Garden Culture Magazine US 26

USA-CANADA EDITION · ISSUE 26

2019

Living Organic Soil Medicinal Weeds

FREE COPY

The Benefits of Biochar

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

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

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

REDUCED HEAT:

Super Spreaders are designed to disperse radiant heat, not to block light.

They ensure that all plants feel nice and warm, not just the ones directly beneath the lamp.

INCREDIBLE LIGHT: SPREAD M_EANS BIGGER YIELDS!

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Adjust-A-Wings reflectors are purposefully lightweight.

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

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

Set your system up to suit your growing area.

A fixture style combination unit or a remote ballast unit.

-:UNBEATABLE QUALIT:Y AND PERFQ:RMANCE

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

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

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CONTENTS

STEALTH SCIENCE PART IV

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

8

Defining Organics

80

68 WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

41 22 I N T HIS ISSU E OF GA R D E N CU LTU RE :

GROW AZTEC VEGGIES

36

7 Foreword

54 In Pursuit of Food Quality

8 Product Spotlights

60 Medicinal Weeds

16 Bee Friendly Gardens

64 Back To The Future

22 Living Organic Soil

68 Stealth Science Part IV

28 5 Cool Finds

76 Rolling For A Cause

32 The Benefits of Biochar

80 Defining Organics

34 Data Logging Grow Rooms

86 Biostimulants Regulation - An Update

36 Grow Aztec Veggies

90 VPD

41 Who’s Growing What Where

94 Organic Hydroponic Battle Rages On

44 Growing Blind

96 Health Benefits of Cannabis Roots

50 Water and the Terrible Ten

5

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

N

ature works perfectly without any help from us, but it is anything but simple. We are just scratching the surface when it comes to our

understanding of the various relationships and complex processes that help nature thrive on its own.

Organic growing is a method that sustains the health of the soil without the use of inputs that could be harmful to both our and the environment’s health. But defining it may not be so straight forward. We sometimes apply organic fer tilizers to iner t mediums like coco or peat in plastic pots. Is it the same as growing outdoors in “living soil”? Can we successfully grow indoors with living soil and only feed with water, the way nature has intended? What par t do bacteria and fungi play in creating the perfect balance so plants can reach their full potential? There may be no clear answer, but indoor and outdoor growers around the world are proving that when done correctly, organic methods can match any other technique for quality and quantity, and maybe even surpass them.

CREDITS Special thanks to: Albert Mondor, Anne Gibson, Ben Blandford and Gareth Hopcroft, Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Colin Bell PhD., Peter Baas PhD., and Matthew D. Wallenstein PhD., Evan Folds, Kyle L. Ladenburger, Matt Mountain, Peter Louw, Philip McIntosh, Rich Gellert, Rich Hamilton, Simon Hart, Stephen Brookes, and Tom Forrest.

PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 E XCU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com

In this edition, we will try to dig a little deeper. Ben Blandford and Gareth Hopcroft help us understand the complexity and impor tance of life in our soil in Living Organic Soil - A Primer on Quality & Quantity. We will learn some of the facts about organics, living soil, and no-till gardening, and why that method has a bright future in the world of indoor growing. Matt Mountain looks at the differences between organic and mineral based growing methods.

D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062

Nature exists in a symbiotic state where all life works together to create the ultimate environment. Can we duplicate this in a pot?

Let’s try to find out.

PUBLISHER 325 Media INC 44 Hyde Rd, Mille-Isles QC, Canada J0R 1A0 GardenCultureMagazine.com

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7

The Destiny

Grow System ™ With its roots in the Kootenays of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Destiny Grow System’s philosophy has been to assist nature by providing a complete range of nutrients in the soil ecosystem to deliver a perfectly balanced diet to the plants.

Beneficial microbes and fungi in the soils orchestrate improved nutrient flow through complex symbiotic processes to maximize the supply of essential nutrients to the plants. This increases plant vitality to an optimum level, allowing nature to manifest any plant’s full potential.

The product has been developed and perfected for over 25 years with feedback from hundreds of growers, and the team behind Destiny Grow System is committed to leading the way with today’s most advanced organic cultivation technologies.

Available in Canada, visit DestinyGrowSystems.com to find out where.

Bio Nova

VEGANICS

100% vegan, containing plant-based raw materials only, enriched with primordial sea minerals and mixed with pure low saline seawater, Bio Nova Veganics sets a new standard.

Using Veganics Grow and Veganics Bloom will maintain the balance in the substrate as well as in the plant. Both formulations are 100% organic, Control Union and USDA NOP certified liquid nutrients that are particularly recommended for sustainable agriculture and organic farming.

Veganics GROW is formulated to be used during the entire growing season.

• Product is directly bio-available for the roots • Naturally built-in root stimulator • Small cuttings and seedlings will gain strength from the first application • Steady growth with small internodes • Increases the number of secondary branches • Stimulates the forming of flowers

8

Veganics BLOOM is formulated to be used during the budding or flowering stage.

• Clean and pure big yields • Terpenes of the highest possible grade • No rest or waste material/nutrients in the crop • Intense fine smell Cost effective and free of heavy metals. For even better results, use Bio Nova’s organic stimulators, such as BN X-cel and The Missing Link.

Visit BioNovaVeganics.com for more information.

EXTRACT!T

Micron Bags

Ideal for the separation and concentration of plant oils and compounds without the use of solvents.

Made with rugged canvas material and high-quality nylon mesh, these bags are color-coded by micron size and super easy to use. Just blend plant material with ice water or dry ice (without water) to assist in the separation process. Once you’ve removed the waste material, squeeze the desirable oils and plant compounds with a pressing screen.

GARDEN PRODUCTS

Now Available in 8 Different Micron Sizes

Hydrofarm offers EXTRACT!T Micron Bags in 8 sizes, ranging from 220μ to 25μ, or as a multi-bag (4 or 8) kit that includes a 25μ pressing screen. All EXTRACT!T bags fit standard 5-gallon buckets – no additional equipment required. CAUTION: Always be careful when working with dry ice.Wear protective gloves and never allow the dry ice to come into contact with skin. Do not combine dry ice with water.

Visit Hydrofarm.com to find out more.

Now at Hydrofarm

Age Old Humic

bility and Uptake For Increased Nutrient Availa Humic acid increases beneficial microbial activity in soil and CEC (cation exchange capacity) at the root zone for better uptake of nutrients, improving the quality and taste of the fruits and vegetables you love to grow. Used as a soil conditioner, Age Old Humic enhances soil structure and tilth, helping provide a friendly environment for soil microbes for better seed germination and root development. Age Old Organics plant fer tilizers are both sustainable and effective, embracing the “Age-Old” ways of growing while weaving in specific technologies that enhance the growth of plants.

Check out Hydrofarm.com for more info.

Powder Feedin Green Hou g se The Powder Mineral line maximizes a plant’s full genetic potential while reducing labor time and effort. With highest quality inputs such as EDTA chelated micronutrients and calcium (allowing for greater bioavailability), growers worldwide can achieve unparalleled results while maximizing efficiency. Lower your per-gallon cost, increase shelf life, and apply more easily; fall in line with the “Keep it Simple” mantra at Green House.

Green House recently launched its powdered Bio Line. With its timed release, it makes the application even easier! With both a mineral and Bio Line, Green House Feeding powders are foolproof for the home gardener and extremely efficient for the large-scale farmer.

Check out GreenHouseFeeding.com for more information on the entire line.

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

9

Feed your !

Y G O B IOL Myco Chum Premium Microbe Food by Plant Revolution helps growers produce thriving gardens by directly feeding the soil biology. It is a premium blend of fish hydrolysate, kelp, molasses, and humic acids. This blend is full of carbohydrates, which bacteria and fungi love. It is brought to you by the same company that brought you Great White Premium Mycorrhizae and Orca Liquid Mycorrhizae and works well in combination with either product.

Apply alongside any nutrient line as a root drench or mix some up with your favorite compost tea recipe.

Learn more about beneficial fungi. Go to Plant-Success.com for great planting tips and more.

t h g i L t x e N

Mega

GARDEN PRODUCTS

Produces a high-intensity full spectrum light designed to replace any DE 1000W HPS efficiently. This bright white LED grow light is named “Mega”, not for its size but for the increased production and large footprint it will supply to your canopy. This light uses only 650 watts and is perfect for growers looking to cover larger areas using less. The Mega covers a 5 ft x 5 ft flower footprint and a 7 ft x 7 ft veg footprint. The Mega is par t of the NextLight Commercial Series, covered by a 5-year full manufacturer’s warranty, has a 100,000-hour life rating and is UL listed. You will never have to change a bulb again.

The Mega is designed to meet the needs of commercial and home growers alike.

Visit NextLight.com for full details.

P H OTO B I O Specifically formulated for high-power greenhouse and indoor growing, PHOTOBIO lighting solutions are developed by photobiologists for horticultural professionals and backed by Hydrofarm’s 40+ years of experience manufacturing equipment for controlled environment agriculture.Through a strategic partnership with SananBio, the various spectra employed in the PHOTOBIO fixtures have been trialed extensively to elicit specific photomorphogenic responses in crops and flowers. The unique spectra improve nutritional value, extend shelf life, drive more pigmentation, increase active compound production, and shorten flowering times. PHOTOBIO’s high capacity production capabilities utilize technology from one of the world’s largest manufacturers of LED chips.

Patented PHOTO•PRO Photon Regulating Optics create unrivaled uniform light delivery to your plant canopy.

Cuttin

g E d ge LE D’s to Deli ver Optim ized Spectr u m to Your Crops

With over 300+ crops tested, PHOTOBIO has a lighting solution suited for all indoor growing needs.

Visit PhotobioLED.com for more information.

11

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HYDROID The industry’s premier compact-portable commercial water filter at an affordable price. Achieve up to a 5,000 GPD capacity (blended), or 3,200 GPD pure RO water. Not only is the Hydroid powerful, but it can produce a 2 parts product to 1 part wastewater ratio, making it the most efficient system in its class.

New, groundbreaking technology for a compact system with commercial-scale performance.

Mini ARCS The next step towards zero waste: Condensate Reclamation! Don’t let money and resources flow down the drain, reclaim and purify up to 720 gallons a day of HVAC runoff with the miniARCS. Nothing but ultra-pure, pathogen-free, pH balanced water goes back into your irrigation system. Small in size, huge in savings.

ChloraShield HydroLogic is proud to announce a new line of hydroponic carbon filters explicitly used for 100% removal of chloramines: ChloraShield. These filters are rated at 1-4 gallons per minute, with a 3k-24k life capacity, depending on size. And of course, 100% USA made!

EvolutionRO Hydrologic’s best seller just got better! New “Dry Membrane” technology boosts pure water output by up to 20%, delivering up to 1,200 gallons per day. With a 1 part product to one part waste-water ratio, the new EvolutionRO remains one of the most efficient high-volume systems under $1,000.

Visit HydrologicSytems.com for more details.

13

Product Spotlights See the most recent Product Spotlights right from your phone or tablet.

NEW visit: GCmag.co/Product-Spotlight

Product spotlights

BY ANNE GIBSON

EASY WAYS TO CREATE A

BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN

16

BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN

B

ees help fertilize up to 90% of the earth’s major food crops, including what you likely put on your plate every day.These hard-working insects are suffering from many pressures globally including chemical herbicides, viruses, mites, genetically modified crops, and harsh weather conditions. Many urban gardeners are noticing a decline in bee populations in their

backyards and balconies, producing lower yields and reduced quality, size, and flavor of the food grown.

So, how can you support bee health and survival and prevent these problems? One simple step is to create a bee-friendly habitat garden to attract honey bees and local native bees..

Bees with Benefits

Making a micr o gar den for them c an be as simple as pl anting a c ont ainer with f lower s with a water bath nex t to it and an inse c t hotel

Despite all the attention that honey bees get concerning their role in pollinating crops, it is the native, solitary, or pollen bees that do the lion’s share of the work. There are around 19,500+ bee species on the planet, and of those, about 90% are solitary bees. They are incredibly efficient pollinators because:

• They tend to stay in the same crop feeding rather than flying between different crops, increasing the chance of successful pollination.

•

They are untidy pollen collectors. While honey bees wet their pollen with saliva as they collect it to ensure they can carry a heavy load, solitary bees tend to spill a lot of dry pollen as they fly from flower to flower. These sloppy habits work in our favor!

•

Both the males and females share the foraging, unlike honey bees where only the women worker bees do ALL the food gathering and preparation. What’s new? However, the female solitary bees are far more efficient pollinators than males.

•

According to fascinating research*, female solitary bees tend to visit more flowers in less time and collect more pollen than males. There’s a compelling reason. As male bees head towards the next ‘flower pub’ for another meal (pollen) or drink (nectar), they often get distracted. Sound familiar, ladies?

That’s right; they stop to mate with lady bees on the way!

•

While the boys are not as efficient in short distance pollinating, they do perform a useful role. They fly longer distances, increasing the probability of cross-pollination. This is important for seed-set in plants that are not self-pollinating and improves the quality of new generations in self-fertile plants.

•

Solitary bees also fly very quickly so they can pollinate more plants!

Bees have three fundamental needs: 1.

Shelter. Solitary bees don’t live in hive homes with large families like honey bees. They often live on their own or in small social groups. Solitary bees prefer a single ‘room’ where they raise their young and rest.

2. Fresh water for drinking and bathing.

3. Food from nectar and pollen.

Provide a Protected Sunny Spot

Learn about the local species in your area and what nesting needs they have. In my garden, Leaf Cutter Bees chew little circles in my arrowroot and rose leaves to build their nests. While I may not see them often, these telltale clues prove they’re there!

Bees prefer foraging for food in a sheltered position away from strong winds, heavy rain, and strong shade. Consider the location of your pots or flowering plants within your garden microclimate and choose the most favorable position if possible.

Likewise, you can provide habitat for solitary native bees with an insect hotel or bee nest. Position your nesting site to face morning sun with an awning for cover and protection to keep their home dry.

Insect hotels provide solitary bee species with a place to have a rest. I practice the “build it, and they will come” concept. This imitates nature where old hollow logs or nooks and crannies in trees quickly become homes for all sorts of creatures.

INSECT HOTELS BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME Even if you only have a balcony or small courtyard, try to dedicate an area to attract bees and other pollinators. Making a micro garden for them can be as simple as planting a container with flowers with a water bath next to it and an insect hotel.

17

Insect hotels provide solitar y bee species with a place to have a rest

BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN

Bee houses can be simple. Drill a few holes in wood offcuts and layer hollow bamboo stems in a wooden frame. You’ll soon have happy tenants moving in. Avoid PVC or other potentially toxic materials.

Leaving a little patch of soil bare will also attract solitary bees who ‘dig’ their dwelling in the ground. According to environmentalist David Suzuki, “Bees that nest in the ground improve soil quality.

Their tunneling improves soil texture, increases water movement around roots, and mixes nutrients into the soil.”

BeeWare! Provide a Chemical Free Refuge Many retail suppliers sell ‘bee-friendly’ plants for the home garden. However, rarely are the plants labeled to indicate whether or not they have been grown with chemicals.

The FOE US Report ‘Gardeners Beware: Bee-Toxic Pesticides Found in “Bee-Friendly” Plants Sold at Garden Centers Nationwide’ (2013) states: “Unfortunately, pollinator-friendly nursery plants sold to unsuspecting consumers carry neither a list of pesticides used nor do they carry a warning that these pesticides could harm pollinators. Consumers may unwittingly be purchasing bee-attractive plants that have been pre-treated with neonicotinoid pesticides that may be harming or killing bees and other threatened pollinators essential to food production and ecosystem health.”

Unless retail plants have a certified organic label, you may risk introducing a plant that has been grown with a systemic pesticide (neonicotinoid) that is toxic to bees. Ideally, grow your plants from untreated seeds in organic potting soil for your home garden.

FRESH WATER Bees need a local, fresh, reliable water source, especially in warm weather. Just as we would find it difficult to stay afloat in a deep pool while drinking a glass of water, bees can easily drown too! A bird bath is excellent for our feathered friends, but not suitable for bees unless you make some modifications.

FREE FOOD PLANT BEE-FRIENDLY FLOWERS Flowers and bees are made for each other. Bees help themselves to free food, and the flowers benefit from their complimentary reproduction service.

What Do Bees Feed On?

Nectar (high in sugars and carbohydrates for energy).

Pollen (supplies proteins and fats).

Flowers meet both these needs. Some flowers are only nectar producers; others also provide pollen. I include flowers in every garden bed and most container gardens, especially if I’m planting fruiting crops. Fruit + flowers = Happy harvest.

Honey bees collect nectar from flowers as a food source for energy. While they are foraging for nectar, they also gather pollen on their back legs. They carry this back to the nest to provide proteins and fats for their babies (brood).

Be Color-wise with Flowers

Flowers are like colorful advertisements to attract the attention of bees, offering a sugary bribe for their free pollination services.

Research suggests bees have favorite colors and are drawn to flowers that are richest in nectar. Bees can see UV light and a range of blues, violets, yellows, and greens, but not red.

According to Associate Professor, Adrian Dyer of RMIT University, “many flowers have ‘ultraviolet nectar guides’ on them. The patterns are like signposts telling bees where to go to find the nectar.”

So, always include a variety of blue, purple, violet, and yellow blooms if you can.

A shallow saucer or bowl with a lip and floating flowers or stone ‘steps’ provides a safe landing zone for bees to drink and bath without drowning. Make sure your bee bath has a shallow end or edge where they can sit and sip.

Bee drinking water from stone in water bath Blue blooms are one of bees favorite colors

DIY Bee House made of wood bamboo and bricks 19

Bees are also at tracted to ver y strongly pat terned and heavily scented flowers

BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN

Bees are also attracted to very strongly patterned and heavily scented flowers, often those that have a sweet- smelling perfume. Nasturtiums are a great example, especially when planted en masse.

The following is just a brief list of a few flowering plants bees love that you can include in your garden.

Flowers: Sweet alyssum, marigolds, sunflowers, dianthus, cosmos, poppies, zinnias, salvias, and lavender.

Flowering Herbs: Oregano, nasturtium, all sages but especially pineapple sage, all basils, thyme, lavender, dill, comfrey, garlic chives, catmint, coriander/cilantro, all mints, lemon balm, rosemary, verbena, borage, yarrow, parsley, and fennel.

Grow Fragrant Flowers

Aim for Continuous Flowering all Year

Choose local native varieties of plants (edible and ornamental) that stagger flowering throughout the year, so you have a food source for bees year round. Long-flowering species that are full of nectar and pollen will encourage bees to hang around for longer than short-lived annuals.

Tips for the Best Flowers to Attract Bees •

Choose traditional flower varieties, particularly those with single flowers (where you can see the stamens).

These flowers tend to have more nectar than modern hybrids. Most bees prefer shallow and tubular flowers that have a ‘landing platform.’

•

If you’re not sure what to buy when you are at your local nursery, observe which flowers the bees are visiting. They don’t waste time or energy on looking for food at ‘empty flower stores.

•

Include a diverse range of flower shapes, colors, and sizes.

Different bee species vary in how long their tongues are, so they can feed on a wide range of flowers.

•

Sow flowers and plants of the same type in small groups.

This not only looks pretty but also helps increase pollination efficiency. If a bee can visit the same kind of flower over and over in one place (e.g., in a pot or garden bed), it takes less energy and effort to relearn how to enter that kind of flower. It can just move from one flower to the next of the same species (e.g., pumpkins), transferring pollen as it feeds. This increases the chances for successful pollination, rather than wasting the pollen collected on unreceptive flowers of different species.

•

A cottage garden or ornamental kitchen garden are bee friendly designs because they include many flowers, flowering herbs, and vegetables. Borders and clumps of flowering herbs and colorful blooms make it quick and easy for bees to locate nectar and pollen. They don’t have to fly as far, so you’re helping them conserve their energy and gather more food to return to their nest.

•

During an average collection trip, a honey bee visits 50100 flowers. If you don’t have this many flowers in your garden, bees are likely flying next door to finish ‘shopping’ for food.

Sources: * ‘Foraging by Male and Female Solitary Bees with Implications for Pollination’ – G. Ne’eman, O. Shavit, L. Shaltiel and A. Shmida, 2006. Journal of Insect Behavior 19(3): 383-401

Favorite Flowers and Herbs for Bees

So, if you provide ‘bed and board’ with a free meal of nectar and pollen thrown in, you can easily create a bee friendly garden. If your space is minimal, take these tips and downscale to pots. We can all support our local bee populations! 3

White alyssum sweet Alice flowers are a bee favorite

Bees feeding on pollen in sunflower head

BIO

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

21

BY BEN BLANDFORD AND GARETH HOPCROFT

A Primer Quality & Quantity Work with nature, and you can have both!

22

LIVING ORGANIC SOIL

W

hy do we grow our food? Most growers will say for quality, flavor, and freshness, and to achieve those things, they experiment with different growing systems, nutrient regimes, environmental controls, lighting methods, and plant genetics. This often represents a lifelong journey of experimenting and

tweaking, trying new knowledge and technology along the way.

Nowadays, there is less inclination to grow food at home, and because of that, essential skills and knowledge have been lost. How many growers have a personal composting system, save their seeds, and tend their soil themselves? Instead, it has become the norm to grow in small pots that we supplement with an array of liquid feeds and additives.

Consider the forest for a moment; who is feeding that?

The same idea applies to indoor gardens. We need to relearn what we’ve forgotten and let nature do its thing!

In the last few years, there has been an uprising based on the discovery that the vast majority of plants can grow perfectly well without our help! All they need is good soil and the right environmental conditions to thrive. Plain water and minimal inputs are delivered to larger volumes of high-quality soil; no bottled feeding regimes required. Some gardeners are even reusing their soil over and over again, rather than replacing it with a fresh pile every year. This approach is cost-effective and grows healthy and productive plants. It also attempts to recreate the outdoors in an indoor environment, working with nature to let plants pretty much grow themselves!

This new wave of indoor organic purists use terms like ‘no-till’ and ‘living organics’ to describe practices that focus on more sustainable ways to grow while also achieving superior results.

They understand that more work at the beginning builds good quality soil, and then nature is left to cycle the nutrients and make them available to the plants in the future. The concept is relatively new to indoor growers, but it’s gaining huge momentum in the U.S. and will likely soon dominate large portions of the international market as well.

Providing that the soil has been adequately made, it contains everything a plant needs from seedling until harvest, except water. Of course, many additional inputs can be used, but they are often unnecessary. Specialist companies focusing on the needs of this new market are only now beginning to establish themselves, making it possible for growers to get everything they need in one place and in pre-made soil mixes.

One critical difference between living soil and traditional bottle fed growing is pot size. When feeding with liquids, four plants can be grown in a square meter with 15-20L pots. But when using living soil, four 40-50L pots per meter are recommended.

The larger volume of the earth allows for a reserve of nutrients to sustain the plant through its cycle. A plant will always be

Fabric pot

credit: Left Coast Wholesale/GeoPots

But apart from some notable improvements in lighting technology, some growers argue that not much else has changed in the last 20 years. Perhaps, that makes us all the more ready and willing to embrace a new concept that can take us to the next level in this new age of indoor cultivation.

happier if it has more space for root development, and if the soil is healthy with good microbial activity and nutrients, they don’t need anything else but water. Consider the forest for a moment; who is feeding that? The same idea applies to indoor gardens.

We need to relearn what we’ve forgotten and let nature do its thing!

Generally, living soil growers prefer fabric pots, which allow for air pruning of the roots around the sides and also help maintain moisture levels. Some gardens use large beds and sow multiple plants in each to get the increased benefits from the mycorrhizal network. With this kind of soil volume, growers only need to focus on watering, making sure the earth is never too dry or too wet. The microbial life within the soil will continue to develop and diversify, and the plant will take up every nutrient it needs.

23

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LIVING ORGANIC SOIL

credit: Grow Organic / The Dirt on Mycorrhizae

Think of the living soil as a 24-hour buffet, offering the healthiest, freshest organic food on the planet

Better yet, yield doesn’t have to be a trade-off for superior quality.

When the plants have all their nutritional requirements, they can easily reach their full potential. Their immune systems are healthy, they have a much higher nutrient density and BRIX level, and their essential oils, terpenes, and flavonoids can develop fully.

They have more vigor and energy and can withstand stress much better. It is possible to achieve the same yields with organics as any other growing method out there.

Maintaining proper soil health also increases soil respiration.

The soil microbial life consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide. With the organic soil inputs continually being broken down by microbes, there is a steady release of CO2 from the soil to further benefit the plant - your very own living and breathing ecosystem in a pot!

You can also develop a no-till system which reuses the same soil without remixing for every grow. Plant waste material from pruning can be used to feed the next crop and develop a recycling system where nothing leaves the grow room other than finished produce. Note that recycling the soil requires further enhancement such as the addition of worms and a mulch layer, but it is the ultimate in self-sufficiency, closed loop, and sustainable indoor gardening.

Using living soils for one single grow is also great because it is much easier to get started. It is never recommended to use pots smaller than 20L in size, and know that with lower soil volume, some supplementation may still be required, however, look at it as feeding the soil, not the plant. Some instant teas, top dresses, foliar sprays, or soil drenches are easy ways to get good nutrition into the soil that will keep everything green and healthy.

There are also kits available now that cover the full range of soil amendments.

Maintaining proper soil health also increases soil respiration. The soil microbial life consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide.

credit: Left Coast Wholesale/GeoPots

When the soil moisture and pot size are just right, growers need only to maintain the canopy, prune lower growth, and inspect for pests or damage. Think of the living soil as a 24-hour buffet, offering the healthiest, freshest organic food on the planet.

There is no need to force feed, as is the case when using mineral nutrients. With healthy living soils, plants grow themselves if the soil inputs are well balanced.

In future editions, we will discuss in more detail the way the living soil works and what it contains, what growers need to do, the best practice for watering, and also share some real-world examples of living soil in action in home gardens and large-scale commercial facilities. 3

BIO Gareth Hopcroft is a certified plant geek and all round

organic gardening devotee. Gareth has been involved in the UK hydro industry for 15 years and is currently the owner of Ecothrive; known mostly for bringing frass to the UK scene through his product ‘Charge’. When he’s not talking about indoor growing or microbes, you’ll find Gareth getting his hands dirty on his allotment or falling off his skateboard.

Follow Gareth @ecothrive Ben Blandford is an organic warrior leading the campaign against toxic food and medicines via his company, Indoor Organics, which focuses on helping growers use real soil, natural inputs, worms and microbes to grow plants without the need for man-made fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. An experienced grower with a passion for the ultimate quality in the final product, Ben is dedicated to pushing the standards, always trusting that nature knows best!

Follow Ben @Indoor_Organics 25

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Composting is always a good idea, but so is regrowing food from kitchen scraps! Believe it or not, it’s possible, and No-Waste Kitchen Gardening: Regrow Your Leftover Greens, Stalks, Seeds, and More by Katie Elzer-Peters will guide you along the way. Learn how to re-propagate scraps including carrot stumps, cilantro sprigs, potatoes, ginger, garlic, and so much more with this easy-to-read book. Colorful illustrations and simple instructions explain every step of the project, from seeding to caring for and harvesting your edible plants. Cultivating your food can be done year-round in the comfort of your kitchen!

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BY SIMON HART

Biology Boost

The Benefits of

Not only does biochar amplify the soil and help your gardens grow, but it also sucks up and stores carbon, making it a valuable tool in the fight against climate change

32

BIOCHAR

T

here is renewed interest in soil health these days as more gardeners aim for crop quality rather than achieving the highest yield possible. The term ‘super soil’ is thrown around a lot but can be quite misleading. All soil is valuable; we have even discovered ways to improve

soilless mixes such as peat and coco-based products vastly! Most of the enhancements are built around biology, which can have a huge effect on both crop yield and, above all else, quality.

With the focus on biology, the soil isn’t just for growing roots anymore (hint: it never was). But how do we modify it to help biology thrive so we, and our gardens, can reap the benefits?

Its infinite pores provide habitat and stimulate biology to interact more effectively with surrounding soils and plant roots

Organic matter is one of the most important things to consider when building soil quality.

Carbon-based, it comes in many different forms, including biochar, which is still being studied extensively. Soil research in tropical rainforest regions has shown humans were modifying the soil thousands of years ago in a way that has had a lasting impact on soil health and quality. A fraction of this persistent soil carbon was charcoal-based, and we are now trying to find ways to replicate or at least take lessons from these anthropogenic soil profiles.

Biochar is engineered charcoal. It was not created through slash and burn agriculture, and to this day, is not something that can be reproduced in a backyard bonfire either. Charcoal is not at all the same, and biochar stands out for several reasons.

Biochar is created in a low oxygen environment without the use of a flame after ignition. The two methods primarily used to make it include pyrolysis or gasification. Both ways use the gases found within the wood (or other feedstock) to fuel the process that hardens the fiber into a persistent carbon known as graphite. By removing all the volatile compounds, a hard-walled sponge is produced. This material can last for hundreds of years in the soil and is incredibly beneficial. Not only does biochar amplify the earth and help your gardens grow, but it also sucks up and stores carbon, making it a valuable tool in the fight against climate change.

You can make biochar out of various materials including straw, hardwood, and even manure, but studies are still being done to determine which ones are better than the others. A finding that has remained consistent through all of the research efforts is that biochar provides a range of beneficial impacts on the soil it touches.

Biology likes interacting with biochar. Its infinite pores provide habitat and stimulate biology to communicate more effectively with surrounding soils and plant roots. The substance provides internal air porosity and water holding capacity, and can even mimic activated charcoal and remove heavy metals from the land, saving hungry roots from toxins.

Extra air and more available water can have a tremendous impact on biology working with your plants. Biochar can also have a mild liming effect on soils, which is especially helpful to combat the acidity in many peat-based potting soils. While higher pH is usually more beneficial to bacteria, fungi have a strange affinity for biochar due to its high carbon/nitrogen ratio.

Biochar is an excellent supplement in a compost pile at home or mixed with worm castings. It can also just be combined with soils, or even spread on the surface to leech into the ground over time.

A favorite technique of mine is to brew an actively aerated compost tea, and then run the liquid through biochar before adding it to the soil. This gives a more uniform microbial count through the earth.

It also helps retain more microorganisms closer to the soil surface, ensuring more root contact than if it continued into the subsoil or out the bottom drain holes of containers.

Like all things we are only just beginning to understand, biochar is not a panacea. There are questions about the ethical sourcing of feedstock material and whether some sources help at all. My personal experience with biochar both outdoors and indoors has shown that it can encourage plant growth in all the right ways. Gardeners of all kinds are now experimenting with biochar to not only achieve maximum yield but crops of superior quality as well. 3 Simon Hart has been gardening for over 40 years, including work in the 1980s with nutrient film technique and tissue culture. As a garden experimenter, Simon has taken various skills over the years and applied them to his plants, focusing on observation and soil health both indoors and out. Practical hands-on experience has been combined with post-secondary science-based agricultural programs, and in addition to sharing his knowledge with Garden Culture Magazine, Simon continues to guest lecture at local universities and other establishments on a variety of garden topics.

Follow Simon @BentleyGrove

Bio

33

BY STEPHEN BROOKES

GROW ROOMS

34

DATA LOGGING

W

here do all the best stories start? Most of them, at the very beginning, but here’s a glimpse of the end before we begin.

Picture this: You’re far away from your grow room. You might be away at a conference, on a beach relaxing or skiing on the freshly fallen snow.

Your phone rings and alerts you that the grow room has gone beyond the parameters you set before leaving. You’re not worried, though, because the system you have has pre-empted the rising temperatures or the dipping humidity levels, and automatically began making adjustments before you even heard your phone buzz. Knowing that your room is in safe, automated hands, you can relax and continue with your day.

Now, snap out of that lovely daydream, because you’ve forgotten to reset the max-min button on your thermometer!

You’ve just seen into the future. It’s something we will all be doing in our grow rooms over the next five to ten years, depending on how quickly technology advances. From anywhere in the world (with phone signal), the data logging software will alert you to fluctuating temperatures, or let you know when the lights have involuntarily gone off, or when the watering system has fed the plants. But before growers take the technological leap of faith, they must cross the thermometer/hygrometer to Wi-Fi chasm.

All growers should own a thermometer/hygrometer. If you own one already, you should have two, and if you have two, you should own three; you get the gist of the importance I place on knowing, with reasonable accuracy, the temperatures and humidity levels around your plants in the grow room. The essential gadgets should all have the max\min feature on them as well, so you will know how exactly the grow room’s environment has been.

Having several around the room will allow you to gauge the overall average and will also enable you to spot-check any thermometers that have gone awry indicating a low temperature of 2°C (35°F) and a high temperature of 37°C (98.5°F), leading to a massive argument about the placement of air intakes… but that’s another story. Having a thermometer is essential, but having multiple thermostats can save your friendships!

When you finally use this device, you’ll wonder how you ever coped with only a thermometer/hygrometer. Knowing that the temperature spike lasted for ten minutes before it dropped again is very reassuring, as opposed to the max/min feature which can have growers running around frantically trying to figure out why the room was running at 32°C (90°F) all night.

This data logging method also means growers who like to test products can compare previous grows to current temperatures and humidities.

Every grow shop owner has experienced their customers trying a new product over the summer and thinking it was rubbish when actually, the air in the room was at 30°C (86°F) for the full flowering cycle. It’s good to know your data; it’s even better to use it and improve your knowledge for future grows.

Bluetooth technology and data-loggers are just a mental and financial stepping stone towards securely encrypted Wi-Fi. The next stage of grow room data logging is devices that send temperatures, humidities, and in some cases, VPD’s (Vapor pressure deficits) in real time. The main benefit is that any spike or decline in parameters can immediately be resolved. This is where Wi-Fi has the edge on Bluetooth, which will only display any problems when the app is in range of the sensor. It could all be too little, too late by then.

The biggest hurdle to cross is grower confidence in putting data ‘out there’. Faith comes with familiarity, and as these products become increasingly popular, people will naturally be more comfortable using them in their grow rooms. Once that happens, the companies that produce Wi-Fi data logging technology will have the money to invest in the software for complete grow room automation at a price that doesn’t make you weak in the knees and light-headed. And this is when you find yourself at a conference, on the beach, or skiing while technology regulates any issues in the grow room.

The environment is critical, and you will never achieve the best results without understanding, manipulating, and learning from it. Listen to what your environment is trying to tell you, and make sure the plants are given the best opportunity possible. Relax; data loggers are coming! 3

To ‘cross the chasm,’ we need technology that allows us to place our trust in software and the ‘ether.’ Affordable data loggers work via Bluetooth and are easy to understand. Fortunately, that technology exists and is already sold in shops today as the AirComfort. When your phone is in range, it will use Bluetooth and send its data to your app, logging the temperatures and humidities over the previous days, weeks, and months in graph format.

BIO Stephen Brookes is a science fanatic, hydroponics obsessed bookworm. His expe-

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

35

BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

Grow

Aztec Ancestral

Veggies In Your Garden I

f you’re looking for an exotic touch in your garden this summer, consider growing edible plants from hot Central America. Mayans and Aztecs cultivated these

plants in the pre-Columbian era before the coming of the Europeans. By growing them in your garden, you will feel like you’re traveling without moving!

36

Cucamelon is a climbing plant that yields an abundance of small, greyishgreen fruits resembling little melons all summer long

credit: Albert Mondor

GROWING AZTEC VEGGIES

Aztec Spinach A close relative of quinoa, Aztec spinach is a spectacular vegetable plant, especially at the end of the summer when its leaves and fruits turn to a bright red hue.

Cucamelon Cucamelon is a climbing plant that yields an abundance of small, greyish-green fruits resembling little melons all summer long.

Native to Mexico and Central America, the plant’s fruits taste like cucumber with a slight hint of bitterness. They can be eaten raw in appetizers and salads, or pickled. You can mix fresh or pickled cucamelons in a bowl with black olives to serve with drinks, or spear them on a toothpick for a martini!

credit: Albert Mondor

Similar to cucumbers, cucamelon does well in full sun, either in pots or in the ground, and in compost-rich and fresh soil.

However, unlike cucumber, cucamelon requires little care since insects and diseases rarely attack it. This plant can crawl on the ground, but it prefers to climb on an obelisk or lattice. It can also be grown as a hanging plant in a container or a green wall.

The leaves, flowers, and seeds of this plant of Mexican origin are edible and highly nutritious. Its leaves have a sweet flavor reminiscent of spinach, while its flowers can be cooked like broccoli. The seeds can be prepared and eaten as a staple food.

Like rice, they can also be ground up into a flour. Although some people eat raw Aztec spinach, it is best to cook it before eating because it contains saponins, slightly toxic substances that are degraded by heat.

Very easy to grow, Aztec spinach adapts well in various environments. It even grows in a clay soil amended with some compost. Once established, this plant tolerates drought quite well. It is easy to propagate Aztec spinach either by sowing it into pots or in the ground. credit: Albert Mondor

Cucamelon

Aztech Spinach

Prickly Pear Cactus Prickly pear, a cactus called nopal in Spanish, has edible stems and fruits. In the pre-Columbian period, this adaptable plant was spread all over North America and the Caribbean by indigenous peoples. Early Spanish sailors used it on long sea trips as protection from scurvy, and as a result, the plant also ended up in Africa and Europe.

Cucamelon

Raw or cooked on a BBQ, the stems of this cactus make a delicious garnish for hamburgers and tacos and is also a great addition to salsa. You can serve it for breakfast or dinner, sliced in strips and fried with eggs and jalapenos. Take special care to buy and grow a needleless variety.

37

Prickly Pear Cactus

credit: Albert Mondor

GROWING AZTEC VEGGIES

Prickly Pear also produces a fruit known as tuna, which is commonly eaten in Mexico

credit: Albert Mondor

Highly resistant to drought, prickly pears require little care and watering when grown in pots. In Canada (except in BC) and the northern US, it should be brought inside before winter since old specimens can’t withstand temperatures under –12 °C (10.5°F). Hardiness varies from one variety to another, but most young prickly pears are severely affected by a temperature of –5 °C (23°F).

Credit: Les Jardins de vos Rêves

Prickly Pear also produces a fruit known as tuna, which is commonly eaten in Mexico. It is used to make jams, jellies, and aguas frescas, a refreshing drink made of water and fruits.

Tomatillo

Tomatillo Tomatillo is the fruit of a plant related to peppers, tomatoes, and ground cherries. Like the latter, each tomatillo is surrounded by a yellowish green envelope.

Tomatillos originated in Central America and were cultivated in the pre-Columbian era long before the arrival of the Europeans. This edible plant played an important role – more than tomatoes – in the Aztec and Mayan cultures.

Tomatillo is the main ingredient of the famous Mexican salsa verde. It can also be used in a variety of dishes like ratatouille and spaghetti sauce. Be careful, because fruits that have not reached full maturity contain solanine, a toxic alkaloid. Be sure to pick your tomatillos when they’re completely ripe.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Like tomatoes and peppers, tomatillos will give best results when grown in full sun and in fertile and humid soil. They grow best in hot locations with temperatures between 25-32°C (7790°F). Growth is usually stunted when the air dips below 15°C (59°F). 3

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor has practiced his craft for over 30 years and created numerous gardens in North America. In addition to teaching courses and lecturing at conferences across Canada, his weekly gardening column has appeared in the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec since 1999.

In April 2018, Albert Mondor published Le nouveau potager, his tenth horticultural book. He is a regular guest and contributor to radio and television programs and his hosting The Trendy Gardener spots broadcasted on Météo Média and online. You can also read his blog called Extreme Horticulture at albertmondor.com. Follow Albert on Facebook: fb.com/albert.mondor 39

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Healing Gardens

Credit: Veteran Garden Project

The act of gardening has been found to have healing powers, and that’s exactly what the Veteran Garden Project has set out to do in an initiative that grows organic food and feeds communities.

Inspired by a local veteran family, the grassroots community service project offers veterans and their families the opportunity to connect with and nurture Mother Nature as part of the healing process.

Participants are taught sustainable living practices and how to grow and harvest food in their own backyards. Both active duty and retired vets can apply to have a raised garden bed installed at their homes. It also comes with a worm compost bin and all the required seeds and tools. Wheelchair accessible beds are also an option.

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Finding purpose, self-resilience, support, and friendship within the veteran community. Learn more: veterangardenproject.org

Dehli, NY

Meadows, pastures, and clean water are found in abundance throughout Wildflower Farm, the perfect environment for raising high-quality beef.

The herd consists mainly of both Angus and Hereford cattle, which are free to roam the property in the spring and summer before being rotated onto clover and alfalfa fields in the fall, legumes that help produce flavorful and tender beef. Established in 1950 by Pauline and Henry Janiszewski as a dairy farm, the couple made the transition to a beef operation in 1986.

At 101-years-old, Pauline still lives on the property, while two additional generations of the Janiszewski family keep the farm running. Wildflower Farm takes pride in producing PCO certified grass-fed beef. It uses no hormones, no GMO forage crops, and no corn to feed the cattle, and all of its fertilizers are entirely organic. It also sells organic hay and has developed a potato fertilizer that also doubles as an all-natural tick control.

Learn more: wildflowerfarmorganics.com

Credit: Wildflower Farm Organics

Family Farm

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Melanie Harrington has long lived by the rule that having and creating beauty in our lives is of the utmost importance. Nature does it best, and so in 2014, she founded the Dhalia May Flower Farm, specializing in growing fragrant and colorful blooms that are often heirloom varieties. The fields she grows them on belonged to her parents; her upbringing on the farm inspired a lifelong passion for flowers, and today, Harrington supplies fresh, seasonal cut blooms to farmer’s markets in the Quinte area of southeastern Ontario, and also offers rustic and elegant floral design services. On the weekends from March to December, flower lovers are invited to spend some time on the property and walk away with the fresh, locally-grown bouquets that are always inspired by the seasons.

Enjoying the beauty nature has to offer. Learn more: dahliamayflowerfarm.com

Credit: Ashley Slessor Photography

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Oakland, CA

Credit: Back To The Roots

It All Began With Mushrooms A college kitchen experiment has turned into a booming business and lifelong passion for Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez. After hearing that mushrooms could be grown on used coffee grounds, the two put the theory to test. The results? A beautiful crop of mushrooms, so they quit their corporate jobs to focus on a new urban farming venture called Back to the Roots. The goal is to inspire people not only to ask where their food comes from but to try to grow it themselves too. No green thumb or backyard required; the line of products includes only things that grow easily and can sit on your kitchen countertop or windowsill, including herbs, cherry tomatoes, and hot peppers.

Education is vital, and for every photo of one of their kits that makes it onto the #GrowOneGiveOne campaign, another kit and curriculum pack is donated to an elementary school classroom.

Knowing how your food is grown. Learn more: backtotheroots.com 3

43

BY RICH HAMILTON

44

GROWING BLIND

I t is e s sen t i a l t o h av e a b a sic under s ta nding of how l igh t works, how i t ca n da m age your e y e s, a nd w h at you need t o l ook f or w hen p urch a sing a pa ir of hor t icult ur a l gl a s se s

A

n often overlooked essential tool for growing is eye protection. Every grower should be wearing hor ticultural eyewear that offers 100% protection from the harmful glow of the lights, while also not compromising on color or clarity of vision.

T he e y e s w ork n at ur a l ly t o hel p u s p ercei v e c ol or, sh a p e, a nd mo t ion, a nd grow room l igh t s c a n p o t en t i a l ly disrup t t his

It is essential to have a basic understanding of how light works, how it can damage your eyes, and what you need to look for when purchasing a pair of horticultural glasses.

Do not be fooled into thinking that a pair of regular expensive sunglasses will do the job as effectively

be a hard subject to grasp, but all you need to remember at this stage is that the lower the nm measurement of the wavelength, the more energy it has and the more of a risk it poses to you.

Horticultural grow lights reproduce powerful light waves emitted by the sun to fuel the process of photosynthesis. Exposing your eyes to these lights in such proximity and for long periods can result in migraines, headaches, cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygium, sight loss, and even cancer. Vision is compromised, affecting color perception, visual clarity, and the ability to focus on shapes and motion, which has an impact on safety and productivity in the grow room.

The visible light spectrum is a form of electromagnetic radiation and is light that we can physically see. The range is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. Red begins on the left and moves to the right through orange, yellow, green, and blue. Collectively, this is what is known as sunlight, or “balanced white light” (BWL). The colors are arranged naturally by wavelengths; red has the longest wavelength and is low energy, while blue has the shortest and the most amount of energy.

Working under intense grow lights (especially HPS) puts you at risk of the strobe effect; the lights dimming and then brightening again as the electrical voltage cycles through the lamp. Although the brain compensates for this effect, it can still cause headaches or other associated illnesses, including photosensitive epilepsy.

At either end of the visible light spectrum, you have invisible electromagnetic radiation. Just beyond red, there are warming “infrared” rays with a wavelength of 700nm per millimeter, so not very harmful at all. In contrast, just past the blue end of the spectrum, you have invisible electromagnetic rays which have the shortest wavelengths and the highest energy, posing the biggest threat to our health. This lighting is known as ultraviolet light or ultraviolet radiation.

How Light Works Wavelengths of light are measured in the metric unit of nanometers (nm). Visible light ranges from 400-700nm.

A nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter! It can

Along with many other conditions, UV light can burn the skin and damage eyesight, causing photokeratitis (snow blindness), which is sunburned eyes.

45

GROWING BLIND

The Three Types of UV Light UV-A light (400nm-320nm) has the longest wavelength, compromising about 3% of the photons in natural sunlight that make it through the Earth’s atmosphere and is the least harmful.

UV-B light (320nm-290nm) is more threatening, causing cellular damage in both humans and plants. It makes up less than 0.15% (that’s less than 1/5th of 1%) of total natural sunlight.

In a natural environment, about 95% of this light is luckily absorbed by the ozone layer.

A polycarbonate lens will significantly reduce the effect of strobe lighting, minimizing any potential health risks

image: Insider Envy

UV-C light (290-100nm) is the most harmful of all, but luckily, in the natural environment, it is almost entirely absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere. UVC is so damaging that it can be used in the process of sterilization because it kills living cells.

UV light can be useful to plants with general research showing that both UVA and UVB light assist with increased production of antioxidants/flavonoids.

Grow lamps provide light containing all colors of the spectrum to mimic balanced white light. A generic plant’s life cycle tends to see it favor blue light during the vegetative period, and red during the flowering phase.

How Our Eyes Work The eyes work naturally to help us perceive color, shape, and motion, and grow room lights can potentially disrupt this. Simply put, there are two kinds of photoreceptor cells in the back of our eyes, cones, and rods.

There are roughly 7 million cones in each eye that respond best to lightwaves in the yellow to orange light spectrum.

Likewise, there are approximately 120 million rods in the back of each eye that respond best to lightwaves in the blue light spectrum.

Cones and rods work together, with cones detecting color and rods detecting movement and shapes. While most natural and indoor light conditions provide a sufficient spectrum to allow both cones and rods to work together effectively, grow lights do not. HPS lights give only a limited spectrum of yellow light, overstimulating cones and understimulating rods.

This impairs not only our perception of color, shapes, and movement but also causes physical effects of eye strain in the form of headaches, migraines, and more.

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CLIMATE CONTROLLED GROWING GARDEN BLIND

Grow room l igh t s signif ic a n t ly a f f ec t our e y e s...

Grow room lights significantly affect our eyes; look at the scotopic to photopic ratio (S/P ratio) for proof. The S/P ratio is the amounts of blue (scotopic) to yellow (photopic) light that our eyes need for the cones and rods to work correctly.

In natural light conditions, the S/P ratio is about 2.5, and the eye needs a ratio of at least 2 to see clearly. This ratio drops dramatically to a mere 0.6 when the eye is exposed to HPS lights. If that statistic doesn’t get you wearing eye protection, nothing will!

Courtesy of Francis Rubinstein and Lawrence Berkley National Library

Scotopic/Phototopic Ratios for various light sources

There are many things to take into consideration when purchasing horticultural eyewear, and the final choice should have a lot to do with the type of lighting used in the room.

HPS lighting These are probably the most popular lamp choice for growers, hobbyist or commercial, due to the high amount of lumens of light provided. HPS conditions present as an intense yellow spectrum, under which it is impossible to recognize natural colors.

When buying HPS-specific horticultural protective eyewear, look for a mineral glass lens. HPS light induces the harshest environment, and a glass lens offers the most protection because it filters out the strobe effect and brings the S/P ratio up from 0.6 to 1.4. That is a whopping 70% nearer to the “holy grail” natural light ratio of 2.5! Color balance ends up being a lot closer to what the naked eye would see in a natural outdoor environment.

Other desired qualities in HPS eye protection include a lens that will absorb any infrared heat and a frame that is lightweight, durable, and comfortable to wear with no slippage. If possible, choose a lens that has no emulsions or dyes so as not to interfere with visual clarity. A silver coating on the lens is useful (but not essential) and makes glasses even hardier for high wattage environments, or, outdoor wear. It goes without saying that they come with 100% UV protection. Protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses is also useful under HPS lighting; however, glass is best.

MH lighting Metal Halide lighting conditions are not as harsh as HPS, and so eyewear with polycarbonate lenses will do the trick. MH lamps emit balanced white light with a broad spectrum and are well

suited for plants during the vegetative stage. However, low red light output has many people introducing an HPS light during the flowering cycle when plants demand more of the red spectrum.

When choosing protective lenses for this environment, select a pair that will retain the color and clarity of the grow room while also offering 100% protection against the UVA, UVB, and UVC rays that MH lamps produce along with infrared heat.

Polycarbonate lenses are a great option and can come with a silver coating to suit the intense conditions of a metal halide environment and also double up as stylish, everyday eyewear perfect for outdoor conditions. A polycarbonate lens will significantly reduce the effect of strobe lighting, minimising any potential health risks. They improve color balance, shape recognition, and the ability to detect motion, providing an S/P ratio of 1.0, up from 0.6.

That is 50% closer to the ideal S/P ratio of 2.5 in normal BWL conditions. Mineral glass lenses are also suitable for working under metal halide lamps.

Do not be fooled into thinking that a pair of regular expensive sunglasses will do the job as effectively. Polycarbonate (and glass) lenses are far superior to those of regular sunglasses, which fail miserably in all areas, as they are just not built for grow rooms.

The lenses on regular sunglasses filter out more blue light (scotopic) than yellow (photopic), taking you further away from a natural color balance and down to an S/P balance of 0.4-0.5!

LED lighting The LED lighting is a developing technology that is continuously breaking new ground and provides a unique spectrum of light.

It makes sense, therefore, to buy a pair of specialist LED grow glasses that are specifically designed to work under these conditions. Again, look for high quality that doesn’t compromise on color or clarity.

Another must is 100% protection against UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, as well as against the extremes in blue light that are prominent in LED lighting. Many styles of horticultural eyewear are designed to work with magenta LED’s (made up of just blue and red light), but it is also possible to get LED specific eyewear for use with full spectrum lighting.

If you value your vision, then buy a product of some significant value to protect it. A good pair of specially engineered grow room glasses may save your sight, and in some cases, even your life. Consider it an investment. Don’t grow blind doing the thing you love; protect your eyes. 3

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

Bio

49

BY RICH GELLERT

WATER

AND THE TERRIBLE

10

50

WATER

W

hen it comes to thirsty plants, is there such thing as good or bad water? It’s important to remember that nutrient formulas are optimized for use with purified water. Meaning, if growing hydroponically and the water is not being filtered or cleaned, then nutrient formulas, no matter how good or expensive,

will not operate effectively. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the only way to make sure the input water profile meets the chosen nutrient formula’s specifications.

So, what happens if input water containing unknown variables is used? In all likelihood, the plant will still flower, and life will go on. The question is, did the plants produce the highest yield and potency according to their genetic potential?

Every professional grower knows that traditional commercial agriculture techniques do not yield boutique-level flower. The investments and engineering of a successful retail operation are focused on scaling small batch, top-shelf methods to meet the ever-increasing demand legalization brings. To achieve that goal, one of the first things they do is take control of water chemistry.

Control of all of the inputs is critical to delivering a superior product, but eliminating variables in the water is perhaps the most crucial step of all.

Typically, water variables that affect flowering make up the terrible ten, a list of chemical and biological considerations every serious grower needs to know. While hardly anything sneaks past a well-maintained RO system, it is essential to understand the combination of variables your water contains.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the only way to make sure the input water profile meets the chosen nutrient formula’s specifications 1. Chlorine: Chlorine is a biocide introduced to drinking water to make it safe for human consumption.

Unfortunately for crops, it also kills beneficial bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms. Any healthy organic or bio hydro garden is chlorine-free. Cultivators who use compost teas or bio extract solutions typically remove chlorine from their source water. The nutrient chloride plants need is provided in professional growth formulas, balanced to perfectly support the overall health and potential of the plant without the downsides of chlorine.

2. Chloramines: Like chlorine, chloramine is a biocide with similar drawbacks. Chemically, it is differentiated by the addition of ammonia, which gives the biocidal properties a longer life and the ability to travel long distances through water pipeline transport.

3. Mineral hardness: Mineral hardness is made up of calcium and magnesium dissolved in water and is the single most common cause of water problems in cultivation facilities. High levels of hardness in untreated water will lock out essential nutrients to plants and form scale on equipment and tubing. The most typical form of these minerals in water is calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. The molecules of these compounds found in untreated water are far too large and immobile to be absorbed efficiently by the roots and transported to where the plant needs them. Nutrient formulas all contain molecular forms of cal/mag that are more bioavailable, and therefore, better support the full genetic potential of the plant.

4. Fluoride: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is present in most municipal water but is a toxic substance to plants. Thirty-four plant enzymes are affected by fluoride, as is seed germination. Enzyme additives will not do their job correctly with fluoride in the water, and it is always recommended to remove fluoride with RO.

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WATER

NO3 CL

VOC

BAC

CO3

5. Volatile Organic Compounds: Some VOCs are known or suspected carcinogens. Trace amounts of these can end up in the plant’s tissues, flowers, and fruits. Any grower wishing to produce plants free of VOCs should remove these compounds using RO. 6. Iron/Sulfur: Water containing iron or sulfur may have a metallic taste and an offensive odor. Nutrient lockout, algae growth, and equipment staining can all be the result of too much iron in the water. In proper doses, both these compounds are beneficial to the health of the crops, and a perfect chemical balance can be achieved through the use of RO and professional nutrient formulas.

Control of all of the inputs is critical to delivering a superior product, but eliminating variables in the water is perhaps the most crucial step of all

7. Pesticides: Local agricultural areas may be leaching harmful contaminants into groundwater. These can end up in water supplied to cultivation facilities and ultimately end up in plant tissue. Depending on the area and source, this can be seasonal and fluctuate with temperature changes. RO is the only way to eliminate most pesticide contamination confidently.

8. Bacteria: Bacterial overgrowth can wreak havoc with any step in the growing process, from fouling/compromising equipment to destroying the plant through root deterioration.

A proper solution to prevent bacterial contamination is a combination of ultraviolet treatment and RO. 9. Nitrates: Toxic substances often found in the runoff from agriculture, animal yards, etc., contributing to overnitrification and algae growth. High quantities of nitrates in untreated water can negatively affect the later stages of flowering when cultivators typically try to limit nitrate levels.

Taking a grow seriously requires research and dedication to understanding the science of what makes cannabis happy. One cannot assume that the chemical composition of the input water is optimized, or even safe, for the crops. If the goal is to grow high-quality, potent medicine – in any quantity - it’s important to know that the product is as pure and contaminant-free as possible. When in doubt, merely eliminate potentially devastating variables with an inexpensive, highly efficient RO system. That’s the rule of the green thumb. 3

10. PH Imbalance: Water that has a pH that is either too high or too low will not allow nutrients to be adequately absorbed and can be corrosive to equipment.

BIO Richard Gellert is an adventure-seeker; he loves wilderness, biking, and hitting the slopes - the Adjusting the pH of steeper, the better. Also an avid gardener, Rich has created extensive gardens to grow fruits and vegnutrient solutions may be etables for his family year-round. He is the president of Hydrologic Purification Systems, a company difficult due to fluctuations delivering top-shelf hydroponic water filtration systems to consumers. Speaking five languages, and in source water pH levels. with as many advanced degrees, Rich has become the industry’s leading expert in water quality, facility discharge, reclamation systems, and regulation compliance. His articles have appeared in Max Yield, HydroLife, Garden Culture, and Urban Garden.

53

BY EVAN FOLDS

According to USDA data, one would need to eat 26 apples today to get the same amount of iron just one apple had in 1950

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FOOD QUALITY

S

ometimes simple questions do not have such simple answers. Try this one. What is food?

One definition is as follows: “Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth.”

If you sit with this definition for a moment, it begs more questions than it answers. What exactly is “nutritious”? Should food “maintain life” or should it enhance life? How do we determine real food from fake food? After all, what is the point of food?

These are critically impor tant questions that we should be debating in grade school as well as in the public domain. Instead, we serve empty, conventional, and sometimes processed food to kids in cafeterias, and our elected leaders are relatively silent on the growing epidemic of disease that is rooted in the deficiencies of our food system. Meanwhile, the markers of healthy agriculture continue to move in the wrong directions.

What if, even on a base level, we started connecting the dots between agricultural and environmental toxicity and disease

The truth is that our elected leaders are never going to do the work. They are collectively on the side of industry that has worked to sway our eating habits through a dangerous form of food science that has fooled the discernment of our taste buds to tell us what to eat using ar tificial and sometimes toxic flavors, processes, textures, and colors. This same industrial monster is patenting as many life forms as possible and attempting to corner the global food and seed markets.

To compound the problem, crops are more toxic than ever and losing their nutritive value. For example, conventional agriculture in concer t with the government calls for the genetic modification of commodity crops so that we can use poisons on them. At the same time, our food has lost its nutrient density. According to USDA data, one would need to eat 26 apples today to get the same amount of iron just one apple had in 1950. Plus, we are eating fake food on a level never before seen with estimates saying that up to 70% of the average American diet consists of processed foodstuff. Add this up and what do we get? Empty people.

Imagine if we had leaders holding hi-level summits on the topic of nutrient density in food? What if the incentive structure of the US Farm Bill encouraged the growth of nourishing foods instead of commodities grown for

cows and cars? What if, even on a base level, we star ted connecting the dots between agricultural and environmental toxicity and disease?

Instead, we get crickets from our leaders. We have doctors being trained on how to manage symptoms with pharmaceuticals rather than being educated on how to heal using nutrition. We are offered a sick care system that amounts to a band-aid that, if taken at face value, represents the most brilliant business model in the world - keep people ill and sell them the “solution”.

Simply put, when it comes to food and health, we have lost our way.

A first step in fixing the food system is to get closer to our food.

We need to develop personal agriculture and grow edible plants. We are now fur ther from food than at any point in human history. How many people out there know their farmer?

A second step in reclaiming our food system is becoming aware that each one of us has a seat at the table. Even if we do not grow any food, or cook very often, eating is an agricultural act, and our buying power is what drives the market. The tagline to my company, Be Agriculture, is “What we think, we grow”. It has always been my belief that our effor ts must involve massive grassroots education, and our purpose must be to demand quality from the food system using our buying power.

The human story starts with agriculture. Growing food where we live is what allowed us to put down roots and specialize into the communities and civilizations that we can take for granted today. Fast forward through the industrial and the green revolutions, and we find our agriculture in shambles with the core mission of nourishing people abandoned long ago for a focus on efficiency and profit.

55

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FOOD QUALITY

Simply put, when it comes to food and health, we have lost our way This phenomenon has a name; it is called corporatism, where the interests of business and shareholders infiltrate and influence government and take precedence over the people.

We have even established and repeatedly upheld the legal notion of corporate personhood that grants human rights to corporations. Everyone can see the manifestations of corporatism in our world, it is very well documented and what amounts to an open secret within our current government. So why don’t we fix it?

There are no better means of cleaning up the environment and growing healthy people than regenerative agriculture, and there is no more potent direction to a thriving future than a focus on food quality

One reason is that corporatism itself resists correction. Besides the fact that it is far more lucrative to keep people sick and uninformed, is it realistic to ask and expect power to give up control?

Unfor tunately, the world does not work the way that it should. We must give this issue a name and banish it in all of its forms; we must develop strategy and practice discipline to suppor t those things that reinforce what we would want if we were asked.

Another reason we are not making the progress we want is mediocre food. Rudolf Steiner considered our slumber in relation to our spiritual majesty a matter of nutrition. In 1924, in response to a question asking him why people do not carry out their spiritual intentions, he said, “Food no longer contains the forces people need

to bring their will into action.”

Explains a lot, doesn’t it? Could it be that the source of our struggle to be loved in the world is rooted in malnourishment? Is it possible that by fixing our food that we can fix ourselves?

The answer is a resounding, yes.

Living food is fuel for love. I have seen it happen with my own eyes many times over the years, and it is the driving force behind my work. The scope of this ar ticle will not allow a complete review, but living soil methods are how we can heal the world. There is no better cross-disciplinary approach to education than gardening.

There are no better means of cleaning up the environment and growing healthy people than regenerative agriculture, and there is no more potent direction to a thriving future than a focus on food quality.

Currently, there is no market for food quality. Ponder that for a minute; is this not the point of food? The question becomes, how do we put food quality first?

The issue of food quality has three main arenas – economy, methods, and nutritional value. Over the last century of agriculture, like most aspects of the human organization, we have abandoned quality in favor of cheap, ar tificial methods and profit at all costs. This amounts to a race to the bottom line, one that we are now hitting with the full force of life and death. Degenerative and auto-immune

57

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FOOD QUALITY

The issue of food quality is for everyone disease is off the historical charts and, in many cases like autism, increasing in a catastrophically unsustainable way that evades explanation from popular science and threatens to bring down our social structures. There are now many dedicated and brilliant people connecting these dots, but there can be no doubt that our current approach of toxic rescue chemistry and fake food is killing us.

There can be no doubt that our current approach of toxic rescue chemistry and fake food is killing us

The only way to prioritize food quality is to measure it. Fortunately for us all, there is a group of changemakers called the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) working towards this vital mission for planet Earth. The BFA is developing a spectrometer called the Bionutrient Meter that will work to deliver consumers and farmers real-time data on food quality in the field or at the point of sale.

This effor t is profound. Not only does it establish the first market for food quality on Ear th, but it also provides an incentive for farmers to expend the energy and resources to grow nutrient-dense food and be compensated for it.

Plus, it will aid in the development of methods farmers

can use to regenerate their soil and grow more nutritious crops.

Preliminary work has proven the possibility of success for the project, and work is already underway with 300 of the first generation meters having been built and distributed at their recent Soil & Nutrition Conference in December 2018.

It is only recently that the spectroscopy technology reached a reasonable price point to be affordable for consumer use, and it is estimated that in the next couple of years, this technology will be in smar tphones. Rest assured, the food revolution has momentum and is well underway. This project needs your suppor t; reach out to them for more information at bionutrient.org.

The issue of food quality is for everyone. All of us eat, and we all want the health and joy that proper nutrition brings. We can change the future of food for the better by standing up, being heard, and taking part; by using our buying power and putting our will into action. With some intention, intuition, imagination, and inspiration we can deliver a better world one bite at a time. 3

Evan Folds is a regenerative agricultural consultant with a background across every facet of the farming and gardening spectrum. He has founded and operated many businesses over the years - including a retail hydroponics store he operated for over 14 years, a wholesale company that formulated beyond organic products and vortex-style compost tea brewers, an organic lawn care company, and a commercial organic wheatgrass growing operation.

Bio

He now works as a consultant in his new project Be Agriculture where he helps new and seasoned growers take their agronomy to the next level.What we think, we grow!

Contact Evan at www.BeAgriculture.com or on Facebook and Instagram @beagriculture

59

BY CAROLINE RIVARD

A Love and Hate Relationship

60

GARDEN WEEDS

“Stinging net tle’s health benefits are plentiful, and this prickly weed can practically cure all that ills!”

P

erhaps you don’t know its name, but you certainly remember its sting. Even the slightest interaction with this tall weed can cause sharp pains and a

burning tingle.

Why people hate it

CREDIT: dissolve.com

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) has an also no stranger to the world of cosmetics.

These spicules , impressive defense system. The stems, Urtica dioica extracts are commonly found made from leaves, and flowers are covered with in soaps, skin lotions, and shampoos that minuscule silica tiny hairs called spicules. These spicules, provide strengthening and nourishing made from minuscule silica needles, are proper ties. needles, are similar to sharp glass; they puncture the similar to sharp skin and cause painful irritation. Like Good for the body glass; they a weapon used in chemical warfare, Stinging nettle’s health benefits are they inject tiny amounts of a cocktail puncture the skin plentiful, and this prickly weed can made of acetylcholine, histamine, cure all that ills! The vibrant, and cause painful practically and 5-hydroxytryptamine, the same dark emerald green hue of the nettle plant irritation components that cause allergic reactions. signals that it is rich in chlorophyll, and Within seconds, the skin turns red, begins therefore, the plant is excellent for the to burn, and little white bumps appear, making us feel body’s integumentary system (skin, nails, and hair), as well as miserable. Even if the rash isn’t dangerous and doesn’t last the cardiovascular, urinary, lymph, and respiratory systems. It very long, it’s enough to make any gardener turn their back suppor ts and rejuvenates our bodies from head to toe. on a truly marvelous plant.

It is impor tant to note that while nettle is generally Appearances can be deceiving considered a safe herb to use, for a few people, it can trigger Once we overcome the fear of being stung, stinging nettle is some side effects or interfere with other herbs, supplements, a fantastic weed. This common plant has been a close friend or medications being used. Always consult a health care to humans, used in many different ways for centuries. From provider before including it in your daily herb regiment. the roots, leaves, and stalks, to the flowers and seeds, every single par t of the plant has a purpose.

Durable and resistant, the fibers of the mature plant stalks are used for textiles, ropes, and fishing nets. They can also be turned into paper or used to produce natural dyes in tones of yellow, green, or dark grey-green. Stinging nettle is

Spicules

61

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GARDEN WEEDS

A nourishing medicine Armed with long sleeves, pants, and a pair of work gloves, gather the top eight to ten inches of the nettle plant in the early spring when it is still young and has not yet gone into flower. Once the leaves are cooked, dried, or blanched, they lose their stinging capabilities, and the plant is ready to spread its wealth!

Gentle and nourishing, stinging net tle is excellent to take as a daily infusion, as it contains many nutrients missing in modern day food crops

Nettle is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and E, as well as B1, B2, B3, B5, and K. It is also rich in protein, calcium, and conver ts into iron, folate, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, selenium, and zinc. Gentle and nourishing, stinging nettle is excellent to take as a daily infusion, as it contains many nutrients missing in modern day food crops.

Follow these directives every day for six to eight weeks, and the entire body can benefit from this dark green concoction. It is an all natural tool to help recover strength, either following a long-term illness or from pure exhaustion.

Its high iron content can help people struggling with anemia, and the various rich and concentrated minerals help for tify bones and replenish mineral reserves.

How to use it An infusion is a strong tea that steeps for a long time -anywhere between four to eight hours. The dark green brew will have an intense, ear thy taste and smell, and it won’t be long before your body ends up craving it. To make it, just put 1 oz. of dried nettle leaves in a one liter (1 quar t) Mason jar. Add hot water all the way to the top. Refrain from using boiling water, as it will kill some of the plant’s beneficial proper ties. Close the cap tight and let it steep for four to eight hours, or even overnight. After straining and discarding the plant matter, enjoy one or two cups during the day. Store any leftovers in the fridge, but be sure to throw it out after 36 hours.

Nettle is also a gentle diuretic and helps cleanse the body of toxins. It has been proven to effectively treat gout, as it removes and evacuates uric acid deposits, and can treat urinary tract infections and prevent painful kidney stones.

It is instinctive for many gardeners to label weeds as undesirable, but having an open mind unlocks enormous potential and many benefits. If you can look past its barbed exterior, stinging nettle is not an intruder, but rather, a weed we are lucky to have amongst us. The same is true for many so-called weeds which are, in reality, precious gems that have so much to share. 3

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

Bio

63

BY COLIN BELL, PHD., PETER BAAS, PHD., MATTHEW D WALLENSTEIN PHD.

Back t o t he F u t ure S u s ta in a b l e A g r i c u lt u r e U s in g S o il Mi c r o b i o l o g y

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SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

U sing p ow er f ul ne w r e se a rch t ool s, s cien t is t s a re s ta r t ing t o re v e a l t he dif f er en t mech a nisms dri v en by p l a n t-microbe in t er ac t ions t o s t imul at e p l a n t gro w t h acro s s t he gro w ing se a s on

S

ustainable farming is the future of agriculture. The greatest challenge facing indoor and outdoor cultivators is maximizing food and medicinal crop production (to meet growing population demands) while minimizing environmental impacts. Agriculture management must meet the current needs of farmers without compromising

the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

O n a g l o b a l s c a l e , u s in g p r e c i s i o n Only recently have new technologies mi c r o b i a l s o l u t i o n s in a g r i c u lt u r e allowed indoor and outdoor cultivam a n a g e me n t h a s b e e n id e n t if ie d The surge in tors to achieve sustainable managea s t he s in g l e fa s t e s t- g r o w in g ment practices which are practical s u s ta in a b l e t e c hn o l o g y a c r o s s microbial biotech for large-scale cultivation facilities. e v e r y m a j o r c r o p, solutions for Successful producers must deliver a suite of critical factors to maximize agriculture their crop success (and value); inhas quickly cluding solar energy, energy-intensive climate controls, and plant nuevolved over trition. Over the last decade, indoor the last decade cultivators have star ted to adopt more efficient LED lighting and solar into mainstream power technologies to minimize the cannabis industry) refers to the decultivation environmental impacts of traditional ployment of defined soil bacterial ‘on-grid’ energy costs. Likewise, the and fungal species that effectively practices surge in microbial biotech solutions stimulate plant growth. Microbes can for agriculture has quickly evolved help plants take up more nutrients, over the last decade into mainaccelerate growth, and resist disease stream cultivation practices – including cannabis. through chemical signaling. As a result, using precision microbial solutions allow cultivators to improve crop yield and quality On a global scale, using precision microbial solutions in agin terms of medicinal and nutritional value while reducing their riculture management has been identified as the single fastchemical inputs. est-growing sustainable technology across every major crop, allowing farmers to increase plant nutrient use efficiency.

The three main plant cycles that cultivators typically target to inFrom a scientific perspective, using microbes in agriculture corporate precision microbial inputs include early rooting, vegeis biologically very intuitive. Under natural selection, plants tative, and flowering growth stages. Using powerful new research have evolved with soil microbes for over 700 million years tools, scientists are starting to reveal the different mechanisms by fostering beneficial rhizosphere (root zone) microbial driven by plant-microbe interactions to stimulate plant growth interactions to augment their success. Precision microbial across the growing season. For the remainder of this article, we will solutions for agriculture (referred to as microbial biostimspecifically focus on how precision biological solutions can enhance ulants in general agriculture, and beneficial bacteria in the cannabis yield and quality during the flowering stage.

T he gr e at e s t ch a l l enge facing indo or a nd ou t d oor c ult i vat or s is m a x imizing f o od a nd medicin a l crop p roduc t ion w hil e minimizing en v ironmen ta l impa c t s 65

#FERTILZERFORTHEFUTURE

#FERTILZERFORTHEFUTURE

W e a re ju s t beginning t o h a rne s s n at ur a l microbi a l p roce s se s t o enh a nce crop p erf orm a nce ef f icien t ly

One mechanism that microbes use to maximize plant quality and yield is nutrient cycling. Soil microbes facilitate essential macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). Plants must have access to these macronutrients across the entire growing season to reach their growth potential. Although plants require a relatively large amount of N during the earlier par t of vegetative growth, this impor tance turns towards P and K in the later plant flowering growth stages. Flowering is the most critical stage of growth to maximize harvestable yield and quality. Using specialized soil microbes, cultivators can help boost plant P and K uptake; thus enabling cannabis plants to develop tighter internodal spacing and more flower development.

S o il mi c r o b e s fa c il i tat e e s s e n t i a l m a c r o n u t r ie n t s s u c h a s ni t r o g e n ( N ), p h o s p h o r o u s ( P ) a nd p o ta s s iu m ( K ).

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Using precision microbial solutions allow cultivators to improve crop yield and quality in terms of medicinal and nutritional value while reducing their chemical inputs

Using precision microbial solutions can improve cannabis yield in four distinct ways:

Precision microbial solutions can enhance the plant’s ability to synthesize terpenes and cannabinoid groups:

1.

1.

Microbes can enhance P availability. Plants require phosphorous for many important biomolecules including cell wall syntheses and DNA structure. Phosphorous is notorious for being challenging to deliver to plants. Up to 70% of the P fertilizer added to soil and soilless media can become almost immediately unavailable to plants after it is applied.

Microbes act as specialized tools to liberate bound P into bioavailable forms to maximize plant P uptake.

2. Microbes can enhance K availability. Plants require potassium across the entire growing season. Potassium is involved with enzyme activation within the plant, which affects protein, starch, and ATP production. Potassium also controls water flow in and out of cells and helps regulate the opening and closing of the stomata, which governs the exchange of water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

3. Beneficial soil microbes can produce enzymes and chemical signaling molecules which naturally cycle P and K in organic systems. Enzyme presence has also been shown to significantly reduce shock for plants in stressful conditions during transplanting and temperature fluctuation.

4. Soil bacteria produce organic signaling compounds which stimulate plant immune response against pathogens.

BIO Colin Bell is the co-founder, co-inventor and

Chief Growth Officer at Mammoth Microbes. Colin is passionate about science, and received his PhD. in Biological Sciences, specializing in soil microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions. He left his academic position at Colorado State University in March 2015 to launch Mammoth Microbes. When he’s not traveling the world interacting with and learning from cultivators, there is nothing Colin enjoys more than teaching and working with the team at Mammoth Microbes. You can find Colin on Instagram: @colinwbell

Microbes help plants maximize P uptake for terpene and cannabinoid synthesis. All cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) and terpenes are produced through different plant biosynthesis pathways. Plants require large amounts of phosphorous-rich compounds such as adenosine triphosphate (which is the high energy molecule) to help plants biosynthesize these molecules. (Note: The precursor for all cannabinoids is the synthesis of CBGA. Plant terpenes are synthesized through two pathways: 1) the methylerythritol phosphate pathway (MEP) and 2) the cytosolic mevalonate pathway (MEV)).

2. Microbes can also stimulate the biosynthesis of different cannabinoids and terpenes through chemical signaling as they interact with plant roots within the rhizosphere zone.

Sustainable agriculture is the future. We are just beginning to harness natural microbial processes to enhance crop performance efficiently. Using precision microbial solutions in agriculture represents the next generation of sustainable technologies that can help cultivators achieve the desired crop quality and yield. The future of sustainable agriculture relies on utilizing the power of microbial solutions to suppor t plant success - thus bringing nature back to agriculture. 3

Peter Baas is Mammoth Microbes’ Director of Product Development. He has worked in a wide range of ecosystems and has an advanced understanding of the interactions and complexities among microbial ecology, nutrient cycling, and plant growth.

He has a PhD. in ecology from the University of Georgia and is very excited about developing and testing new products with the goal of making agricultural practices more sustainable for future generations.

Matt Wallenstein is the co-founder, co-inventor, and chairman at Mammoth Microbes. He has a PhD. in Ecology from Duke University and is the head of the Soil and Crop Sciences department at Colorado State University. Matt’s research has focused on the role of microbiomes in critical ecosystem processes, and how microbes adapt to environmental change. Much of his current focus is on managing and engineering rhizosphere microbiomes to enhance sustainable agriculture.

67

BY TOM FORREST

Photosynthesis W

elcome back to another edition of Stealth Science! We hope you enjoyed our last feature, Plant Food

and Ionic Relations. Now, let’s look at how plants use

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

these chunks of food to survive.

The source of all energy for life on ear th is a beautifully complex process called photosynthesis.

Generally speaking, it is how plants collect light energy and store it in a chemical form.

There are a variety of physiological processes and functions that occur during photosynthesis. In this feature, we will discuss the diverse metabolic activities within our crops and how the long and short-term energy sources are differentiated.

The critical ingredient for photosynthesis is light, or more precisely, light energy. Light energy is the catalyst that initiates the process of photosynthesis when pigments absorb light.

This energy is measured in quantum (photons), while the light’s energetic potential is determined by the wavelength (color). As the wavelength increases, power decreases. Blue light has smaller wavelengths with a higher intensity, whereas red wavelengths are more substantial and provide lower energy levels. The light below blue light (ultraviolet) has too much energy, causing the photons to rip the plant molecules apart. The light above red light (infrared) is insufficient to raise an orbital electron to an excited, or quantum, state.

Understanding the science behind the art of horticulture ensures we can cultivate beautiful, healthier, and more sustainable crops.

The Five Classes: • Plant Morphology and Anatomy (see last issue) • Water Interactions • Plant Food and Ionic Relations • Photosynthesis and Phloem • Plant Hormones: The control of growth and development

Plants absorb most of their light energy using red (maxima around 660nm) and blue light (maxima around 450nm) wavelengths. Chlorophyll a absorbs light in the blue-violet region, while Chlorophyll b utilizes red-blue light and both reflect green light (around 500nm which explains chlorophyll’s green color). Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments reflect or transmit the wavelengths they cannot absorb, making them appear in hues ranging from red to yellow, blue, and purple.

Recent studies have shown that certain amounts of UV and infrared light can benefit photosynthesis and other biological processes, including essential oil production. However, modern research is relatively limited in this field.

Our human eyes have three types of light absorbing cones, making us trichromatic. The evolution of trichromatic color vision in primates occurred as the ancestors of modern monkeys, apes, and humans switched to diurnal (daytime) activity and began consuming fruits and leaves from flowering plants. Our eyes mostly absorb green light, whereas plants barely use green light energy at all. Most of it is reflected from the leaf surface.

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Visible light spectrum

Photosynthetic Action Spectrum labeling chlorophyll and carotenoids

STEALTH SCIENCE

and Phloem Light energy is the catalyst that initiates the process of photosynthesis when pigments absorb light

Credit: Cornell, B. 2016. Action Spectrum. [ONLINE] Available at http://ib.bioninja.com.au. [Accessed 13 March 2019]

69

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Plants have evolved to efficiently utilize all of their available resources through various methods, even while being stationary and stuck in the ground!

There are five significant chlorophyll types and dozens of different forms of carotenoids. Carotenoids found in fruit (such as the red lycopene of a tomato, the yellow zeaxanthin of corn, or the orange β-carotene of a carrot) have a variety of functions including attracting seed-dispersing organisms (birds, bats, bugs, etc.).

The unique feature of these light absorbing pigments relates to their particular molecular structure. Chlorophylls and carotenoids have a distinctive ‘double-bond – single-bond’ arrangement (see below diagram) that allows a free electron to get excited and pass back and forth through different orbitals, generating energy.

As a general rule, we can measure the plant’s growth efficiency with the following formula:

When an atom in a chlorophyll molecule absorbs light and jumps to a higher energy level, the electron gets far enough away that it can be stolen by nearby particles carrying the electron down a transport chain.

Efficiency = Energy output (Dry weight of biomass produced)

Energy Input (PAR - Where PAR is Photosynthetically Active Radiation

400 – 700nm).

Most wild vegetation is around 1% efficiency, while intensive agriculture is usually <5%. Certain crops can reach 25% under ideal artificial conditions. The intrinsic limiting factors for photosynthesis are the efficiency of harvesting light and in biochemical processing, while the external environmental factors (heat, water, and nutrient) all influence productivity.

We should all be familiar with the equation for photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O → (CH2O) + O2.

Credit: By Kelvinsong - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

To spell it out, carbon dioxide + water → carbohydrates and oxygen. This equation encompasses several coinciding processes. It’s also worth noting that different reactions occur during the day and night as the plant creates, moves, and stores vital energy.

With the correct amount of light energy, the electron climbs up orbitals (higher energy) and returns to a ground state.

This liberates energy (some is lost irretrievably) and light for use in the two photosystems. The two photosystems in angiosperms (confusingly named PS2 and PS1 in the order they were discovered, not the order of function within the plant) capture and transfer this light energy by resonance transfer.

The pigment molecules are discretely organized in thylakoid membranes (inside the chloroplasts), forming funnels of graded energy levels. First, photosystem 2 absorbs the higher energy (blue light), channels it to a reaction center, and produces oxygen. Meanwhile, photosystem 1 is absorbing red light energy and passing it onto a different reaction center.

The Z-scheme is how we understand this link between PS1 and PS2 (see below graphic). The phosphorylation of ADP accompanies the Z-scheme. This process, which converts light energy into chemical energy, is called photophosphorylation.

The Z-scheme describes a non-cyclic electron flow, a method that plants use to convert NADP to NADPH (longer term energy storage).

Not surprisingly, it takes more than just a simple article to explain the different physiological processes at work here. If you’re interested in learning more, I’d recommend looking into plant biology courses at your local University.

Diagram of labeled chloroplast 3D including thylakoids, Granum and stroma Inside the chloroplasts (the tiny organelles made up of thylakoids and stroma), light is used by the chlorophyll to split water. Energy is formed and used to make ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is a small molecule used in living cells as a coenzyme. At night, the ATP creates longer-term carbohydrate energy storage.

The Z-scheme Credit: By w:User:Bensaccount - http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Image:Z-scheme.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons. wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3461098

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WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH THIS?

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STEALTH SCIENCE

Think about how the human body operates every day. There is a wide variety of different organs and functions operating simultaneously to keep us running. Plants have evolved to efficiently utilize all of their available resources through various methods, even while being stationary and stuck in the ground!

Depending on the different ways they use resources, their ecology, and survival mechanisms, plants are categorized as either C3. C4, or CAM. C3 plants are the most common agricultural plants, and photosynthesis occurs predominantly in their leaves, but photorespiration can be wasteful and inefficient for climates with low water supply. In C3 plants, photorespiration occurs when the Calvin Cycle enzyme rubisco acts on oxygen rather than carbon dioxide. These plants have no real combat against photorespiration.

Credit: By Ninghui Shi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

In C4 plants, photosynthesis takes place within the inner cells, and photorespiration is minimized by separating initial CO2 fixation and the Calvin Cycle, performing these steps in different cell types. Think of it as a selective carbon pump that can be turned on when the water is low. CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plants minimize photorespiration and save water by separating these steps between night and day.

In the final step of the Calvin Cycle, RuBP is generated, enabling the system to prepare for more CO2 to be fixed. There is more to these processes, and there are some fantastic YouTube videos that animate and explain the different concepts.

As we superficially understand the different physiological processes occurring within photosynthesis, it leads us to explore the role of the phloem further. The phloem transports the nutrients, hormones, and sugars around the plant to where they are needed.

Different theories state that ‘Mass flow’ and ‘P-protein function’ is responsible for the movement of these compounds. The Mass Flow hypothesis states there is a movement of sugars from the ‘source’ to the ‘sink’. The ‘sink’ is an area of high accumulations of auxins and cytokinins, the meristematic zones where new tissue is created (we will discuss these hormones more in the next issue).

The P-protein Function hypothesis states that P-proteins potentially use a peristaltic movement to ‘squeeze’ the contents up and down the tube. In both schemes, the P-proteins can behave independently and move compounds upwards or downwards, but much energy is required to drive these strands.

It’s a reasonably interesting topic, and the function is likely a combination of both theories. Through different methods of measurement, we can somewhat determine the rates and direction of phloem flow, but there are some problems with these experiments. We do know, however, that in the phloem structure, there are three distinct types of cells: sieve tube elements, companion cells, and phloem parenchyma.

These cells all perform complex roles within the phloem to help act like the superhighway for the plant, transporting nutrients and hormones to different locations. If you’ve ever seen a ringbarked tree (a common practice for clearing farmland), it is the phloem tissue that is killed. There is no translocation of photosynthates from the leaves to the roots, and when the roots die so do the shoots, and the tree suffers a slow and painful death.

Cross section of a maize leaf, an example of a C4 plant.

Drawing based on microscopic images courtesy of Cambridge University Plant Sciences Department.

The Calvin Cycle describes the series of light-independent reactions in photosynthesis. Although it is not directly dependent on light, the important energy carriers (ATP and NADPH) are products of light-dependent reactions. The Calvin Cycle takes place in three key steps: fixation, reduction, and regeneration. In the first stage, CO2 is fixed from an inorganic to an organic molecule. Then ATP and NADPH are used to reduce 3-PGA into G3P, then ATP and NADPH are converted to ADP and NADP.

Although the xylem may contain amino acids, the phloem also has them along with various growth hormones. It’s also interesting to note that the phloem contains potassium chloride (KCl), the same compound found in pH pens and probes! We learn this by using fascinating controlled aphid exudate experiments where aphids are exposed to radioactive compounds inside plant phloem.

Aphids are only able to pierce into individual layers of the plant tissue, allowing scientists to monitor the radioactive aphid poo to learn about compound transportation in plants.

That’s it for another issue of Stealth Science. Be sure to check out the final installment in this series in the next issue, Plant Hormones – The Control of Growth and Development. 3

BIO Founder of Indicated Technology Pty Ltd, Tom is a certified horticulturalist and paid consultant working in the Australian medical cannabis industry.

After finishing studies in production horticulture (hydroponics) and plant biology; Tom has spent the past 6 years working in the protected cropping space. Tom is passionate about sustainable yet economic cultivation methodologies and also teaches cannabis cultivation as part of university and private education programs. Tom is also the Communications Manager for Stealth Garden wholesale supplies.

73 Sources: Boundless. “The Calvin Cycle.” Boundless Biology. Boundless, 26 May. 2016.

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

ROLLING FOR A CAUSE Much of the wildlife that lives in Madagascar is unique to the area and cannot be found any where else on Ear th

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HAZO PAPERS

T

He things Kyle St-Hilaire saw while visiting Madagascar in 2016 are just part of the inspiration behind his unique Canadian brand of rolling papers. He was exploring the island off the southeast coast of Africa after being offered a job with a mining and pharmaceutical company; only there was no way he could accept it.

Not after what he had seen.

“While visiting Antananarivo, the capital In July 2017, St-Hilaire and his business They called it city of Madagascar, I saw what foreign partner, Olivier Trudel, launched their HA ZO, which businesses had done to the resources rolling paper company. They called it and people,” explains St-Hilaire. “The HAZO, which means ‘tree’ in Malagasy. means ‘ tree’ in poverty I saw [...] was devastating, For every pack of papers sold, a tree Malagasy and their natural resources have been is planted in Madagascar with the help destroyed. I visited a small lemur reserve of the Eden Reforestation Project, a and found out how many animals are at risk of going registered Californian charity. To date, HAZO is responsible extinct.” for 30,000 mangrove plantings, a type of tree essential to the ecosystem there. Furthermore, locals are hired to do Much of the wildlife that lives in Madagascar is unique to the work, contributing to the economy as well. the area and cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, widespread With sustainability in mind, HAZO papers are made with deforestation has put the island’s habitats at risk, and many natural, unbleached hemp. The plant is incredibly fast species, including lemurs and chameleons, may disappear by growing, and just one acre of hemp produces up to four the end of the century. times the amount of paper as a traditional forest. St-Hilaire says the impact hemp has on the rolling papers is equally St-Hilaire returned to Canada with a mission to start a as impressive. social cause company of some kind. A long-time cannabis enthusiast, he was excited by the possibilities the pending legalization of the industry would present. He came up with an idea to fuse that passion with his desire to help solve the crisis in Madagascar.

“When I thought of rolling papers, I was pretty set,” he says. “[As a social cause brand], they’re a nice entry-level product because people don’t have to spend a lot of money to participate so that we can make more of an impact.”

77

HAZO co-founder, Kyle St-Hilaire

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HAZO wants to be known as an environmental brand

JIMMY’S Cannabis co-founder David Thomas with Hazo co-founder Kyle St-Hilaire

“What you end up getting is a slow, smooth burn so you can really taste the cannabis.

We’ve had amazing feedback about the papers, and we’re the first rolling company to have a social cause attached to it.”

What you end up get ting is a slow, smooth burn so you can really taste the cannabis

As with any business venture, there have been some hiccups along the way, especially with the red tape surrounding the cannabis industry. Before the recreational market became legal, St-Hilaire and Trudel sold the papers door-to-door at dispensaries around Toronto, Ontario, and again around British Columbia before police raids shut the illegal operations down.

But with the cannabis landscape about to change significantly in Canada, HAZO signed on with distributor humble+fume and B.O.B. Headquarters to continue expansion across the country in dispensaries operating legally.

“I always knew I wanted to start a legal company within the cannabis space,” St-Hilaire says about his never-quit attitude.

“I just have a passion for rolling papers and the cannabis industry in general. There are so many social aspects to cannabis, and I’ve always enjoyed it.”

In October 2018, the recreational market finally became legal in Canada. St-Hilaire took his entrepreneurial spirit and his rolling papers on a seven-week-long promotional tour that began in B.C. and finished in Montreal, QC. He did it in a 1995 converted dodge minivan almost as old as he is and that he affectionately refers to as “Big Blue.”

“Unfortunately, the government was so slow with licensing in each province that there were barely any fully-legal dispensaries open at the time,” explains St-Hilaire. “It was primarily the grey market dispensaries around Vancouver that I was able to visit.”

Despite the slow government rollout and a few breakdowns with ‘Big Blue,’ St-Hilaire calls the road trip a success. He was able to draw attention to the HAZO brand and what it stands for: sustainable smoking. The company was nominated for best rolling paper at the Canadian Cannabis Awards and is attracting new retailers every week, including the Jimmy’s Cannabis chain in Saskatchewan.

Moving forward, HAZO plans on breaking into the U.S. and European markets; Amazon has even started selling the papers. St-Hilaire’s main focus, though, is getting into all of Canada’s legal dispensaries, including the governmentrun facilities. Once he can dig ‘Big Blue’ out of the snow, he plans to head east of Montreal and introduce HAZO to the Maritime provinces.

St-Hilaire’s dream is to be a household name in the cannabis industry; one that people know is doing the world some good every time one of its pretty little packs is sold.

“I just want it to be a fun, happy, good vibes brand with a focus on the outdoors.” 3

Sources World Wildlife Fund: wwf.to/2u1q3K2 Emblem: bit.ly/2EKEZF0 79

BY MATT MOUNTAIN

In the last few years, there has been an uprising, all based on the discovery that the vast majority of plants can grow perfectly well without any people being involved!

Defining

ORGANIC

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DEFINING ORGANIC

T

he powerful organic movement is one of the defining features of both the current hor ticultural landscape and the commercial marketplace. To a chemist, organic means the item contains carbon; to farmers, it means growing without pesticides, and to the average Joe or Joanne, it says ‘natural.’ But the

soil is the hear t of what was long the only universal definition of ’organic’:

Farming with minimal or no use of artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides to preserve and promote healthy soil.

Image Source: UK Government Food Statistics

Why the conspicuous absence of soil in most people’s minds? Especially considering many actual growers associate organic with the ground, even in indoor culture.

How do we genuinely define organic hor ticulture, and can it be compared to hydroponic methods of growing?

Hydroponic Basics In the simplest terms, plants need air, energy from light, water, and nutrients to grow. Nearly half of the dry mass of a plant is made up of carbon from atmospheric CO2 ; another large piece comes from atmospheric oxygen.

The nutrients that we give plants in hydroponics, with the possible exception of nitrogen, are more like the cornerstones of cellular construction. They are vital but are not the bulk of what plants are made of.

And while more may be beneficial, only about 20 elements (including nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium) are essential for survival. In general, all plants take these elements in through their roots in the form of mineral ions dissolved in water*.

This is a critical point, and possibly the biggest misconception about plant nutrition and organic culture in general. All plants take on nutrients in the form of mineral ions; not manure, not dir t, not peat, or any other natural thing that we throw at them. Just mineral Ions.

Shocking as it may be, the cer tified 100% organic plants are taking in the same mineral ions as those on an entirely ar tificial mineral regime. The only fundamental difference between organic and mineral nutrition is how you choose to get those ions to the plant and what accompanies them.

With mineral nutrients, ions are added directly into a nutrient solution surrounding the roots, hence the name hydroponics (hydro = water, ponos = work). Mineral nutrition is so precise and efficient because the plant gets what it needs in the most accessible form.

structures and complex organic molecules into water-soluble components, including mineral ions, which are eaten up by growing plants. While the two methods are entirely different, the nutrition ends up in the same place.

For every mineral downside, the same issues exist with poorly managed or produced organic products and systems

This is why there is no absolute downside to mineral nutrition.

The negatives associated with mineral usage, while often dangerous, are incidental. Run-off from farmland is due to over application. Increased carbon cost from mining and transpor t of raw materials is due to the circumstance of geology and geography, and not to an inherent quality of mineral nutrition per se. For every mineral downside, the same issues exist with poorly managed or produced organic products and systems.

In organic growing, minerals are initially tied up in large carbon-based molecules such as starches and lignin, or in more complex substances such as horse manure or broken down pieces of other plants and dead animals. In nature, animals, insects, bacteria, and fungi break down these 81

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DEFINING ORGANIC

So, if we kill off the organisms that live in Shocking as it may be, the healthy soil through certified 100% organic compaction and the plants are taking in the application of toxic chemicals, we lose the same mineral ions as those capacity to recycle on an entirely artificial organic matter and to mineral regime create plant nutrition from the process. We are, therefore, forced to use either mineral or processed organic food, when in the past, nature took care Successful growing means stability wherever possible, yet of that by itself. the initial decomposition of organic matter can create drastic swings in pH and EC as different organisms tear In the broader context, organic farming sounds good in apar t and ferment a plethora of different materials. principle, but we know it is less productive than mineralbased methods of growing.

It is not so much of a problem if the goal is to create a simple additive, like seaweed extract or even blood or bone, which do not require much processing, and the breakdown, where needed, happens in the substrate.

But, it is a problem if you are trying to produce an organic nutrient that will have a good shelf life. Here is where the soil comes back in.

Organic products can be much harder to make than mineral nutrients. Phosphates can be mined and applied directly in water, but roses cannot be grown directly in fresh manure, just like cow dung in a deep water culture system will not yield good results. It is not yet broken down, and crucially, the initial stages of decomposition do not create the right conditions for plants.

The first obsession with healthy soil in organic agriculture was driven by the desire and need to move away from the damage that modern farming has done to the environment, and the impact that such practices have on soil ecology.

The soil is vital to our survival because it provides the unique ability to buffer the problematic stages of initial organic decomposition, thus allowing the ecosystem to continue to function.

Remember the analogy of growing roses in manure? Why is that a problem in your ornamental garden but not when Neddy the horse craps in the woods? The answer is volume and ecology.

The volume and surface area available in open soil, even relatively thin or poor soil, far exceeds anything available in hydroponics, container, or even border based culture. The surface of each par ticle of ear th is covered with life that has evolved to fill a niche in the chain that breaks down complete trees and animals into individual molecules when they die.

83

DEFINING ORGANIC

Using one of the nutrient s on the marke t designe d f or f ull hydr op onic sys tem use, one c an inde e d deli ver the b enef it s of hydr op onic s and or ganic cultur e in the s ame gr ow The reality is that when you have the knowledge and equipment to deal with the initial fermentation and decomposition of organic materials, as several manufacturers do, it is entirely possible to produce a stable biological nutrient that can be used in a similar way to mineral nutrients. When produced from ingredients that are themselves by-products of other industries, ‘organic’ presents us with the unique ability to create carbon neutral or even carbon negative plant nutrients.

This is the key to future success.

The problems growers often encounter when this organic system is transferred to a water-based environment is that the critical surface area is no longer there, and the abilities of beneficial microorganisms in the nutrient are reduced. This opens the door for pathogens to do the breakdown in their place, and can lead to anaerobic reactions that will ruin a grow just as fast as the careless use of mineral nutrients can.

This problem and the ability of open soil to resolve it by buffering and hosting these reactions is why there is still a tight-knit association between organic container based growers and soil substrates. This, even though oxygen is as essential in organic growth as it is in mineral grows, and that soil-based mixes are often the most compact and poorly oxygenated available.

In reality, coco coir or recycled substrates offer a better home for the bacteria and fungi that organic growers need for a successful harvest. Using one of the nutrients on the market designed for full hydroponic system use, one can indeed deliver the benefits of hydroponics and organic culture in the same grow. But that’s another ar ticle. 3

In the broader context, organic farming sounds good in principle, but we know it is less productive than mineralbased methods of growing.

Bio

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

*The exceptions are parasitic and atmospheric plants that gain nutrients from others or through foliar diffusion. This technique can be used for nearly all plants, but it is not how most people grow.

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

85

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

Biostimulants Regulations: An Update

Some impor tant and exciting new progress that has recently been made on the biostimulant regulation front...

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BIOSTIMULANTS

I

n a previous article for Garden Culture Magazine titled “Biostimulants: Efficacy through Efficiency” (Issue U.S. 21 / 2018) I documented the different types of biostimulant products available on the market today and described in which ways they are beneficial to plant and crop production. The piece mainly focused on the already widespread

use of these products and how they can make our current crop fertility and protection programs more efficient and less intensive. At the end of the article I also discussed how a lack of regulatory guidance, doubled with no clear pathway for properly bringing these products to market, while being able to make certain biostimulant claims, has hindered the development and implementation of some materials that can greatly improve how plants and commercial crops are grown. Well, today I am here to happily report back on some important and exciting new progress that has recently been made on the biostimulant regulation front.

But first, let’s do a quick recap on what a plant biostimulant is and what types of products/materials are encompassed under the biostimulant umbrella.

The proposed, working definition currently being used reads as such: “A plant biostimulant is a substance or microorganism that, when applied to seed, plants, or the rhizosphere stimulates natural processes to enhance or benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, or crop quality and yield.”

It’s important to differentiate that these products, by this definition, are not to be considered pesticides or synthetic PGRs. These are natural and organic substances that have a beneficial impact on plant growth in a way that is different than standard nutritional methods.

Biostimulant products commonly sold in the market place include but are not limited to: plant and animal extracts, protein hydrolysates and amino acids, humic substances such as humic and fulvic acids, beneficial microorganism (i.e. bacteria and mycrorrhizae), and non-nutrient minerals including silica, nickel, and phosphites. Products may also be sold as combinations containing mixtures of compounds from the aforementioned categories. They are also frequently sold as combination products containing biostimulant materials with fertilizer nutrients.

One major benefit that biostimulant products can deliver is to improve the uptake of nutrients by both foliar and root modes of entr y and to increase the ef ficiency of the nutrients when inside the plant These types of products are beneficial to plant growth and development in several ways, many of which may not be completely realized. One major benefit that biostimulant products can deliver is to improve the uptake of nutrients by both foliar and root modes of entry and to increase the efficiency of the nutrients when inside the plant. The addition of biostimulants into a standard fertilizer program can lead to a decrease in overall nutrient inputs, which is great for both the grower’s bottom line and for the health of the soil.

Another important benefit stemming from the inclusion of biostimulants is the higher tolerance to abiotic stressors such as draught or extreme heat. When these types of weather conditions come rolling in, plants that have been treated with some sort of biostimulant product or products will have a better chance of remaining healthy through the hard times with less impact to overall crop quality and yield. In some ways biostimulants can truly be looked at as a type of crop insurance plan. Sure something bad might not happen, but if it does, plants treated with biostimulants will more often than not make it through relatively unfazed.

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BIOSTIMULANTS

This is the first time that any plant biostimulant language has ever appeared in any law in the United States. This is an impor tant first step in the legislative and regulator y process.

“Why is it so important that we have proper regulatory guidance since biostimulants are already available for purchase?” Currently, biostimulant type products fall under the umbrella of pesticide regulation by the EPA. This fact makes it much harder to get the products registered and the current pathway in place for doing so through the EPA requires the manufacturer to label the product as “not for use on food crops”. However, natural plant biostimulants are not harmful for use on food crops and this is actually where we see a large amount of their application. So to mitigate the hassle and stress of obtaining an EPA registration number and to be able to let customers use these products on foods and other ingestible crops, biostimulant manufactures simply take the path of least resistance and register their products as either fertilizers or soil amendments or a mixture of the two. This is less than ideal because it severely limits the types of claims that can be made about the product. Having a more industry friendly registration pathway would allow companies to make more biostimulant type claims and to distribute the products in a way that reflects their true beneficial potential. At this point in time the discussion about the benefits of biostimulants can only really be found in publications such as the one you are reading right now.

So, what new progress has been made on this front? In a multiyear effort spearheaded by the Biostimulant Integration Committee (BIC), a division of the Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA), of which I am a member, along with the U.S. Biostimulant Coalition (USBC,) the proposed/working definition from earlier in this article has successfully been included in the recent 2018 U.S. Farm Bill and signed into law by the president. This is the first time that any plant biostimulant language has ever appeared in any law in the United States. This is an important first step in the legislative and regulatory process. According to David Beaudreau, Executive Director of the USBC, the inclusion of the definition in the new Farm Bill “represents

a critical initial step in the legislative process that will ultimately support the development of new sustainable technologies for agriculture and U.S. farmers.”

The 2018 Farm Bill also includes language that requires the Secretary of Agriculture, EPA Administrator, states and other relevant stakeholders to “provide a report to Congress that identifies any potential regulatory and legislative recommendations, including the appropriateness of any definition for plant biostimulants.

The intent of this report is to facilitate the development of a regulatory framework for plant biostimulant products and to ensure the efficient and appropriate review, approval, uniform national labeling, and availability of these products to agricultural producers” (BPIA).

Keith Jones, the Executive Director of BPIA, also adds that, “This is the first definition of plant biostimulants in any (proposed) U.S. legislation and it is largely consistent with the definition currently under review within the European Union”. He continues, “This is a major step forward for biostimulant manufactures, and it is a direct result of a joint effort led by the BPIA and the USBC on behalf of the entire biostimulant industry”. Upon achieving this long awaited first step, the BPIA and USBC vows to continue their efforts in bringing about fair and reasonable plant biostimulant regulation and to support the future of an up and coming industry. 3

BIO

Kyle L. Ladenburger is a freelance garden writer who has worked in the gardening and hydroponics industry for over a decade. As an avid indoor and outdoor gardener, he is well versed in nearly all types of growing methods with an overall focus on sustainability and maintaining healthy soils. He holds a strong conviction that growing one’s own food is a powerful way to change our lives and our world for the better.

89

BY PETER LOUW

Ju s t l ik e u s, p l a n t s h av e a n op t imum en v ironmen ta l c omf or t z one t he y l ik e t o grow in...

Va p or P re s sure Def ici t

VPD 90

VAPOR PRESSURE DEFICIT

Cu t t ing s a nd e a r ly seedl ing s p ref er l ow er V P D at higher humidi t y l e v el s, a s t h at en v ironmen t reduce s t he s t re s s on t he roo t s t ruc t ure

T

here is a little magic number that we’ve all started hearing so much about over the past year or so; a magic number that has been in the armory of commercial greenhouse growers for years. In the greenhouse, what the number represents is well understood, and so is its relationship to the health and output of the crop being grown. This magic

number, however, remains a mystery to most growers, and we want to change that.

There are many ar ticles and scientific papers available online that explain the finer details of the actual mechanics of VPD, so there is no need to repeat that here. This ar ticle aims to demystify this magic number so that the average grower can learn how to use it.

Before we proceed any fur ther, let me be 100% upfront: this is a very complex topic, and many of the concepts discussed here have been simplified. If you are an exper t on the subject matter, please bear that in mind.

The Basics Just like us, plants have an optimum environmental comfor t zone they like to grow in; the temperature and humidity levels need to be just right. In this comfor t zone, the plants will uptake water and nutrients at their standard expected rate, and they don’t need to work very hard at survival.

This magic number, however, remains a mystery to most growers, and we want to change that

So, what is this ideal comfor t zone and how does it relate to VPD? Temperature and percentage of relative humidity (%RH) are inputs of a formula that produces an output, also known as the VPD. Yes, there is more to this, and we will get there.

Keep in mind that VPD can be achieved across a range of different temperatures and %RH, as can be seen in the featured table. The table also displays ideal VPD levels (green) as well as those that are less than perfect (red). Of course, these are general values, so what might be less than ideal for one type of plant is just right for another (e.g., cacti versus a tropical orchid).

Next, you need to find a good star ting point for working with VPD so you can achieve the required environment for the par ticular plant type and its stage of life. Different stages of the life cycle usually require specific conditions to reach the plant’s full potential.

Looking at the table and working down the rows, you should notice that the ideal VPD range is around 5-12 with the %RH range getting tighter as the temperature increases.

Just for fun, let’s pick a temperature of 25°C/77°F. As the table indicates, the ideal VPD range occurs with a %RH anywhere between 80%-65%. But at 15°C/59°F, the ideal VPD can be achieved when the %RH ranges from 70%-35%. If you know your plant’s ideal growing temperature, you can use this char t to work out the preferred humidity levels.

Delving Deeper Into VPD What is the difference between low and high VPD numbers?

As the %RH increases to 100%, the VPD will eventually hit zero across all temperatures. As the %RH goes down, the VPD dramatically increases at higher temperatures.

91

VAPOR PRESSURE DEFICIT

T he ide a l t ool is one t h at rec ord s t he t emp er at ure a nd %RH, t hen c a l cul at e s t he V P D a nd p l o t s i t o v er t ime a l ong w i t h a l l of t he o t her data

This is where things star t to get complicated, so for the sake of keeping it simple, at 100% relative humidity, there is nowhere for the vapor in the leaves’ stomata to go or transpire, which effectively halts the uptake of nutrients. At very low %RH and higher temperatures, the rate at which the stomata can transpire dramatically increases to a point where the plant will “shut down” to keep it from dehydrating. The plant also star ts to work harder, stressing itself to achieve an ideal state.

At a lower VPD, the plants will drink more slowly as there is nowhere for the moisture to go, and at a higher VPD, the plants will drink faster.

At a lower VPD, the plants will drink more slowly as there is nowhere for the moisture to go, and at a higher VPD, the plants will drink faster, a critical point to note. For example, if a plant drinks 1L of water or nutrients in 24 hours at a VPD of 6, but 2L in 24 hours at a VPD of 12, then the first thing you need to do when running at the higher VPD is reduce the strength of your nutrient feed to avoid the risk of nutrient burn. But why would you all of a sudden get nutrient burn at the higher VPD and not at the lower one? Quite simply, the plant is consuming twice the amount of nutrients in the same 24-hour period, not because it is hungry, but because it is thirsty. The same is true for the opposite situation, so at a lower VPD, you may want to consider slightly increasing the nutrient strength.

High temperatures are often a problem and usually only for a relatively shor t period during the year depending on where in the world you are. If you live in a country where hot spells and heatwaves are uncommon, then when they do happen, it tends to catch growers off guard, impacting the quality and quantity of their yields. This is due to overstressed plants. As the temperature increases, the %RH remains the same or drops, thus ramping up the VPD. The answer to reducing the stress, in this case, is to increase the %RH to the “comfor t” zone.

For those looking to accelerate the flush par t of the final stages of growth, the aim is a higher VPD a couple or more degrees cooler. Don’t increase the temperature unless you have no other way of reducing the %RH. When the temperatures are higher, although you will achieve a lower %RH and higher VPD, you also run the risk of volatile compounds disappearing in the final harvest.

Cuttings and early seedlings prefer lower VPD at higher humidity levels, as that environment reduces the stress on the root structure, which is still forming, and the plant doesn’t have to transpire so hard. As the root structure develops, gradually increasing the VPD will ensure optimal growth of the roots, making for healthier plants when it comes to transplanting time.

A great way to become more familiar with VPD is to use a product that logs both temperature and %RH. You can then use the table provided to look up your VPD number. The ideal tool is one that records the temperature and %RH, then calculates the VPD and plots it over time along with all of the other data. Visually seeing the relationship between the inputs on a char t and then seeing the impact on your plants is the best way to get a practical feel for VPD. This is not an exhaustive guide, but rather, a star ter to get you a little more comfor table with VPD. Hopefully, it will inspire you to look fur ther into the magic number and how it can make you a better grower. 3

BIO Peter is a confessed data geek and a founder of P&L Grow Sys-

tems, an IoT (Internet of Things) data insights and analytics platform created to make grow environment data accessible, useful and informative. He helps people make better data-driven decisions in the garden by combining his passion for growing with over 20 years of experience in the field of technology and financial market data. Know More, Grow More. Follow the latest developments @plgrowsystems 93

BY PHILIP MCINTOSH

The Battle Rages On

Supporters of certification of hydroponics claim itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what is in the food that counts, not strict adherence to practices developed in a previous century

94

ORGANIC HYDROPONICS

O

n May 25, 2018, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced, after much debate, that hydroponically grown produce can be certified organic. More accurately, it could “continue” to be certified organic since certification of hydroponically grown produce has been allowed at the discretion

of accrediting bodies since the inception of the National Organic Standards program in 1990. The controversy stems from fundamental differences in philosophy that exist between traditional organic farmers (to include dairy and egg producers) and hydroponic growers. The decision was all the more controversial because the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), an advisory committee consisting of 15 volunteer members representing the organic community, recommended that container grown plants be excluded from organic certification. The NOSB voted 8-7 against accreditation. press release the availability of a report including The root of the problem involves soil.

The controversy a “rating” of 45 Organic certifying bodies on their Traditional organic farming is done in the stems from adherence to the “…spirit and letter of the organic ground, growing high quality, healthy produce fundamental law…”. without the use of chemical fertilizers or differences in pesticides to preserve the land and protect the environment. According to the regulations philosophy that exist According to one recent report, organic farming is not necessarily a good idea from an environmental (Title 7.Subtitle B.Chapter I.Subchapter between traditional perspective. Researchers from the US and Sweden M.Part 205.Subpart A §205.2, in case you are organic farmers and concluded that organic agriculture has a negative interested), “organic production” is defined hydroponic growers environmental impact because of increased land use as: “A production system that is managed compared to conventional farming as well as having in accordance with the Act and regulations a higher carbon footprint [“Assessing the efficiency of changes in in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating land use for mitigating climate change,” Nature, v. 564, pp. 249–253 cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of (2018)]. Perhaps, but there are better ways to decrease carbon resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.” emissions that do not require the abandoning of organic farming.

The word “soil” does not appear in the definition.

In contrast, hydroponic production reduces the amount of land and water used for food production, and according to Dickson On one side of the issue is the Cornucopia Institute. The institute Despommier, a well-known proponent of urban vertical farms, it has lobbied aggressively for the banning of organic certification also reduces carbon footprint. for hydroponics, taking the position that organic farming can only correctly be done in the soil. The foundations of the traditional Whether the legal action by the CPS will get any traction at the natural approach can be traced to Rudolph Steiner, who published USDA, or pressure from the Cornucopia Institute will move Spiritual Foundations for Renewal of Agriculture (1924), as well as to certifiers in their direction, remains to be seen. There have even other environmentally minded agriculturists early in the Twentieth rumblings within the organic community suggesting that traditional Century. organic growers should band together to create their own certifying agencies that will adhere to traditional organic principles. The battle Supporters of certification of hydroponics claim it’s what is in the over whether or not hydroponically grown produce is genuinely food that counts, not strict adherence to practices developed in organic will likely continue for some time to come. a previous century. Proponents argue that opposition to organic hydroponics is little more than veiled protectionism for those that wish to preserve their place in the market hierarchy. One For more information on the issue: certification proponent is the Coalition for Sustainable Organics • Cornucopia Institute: cornucopia.org (CSO). The CSO’s position is that the current standing of organic • Coalition for Sustainable Organics: coalitionforsustainableorganics.org hydroponics should be maintained in the name of regulatory • The Petition from the Center for Produce Safety: bit.ly/2GiaQPn certainty and to safeguard the rights of growers to select the most appropriate methods for their particular circumstances.

The AMS considers the matter settled, but not everyone agrees.

On January 16, 2019, the Center for Produce Safety (CPS), another group opposed to organic hydroponics, filed a petition with the USDA seeking to overturn the AMS ruling. Their claims are based on the view that soil must be an integral part of organic production.

And, in March of 2019, the Cornucopia Institute announced in a

BIO Philip McIntosh holds a B.Sc. in Botany and Chemistry from Tex-

as State University and an MA in Biological Science from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been publishing professionally for over 30 years in magazines, in journals, and on the web, on topics relating to botany, mycology, general biology, and technology. As a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educator, Phil enjoys working with students to help them advance their knowledge and skills in relevant fields of learning.

95

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

The Potential Health Benefits Of

CANNABIS

ROOTS

96

CANNABIS ROOTS GardenCultureMagazine.com

best of

The cannabis plant is said to have many medicinal proper ties, but its roots are often ignored. Why? Research shows they may also be an effective therapy!

the blog

Find this blog and other growing-related content at GCMag.co

C

annabis is said to have many medicinal benefits; science has shown that the flowers of the plant can help people cope with chronic pain, nausea, and mental health issues. A lesser-known fact is that cannabis roots may also have potential healing powers.

Rooted In History The possible benefits associated with cannabis roots is not a new revelation. Modern-day practices have been slow to catch up with traditional and more holistic ways of treating various conditions.

According to a scientific paper published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, the Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, wrote about using cannabis roots for medicine in Natural Histories (1st century). He prescribed it as a cure for gout and as a relaxant for joint pain.

The roots of the plant hardly contain any THC, cannabidiol, or other known phy tocannabinoids.

But they are a good source of many active compounds, including friedelin

By the late 17th century, doctors and herbalists treated various ailments including fever, inflammation, arthritis, joint pain, skin burns, and hard tumors (an abscess or ulcer) with cannabis root.

Active Compounds The roots of the plant hardly contain any THC, cannabidiol, or other known phytocannabinoids. But they are a good source of many active compounds, including friedelin, a triterpene that has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that can relieve both pain and fevers.

Friedelin is also found in certain types of moss, which is also currently being researched as a potential treatment option for people suffering from cramps, nausea, and inflammatory diseases.

Ancient Chinese cultures used the juice from the cannabis root to stop hemorrhaging after childbirth. Historical records from east Indonesia show the roots had been eaten raw to cure various STD’s.

Enough About The Past Today, the roots of both hemp and cannabis can be found in many body lotions, salves, massage oils, and other products purchased from many licensed cannabis dispensaries in North America.

Still, more research is needed, especially since cannabis roots can be used for phytoremediation, a process in which toxins are cleaned from the soil.

With an increasing number of countries legalizing cannabis, either for medicinal or recreational use, the entire plant, roots, shoots, fruits and all, will be spending a lot more time under the microscope.

There’s no telling what they’ll find. 3

Sources: • Harvard Medical School: bit.ly/2nGkT67 • Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.m Publishers: bit.ly/2tMc6Cl • NCBI Research: bit.ly/2iEJsx4

The Methods Although more modern research on cannabis roots needs to be done, for hundreds of years, physicians and herbalists have suggested that most health benefits can be drawn by first boiling them and then drenching a compress in the liquid and applying it topically.

That method is said to be best when it comes to treating fevers, inflammation, gout, and arthritis. But to soothe burns, boiled cannabis root has traditionally been blended into butter and applied to the skin.

Friedelin 97

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