistant varieties. This is far from over… everywhere. 3

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ENZYMES

ENZYMES I GARDEN CULTURE

What are th many fertiley? Why are so i adding enzy zer companies ever-expandmes to their essential s ing list of upplements?

Enzymes are extremely small, yet powerful proteins made of complex chains of amino acids folded in shapes reminiscent of Pac-Man. Simply said, enzymes have the power to chop things into smaller parts. They are able to break down, modify, and even create things! Naturally occurring, and necessary to all life forms, without them, there would be no life - not as we know it anyways.

NATURALLY OCCURRING, AND NECESSARY TO ALL LIFE FORMS The digestive process is the most commonly known use of enzymes. The various enzymes along our digestive tract convert what we eat into essential substances our bodies require to function. Starting with the amylase in saliva, which breaks down starches into simpler sugars, and on to the others responsible for breaking almost everything that we eat. Basically, enzymes permit us to convert food into energy. When we’re missing a certain type of enzymes, we are faced with digestive problems. For example, those who have no or low levels of lactase in their stomach have issues digesting dairy products, or more precisely, the lactose they contain. Their mysterious powers have been known, and studied for centuries, while millenniums ago, early humans knew nothing about them, but they were certainly taking advantage of their powers using them in cooking, brewing, and production of various foods, like cheese. In nature, bacteria, microbes, and fungus excrete enzymes, and they live in symbiosis with other living things. Their complexity, and almighty powers have even been cited by religious creationist groups to deny the theory of evolution. They claim that “Enzymes are so perfect, and so essential to life, only God could have created them. Enzymes are created within living organisms, it is therefore impossible for life to have appeared on its own.” While debating with

creationists is an amazing waste of time, and in the past they were right about mankind not being able to create enzymes. For many years the very complexity of it all made it impossible for even the best scientist to create enzymes. We were only able to harvest them from living organisms. Unfortunately for the creationists, recent technological breakthroughs have made it possible to create enzymes from “scratch.” It is still much more economical to extract them via fermentation, and other processes with specific bacterial and fungal combinations, than to manufacture them. After alcohol production, the most common usage of industrially harvested enzymes started in the early 1900s in making laundry and dish detergent. Industries were then able to extract and isolate varieties that were good at breaking down greases and dirt. Their presence helps in reducing the need for phosphorous in detergent, hence helping in saving our water supply from the cyanobacteria (AKA blue-green algae). Enzymatic compounds are also widely used in septic tanks to further break down what we didn’t break down with our own enzymes. They are not relegated only to gross cleaning jobs. We also use enzymes in very delicate medical tasks, like purifying blood. 95

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ENZYMES

Why should we use enzymes? As complex as they are, enzymes are really limited in the scope of actions they can achieve, each type being only able to produce one action on one single thing. For instance, the cellulase enzyme can only break down cellulose, nothing else.

against disease. Some enzyme products break down roots, others break down bad bacteria and other detrimental life forms. In converting their targets into sugars and minerals, they also improve the soil structures by eliminating dead material to create new air and water channels before it rots, and attracts pathogens. The all too popular chemical alternatives can also keep things quite clean, but leave a poisonous trail behind...

ENZYMES PERMIT US TO CONVERT FOOD INTO ENERGY

While enzymes may be able to repeat their tasks millions of times they can also be deactivated or even destroyed; by other enzymes, change in pH, temperature, etc. Naturally, these variables make packaging enzymes for retail sale a real challenge, particularly if a product contains many different types. The goal is that they stay activated or useful. This is why sometimes we buy enzyme products, and are rightfully justified to wonder if this actually does something, because in many products out there the enzymes are already “dead” in the bottle - long before they reach your nutrient solution. Supplement makers can’t control what happens between their loading dock and your garden.

What they do for you. What’s in it for us gardeners? Why should we use enzymes? Are they all the same? What is the difference between different brands? Are they safe for our plants, and the consumables we grow? There is no doubt, adding enzymes to your feeding schedule is beneficial to plants. It aids in simple tasks like getting rid of dead roots, or very complex ones like helping the plant accelerate its development by assisting in hormone biosynthesis. Most manufacturers are quite guarded when it comes to revealing the specifics about their product’s composition. Often enzyme products use generic marketing words like “improves plant health” and shy away from specific claims. The most common reason for including enzymes in high intensity gardening inputs is to keep the medium “clean.” These types of enzymes act as a protection or an insurance

It may be very difficult to prove that the enzyme product you bought really does anything. One simple DIY test to find out if the product was able to break down two components of dead root material, cellulose, and Hemicellulose. The first by soaking a tiny piece of paper (cellulose test) and the other with apple sauce (Hemicellulose). By seeing the paper break down, and the apple sauce become liquid - we could visually assess that at least those two enzymes were there, and working. However, if this test fails to break down paper, or liquefy the apple sauce, it does not mean the enzymatic product you bought is useless. It just means that Cellulase and Hemicellulase are not present (or active). As said earlier, there are many kinds of enzymes, each having a specific function on a specific target. We know plants generate enzymes for many functions, like creating hormones, and to a wider extent making photosynthesis work. Sometimes it’s good to combine various enzyme products together, certain mixes when designed for specific growing techniques can truly maximize a plant’s growth potential. Some products sold as enzymes are not even enzymes, but blends of microbes and fungi. When working properly, they will populate and secrete various enzymes. But this is only possible if the microbes are still alive, and able to reproduce fast enough to be useful. So we know enzymes are good for plants. There are certain ones we can test for, but it is nearly impossible for growers to test for complex enzymic actions, like bacterial degradation, and hormone production. For this we will need to have some faith in the manufacturers. 3 97

BY DILLON ABRUZZESE AND KEITH ROBERTO

PL ANTS AC TUALLY CONTROL THEIR ENVIRONM ENT”

CAN PLANTS TALK? What if someone told you that plants can think? Actively search for food, and communicate with other plants to pass on important information? Sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, doesn’t it? Not quite…

Groundbreaking scientific research has recently shown that plants can not only actively seek the resources necessary to thrive, but also communicate with each other in ways we have never thought possible. Read on to find out how something once thought of as a passive, responsive, and dependent plant is showing us that plants actually control their environment a lot more than we’ve ever imagined before. The idea of plants that can “think” may sound strange to some, if not many of us humans. After all, we have for the most part been led to believe that plants in themselves are at the mercy of the elements. They grow as the climate permits, some better than others. But certain species of plants seem to have evolved a lot further than we previously believed. Through remarkable “under the earth” visuals of root actions in the rhizosphere actively seeking food more like animals than plants, to chemical messages exchanged as warnings and distress calls delivered on the air, these little guys seem to act much more like us than we’ve assumed. It all starts below-ground, in the “root zone” or “rhizosphere”. A plant seedling delicately sends down the main tap-root searching for a suitable, nutrient rich environment. Almost like an octopus’ tentacle, it reaches out, and feels around the earth until it positions itself in an area highly concentrated with the essential nutrients for life. Once it reaches a preferential area within the rhizosphere, growth of this new tap-root slows dramatically. At that point,

PLANT COMMUNICATION I GARDEN CULTURE encouragement of lateral growth in the root takes place to thoroughly reach out, and make a foothold in the nutrient rich environment. Spreading out and actively searching, almost akin to the foraging of a black bear, once the root has found a place where the conditions are ideal, it slows its movement, and consumes as much of the necessary elements that are available in the immediate area. Once the root has consumed the available elements of the area, it again acts more like an animal than a simple plant, by again moving onward slowly, searching out the next berry patch. Mission accomplished, it once again slows down, and eats its fill. Even more interesting is that root tips seem to “think” about where to travel to next. According to new studies of the Root Brain Theory, first established by Charles Darwin, science has shown that when you remove a root tip from a live root, although growth continues, the root seems to lose the ability to “feel around” for desirable areas, and “decide” where to slow growth to maximize the uptake of nutrients.

gas ethylene. Once carried downwind to another nearby acacia tree, that chemical “message” signals the next plant to begin increasing its own tannin production. But does this reaction actually consist of a conscious thought? How is a simple plant able to detect, and react to an attack - without having a brain, and some sort of thought process? Better yet, how can a simple plant know exactly what is attacking it? A quick look at the wild tobacco plant may give us a small insight into this extremely complex action. Whether it is an insect or herbivore,a plant sends distress calls through the leaves out into the air where the wind then carries the information to other nearby plants. Upon receipt of the “messages”, something nothing short of extraordinary happens. Amazingly, once a plant senses that it is under attack, it can warn other plants that it is under distress, so that they can now increase their own defensive reaction, and further spread the message downwind with their own chemical message. But they can also signal to insect predators and ground-dwelling reptiles to come to its defense by eating the bugs that are eating the plants.

CHEM IC AL M ESSAGES E XCHAN GED AS WARNINGS AND D ISTRESS C ALL S

However, while all may seem calm below, in the “rhizosphere”, above ground within the foliage, a completely different chemical response system is at work, and it is warning other nearby plants of an inherent enemy attack.

In comes the enemy, the plant-eating insects, of which there are many different species, some preferring specific plant types. When a bug begins consuming a part of a plant, chemical messages transmit through the entire plant body, “telling” itself to change its physiology. By ramping up the production inside itself of certain toxins, scientifically named “green leaf volatiles” - some plant species are able to thwart an enemy attack by poisoning the aggressor. Some of these toxins called “tannins” are molecules produced by some plants in self-defense against predators, like planteating insects, and parasites. On the Limpopo Savannah, in northeastern South Africa, the acacia tree - also known as the Thorn Tree, uses these tannins to protect itself from predators. When herbivores, such as the kudu, a large animal resembling the antelope, overgrazed an acacia tree the tannin production within the tree increased to the point where the animal can no longer digest the foliage, literally killing the animal. Also produced by the acacia tree during overgrazing is the chemical

When a plant-eating insect begins to consume a part of a plant, saliva from its mouth comes in contact with the plant tissue. The plant is then able to identify that chemical by the attacking insect’s own chemical signature contained within its saliva - just as our own white blood cells identify specific pathogens. The wild tobacco plant can identify the culprit, and fine tune its chemical response accordingly, and forward the knowledge downwind to nearby comrades. At this point in science, exactly how a plant without a brain, or nervous system is able to seem to think, and make decisions based on chemical information is unclear. It remains a mystery, how a simple plant can undertake all of these actions. Plants that were once thought of as at the mercy of the elements, have recently been shown through advanced scientific research to have an incredibly advanced chemical response system. The plethora of emerging information about active plant response systems in today’s science is astounding. Using new and emerging technologies, the chemical response system will be further researched, and understood in greater depths. Through continued study, we humans have seen that what was once thought of as a simple, mindless plant, is much more extraordinary and complicated than ever imagined. 3 99

N-PEE-K

BY AMBER FIELDS

K E E N-P URINE N E D R A G E H T

Cutting costs in the garden is of interest to everyone. Free is awesome. Natural is the preference. Getting both in two easy steps is

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available anywhere on the planet. You see… Human urine is a fast-acting, nitrogen-rich, all natural nutrient your garden plants will love. Sound disgusting? It really isn’t, you’ve just been conditioned to get grossed out by such an idea. A little perception adjustment is in order.

EE T O T A L LY F RA N T L O R G A N I C PO N NUTRITI

Pee is good stuff in the garden. It is instant fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen, and includes a pinch of phosphorous and potassium too. You want fast action in vegetative growth and greening? This is liquid plant steroids. Beef that crop up in a jiffy, along with an injection of rich foliar color almost overnight. No doubt this sounds horrifyingly unsanitary to a lot of people. Relax. Urine from a healthy person is sterile. There are no pathogens in it unless the donor is fighting an infection, or another illness. The harmful stuff your body vacates is in the feces, so be sure to develop outstanding TP techniques before jumping into peecycling, or you could contaminate those free organic nutrients in the collection process.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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N-PEE-K

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THIS IS LIQUID PL AN T

STEROIDS It’s scarier when you realize that you’re wasting 5.8 gallons of drinking water every day disposing your urine in the toilet. That’s 2100 gallons of water the average adult flushes away a year! Now, how much did you pay the water department for the initial bowl-full of clear water? Pretty pricey? Not quite as pricey as after they cleaned the pee out of your water, and sold it back to you again - repeatedly. Worse still, you’re flushing perfectly good organic plant nutrition down the drain. Enough free fertilizer to feed you for 6 months to a full year. And you thought lawns and commercial agriculture were such a drain on precious water resources. Rethink that flush! Consider that many fertilizers are ‘urea’ based... as in urine. It’s just that your urine is natural, and the compound known as ‘urea’ in most plant nutrients is fake. It destroys the soil food web. What is urea? Dutch scientist, Herman Boorhaeve discovered urea in human urine in 1727. A century later, Friedrich Wohler invented synthetic urea in Germany, a major breakthrough of sorts, it was the first chemical reproduction of an organic substance.

Today, synthetic urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid fertilizers in common use. Chemical urea has a crop-nutrient value of 46-0-0. Plants find urine pee-utiful. As you can see, synthetic urea is what you would call ‘super hot’ fertilizer, because the bigger the ratio, the easier it is to burn your plants - IF the nutrient is not diluted properly (a.k.a. ‘watered in thoroughly’). Your pee is naturally less caustic with an N-P-K analysis of about 11-12 for those who consume the typical Western diet. So here you have this free source of plant nutrition that is infinitely renewable, and a cinch to gather. Surely, free means it’s not as good as the other stuff? Hardly. Standard bat guano has something like 10-3-1 NPK. Blood meal has a 122-1 ratio on average, and cottonseed meal 41% offers the organic grower 6.56-2.541.78. But you know exactly what went into your pee, and where it came from. Not so with this other stuff. The plant goodness found in urine goes deeper than the basic NPK. All the good stuff you eat includes elements that plants need, and pee contains what your body doesn’t use. Both organic and inorganic, like vitamins, calcium, enzymes, magnesium, and so on - that keep a garden healthy and growing well. For any hydro grower, the connection between the trace elements

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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AT ’ S D E E P E R THE BASIC N THAN PK

found in urine and hydroponic supplements will be instantaneous. Naturally, the breakdown of each individual’s pee varies according to what they eat. What goes in that isn’t used or absorbed - must come out. On a high-protein diet? Your urine will have an analysis that is higher in nitrogen. Eat a lot of prepared foods, French fries or chips, and canned veggies? This too will affect the contents of urine, because they have heavy salt content that greatly increases the salinity of your urine, which can build up in the soil and create issues for your plants. This is especially true for gardeners living in an arid climate, while those who live in a wet region have Nature washing it away instead. What about pee-H? If pH is a concern, such as in the hydroponic garden’s closed loop, you certainly wouldn’t want to use fresh pee. In this stage, urine can vary from 5-9 pH level. Why such a range? Again, what you eat affects the contents of what your body disposes. However, aging urine adjusts the pH to about neutral, so it will reach a stage of pH that is safe for use in any growing method. Where can you use N-pee-K? First of all, urine can provide nutrients for just about every kind of gardening. There is such a thing as ‘peeponics’, which uses little to no chemical nutrients or supplements. Some call it bioponics, and it’s definitely an off-the-grid form of soilless growing. Secondly, plants that are given only diluted pee as nutrition are known to exceed the health and vigor of those grown with ‘normal’ fertilizers - chemical or organic. How’s that for food for thought? So, if you lost everything tomorrow, but the most basic things and a few seeds... you could continue to provide yourself and your family with food, grown indoors and out, using nothing but recycled urine. Thirdly, considering it has no cost, and is a plentiful,

renewable source of nitrogen - you can use it on the entire yard. Free lawn fertilizer, flower garden fertilizer, shrub and tree fertilizer, kitchen garden fertilizer... heck, even your house plants will dig it. And you’ll be conserving a humongous amount of fresh water too. Still grossed out? What do you think any organic fertilizer is? We’ve got manure. Cow, sheep, horse, goat, chicken, or rabbit... it’s the shit, dude. Literally. Then there is vermicompost, and guano, be it bat or seabird. More poop. Ahhh, you use blood meal? As if that’s not gory, and God knows where that meat came from, or what they fed the animals before being bled. Animal poo or dried-goo is good, and human pee is bad? Maybe you should stick to synthetic fertilizers and chemical nutrients, because to the closed mind, they’re ‘acceptable’ or more ‘hygienic’. Everything is safer created in a sterile lab? Scotts and Monsanto adores you. How to use pee in the garden. Don’t just pee in a cup and rush outdoors to anoint your plants. This is high nitrogen-content liquid fertilizer. It needs diluting, or you might burn up your grow. Pasteurize it first, let it age a bit. Then use a 10:1 water-pee solution. Take advantage of the sun to ‘compost’ the urine after collection. It’s heat and ultraviolet rays age the liquid. Should you be running an infection, or if you’re taking prescription medicine, don’t use your urine as food plant fertilizer. Depending on the size of your container, cook the pee in full sun for a week to a full month. Then it’s safe to use at the right dilution. For more information, trust in Google, who knows all. Search for: peeponics, bioponics, and human urine fertilizer. 3 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

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